Grandchildren of Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn to Perform at Oct. 5 Festival
RISON – The 30th anniversary of the Rison in the Fall Festival, set for Saturday, Oct. 5, is set to rejuvenate the event into something bigger and better than ever – with headlining entertainment from family members of country music royalty coming to town.
Twitty and Lynn, the duo formed by Tayla Lynn and Tre Twitty have country music in their blood. The grandchildren of famed duo Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty, will honor their grandparents in an intimate evening of music and storytelling, kicking off at 6 p.m. on Main Street in Downtown Rison.
“We are thrilled to host Tayla and Tre here at Rison in the Fall,” organizers Roy Phillips and Douglas Boultinghouse said.
Phillips noted this will be the first time the free festival has hosted entertainment in several years.
“I’ve known Tayla for a few years now and I knew her show with Tre would be the perfect way to launch what we hope to be a new-and-improved Rison in the Fall,” Boultinghouse added.
In addition to live entertainment, this year’s festival will include a Fall Market featuring craft vendors, produce and more; a pie baking contest; games; food trucks; the Joe Cook Memorial Horseshoe Tournament and Rison Paws For A Cause’s inaugural dog pageant.
There will not be reserved seating on Main Street for the concert. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs or blankets for seating during the show. A small section in front of the stage will be designated for sponsors of the festival. A limited space of designated handicap parking will be available near the festival site for convenience.
Additional announcements and surprises can be found on the Rison In The Fall Festival Facebook Page and at www.clevelandcountyarkansas.com
The festival is sponsored by FBT Bank and Mortgage, Gateway Bank, International Poultry Breeders, Greenhouse Cottages of Southern Hills, Cleveland County Community Theater, Douglas B Design: Graphic Design and Photography, Cleveland County Herald, Studi’O by Olivia Valentine, King and Company Auction Services, Buie Funeral Home, Corner Express and Wilson Brothers Lumber Company.
A Tribute To Conway and Loretta
Twitty and Lynn have seen great success with their Tribute to Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty; going into their second year together, with tour dates set throughout much of North America and Canada for 2019.
The idea for the grandkids touring together was spurred during an annual Remembering Conway show at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurrican Mills, Tenn., according to Twitty.
“A couple years ago, Tayla was there hanging out and I started talking to her,” he said, adding the two talked about Conway being gone for 25 years and with Loretta not being able to tour anymore, the idea was born to keep the incredible duo of Twitty and Lynn, and their musical legacies alive.”
Though Tayla Lynn and Tre Twitty are singing their grandparent’s songs, there is no “second best” quality to the artists. Lynn and Twitty have developed an authentic show that builds off of their family histories without attempting to simply duplicate older performances.
In perfect foil to one another, Twitty takes a calm, methodical approach to his storytelling and performing, meanwhile Lynn arrives on stage, often unexpectedly, with explosive energy and heart. Trying to keep one’s eyes on Tayla Lynn is like trying to lasso a firework; guessing where she’ll appear and what will come out of her mouth next is half the fun of spending an evening with her. Her joy is genuine, her energy addictive, and Twitty provides the perfect balance of steadiness in the eye of her hurricane – not unlike the way Conway Twitty related to, and tempered, Loretta Lynn for so many years.
With a heavy emphasis on story-telling, the duo delight audiences for two-and-a-half hours with their live show. For most artists this wouldn’t work; people go to shows to hear singers sing. For Twitty and Lynn, half the magic is in the storytelling.
Through their memories of Memaw and Poppy, as they call their grandparents, audiences are reminded in the best ways possible that behind every icon is a dynamic, funny, flawed human being. The show takes on the quality of a family get together, and it often feels more like one is on the front porch with guitars and old family hymns than it does a concert with two hundred or more of one’s nearest and dearest strangers.
It is a fascinating opportunity to see two of country music’s greatest legends through their grandchildren’s eyes. By the end of the evening, audiences have not only been able to hear some of their favorite songs and the duo’s best hits, but they’ve been invited in to the inner sanctum of these two musical dynasties to laugh and cry and understand what it was like to grow up under the tutelage of Loretta and Conway.
