RISON – Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association nominated recording artist Julie Roberts will headline this year’s Rison in the Fall Festival hosted by Rison Shine set for Saturday, Oct. 30 in Downtown Rison.
“We are so excited to finally share this news,” organizers Douglas Boultinghouse and Roy Phillips said Wednesday.
Roberts was initially scheduled to headline the festival in 2020 but the COVID-19 pandemic halted festival plans last year.
“Julie was gracious enough to keep us on her schedule as we began planning for this year,” Boultinghouse said. “I am grateful that she has been a close friend for several years and worked directly with us throughout the pandemic to plan for this year.”
During a free concert at 7:30 p.m. on Main Street, Roberts will perform songs from her albums which have sold over one million records – with just her first two albums. Those hits include “Men And Mascara,” “Wake Up Older” and the Top 20 hit “Break Down Here.”
Roberts is also the author of the best-selling “Beauty in the Breakdown: Choosing to Overcome,” which chronicles her career in country music, diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and surviving the rising waters of Nashville’s hundred-year flood.
The book will be available to purchase at the festival alongside Roberts’ music and other items.
Those attending the concert are asked to bring their lawn chairs to set up on Main Street. A reserved seating section will be directly in front of the stage for sponsors of the festival.
Other Activities
Boultinghouse said that rather than beginning events early in the morning as the festival has done in the past, they are concentrating the activities to the afternoon and evening.
The festival will begin at 1 p.m. and events will be scheduled to lead up to the concert that evening.
“This allows us to give our stage crew and vendors time to set up before crowds start filing onto the street for the festival,” he said.
Returning activities include Big Red’s Joe Cook Memorial Horseshoe Tournament, Rison Paws for a Cause Dog Pageant, the Rison in the Fall and the Pioneer Village Pie Contest and Auction.
Rison In The Fall Chili/Soup Contest
New this year, a chili/soup cook-off is being planned with prizes. According to Phillips, this will replace the barbeque cook-off that had been held for several years to add a new and exciting contest to the festival that allows more people to participate.
The Chili and Soup Contest will be open for entries from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. prior to the start of the festival. There is an entry fee of $20 to enter a crock-pot of chili or soup into the contest.
Beginning at 1 p.m., festival attendees can purchase a $5 people’s choice ticket for each category (chili or soup) and sample all entries.
One winner for each category will be awarded 40 percent of the money collected for the two contests.
All proceeds from the Chili and Soup Contest will go to the Rison in the Fall Festival and Rison Shine.
Rison In The Fall Pie Contest
Returning from 2019 is the successful Pie Contest and Auction, which is open to amateur bakers including kids, teens and adults of all ages.
This year there will be one category for all pies (fruit, meat and fried pies). Organizers note that there will not be refrigeration available, so if a pie must be chilled, it should be entered at the last minute or entered in a cooler with ice.
Pies can be entered on-site between 1 and 2 p.m. for judging. There is a $10 entry fee to enter the pie contest, or the donation of an additional pie(s) for the auction. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners.
Following the judging period, judged pies will be sold by the slice.
During the pie auction at 3 p.m. the winner of the contest will be announced and whole pies will be auctioned off.
All proceeds from the contest and auction will go to the Rison in the Fall Festival and the Pioneer Village.
Rison Paws for a Cause Dog Pageant
Rison Paws for a Cause will host its dog pageant at 4 p.m.
Entry forms may be turned in with Rhonda Fletcher at City Hall in Rison Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Monday, Oct. 25 or mailed to Rison Paws for a Cause, c/o Rhonda Fletcher, 7190 Hwy 35 N, Rison, AR 71665. Cash, money order or cashier’s check will be accepted.
Aggressive dogs should not apply.
For more information, contact Rhonda Fletcher at (870) 814-0185.
More Announcements Coming!
Additionally Rison Shine will incorporate its successful Trunk-or-Treat Halloween event into the festival.
The Cleveland County Community Theater is expected to perform a Halloween-themed show prior to the concert that evening.
Other games and activities are also being planned.
More details about these events and can be found on Facebook.
Vendors and Food Trucks
The festival welcomes applications from vendors of artisan crafts, cottage foods, small businesses and direct marketing sales to set up at the event.
Vendor fees are $30 for an approximate 10×10 outdoor booth space. A review process will be implemented to approve vendor applications this year.
A limited number of food truck spaces will be available. Food truck vendor fees are $150.
For questions or registration forms, contact Douglas Boultinghouse at (870) 510-2433 or risoninthefall @ gmail . com (no spaces as shown here) or download the forms below:
Vendors and food trucks must apply register by Friday, Oct. 15.
COVID Regulations and Weather
“There is no way to predict the coming months, so we plan to carefully monitor the ongoing pandemic,” Phillips said. “We will follow any regulations or guidelines that may be in place at the time of the festival.”
Boultinghouse said Rison Shine, Roberts’ team and the stage crew to provide a fun and safe event for the community.
“We’re also holding the festival later in October than usual, which may bring unexpected weather,” he said. “We will also plan accordingly and make adjustments as needed.”
Sponsors
Boultinghouse, Phillips and the Rison Shine group would like to thank all of the sponsors who contributed to Rison in the Fall.
“Without these sponsors and the support of this town and surrounding areas, this festival would not be possible,” Boultinghouse said.
Sponsors for the 2021 concert and festival are FBT Bank, International Poultry, Gateway Bank, Stella Jones, Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Connect Bank, Rison Pharmacy, Buie Funeral Home, SEARK College, Rison Hardware, Mainline Health Systems, Corner Express, Twisted Mule Mercantile, Shelter Insurance/Dee Holcomb, State Representative Mike Holcomb, ShopWise, Holt Builder’s Supply, Green House Cottages of Southern Hills, C&L Electric, R.E.S. Solutions/Ryan Saunders, Marty’s Body Shop, Cleveland County Herald, Real Estate Solutions, Rowell Store, Woodlawn Grocery, Douglas B Design & Photography, Cleveland County Telephone Company, Jennifer King Auction Services, Rison Starz Dance Academy, Cleveland County Auto Parts, My Berry Patch, Big Red’s Feed Trough, Access Medical Clinic, Quik M, Anytime Smoothie, Main Street Cafe, Pizza Pro of Rison, El Girasol Mexican Restaurant, and Triple Cross BBQ and More.