2nd Annual Artisans Market on the Square at Beanfest
The Bean Fest and Outhouse Races Festival will take place this week end in Mountain View, Arkansas. Now in its 27th year, the festival has proven itself one of the most exciting and outrageous around, drawing thousands to the small Ozark town for handmade crafts, music, pinto beans and cornbread, and the spectacle created by the outhouse racing teams. This year’s festival, sponsored by Petit Jean Meats of Morrilton and Ozark Heritage Bank of Mountain View, has drawn the attention of the Food Channel which will be covering the event.
The Artisans Market at Beanfest, sponsored by the Mountain View Area Artisans Council with funding assistance from the City of Mountain View, combines this popular festival with one of the Ozark’s finest resources – artisans and craftspeople. The result is a fun-filled weekend featuring folk music, folk cuisine, and fine arts and crafts.
Early Friday morning, October 30th, local and regional crafters will begin setting up the Artisans Market on the Square. While the artisans are busy setting up their tents, our Stone County Farmers Market vendors will be on the Square behind the Court House on Washington Street from 7 to 11 am offering seasonal produce and other baked and prepared items. Stop by to shop and help the Farmers Market celebrate their great first season and get information about becoming a vendor in 2010.
The Artisans Market on the Square will open Friday at 11 a.m. and be open until 5 p.m. The Market will continue on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market will be located on the East Side of the Court House Square on Peabody Street. The street will be blocked to traffic allowing visitors to mingle among artisans’ booths while listening to music. Scheduled music programs will be presented on the outdoor stage at the courthouse on Saturday. Impromptu music groups will spring up around the area throughout the day and play into the evening hours. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and stay for the duration.
In addition to the activities of the Bean Fest and Outhouse Races, other fun things to do in Mountain View include shopping with local merchants, attending music theater shows, and visiting the Ozark Folk Center State Park. The Folk Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for visitors to watch crafts demonstrations and listen to traditional music. Free shuttle service will be available from the Ozark Folk Center to the court square from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday, and visitors are encouraged to park at the Ozark Folk Center and ride the shuttle downtown.
For more information about the event or the Mountain View area, visit the Mountain View Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.YourPlaceintheMountains.com or www.BeanFest.com, or call the Mountain View Chamber toll-free at 888-679-2859. For information about Ozark Folk Center activities visit www.ozarkfolkcenter.com.
