Last hurrah: Labor Day weekend doesn't have to be sad summer farewell
Posted on Friday, August 29, 2008
Technically, we still have about three more weeks of summer. But for most Arkansas schools, summer ended when the first bell rang on Aug. 18. Many public swimming pools have closed -- some even drained. Halloween costumes are appearing in area stores. Students at area colleges and campuses have returned for the school year.
Labor Day, established by Congress in 1894 to give the working man a day off, has since become the holiday that signifies the end of summer. So why not send the weekend off with a bang? Literally.
For those who still haven't attended a Northwest Arkansas Naturals game, this weekend marks the last opportunity this season to see them play a home game at the new Arvest Ballpark, located at Watkins Avenue and South 56th Street in Springdale, before playoffs begin. The Naturals will compete against the Tulsa Drillers from Saturday through Monday, and Sunday's game, which begins at 4 p.m., will feature a performance by the North Arkansas Symphony followed by fireworks. Tickets cost $20 for the Sunday event and can be purchased at the gate or by calling 927-4900.
Here are some other ideas to make Labor Day Weekend 2008 a memorable one:
Take a dip
Just because two popular Washington County pools -- Wilson Pool and the Springdale Aquatic Center -- closed early this year doesn't mean the area is lacking in opportunities to don a bathing suit for some splashing. Several cities, such as Fort Smith and Prairie Grove, continue to keep their pools open, though some are operating on limited hours.
Those who merely want to cool down without taking the plunge may want to go to one of the area's public parks that have set up ground sprinklers, buckets and other gadgets for some frolicking under the sun.
The Rogers Splash Park is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at the Rogers Activity Center at 315 W. Olive St. It features 10 in-ground sprinklers, three water buckets and two moveable water cannons. Fort Smith offers what the city calls spraygrounds at Martin Luther King Jr. Park at 1901 N. Greenwood Ave. and Creekmore Park, 3301 S. M St.
Ice cream and Elvis
Another way to cool off is to eat ice cream. Brushing up on local history could be fun as well. The Fort Smith Museum of History, 320 Rogers Ave., will host its annual Ice Cream Social from 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Participants can create their own sundaes from a variety of toppings and eat as much as they like. Cost is $5/adults, $2/children ages 6 to 11, free/children 5 years old and younger. The afternoon will also be the last chance to see the exhibit Motorcycle Memories, which features vintage motorcycles, memorabilia and photographs of a local motorcycle shop owned by Quinn Winters from the 1940s to the 1970s. For details, call 783-7841.
The Fort Chaffee Barbershop Museum, located at Building 803 in nearby Chaffee Crossing, will hold its official opening on Labor Day with items authentic to the time when, in 1958, Elvis Presley received his military haircut in that very building. The museum also includes original photos of the historical event, a life-size cutout of Presley in his uniform and Presley memorabilia such as the script from the movie "King Creole,"which he finished filming the day before he was inducted. In addition to Presley's time at the camp, the museum will also include exhibits of Fort Chaffee during the 1940s and '50s. Chaffee Crossing is located east of Fort Smith on Arkansas 22. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Fridays and by appointment. Admission is free. For details, visit www.chaffeecrossing.com or call 452-4554.
Go to Kingston
Those planning to head for the Buffalo River for hiking, kayaking, camping and more may want to stop off this evening at the tiny historic burg of Kingston located southeast of Huntsville at Arkansas highways 21 and 74 for the season's final Music on the Square, which is held by Friends of the Kingston Community Library. The quaint square features many buildings from yore, including a bank that predates the sinking of the Titanic that is still in operation. Performers for tonight's show are Lauren Elizabeth Arnold and Trey Graber. The concert begins at 7 p.m. and is free. For details, call 957-1089.
Art and breakfast
Art lovers wanting to check out the different galleries in Eureka Springs may want to travel a few miles north on Arkansas 23 to Holiday Island, where the Holiday Island Art Guild will hold its 20th Annual Art Exhibit and Sale in The Barn, located at the end of Shield's Drive, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The Writers Guild will also sponsor a book and bake sale at the event. For details, e-mail Jean Veri at jveri@cox.net.
Also an easy commute from Eureka Springs is Garfield, where the community's volunteer ambulance service is holding a large, country-style breakfast from 7:30-10:30 a.m. Monday at the Lost Bridge Community Room at 12477 Lodge Drive. The breakfast will include all-you-can-eat pancakes, bacon, sausage, hash browns, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, fruit, orange juice, coffee and milk. Cost is $8/adults, $3/children 4 to 8 years old, free/children 3 years old and younger.
Watch a film -- outdoors
Eureka Springs is a town that pretty much puts a spin on everything. Such is the case with its outdoor movie series, known as Lucky 13 Starlight Cinema, which will have its final showing of the year Sunday with the Walt Disney film "Ratatouille"in the parking lot of 1 N. Main St. next to the Basin Bath House. The movie will be preceded by a short film by Chewy Cafe, a program of writers with the Communication Arts Institute.
But don't think it's just about movies. As customary with the cinema, there will be live music, this time by Eureka Springs rock band The Ariels. Then there's this spin: the Waiter and Waitress Olympics, which pretty much says it all. Plenty of food by area restaurants will be on hand. Cost is $3 with proceeds going toward the Main Stage Community Creative Center. For details, visit www.lucky13cinema.org or e-mail info@lucky13cinema.org.
Oh yeah. New Razorbacks football coach Bobby Petrino will coach his first game on Saturday. When madness converges on The Hill, it must be autumn.
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