Painters will include Drew Gentle, Carol Saari, Cynthia Re Robbins, Larry Mansker, Sara Russell, Janet Goodyear, and Diane Harvey. Rebecca J. Becker will exhibit her pastels. Maureen Dailey will show assemblage and found-object sculptures; Bob Harvey’s sculptures are in marble, and he will also exhibit his etchings. James A. Nelson will show his original works in wood and Rich Goodyear will display functional and decorative metal works. Stoneware and raku pottery by Terry Russell, gold and silver jewelry by Chon Stanley, handcrafted flutes by Craig Trigg Hirsch and handcrafted drums and sculpture by Lorna Trigg Hirsch will also be featured on the tour.

The free, self-guided annual art event allows visitors to spend time at the artists’ personal studios and engage them one-on-one in a way not usually available during gallery openings and art shows. Demonstrations, the chance to interact with the artists in their working environments, and the usually pleasant fall weather and colorful scenery have made the Adventure Into Art a popular Eureka Springs event.

Full-color map guidebooks will be available ahead of time or during the tour at

Practical Magic Art Supply, 123 Spring Street; Eureka Springs Trolley Depot, 137 W. Van Buren (US 62W); Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, Pine Mountain Village on US 62W; The Auditorium, 36 South Main St; and at all tour sponsors and patrons locations around town, whose names and locations are listed at

www.eurekaspringsstudiotour.com.

The19^th Annual Festival, Aug. 26-29, celebrates “The Year of the Hot Rod.” Close to 200 participants are planning to arrive in town to show off their cars, compete for trophies, and talk about their favorite vehicles.

The weekend festivities include competitions, including Best of the Best in 25 different categories. Participants help judge the entries during the Saturday car show which is open to the public, and held at the Best Western Inn of the Ozarks. The VW parade, downtown on Saturday afternoon, is one of the longest parades in a city famous for them. On Sunday, a VW Tourcade takes a scenic drive through the mountains of NW Arkansas.

More information is available from the Northwest Arkansas Volkswagen Association at www.nwavwa.com.

Music Festival brings internationally renowned instrumentalists and teachers together with gifted students from around the world.

The musicians have gathered for classes, workshops, individual instruction and a series of 13 public performances in Eureka Springs’ historic City Auditorium. July 25 – August 6.
The performance series includes symphony concerts and chamber music, and opens with an international concerto competition on Monday, July 25, 7 p.m. Students 16-25 years old and students 15 years old and younger will vying in two separate competitions; the first place winner of each group wins a prize of $500 and the chance to play solo with the orchestra in concert. Fifteen students are entered in this year’s competition. The winning students will perform with the symphony orchestra at the Saturday night events.

Here is the schedule of performances:

7/27 Wednesday, 7 p.m.

“From Mozart to Chopin” Arthur Heart piano recital.

7/28 Thursday, 7 p.m.

Mozart, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, played by the CICA music festival chamber orchestra

7/29 Friday, 7 p.m.

Saint-Saens, Mozart with violin soloist Dr. Shih-Peng Chang and arias sung by Myron Flippin, with conductor Thomas Chun-yu Chen leading the CICA music festival symphony orchestra.

7/30 Saturday, 7 p.m.

Concerto competition winners perform Mozart, Strauss, and Beethoven with the CICA music festival symphony orchestra, conducted by Myron Flippin.

7/31 Sunday, 3 p.m.

Chamber music concert featuring strings, winds, brass instruments.

8/1 Monday, 7 p.m.

“World famous romantic violin masterpieces” violin recital by Dr. Shih-Peng Chang of by Wieniawski, Kreisler, Ysaye, and Strauss. He is accompanied by pianist Arthur Heart

8/2 Tuesday, 7 p.m.

“From Mozart to Chopin” piano recital by Arthur Heart, with Tatiana Kotcherguina on viola. Faculty and musicians may sign up to add to the program.

8/3 Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Music of Mozart and Tchaikowsky, and a string quartet performance of pieces by

Haydn, Mozart and Mendelssohn. Faculty and musicians may sign up to add to the program.

8/4 Thursday, 7 p.m.

Solo recitals, as well as trios for flute, oboe, and piano, featuring Shannon Clardy on oboe, Jennifer Amox on flute and Mark Smidt and Arthur Heart on piano.

Teachers and musicians may sign up to add to the program.

8/5 Friday, 7 p.m.

Conductor Myron Flippin leads the CICA music festival Symphony Orchestra.

8/6 Saturday, 7 p.m.

Conductor Thomas Chun-yu Chen leads the orchestra in pieces by Mozart, Sibelius, Schumann, with solo violinist, Chris Thompson.

