Fun things to do in the Arkansas Delta this April

Join the Arkansas Bicycle Club for a Bicycle Ride Around Arkansas on April 2-7. The six-day self-supported bicycle tour throughout southeast Arkansas includes two nights camping near beautiful Lake Chicot. To learn more, log on to www.ArkansasBicycleClub.org or phone 870-222-8410.

Head to Pine Bluff and the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas for a evening of live music, including jazz, blues and rock, by the Joe Pitts Band on April 6. The performance is part of Live@5, a monthly music series sponsored by the center. Admission is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Log on to www.artssciencecenter.org or call 870-536-3375 for more information.

It’s bargains galore in Halley on April 6 and 7 during the 15th annual Halley Fire Department Rummage and Bake Sale. Held at the Halley Fire Station, the yearly event serves as a fundraiser for the community fire department. Local communities and individuals donate items for the sale, which is also a great opportunity to snag some yummy baked goods! Phone 870-538-9352 for more information.

Cane Creek State Park offers three kayaking adventures this month. April 7 is the date for the Full Moon Kayak Tour, which allows visitors to experience Cane Creek bathed in moonlight. On April 14, enjoy a relaxing time paddling your kayak across beautiful Cane Creek Lake with a park interpreter as your guide during the park’s Afternoon Kayak Tour. If you’re looking to experience the lake in a different way, try the park’s Sunset Kayak Tour offered on April 21. Tour participants must not have kayaking experience but should be comfortable around and in the water. A brief paddling lesson is given before the beginning of the tour. Reservations are required and the $15 adult admission ($10 for ages 12 and under) includes kayak rental, lifejacket, paddle and guide service. Check out www.ArkansasStateParks.com to learn more or phone 870-628-4714.

Young anglers take to the water during Lake Chicot State Park’s annual Youth Fishing Derby on April 7. Prizes will be awarded throughout the event. Those fishing must be 15 years old or younger and bring their own pole and bait. Parents are encouraged to come watch and bring their chairs, blankets and umbrellas. The fishing derby starts at 9 a.m. For details, contact the park at 870-265-5480.

Homeschool students are invited to rediscover aspects of prehistoric American Indian life during Casqui Days at Parkin Archeological State Park in Parkin on April 12-13. Participants delve into the daily life of those who called ancient Casqui home, including how they grew and collected food, what they did for fun, and how they defended themselves. Spots fill quickly so reservations are strongly encouraged. Contact the park at 870-755-2500 for reservations or questions.

The 14th annual Air Field Reunion is slated for April 13-14 at the Walnut Ridge Army Flying School Museum in Walnut Ridge. The event is a reunion of former airfield personnel, both military and civilian, that worked and trained at the facility during World War II. Activities include museum and airfield tours, movies from the era and a memorial service. For more information, visit www.WingsofHonor.org or contact the Walnut Ridge Army Flying School at 800-584-5575.

Travel to a magical land with a blonde-haired girl, a family of bears and a young lady with a red cape as the Grand Prairie Center in Stuttgart presents the Arkansas Children’s Theatre’s Goldilocks and Little Red Riding Hood on April 14. The performance features the classic stories of the fairytale characters in a humorous, musical event. Tickets are $13 for adults and $9 for children. Log on to www.pccua.edu or phone 870-673-4201 for performance information.

Learn to make beautiful works of art from gourds when the Lower White River Museum State Parks offers a Beginner Gourd Workshop on April 14. Participants learn to decorate and shape the versatile and unusual gourd. The $10 fee includes gourds, materials and instructions. Contact the park at 870-256-3711 for details.

Cooking an entire meal outdoors is a wonderful way to make memories with your family. Crowley’s Ridge State Park in Paragould hosts a Dutch Oven Basics Workshop on April 14. Participants learn the history of the cookware, how to take care of the oven, and how to make a variety of recipes in the cast iron crock. The $15 fee includes a meal and a Dutch oven booklet. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the park at 870-573-6751.

Dr. Dig-It returns to Hampson Archeological Museum State Park in Wilson for Digging History on April 14. Participants learn how archeology helps recover the stories of the past, and join in a short “dig” to see methods used and how the story of the past is discovered. This workshop is suitable for all ages. To learn more, contact the park at 870-655-8622.

Kids of all ages are welcome at Lake Poinsett State Park in Harrisburg for Kids and Horses on April 14. Spend the day horseback riding and munching on fresh-popped kettle corn. Park personnel will hand-lead rides for the youngsters in the park’s playground area. Helmets are required and provided by staff. The event is free. More information can be obtained by contacting the park at 870-578-2064.

Head to West Memphis on April 21 for the sights, smells and sounds of the 9th annual Gumbo Fest. Teams will be cooking throughout the day and, if you’re lucky, you’ll get a chance to taste-test food from the variety of cooking categories, including gumbo, chicken wings and exotic meat. Spend the afternoon and evening enjoying great food and live music. For more information visit www.wmcoc.com or contact the West Memphis Chamber of Commerce at 870-735-1134.

