The Arkansas Bean Fest and Championship Outhouse Races will take place Oct. 27-29 in Mountain View.
Now in its 29th year, the festival has proved 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.
The Beanie Weenie Dog Show takes place Thursday at 5 p.m. on the courthouse stage.
The Artisans Market at Bean Fest 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.
The Artisans Market on the Square will open Friday at 11 a.m. and be open until 6 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 courthouse square on Peabody Avenue. 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 Friday and 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.
The bean pots fire up early Saturday morning, and the piping hot pintos are served with cornbread at noon.
The parade of outhouses begins at 1 p.m. on Main Street, with the entrants making their way one block south to the raceway on Jefferson Street. Judging of the Most Original Outhouse and Best Costume takes place during the parade.
The races get started around 1:30, and many heats are required to determine the final winner in two divisions.
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.
The Arkansas Junior Rodeo Association will hold AJRA Finals that weekend at the Stone County Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena. There will be junior rodeos on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. It will be a big weekend for the young riders as they receive saddles, buckles and other awards based on points accumulated through the year.
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 call the Mountain View Chamber toll-free at 888-679-2859. For information about Ozark Folk Center activities visit www.ozarkfolkcenter.com.