(See full program at www.lovelycitizen.com)

Tickets for the Thursday – Sunday shows are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Monday-Wednesday tickets are $5 for adults and free for children and students. All concerts begin at 7:00 p.m.

These works for the stage will be showcased at the Auditorium all day, and ticket information for the full performances will be available.

A two-hour Fundamentals of Acting Class, starting at 10 a.m., will initiate dramatic hopefuls into theater work. Classically trained local actor and director Keith Scales will present a free introductory workshop in acting basics. The workshop has been limited to 12 participants, 16 years old and up, and pre-registration is required. Call Scales at 479-253-5012 to register or for more information including location of class.

At 1 p.m, Sondra Torchia, a historical performer, presents A Chat with Mrs. Kerens, the woman whose husband brought the railroad to Eureka Springs. Torchia presents these “stepping back in time” performances by arrangement and can be contacted at her website: www.sondratorchia.com. Her usual performances are offered to groups and last up to an hour.

Torchia’s performance will be followed at 2 p.m. by a selection from The Belle of Amherst by William Luce. This one-woman bravura performance by local actress Laurel Owen is directed by Marvin Jonason. Based on the life of Emily Dickinson, it makes use of her poetry, diaries and letters to recollect encounters with significant people in her life. The full play will be produced by Renaissance 1 at Enthios Art Venue, Greenwood Hollow Road, Sept. 16 and 17, 8 p.m. For reservations, call 479-253-6830.

Origins – The Blue Oracle takes the stage at 2:45 p.m. Origins was conceived, directed and performed by Enthios Artistic Director, Tamarah Jonason, who describes it as “live music intertwined with performance dance/theater to create an epic journey through the heartbeat of humanity. Shedding the cloak of obsolescence we reveal a full spectrum of light, whole, complete and fulfilling.” More details available at www.enthiosartvenue.com.

At 3:30 p.m., Readers’ Theatre Tales of Love and Laughter will be presented by local actors Rebecca J. Becker and Keith Scales.

Local teacher/choreographer, Melanie Linker, director of Soul Motion Studio, will present a choreography performance at 4:15 p.m. Soul Motion Studio offers classes in theater and dance for children and adults. For more information, call (479) 981-3947 or visit www.soulmotionstudio.com.
The Virtual Insanity Players will offer “before the curtain” interludes between scheduled performances.

The day is sponsored by Caribe Restaurant.

From 10 a.m. to noon, artist Valerie Palafox and friends will help kids and adults build mini-mobiles at Basin Spring Park. Materials will be supplied, and the finished project is yours to take home.

After an hour’s lunch break – bring a sack lunch and enjoy the spring, the flowers and the artists Palafox will help the group create larger mobiles that will be hung as decoration on trees at the park.

At 2:30 p.m., the group moves on to a short watercolor painting session, with Palafox providing pretty pictures to paint, and blank sheets of paper for greater levels of creative endeavor.

Juice and cookies at 3 p.m. are the fare at the Dancing in the Rain tea party, and that wraps up the day of artistry. Support from Rogue’s Manor Restaurant made the day possible.

Participation in all Art Adventure activities are free, including all art supplies.

Learn more at www.EurekaSpringsArtAdventures.com.

Most of the participants, hobbyists who enjoy working with wood, use basswood for carving, but there are many different woods displayed at the show.

Woodcarver and Show Directors Bill and Doris Payne of Broken Arrow, OK said their usual display has 14-16 different kinds of wood. Some of the more exotics woods, Bill Payne said, are very expensive. He said he has one or two carvings on display made from sinker cypress, a wood often more than 200 years old.

Exhibitors will select their personal favorite carving and enter it into a competition, where the public will vote for “People’s Choice” favorites. Winners will be announced and prizes awarded at 4 p.m. Sunday to the top three choices.

Items on display will show a variety of techniques, subjects and styles, from wood burned pictures to three dimensional sculptures. Payne said there are always some realistic sculptures and images, and a large variety of caricature carvings. Lathe-turned bowls and vases, either painted or finished to show the wood grain, will also be displayed.

There will be demonstrations of the different woodcrafts throughout the show.

Melodye Purdy of Purdy Art Company will take grand opening photos from 6-7 p.m., and everyone is invited to drop by and be part of the grand opening history, said Lisa McCants.
The shop reflects the McCants’ love of home, antiques and life, according to the couple, and includes such items as soy candles, luxurious dog beds, organic soaps, cards and some antiques. As well as many other craft and gift items.

This rally has been held in Eureka Springs since 1975. Attendees come from all over the US and several other countries.

