Clarendon AR: Festival Fun

Hunter's Paradise

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Fast Facts

Our Fourth Annual Big Woods Birding Festival took place in downtown Clarendon on Saturday, May 21, 2005 from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. The festival theme was "What's in the Woods?" And it's now known just what IS in the woods: sightings of the rare Ivory-billed woodpecker have now been confirmed in the Big Woods of Arkansas right here in Monroe County, and we're proud to be his neighbor! The 2005 birding festival promised to be extra special with this exciting discovery.

For our most outstanding attraction, members of the Ivory-bill search team, several of whom are from Arkansas, recounted the highlights of the year-long search for the Ivory-billed woodpecker (for search team bios click here).

2005 Festival Medallion

Rockin' Robin!
Entertainment to suit everyone's taste began at 10:00 a.m. on the main stage by the Courthouse. There waslive music by "Bringing it Back," an Elvis Presley tribute show, and the Bug Tussle Boys from Little Rock. For those who enjoy the visual arts, the art show was a highlight of our festival. Besides downtown attractions, we also had the very popular boat rides on the White River.

Act It Out
The Early Arkansaw Reenactors Association portrayed a colonial encampment from the early 1800's, the "Mouth of Cache Expedition." The camp includee a keelboat, and members reenacted an artillery duel along the banks of the White and Cache rivers.

Fishin' Fun is for Early Birds!
As always, the free youth fishing derby kicked the festival off at 7:00 a.m. at the Donald Branch Fishin' Hole (at Ann Alden and Carla Dr.). Free guided bird walks also took place at 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. led by expert birders Mel White and Lance Peacock (for birding-expert bios click here!). Mel White will also led a butterfly walk in the afternoon.

Arm Painting?

More Fun for All
Children's activities included a rock climbing wall, petting zoo, moon walk, dunking booth, and duck pond. There was a special area for free kids crafts and games. Dr. Becky McPeake from U of A Cooperative Extension Service hosted "fish printing" for the kids where they could take home a handkerchief with their painted fish on it! For those who like action, a lawnmower tractor pull was held near the festival. Festival food, craft vendors, and educational booths were also available.

Sponsors include: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Audubon Arkansas, City of Clarendon, CenturyTel, Clarendon Chamber of Commerce, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Entergy, Merchants and Planters Bank, Monroe County, National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, T & S Sawmill, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Visions for Clarendon, Wal Mart and the White River National Wildlife Refuge.

Photo top: There's something a little fishy going on! Photo courtesy of P. Cooper/USFWS.

Photo bottom: Face painting evolves to arm painting! Photo by Sarah Moore.

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