Written by Michelle Vales
Howdy, folks! Get ready to saddle up and join us for the rootin' tootin' event of the year—Frontier Day in Plainview, Arkansas, coming your way this Saturday, September 23, 2023, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Yeehaw!
We are so excited to revive Frontier Day. This event is all about fun, games, live music, and entertainment for the whole family, and we've got a roundup of all the exciting activities you can expect, plus some thrilling new additions. So, let’s get started.
The Classic Highlights: With Joe Dishongh (Joe the Barber) as our Grand Marshal, our day kicks off with a rip-roaring parade, that’ll set the stage for a day filled with action-packed adventure. But that's just the beginning, partner! Here's a quick rundown of what you won't want to miss:
Contests for All Ages: Test your frontier spirit in contests like the Mr., Ms., Little Mr., and Little Miss Frontier Day best frontier/western outfit contest. Registration starts at 8 am, and the showdown begins from 11 am to 11:30 AM. The winners receive a cute plaque and earn braggin’ rights for a whole year!
Live Music and Entertainment: Get ready to tap your boots to some toe-tappin' tunes throughout the day. The stage will be rockin' with Yates Band from 11:30 to 1:30 and Ron Wayn from 2 PM to 3 PM to keep your spirits high.
Fancy Car and Motorcycle Show: If you're into cool rides, you'll want to be there bright and early. Registration starts at 9 AM, and judging begins at 11:15 AM. It's a parade of sleek and shiny machines!
Kids Corral: Don't forget the little buckaroos! From 11 AM to 3 PM, they can enjoy bouncy houses and a corral full of fun games like Cowboy Bean Bag Toss, Apple Tree Balloon Darts, and more. There’s even a wide-open space for a little tag football or frisbee should they want to bring one and will play nice.
Log Sawing Contest: Think you've got the muscle for it? Join the log sawing contest and prove your grit. There are divisions for men, women, and even co-ed teams. It's wood-chopping fun all day long! Winners receive an awesome plaque and earn braggin’ rights for a whole year! Winners will be announced at the end of Frontier Day.
Hay Bale Toss Competition: Sponsored by Plainview's City Hall from Noon to 1 PM, this competition is a real hoot. See if you can toss a hay bale higher than the rest and earn your place on a plaque displayed in City Hall. The winner also takes home a sweet cash prize.
Silent Auction: From 10 AM to 2 PM, you can bid on fantastic items in our silent auction. Winners will be announced shortly after 3 PM, and you can pick up your winnings between 3:30 and 5 PM at Frontier Day. Proceeds go toward future events in Plainview.
Raffle: Feeling lucky? Grab your chance to win a 15-foot Todd Huckabee Signature Series Ghost crappie rod, generously donated by Sheila Ferrebee, new owner of the Carter Cove Bait-N-More. Plus, it's all for a good cause—proceeds go toward the Two Rivers Backpack program.
Dunking Booth: Ever wanted to dunk someone? We've got a dunking booth ready, and we're still looking for volunteers throughout the day to take the plunge. Reach out to us at plainviewevents@gmail.com if you're up for the dunking challenge! This one is for a good cause as well—proceeds go toward the Sharing and Caring Food Pantry in Dardanelle that helps all of Yell County.
Food Galore: Satisfy your hunger with a variety of delicious options from our food vendors. Enjoy catfish, chicken, shrimp, burgers, and hotdogs, and for that sweet tooth, feed your taste buds a sweet treat like a funnel cake, snow cone, or even ice cream.
BINGO Bonanza: Hosted by the Plainview AR VFW Fisher Law Post 8525 and Auxiliary, enjoy BINGO at $1.00 a game under the BINGO tent, starting at Noon and lasting until 3 PM. There are fantastic prizes up for grabs, including Frontier Day t-shirts, Halloween inflatables, and more.
Shopping Extravaganza - NEW! But wait, there's more! This year, we're thrilled to introduce an exciting lineup of shopping vendors to Frontier Day. Here's a sneak peek at who will be joining us, and being the last week of registration, we’re sure there’s more to come:
Krafts by Jenny T: Wreaths that will add a touch of charm to your home.
Paper Pie: Discover unique paper pie creations (formerly known as UsBorn Books).
LaKisha's Jewelry Bar: Find stunning pieces from Papparazi.
Tupperware: Explore a classic with Tupperware's versatile storage solutions.
Spurs N Glitter/Boomer Quilting: Handmade items, including quilts.
Plainview First Baptist Church: They'll be hosting a Cake Walk, so come prepared to have a chance at winning some delicious treats.