The banjo derives from instruments of West Africa, and has undergone numerous changes in its long history. In 1910, when the tenor banjo was developed, it was played with a pick and tuned like a viola. It quickly became known the jazz banjo of the roaring 20’s, and was favored by Dixieland bands. The plectrum banjo evolved from the five-string banjo and catered to styles of music involving strummed chords. It’s featured in many early jazz recordings and arrangements. Both styles of banjo will be played at the rally; there will also be a guest appearance by a ukulele player. This instrument is gaining new-found popularity, and contemporary ukulele players are successfully transposing complex guitar music to their fret boards. Much of the music played on ukulele is compatible with 4-string banjo music.

Jazz banjo music fell into decline until after WWII, when a huge revival of the instrument began, which lasted into the 1970’s. There are fewer players now, and fewer teachers, although the Internet has provided a convenient place to learn the instrument.

The Rally will feature The New Orleans Krewe, an intriguing trio comprised of banjoists Barry Foulon and Mike Gentry and tuba player Danny Rubio.

The legendary Don Van Palta, Sgt. Ron Hinkle, and many other outstanding performers will also entertain.

Public events begin Wednesday, Aug 31 at 5:30 p.m. when Bear Mountain Riding Stables and Dude Ranch hosts a barbecue and banjo jam. Admission is $10 per person for the barbecue; pickers and listeners are all welcome at the free jam.

Thursday, 10 a.m.- noon is a jam session at Pine Mountain Village. Open to the public and free. Thursday night 7 p.m. is a pool party and jam at Best Western Inn of the Ozarks, which is also open to the public.

Friday, Sept. 2, 5:30 p.m., the Grand Banquet and Show take place at Best Western Conference Center, with banquet and show tickets priced at $28 each; the show only is $10.

Saturday, Sept 3, Basin Spring Park is the site of a free concert from 1-3 p.m.; the action moves back to the Best Western at 5:30 p.m. for another banquet and show, at $25 for both, and show only at $10 per ticket.

Reservations must be made a day ahead for the banquets; contact the rally organizers prior to August 29 by e-mail or postal mail. After that date, contact the Best Western Inn at 800-552-3785 or 479-253-9768.

Shows start at 7 p.m. There are no reserved seats for the shows, and no reservations taken for show only.

More information is available at 309-263-2518 and www.banjorally.org.

The Bluegrass Festival begins 1 p.m. Friday, August 19, in Basin Spring Park, with Mountain Sprout, a band of four musicians from Eureka Springs who claim to play the most authentic modern Ozark music available today. Their sound has been described as “the kind of bass thumping, banjo picking, guitar playing, and fiddle shredding that makes you get up and stomp your feet.”

            At 2:15 p.m., Backroads Bluegrass Band gets toes tapping with “traditional bluegrass, gospel, the occasional country classic and hot pickin’ instrumentals.”

            Backroads is followed at 3:30 p.m. by Steve Jones’ Band. Jones is a well-known guitarist from Eureka Springs, and was one of the founders of the original Eureka Springs Blues Weekend. In addition to his acoustic solo work, Steve plays with several area bands, including The Jones Brothers, The Eureka Street Buskers, Opal Fly and the Swatters, Eureka Swings and The Hogscalders. Jones is putting together a bluegrass band for the festival.

            At 4:45 p.m, Cletus Got Shot, an Arkansas-based acoustic/punk trio, will offer up their “passionate songs ranging from slow burning emotional intensity to raging calls to action.” Their music “bridges the gap between folk protest songs and punk rock rebellion.”

            A Watermelon Social, sponsored by the Eureka Springs Downtown Network, runs from 6-8 p.m. Friday night, accompanied by an open jam to which all pickers are invited.

            Saturday, August 20,1-8:30 p.m., music again enlivens the park. Mountain Sprout and Backroads Bluegrass Band return for another set, and Arkansas Red, Hogscalders, and Hogeye Ramblers join the line-up. Blackberry Winter will close the evening’s performances.  

The Hogeye Ramblers are a group of five friends who play a blend of acoustic bluegrass, swing and traditional folk music. Denise Lanuti, rhythm guitar player, actually lives in Hogeye, Arkansas.

            The Hogscalders, a newgrass jam-band, is known for pulling audiences off their seats and into a dancing frenzy.

Arkansas Red, an Ozarks native who calls himself an Ozarks troubadour, has been a lifelong singer of the old folksongs, which showcase, he said, his deep appreciation for America’s past.

Sunday afternoon, 1-3 p.m., is set aside for ensembles of musicians from Pine Mountain Jamboree, Ozarks Mountain Hoe-Down and special guests.

All performances are outdoors in Basin Spring Park, and will go on rain or shine.