50 Years in Fort Smith

Fort Smith's Heritage Festival is Multicultural

Fort Smith, Arkansas, is known for its Wild West origins, but don't assume the city's 2011 Heritage Festival on Saturday, April 9 is limited to that piece of history alone.

"It's truly a comprehensive heritage festival," explained Jennifer Boulden, communications and event services manager for the Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It's also sort of a multicultural festival."

The event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, and is headquartered at Immaculate Conception Church Parish Hall and Gymnasium in downtown Fort Smith. Entertainers inside the Parish Hall will be the Cherokee National Youth Choir, Irish dancers, Vietnamese dancers, Laotian dancers, and Story Teller Teddy Duncan. An antique car show will be set up in the church parking lot. Children's activities will take place inside and outside.

Vendors will sell beadwork, Native American art and jewelry, special occasion dresses for little girls, hair bows, handmade crafts, and Native American crafts. Groups such as 4-H, Girls, Inc., Western Arkansas Ballet, and Cultural Ambassadors will have exhibits.

While the festival is free, it is also a fundraiser for the Meals For Kids program.

The festival takes place throughout the downtown, and includes a Heritage Festival Tour of historic and entertainment areas. 

The Fort Smith National Historic Site will feature African American soldiers from the Civil War era. The national award-winning garden replicating the one planted by the Fort's officers' wives will be open as well.

While the main events of the Heritage Festival will be on Saturday, April 9, a free gospel concert will take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 10 in Pendergraft Park. 

For more information about top events in Arkansas take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Arkansas. 

For more information on Fort Smith visit www.Fortsmith.org

Springtime Festivals in Maine

Spring in Maine means mountains changing from white to green, moose beginning to make public appearances, and the start of fun community festivals around the state.

The 38th annual Boothbay Harbor Fisherman’s Festival happens April 29 to May 1 with fun head-to-head events like the on-water trap hauling competition and dory bailing contest.

Greenville celebrates the start of moose watching season with MooseMainea on May 14 to June 12. Moose outnumber people 3 to 1 in the region, and events include a canoe race, craft fair, moose tale telling, a kids fun day and a moose photo contest.

The town of South Paris' signature spring event is the Lilac Festival at McLaughlin Garden from May 27 to 30. 

The event formerly known as the Kennebunkport Fine Living Festival is now the Kennebunkport Festival happening May 31 to June 4. The celebration of food, wine and art will feature ticketed wine-paired dinners, a mini beer and music festival and nightly after parties.

These annual birding festivals attract birders from around the country seeking unique sightings on land and water. 

The 5th annual Wings, Waves and Woods Festival takes place May 20-22 on Deer Isle. Puffin and pelagic boat trips, eagle spotting, daytime and evening bird walks, and a lecture series will make up the event.

Cobscook Bay is the setting for the 8th annual Down East Spring Birding Festival from May 27 to 30. Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge and coastal boat trips are popular adventures, along with hikes, a kayak tour, workshops, and activities for children.

For more information about top events in Maine take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Maine. 

For more events coming up this spring, go to www.visitmaine.com