War Eagle Fair in War Eagle, Arkansas

Fall brings about change in the state of Arkansas. There's a nip in the air, the leaves are showing off their beautiful colors and football season is in full swing. One event you do not want to miss is the War Eagle Fair in War Eagle, Arkansas. It's not the easiest place to get to, but it's well worth the trip.

The first time I went to this fair, I didn't think we were ever going to get there. Once we did get close, the traffic seemed to come to a complete halt. Looking back, it really wasn't that bad. It was just my excitement and anticipation of the fair that made it seem so terrible! There are not any major highways that will lead you to this fair, you'll be driving through narrow, hilly and curvy roads. But once you get to War Eagle Mills Farm, the space just seems to open up.

The first official War Eagle Fair was in 1954, but it actually dates back to the 1920's when women would gather to learn how to weave and then show off what they had made. Since 1954, the event has grown by leaps and bounds. Thousands of people go to this four day fall event every year. This year's event will be held October 15th to the 18th. Gates open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. except on Sunday, it closes at 4 p.m.

This is not an event to just jump in your car and go. You need to plan it out. Hotels, campgrounds, cabins and bed and breakfasts for miles around will be booked months before the event. If you even have an inkling of wanting to go this year, you'd better start looking for a place to stay.

My family was not aware of this problem the first year we went. We just drove up for the weekend thinking we'd stay in Eureka Springs, which is less than an hour from War Eagle. Much to our surprise, we couldn't find a hotel with a vacancy! Luckily, as we were pulling out of one hotel parking lot, the front desk clerk came running out to stop us. Just as we were leaving, someone had called and cancelled their room. She was nice enough to not let us leave the parking lot! So, plan ahead for this fair!

At the War Eagle Fair plan to do a lot of walking! It is not paved or level, either. This event is held on War Eagle Mills Farms. All it is are large, open fields. Tents are set up everywhere with vendors selling some of the most wonderful crafts you'll ever see. They are very picky about who can set up at the fair and so the vendors are screened carefully. Everything is quality hand made original crafts. Commercialism is banned from the event, which provides everyone a nice break from bulk made items.

When you first arrive, you'll find that there are a ton of people assisting with parking. They will tell you exactly where to go, so make sure you do as you are told in order to keep the traffic flow moving smoothly. Parking is free and so is the event. Some places make you pay a parking or entry fee, but not at War Eagle.

You do not want to start out carrying too much, so pack your purse or bag lightly. Some people even pull wagons around so that they do not have to carry their purchases, but this can become a problem with all of the hay and mulch laying around. The heavier the wagon, the harder it is to pull it. Plus, it can get in the way and people may trip over it. They do offer check stations where you can leave your purchases and pick them up before the end of the day. This is also a free service.

Don't expect to make it through all of the tents and vendors in one day. It will take you two at the least. My advice is to slow down and spend at least three days going through it all. This is a great place to buy Christmas presents for reasonable prices. If something is expensive here, it is probably well worth it. Everything is high quality.

There is a restaurant on site in the Mill, but I would suggest trying one of the vendors in the food court. They will have food that you cannot find anywhere else. Of course, some of it is typical fair food, but overall, the food vendors are excellent! I can promise you that once you start smelling it all, you'll want to try it all. Don't expect a fancy table to sit down at. You'll be lucky to find any seats open. What we like to do is to take a blanket and sit in the grass next to the river. It makes for a great picnic! The grassy area is also great to just spread out and relax for a bit.

Some of the crafts you'll see at this fair includes pottery, wood carvings, dolls, rugs, baskets, Native American art, quilts, clothing, jewelry, leather crafts, metal art, paintings - from oil to watercolors, hand painted china, even poetry and literature. There are so many different types of arts and crafts, I can't even begin to list them all.

If you have the chance, I would highly recommend that you go to the War Eagle Fair. It is just an awesome experience even if you don't buy a lot of items. The people are great, from the ones working it to other customers. It is a chance to get out and see some great arts and crafts. It's also a very pretty part of Arkansas. Just make sure you plan ahead for a place to stay!