Lake Poinsett State Park in Harrisburg helps you take cooking outdoors to a new level as they offer a Basic Dutch Oven Cooking Workshop on April 21. Participants prepare a meal from start to finish in the cast iron cookware. The $45 fee includes a Dutch oven to take home. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Contact the park at 870-578-2064 for questions or to register.

Star City hosts the 9th annual StarDaze Festival on April 20-21, a family-friendly event located on the Court House lawn. StarDaze promises a plethora of fun activities, including more than 75 arts and craft vendors, a carnival, live entertainment, a car show and a motorcycle point run. Log on to www.StarDazeFestival.com or phone 870-628-6400 for detailed information.

Cane Creek State Park in Star City hosts the first StarDaze 5K on April 21. Held in conjunction with the 9th annual StarDaze Festival, the run/walk takes place inside the state park. Runners will enjoy the area’s scenic beauty during the race. Contact the park at 870-628-4714 for more information.

The McGehee Desha Alumni Community Center hosts the Bicycle Factory Relay Rally on April 21 in McGehee. Students compete in an obstacle course, foot and bicycle speed races, and a bicycle disassemble/reassemble team event before the winners are crowned. Log on to http://deshaalumnicenter.org or phone 870-501-1199 for details.

Attention, Scouts! Parkin Archeological State Park in Parkin invites scouts to earn the park’s History Awareness Patch on April 21. Participate in a tour of the prehistoric mound site and complete a site explorer activity to earn the patch. Earn additional rocker patches by scheduling return visits to the park. Participants must register through their scout leader. Contact the park at 870-755-2500 for details.

Spend a few hours with a magical mouse and his human family as the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas in Pine Bluff brings “Stuart Little” to the stage on April 26-29. Young and young-at-heart alike will enjoy the “tail” of the Little family and the charming Stuart. Admission ranges from $11-15. Visit www.ArtsScienceCenter.org or phone 870-536-3375 for more information.

Motorcycles and music take over Cherry Street during the 12th annual Wild Hog Motorcycle Rally and Musicfest on April 26-29 in historic downtown Helena. The event features food and merchandise vendors, a motorcycle parade, a poker run, field events, Ms. Wild Hog contest, and music, music, music! Edgar Winter, 7 Bridges (the Ultimate Eagles Experience), broadBand, the R.T. Scott Band and the Don Ray Band are all scheduled to perform. For a detailed schedule of events, visit the Wild Hog Musicfest and Motorcycle Rally website at www.wildhogmusic.org.

Students learn the importance water plays in our life at Parkin Archeological State Park’s “Make a Splash” School Day on April 27 in Parkin. The day features fun activities focusing on environmental education and water fun. Contact Parkin Archeological State Park at 870-755-2500 for details.

Watch history “come alive” during the 2nd annual Fort Lincoln Fest in DeValls Bluff on April 28. The event focuses on DeValls Bluff’s Civil War heritage and includes period reenactors, interactive displays, guest speakers, and indoor and outdoor activities. The event, sponsored by the Bill and Sharon Arnold Family Foundation, begins at 9 a.m. Learn more by calling 870-659-5652.

Anglers ages 12 and under are invited to show off their fishing skills at Lake Poinsett State Park’s 7th annual Kid’s Fishing Derby on April 28 in Harrisburg. A special section of the lake will be stocked just for the fishing derby. Prizes will be awarded and parents are encouraged to help, but only the kids are allowed to fish. For more information, log on to www.ArkansasStateParks.com or phone 870-578-2064.

Spend the day alongside beautiful Lake Saracen in Pine Bluff for the Harbor City Festival and Cook-Off on April 28. The event kicks-off at 10 a.m., offering a variety of children’s activities, a rock-climbing wall, inflatables, games and crafts. The afternoon includes live music and a chance to taste the entries in the gumbo and catfish competitions. Log on to www.SaracenLanding.com or phone 870-536-0920 for details.

Spend a beautiful evening under the stars at Village Creek State Park in Wynne during the Star Party on April 28. The evening starts off with a presentation on constellations and night sky sights, and then you’ll move outside to experience the splendor of the evening sky. For more information, contact Village Creek State Park at 870-238-9406.

Learn how to cook outdoors over open coals when Delta Heritage Trail State Park near Helena-West Helena offers a Dutch Oven Outdoor Cooking Workshop on April 28. The workshop teaches the basics of outdoor cooking and caring for a Dutch oven. Participants help make the meal and sample their creations. Size is limited and reservations are required. For questions or to make reservations, contact the park at 870-572-2352.

Birds take center stage at Lake Chicot State Park during Feathers Over Lake Chicot on April 28-29. Participants delve into the life of wild birds through guided bird walks, a variety of birding programs, and lake tours. Attendees are encouraged to bring their binoculars and field guides. Contact the park at 870-265-5480 to learn more.

Frogs worldwide are fighting a losing battle against a fungus known as chytrid. To raise awareness of the issue, Village Creek State Park is hosting Save the Frogs Day on April 29. The event features fun and family-friendly frog programs throughout the day. For more information, phone the park at 870-238-9406.