Rison in the Fall Festival is Saturday

RISON - Julie Roberts may be known for singing the line “I’d sure hate to break down here” in her signature 2004 hit “Break Down Here,” but if you ask her, she’d love to break down in Rison. The star is anticipating her return to this year’s Rison In The Fall Festival, which will take place this Saturday, Oct. 15 downtown.

This year’s event is shaping up to be the largest in the festival’s three decades, which includes five performers (on a stage twice the size of last year), seven food trucks and 37 vendors.

“I loved meeting as many folks as I could last year and hope I get to reconnect with those folks and meet even more people this year,” Roberts said. “The energy of the crowd when we were on stage was amazing!”

Roberts, an Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association-nominated artist, will close out the festival at 9 p.m. following performances from her friend and producer Erin Enderlin (7:30 p.m.), regional acts the Austin-Hendricks Band (4:30 p.m.) and Vintage (6:30 p.m.), and local entertainers in the Cleveland County Community Theater (5:30 p.m.).

All concerts are free to the public. Those attending should bring lawn chairs to set up on Main Street and Third Street.

This year, Roberts will be debuting new music off of her upcoming sixth studio album, “Ain’t In No Hurry,” due out Oct. 28. The album features duets with Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser, and is co-produced by Shooter Jennings and the festival’s special guest artist, Arkansas native Erin Enderlin.

“This is the first show that I will have new album merchandise for sale and I cannot wait to see what y'all think of it,” she said. “I am so excited about all 14 songs on the record but I am really excited to play the songs produced and written by Erin, who will also be playing at Rison in the Fall. I'm excited for Erin to hear her songs performed live and I know she makes your state so proud!”

In addition to the new music, Roberts will of course play the hits fans expect, such as “Wake Up Older,” “Men and Mascara,” and more.

Roberts and Enderlin will also team up to judge the Rison Paws for a Cause Dog Pageant taking place in FBT Park at 2:30 p.m. Enderlin will also participate in a special tribute to fellow Arkansan and Cleveland County native Johnny Cash at 1 p.m.

Festival organizer Douglas Boultinghouse said his vision to expand the festival with the help of Rison Shine team members has been a rewarding journey, but came with an unexpected surprise. He didn’t expect the talent to want to come back.

“The fact that our festival - our town - made such an impression that artists want to come back and spend more time here, it says everything about our (continued from page 1) town,” he said. “It’s why I wanted to start bringing entertainment to Rison in the first place. We may be a small town, but we can have nice things here just like other places.”

Roberts said it's truly hard to pick one thing that made her want to come back but if she had to choose one, it’d be the folks of Rison.

“I'm looking forward to everything! Pulling back into the town that welcomed us in the most amazing way last year will be wonderful,” she said. “And hugging Douglas Boultinghouse's neck when I see him, because he is part of my team, and helped us finish this album by this show!”

For those that attended last year’s concert, it’s not a secret that Boultinghouse and Roberts have been collaborators for well over a decade. Boultinghouse designed the album packaging for Robert’s previous albums “Alive” and “Who Needs Mistletoe,” and worked with the artist again on her new album due out this month.

“Julie has been a friend for so long, and as I worked with Roy Phillips and Rison Shine to grow this festival, I always planned to ask her to come to Rison,” he said. “But for her to ask to come back, it reminded me that we’re on the right path creating something really special for Rison.”

This year’s visit to Rison could also provide a family reunion for Roberts, a native of South Carolina. Coincidentally, Rison Mayor Charles Roberts’ ancestors also hail from that region of South Carolina.

“I am extremely excited to meet 'Cousin Charles,” she said. “It is a small world so you never know, we might actually be cousins!”

Mayor Roberts is equally as eager and has promoted the festival by referring to the headliner as “Cousin Julie.”

“I am so grateful for Rison's new mayor, Mr. Charles Roberts, the City of Rison, the show sponsors, Douglas, and everyone involved in making this festival so wonderful for everyone working and those attending. Rison in the Fall will always be a show I remember for the rest of my career. It's such a special place and I feel like I'm right at home when I am there,” she said.

Boultinghouse noted that putting this festival together is only possible because of the generous support of the local businesses that sponsor the event.

“Without them, we couldn’t have pulled this off,” he said. “I can’t wait for the sponsors and the public to see the show that has been created for this year.”

This year’s festival is spon‐sored by International Poultry Breeders, Stella-Jones, FBT Bank, Gateway Bank, Rison Pharmacy, Jefferson Regional, Jennifer King Auctioneer, Coun‐try Store at Woodlawn, Shop‐ Wise, Connect Bank, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, SEARK, Buie Funeral Home, R&L Hardware, Cleveland County Herald, Access Medical Clinic, C&L Electric, My Berry Patch, Douglas B Design: Graphic Design and Photogra‐phy, Main Street Cafe, Corner Express, Holt Builders Supply, Green House Cottages of South‐ern Hills, Cleveland County Auto Parts, Wilson Bros. Lumber Company, Tri-W Logging, Cleveland County Community Theater, Cleveland County Telephone Company/ARK-O, Woodlawn Grocery, Rowell Store, Twisted Mule Mercantile, Real Estate Solutions, Rison Serenity Wellness Spa, Anytime Smoothie, El Girasol Mexican Restaurant, Pizza Pro, Big Red’s Feed Trough, and Triple Crosses BBQ.