The high-energy, heartfelt show highlights not only the bond Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty had as best friends and musical partners, but the unique bond Tayla and Tre have formed through years of an intertwined family history and their own musical relationship.
Entertainment outlet Lula 1892 sums up their show: “Trying to explain the heartfelt emotion and connection these two artists foster with their audiences is nearly impossible. It’s something you have to witness for yourself to understand. Twitty and Lynn don’t get on stage so they can copy their grandparents or so they can try to out-sing them on the songs they wrote. They leave their homes and their families weekend after weekend, knowing full well the sacrifices they are making, so that they can preserve a legacy that was built into them.”
Friends and fans can follow Tayla Lynn on her Facebook page and Twitty and Lynn the duo on their Facebook page to keep up with their upcoming tour dates and projects.
Scarecrow Competition
To decorate for the festival and have a little fun in the process, Boultinghouse announced that Rison In The Fall is hosting a scarecrow competition.
“We’re encouraging local businesses, churches, community groups and even individuals to create a scarecrow,” he said.
Scarecrows can be themed around a business, church, group’s mission, the festival or even Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn.
There is a $5 entry fee. A cash prize will be awarded to the winning scarecrow’s creator. All proceeds will go towards Rison in the Fall.
Scarecrows must be entered Saturday, Oct. 5 between 9:30 and 10 a.m. at the Cleveland County Herald office. They will be displayed throughout the festival area and can be picked up after the concert or on Monday, Oct. 7 from the Cleveland County Herald office.
Scavenger Hunt
Leading up to the event on Saturday, a unique scavenger hunt, orchestrated by Chuck Kauffman, will kick off at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30.
Each day of the week a clue will be posted in the window of the Cleveland County Herald office at 215 Main Street in downtown Rison at 4 p.m.
Participants of the hunt are to collect clues each day in the window and piece the clues together to reveal the location of a special Rison in the Fall trinket and a $100 cash prize.
Note: The final clue does not reveal the location of the item. It is merely a final piece of the puzzle of clues.
For those who miss early clues, the clues can be found the following day on the Rison in the Fall and Herald Facebook pages. Clues will not be posted online the day they are revealed in the window.
Cleveland County Cares Silent Auction
A silent auction to benefit the Pioneer Village and Cleveland County Cares Christmas project will be held throughout the day on the lawn in front of Access Medical Clinic on Main Street.
Proceeds from the auction will held fund Christmas gifts and food for families in need in Cleveland County during the holidays.
The committee, organized by Melinda McKnight, is seeking donations of items to be auctioned.
“At this time our committee is asking all local businesses and artists to donate a piece of your art or wares to a cause that is greatly appreciated,” McKnight said. “Please know that no person is given monetary donations from this fund. Requests are made and approved by a committee prior to any purchases being made.”
Contact Paula Sadler at (870) 370-2451 or Melinda McKnight at (870) 692-2333 or (870) 325-6053 if you would like to donate an entry for the auction.
Fall Market
Vendors will begin setting up in the FBT Bank and Mortgage Community Park and along Main Street at 12 noon.
“We’re opening it up to vendors of crafts, products and fall produce,” Phillips said.
Vendor booths are $20 and can be reserved by accessing the application form here. Food truck fees are $100 and can be reserved by accessing the application form here.
Food trucks are expected to be set up throughout the festival to provide lunch and dinner options for attendees leading up to the evening’s concert.
Rison In The Fall Pie Contest & Pie Auction
The Pioneer Village and Rison In The Fall will co-host a Pie Baking Contest. Entries will be accepted from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Pioneer Village booth at the FBT Community Park on Main Street. Judging will begin at 3:45 p.m. and winners will be announced at 4:30 p.m. A separate entry form is required for each entry. An entry form can be downloaded here.
Each entry will consist of two pies or one dozen fried pies. One pie (or half-dozen fried pies) to be judged and one pie (or half-dozen fried pies) to be auctioned. Judged pies will be sliced and sold after the winners are announced. At 4:45 p.m. King & Company Auction Services will auction off the pies. All proceeds from the sale and auction will benefit the Rison In The Fall Festival and the Pioneer Village.