Duvall Insurance: Learn about life, health, dental, vision, and other insurance products.
Homemade by Rhoda: Homemade dishcloths, towels, scrubbies, and more.
Upcycle and Homemade Craft Items: Discover unique homemade items.
Simply Sandy: More homemade treasures await you.
Something by Martha: Handmade creations that are sure to catch your eye.
Central Arkansas Astronomical Society: Learn about the big solar eclipse coming in April 2024 and pick up viewing glasses.
Nana's Little Craft Room: Find homemade craft items, tumblers, earrings, and more.
Livin the Land: Explore homemade jelly, handmade goat milk soaps, freshies, and sewn items.
Crafty Squeeble: Hand-painted jewelry, home decor, and more, including fall and Christmas items.
Happy Camper Creations: Custom drink tumblers, glow buckets, and more.
Goody Gang: Freeze-dried goodies for your snacking pleasure.
Country Custom Designs: Discover sublimation magic.
Crafty Bee: Find a variety of handmade items.
Popo Franks Woodworking and More: Cutting and charcuterie boards and beyond.
Don's Goodies: Delicious baked goods, jewelry, and toys.
B&T Crafts Thrifts and Finds: Holiday and home decor, reading pillows, and more.
JJ's Custom Crappie Jigs: Hand-tied Crappie jigs for the fishing enthusiasts.
LJ Collection and Design: T-shirts, tumblers, and more.
Rockin Y' Ranch: Handmade goat milk soap and bath products (plus, there might even be live goats).
AR Hospice: Learn about hospice care.
Twice Blessed Sweets: Freeze-dried candy, fruits, veggies, and mixes.
Kidz Place: Learn about education for children and adults with disabilities.
The Original AR Smasher: Fruit drink chillers that'll quench your thirst.
Jesus Name Church: Lemonade and Cotton Candy to satisfy your sweet cravings.
Sincerely, Sonya: Handmade book crafts, wood crafts, and cozy blankets.
Jennifer's Creations: Hairbows, T-shirts, keychains, and more.
Two Rivers Peewee Cheerleaders: Baked goods fundraiser, drinks, and gator fan gear.
Janice's Jewelry/Nanzy's Closet: Plunders jewelry, silk wreaths, home arrangements, and more.
Adaleigh's Creations: T-shirts, tumblers, door hangers, watch bands, car coasters, christmas ornaments, and more.
Kaitlyn's Sweet Treats: Kaitlyn's Sweets and Treats bakes fresh desserts such as cakes, cupcakes, cookies, muffins, fudge, breads and more. Kaitlyn bakes to raise money for summer camps and to care for her livestock projects.
Danville HS Beta Club: The World's Finest Chocolates.
Noley's Creations: Crochet and hand made sculptures.
There you have it, folks! Frontier Day 2023 is shaping up to be a day filled with endless excitement, delicious food, and a shopping extravaganza like no other. And don't forget to stop by the Old Frontier Town Saloon for a shot of sarsaparilla—it’s the perfect way to cap off your wild west adventure. Now, we could not have made Frontier Day possible without the volunteers at Plainview AR Community Events. A big shout out to Terry Christenson, Jenny Thompson, Vicky Buckman, Chester and Lisa Gay, Loyd Miller, Cheryl Tyler, and Ann Leach, who have worked very hard this entire year to help make Frontier Day a fun day for the whole family.
We would also like to give a big shout out to our sponsors, who without them, Frontier Day would also not be possible—Thank you Pizza Hut and Burger King in Dardanelle for discounted coupons, Chambers Hospital in Danville for their generous donation, E&F Roofing in Plainview for providing porta potties on the property, Chickalah Fire Department in Chickalah for donating the use of their dunking tank, Carter Cove Bait-N-More in Plainview for donating the fishing pole for our raffle, and the Yell County Special Services in Ola, and C&L Barrel Train Express in Plainview for providing barrel trains for the kiddos, and adults too, to ride all day. And, finally, thank you to Amber Mahaffey for helping us manage vendors on our website and social media platforms, and the staff at both the Yell County Record and Dardanelle Dispatch for spreading the word about Frontier Day over the past few weeks in the weekly newspapers. Thank you to everyone who has helped us make the revival of Frontier Day possible this year.
So, mark your calendars, shine those boots, and get ready for a day of frontier fun you won't soon forget! See you at Frontier Day this Saturday, September 23rd, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM! Scroll on down and let us know if you have ever attended a Frontier Day in Plainview (last held 2007-2015) and share your memories in the comments. We would love to hear them.