Summer Festivals in Arkansas

Armadillos. Crawdads. Shelled creatures may seem to have the lock on Arkansas summer festivals, but there is a lot of music to be found during the season as well.

Arkansas' Crawdad Days Music Festival features a carnival midway, arts, crafts, and food, but it also has more distinctive events, such as a horseshoe tournament, a cruise-in and auto show, and a cardboard boat race. Taking place from May 18 - 19 in Harrison, Arkansas, Crawdad Days will feature country singer Eric Church in concert on Friday, May 18^th at the North Arkansas College Bill Baker Amphitheater, and on Saturday, May 19^th, Eddie Money is the headliner. There really is something for every member of your group. See what it has to offer you and your family at http://www.crawdaddays.com/

For more critters of the middle couth, check out the World Famous Armadillo Festival. This three day event takes place May 4 - 6 in Hamburg, Arkansas. This world famous festival offers live music, great food, a talent show, and carnival rides. An armadillo weigh-in and crawfish boil kick off the festivities on Friday evening. With barbecue chicken plates dished up for lunch, and nonstop music, including the Sunday gospel concert, this is a great event for the whole family. Direction and more are available at http://armadillofestival.com/

Riverfest in Little Rock takes place over Memorial Day weekend each year, which is May 25 - 27 this year. Celebrating the visual and performing arts, this festival features five stages on the banks of the Arkansas River where local and regional artists perform continuously throughout the three day event, and headliners close each day. This year, you can catch Smash Mouth, Blake Shelton, and Ruben Studdard. Almost a quarter of a million people attend annually. Do not forget to stick around for the fireworks display on Sunday night. Get more details at http://www.riverfestarkansas.com/

The Eureka Springs Blues Festival is a three day event taking place from May 31 - June 3 all over the city of Eureka Springs. With shows at the Auditorium, Caribe, The Ballroom, and Tiki Torch, this Ozark town sings the blues with well-known talent. It is Eureka Springs' most popular festival. Get all the detail so you can attend at http://www.eurekaspringsbluesfestival.com/

If you would rather hear bluegrass than the blues, you can get that in Eureka Springs too at the Eureka Springs Bluegrass Festival. From August 26 - 29, attend a Banjo Workshop, Guitar Workshop, Mandolin Workshop, Fiddle Workshop, or just sit back and enjoy the show, as dozens of bands, including The Nashville Bluegrass Band and Jesse Reynolds & The Virginia Boys perform at the Auditorium. Get more information on all the talent that will be present at http://www.eurekasprings.org/

From June 2 - 9, you check out the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival. Taking place in Warren, Arkansas, the festival includes street dancing, crafts, contests, games, live music, and, of course, the tomato! Started in 1956 to bring attention to the important money crop, the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival is one of the oldest festivals in Arkansas.

Arkansas offers up some of the more unique festivals in the United States each summer. Make sure you attend some of them, like the Armadillo Festival. You friends will love the absurdity.