The Mountain View Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the first and says hopefully its only “Where’s the Bean’s Festival” in the place of its traditional Bean Fest and Championship Outhouse Races. The two-day event got underway Friday and continues Saturday.
“While we would have loved to carry on the 38-year-old tradition of our beloved bean cooking competition and Outhouse Races, we felt it extremely important to practice social distancing and to comply with current Arkansas Department of Health standards for events,” says Nikki Morrow, chamber director. “I know that this will be a disappointment to some but we are striving to hold an event that will benefit the community, businesses, and visitors alike.”
While the long line of bean kettles will be absent from the courthouse square, and beans won’t be cooked by loyal competitors, there will be beans available this weekend. Local restaurants have agreed to cook beans and cornbread and have them available to sample at their establishments. They will also participate in a friendly bean cooking competition. A list of competitors and a map of their locations will be provided at the chamber tent on Peabody Avenue.
Scheduled music performances will take place on the courthouse stage on Friday until 5 p.m. The opening ceremony is set for Saturday morning at 8:45, and music will resume from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Impromptu groups will appear at all hours on the courthouse square and adjacent lots, and area music theaters offer a variety of family entertainment in the evenings. There will be a special guest concert on the courthouse stage from 7-9 Saturday evening.
The north side of the courthouse square will feature the Bean Fest Artisans Market on the Square, offering handmade goods from local and regional crafters. The market is open Friday until 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The east and west sides of the courthouse square feature artists from all over the region with handmade jewelry, wood crafts, apothecary items and more.
For more information, contact Morrow at 870-269-8068.
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