For the latest updates and maps of the festival, be sure to follow “Rison In The Fall Festival” on Facebook and Instagram.

Festival Schedule

8:30 a.m. - Rison In the Fall 5K 10:30 a.m. - 6th Annual Joe Cook Memorial Horseshoe Tournament at Big Red’s Feed Trough 10:30 a.m. - Vendor booth setup begins 11:30 a.m. - Food truck setup begins 1:00 p.m. – Festival opens with Johnny Cash Tribute with statue presentation from Kevin Kresse and performance from Erin Enderlin in FBT Park 2:30 p.m. – Rison Paws For A Cause Dog Pageant in FBT Park 4:30 p.m. – Austin-Hendricks Band on Main Street Stage 5:30 p.m. – Cleveland County Community Theater Performances and Award Ceremony on Main Street Stage 6:30 p.m. – Vintage performs on Main Street Stage 7:30 p.m. – Erin Enderlin performs on Main Street Stage 9:00 p.m. – Julie Roberts performs on Main Street Stage Food Trucks

Taco Shellz - Street tacos, burritos, quesadillas, frybread, Jarrito drinks.

Chillin N Grillin - Pulled pork sandwich, Hawg Dawg, loaded fries and nachos, smoked chicken salad wrap, popcorn shrimp, corn dogs, drinks and more.

G&T BBQ - BBQ ribs, brisket, chicken, polish sausages, hot dogs and sides.

Lucy Mae's Southern Foods Homemade burgers, fried pork chops, wings, philly steak, chicken philly, quesadillas, chicken strips, fries, onion rings.

Mortuary BBQ - BBQ sandwiches and nachos, meat by the pound.

Lybrand's Park & Go - Boba Tea, Stuffed Waffles and more!

Rison's very own Big Red's Feed Trough - BBQ, Chicken and more! As Greg says, 'Y'all Come Hungry!'

Vendors

Annie's Nail Shop - Color street style, dry nail polish strips, samples and more.

MoLue-Chic Boutique Women's clothing, boutique clothing, jewelry, t-shirts.

Jehovah's Witnesses (Jo Parham) - Educational books and free religious literature.

State Farm Insurance Agent Kelly Gillis Cleveland County Extension Homemakers Council - Free blood pressure checks and health information.

Friendship Extension Homemakers Club - Fried pies.

D&N Custom Graphics - Sublimation tumblers, shirts, license plates, mousepads, koozies and more!

U of A Divison of Agriculture Cooperative Extension - Come meet new agent David West!

Rison Sernity Wellness Spa $5 chair massages, free giveaways and more! Enter for a spa gift set!

Wesleyanna Ladies Group Rada Cutlery.

I Paint Them by Belinda Lawson - More than 30 paintings and hanging decor items for Halloween and Fall! Paparazzi Jewelry from Nancy Rhea - $5 jewelry for men and women.

Vickie's Garden Gate Designs - Door hangers, t-shirts, home decor and more!

Topanga Scents from Martha Knowles - Crafts and Detergents.

Rison Paws For A Cause - Enter your puppy in the pageant, or learn more about local pet adoptions!

FBT Bank - Visit with your local bank staff and learn more about their services!

Double M Firearms - Enter a raffle for a new gun! Get information and place orders!

Cleveland County Cares - Get information on the local charity that supplies Christmas cheer to kids in the county at Christmas. Donations accepted.

Macedonia Missionary Baptist Cemetery Association - Fried pies.

Lulu's Place - Crafts, kitchen boas, fall and Christmas items, and more.

Washed Air and Rainbow Products by Becky Adams Home cleaning systems and fragrances.

Zion M.B.C. Ladies Association - Craft items, quilts and more.

Cleveland County Farm Bureau - Membership, insurance and banking information.

Sweet T Farm - Goat milk soap, goat milk lotion, plants, resin art, essential oil products... cleansers, face sprays, hair products and more!

Cleveland County Youth Sports Association Cleveland County Republican Committee Cleveland County Office of Emergency Management / Cleveland County Health Unit Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield Raney Day Projects - Crafts, decals, earrings, Farmasi products.

Southern Soaporium - Handcrafted goat milk soaps, body butter, bath bombs, lip balms, beard oils, balms, etc.

Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church Direct Auto Insurance Lanwood School History G.S. Designs - Shirts, tumblers, flannel shirts, cutting boards, dips and spices.

Jimmy Adair for County Judge Crazy Pineapple - Mangonaddin and fresh fruit.