RISON - Registration is now open for two events at this year's Rison in the Fall Festival, set for Saturday, Oct. 7, organizer Douglas Boultinghouse has announced.
Race to Rison in the Fall
The Race to Rison in the Fall will kick off that morning at 7 a.m. at Access Medical Clinic on Main Street, which is sponsoring the race.
Rison Shine Member Stacy Walz and Access APRN Lauren Leopard are leading the charge on the race, which will consist of a 5K run, 1-mile walk and a 20mile bike ride with a poker twist.
Registration for the three parts of the race is available online at https://runsignup.com/Race/AR/Rison/RacetoRisonintheFall The cost is $20 for the 1-Mile Walk, $25 for the 5K run, and $30 for the 20-mile poker bike ride. Participants will receive a T-shirt.
Medals will be awarded to the first three finishers in each event. A special prize will be given to the rider with the best poker hand at the end of ride.
All proceeds benefit the Rison in the Fall Festival.
Boultinghouse noted the early start time for the race will allow for the event to wrap up just before vendor set up begins at 10:30 a.m.
The ride will begin at 7 a.m., followed by the run at 7:10 a.m. and the walk at 7:15 a.m.
Dog Pageant
The annual Rison Paws for a Cause Dog Pageant will return for its fourth year, officially opening the festival at 1 p.m.
According to Rhonda Fletcher, coordinator for the local animal rescue, the pageant will include its standard categories of Best Dressed, Congeniality and People's Choice. The entry fee is $20.
There is an additional $5 entry fee per photo for contestants wishing to enter the separate photogenic category.
The photogenic category is not limited to dogs either - it is open to ALL pets, including cats, birds, hamsters and more.
Registration forms are available online at https://forms.gle/SBJ3HepdaCfPKRGUA
As part of the registration, participants are required to sign a waiver.
"We request that only animal and people-friendly dogs be entered in the pageant," Fletcher said.
Boultinghouse added, "Over the past three years, this pageant which brings awareness to the rescue that leads to adoptions, has become the biggest highlight of the festival next to our evening concerts." All proceeds from the pageant benefit the Rison Paws for a Cause animal rescue.
As an added bonus this year, FBT Bank has sponsored 10 gift cards for $25 each. The first 10 pet owners who bring proof of spay/neuter done within 90 days prior to Rison in the Fall will be treated.
Entertainment
GRAMMY and Academy of Country Music Award-nominated David Nail will headline this year's free concerts.
The multi-platinum star will take the Rise Up Rison stage at 8 p.m. to perform his hits "Whatever She's Got," "Let It Rain, "Red Light" and more, plus debuting new music live.
Prior to Nail, Arkansas Country Music Award-winning group Midnight South and Delta Blues Trio Chad Marshall Band will perform.
The Cleveland County Community Theater is also expected to host a talent showcase.
"We're still fine-tuning the schedule and figuring out arrival and soundcheck times, but will reveal an official schedule of performances closer to October," Boultinghouse said.
The concerts are free to attend and guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to set up on Main Street and Third Street to view the stage.
Vendors
The festival is set to have a variety of vendors and food trucks at this year's event.
"We quickly filled all of our food truck spaces this year," Boultinghouse said. He said even with adding in additional spaces for 10x10 booths on Main and Third Streets, there are less than 10 vendor spaces left.
"I expect those spaces to fill up over the next three weeks," he said.
Vendor spaces are open to anyone with products to sell, or any business or organization wishing to do outreach. The cost is $50 per booth.
Vendor forms are available at www.clevelandcountyarkansas. com or by calling (870) 5102433.
Boultinghouse said he plans to announce the list of participating vendors and food trucks soon, including a map of the festival locations, street closures, etc.