Blues & BBQ

Fairfield Bay’s All Day Event
Starts with Blooms & Crafts, Rolls into Blues& BBQ

A Feast for the Senses & Family
A Spring time festival that packs a day full of celebration – kicking off Mother’s Day weekend in glorious color, sounds and tastes. Fairfield Bay has combined two family friendly outdoor events into one big springtime celebration, with scheduled activities to appeal to all ages. Bloomin’ in the Bay (from 8 am– 1 pm) and Blues &BBQ (from 11 am – 4 pm) will be held on Saturday, May 13. Both events will be held in Ed Leamon Park, providing a seamless flow from one event into the next.

Bloomin’ in the Bay – A Celebration of Spring
Bloomin’ in the Bay is a free and open to the public family-friendly event. It is a celebration of spring featuring the very popular 14th annual Van Buren County Master Gardeners Plant Sale.

“The Master Gardeners are really excited for this year’s event,” says MG President, Maud Huber. “We’ve worked really hard to provide beautiful plants, expert tips, and lots of options for home gardeners to create their own piece of heaven at home.”

Gardening “How To”, Gifts and more
The feature presentation for 2017 is information on keyhole gardening, a hot trend in organic gardening. There’s handmade mother’s day gifts – where you literally take a piece of the Bay with you! “We have a butterfly garden here at Ed Leamon Park which is very popular,” said Huber. This year for moms, we’ve made unique ceramic butterfly’s lighting on a piece of drift wood from our own Greers Ferry Lake. It’s a one of a kind piece, that’s sure to be a big hit for Mother’s Day.”

Kids will find plenty of games and unique fairy gardens to inspire the imagination. The self-guided nature hike, which starts in the park, is easy enough for any age. More than 30 local artisans, unique vendors with hand crafted items and hot-grill fare will fill the park. Be sure to stop by the nearby Fairfield Bay Conference and Visitor Center to look at the newest art exhibit, hosted by the North Central Arkansas Foundation for Arts and Education.

Blues & BBQ–The Ultimate Backyard BBQ
Beginning at 11 am, meander your way through the park to the second festival of the day – Blues and BBQ – the Ultimate Backyard BBQ. Event goers can sample the culinary creations of both local and out-of-town BBQ chefs, and the best BBQ will be chosen by a vote of the people. This packed afternoon of fun will feature the Sean Sikes Band. There’s a bouncy house for the kids, arts & craft vendors, and the best barbeque for miles around. Follow the smoke and have fun at the biggest backyard barbeque in the Bay!

“There’s so much excitement and community support for this festival,” said Dan Feuer, festival chairman. “The morning is filled with all things Bloomin’ and the afternoon is all things Blues – including a family friendly BBQ competition that’s sure to please even the toughest BBQ connoisseurs taste buds. Come out and join in.”

So much more… Crusin’ the Bay Car Show
For those with a love for Classic Cars, the Cruzin’ the Bay Car Show and Shine is the event for you! Come feast your eyes on some real beauties. Hosted by the Fairfield Bay Chamber of Commerce, there will be a 50/50 Raffle, prizes, and other giveaways. The Car show will be held in the Village Mall Parking lot, near the Clock Tower, and goes from 9:00am – 2:00pm.

Additional Bay Activities
There won’t be a shortage of things to do! As you’re walking around the park and trails, be on the look out for some hand-painted rocks to take home as a souvenir! Providing inspiration and plenty of smiles. Also, the Fairfield Bay Library will be having their annual book sale. A short walk from the park, the library is sure to have a selection that you’ll curl up with and enjoy.

For more information:
Festivals, contact Dan Feuer at (501) 884-6012 or [email protected].
Crusin’, contact the Fairfield Bay Chamber of Commerce at (501) 884-3324.
Stay for the Weekend, Lodging call (501) 884-4202.