A $100 Cash Prize will be awarded to the first place winner of each category, regular pie or fried pie. Second place winners in each category will receive $50.
For more information, contact Malinda Berry at (520) 490-5903 or Sharon Gray at (870) 692-3130.
Official contest rules:
- Contest is open to kids, teens and adults of all ages. Amateur bakers only. There are two categories of pies. Regular pies and Fried Pies. Each person must bring two pies. One to judge and one to be auctioned after the contest. Judged pies will be sliced and sold. All proceeds from the contest will go to Rison in the Fall and the Pioneer Village.
- Professional bakers cannot compete. A professional is defined as someone who works for a bakery, works for or owns a catering company, or someone who sells pies.
- Each pie entry must have a registration form. Pies must be dropped off at the FBT Community Park on Main Street from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 5. Winners will be announced immediately following the judging. Auction will begin after winners are announced.
- All entries must be on throw-away, single-use pie plates.
JUDGING:
- Judges will use the scoring guide shown
- Judges will not know the identity of the pie bakers
- Judging will begin at 3:30 p.m. with prizes announced immediately after judging.
- Judges will independently assign each pie a score without consultation.
- For each category cash prizes will be awarded.
SCORING:
Overall Appearance 25 Points
Before slicing
Crust/Topping consistency
After slicing
Runniness, juiciness, or firmness
Taste 25 Points
Flavor (Strength & balance)
Mouth feel (appropriateness)
Crust (flaky, soggy, mealy)
Aftertaste
Overall Impression 25 Points
Memorable quality of the pie
Are you impressed with the pie?
Creativity
Originality
Rison Paws For A Cause Dog Pageant
Rison Paws For A Cause is set to host what is sure to be the festival’s other highlight – a dog pageant on Main Street.
The pageant will begin at 3:30 p.m. with proceeds befitting Rison Paws For A Cause’s kennels and shelters. Entry forms may be turned in with Rhonda Fletcher at City Hall in Rison Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Wednesday, October 2, or between 2 and 3 p.m. Saturday, October 5 at the Rison Paws For a Cause booth at Rison in the Fall. Cash, money order or cashier’s check will be accepted. Winners will be announced at 4:30 p.m. after the pageant.
$10 Entry Fee For Pageant
$5 Entry Fee For Individual Categories:
• Most Photogenic*
• Best Dressed
• Congeniality
*A printed photo must be brought for the photogenic category. If you do not have a printed photo, you can text one to Rhonda at (870) 814-0185 prior to October 2 to be printed
For more information, contact Rhonda Fletcher at (870) 814-0185.
Joe Cook Memorial Horseshoe Tournament and Other Games, Activities
Big Red’s Feed Trough will host the Joe Cook Memorial Horseshoe Tournament on the lawn in front of their truck. The tournament will start at 12 noon with registration beginning at 11 a.m. The cost is $20 per team. Teams can register at Big Red’s the day of the tournament. Prizes will be awarded. For more information, contact Jennifer Duncan at (870) 489-1687 or Greg Hyatt at (501) 912-9865.
The CALL of Cleveland County will host a Baggo Tournament at 2 p.m. in the FBT Community Park. The cost is $20 per team. For more information, contact Lisa Prescott at (870) 818-3040.
After-Fest Jam Session
Big Red’s Feed Trough will host a late-night jam session around 10 p.m. with local talent performing on the lawn in front of their food truck.
Hwy. 79-63 Junk Hunt Loop
Rison in the Fall also coincides with the final day of the 2019 Hwy. 79-63 Junk Hunt Loop, which runs through Cleveland County.
The multi-mile hunt of rummage sales through Pine Bluff, Watson Chapel, Rison, Kingsland, New Edinburg, Woodlawn, Fordyce and Warren runs Oct. 3-5.
“From past experience the Junk Hunt tends to wrap up around mid afternoon on Saturday,” Boultinghouse said. “So we hope that everything we have planned for the festival will encourage travelers to stick around Rison while they’re out on the Junk Hunt.”