Holiday Happenings All Over Hot Springs

Christmas lights are showing up in the neighborhoods in Hot Springs – in Historic Downtown, at Garvan Woodland Gardens and in stores and shops throughout the city. I feel as if the whole town is getting into the holiday spirit and it seems almost every day we have a wide array of events to attend. The hustle and bustle of December is upon us and it certainly is an exhilarating time of year.

Some of the exciting holiday events in Hot Springs include:

·         Hot Springs Holiday House from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec.14 at the Hot Springs Convention Center in the Grand Lobby has shopping, Santa, sweets, pictures with Santa and specialty vendors for Christmas shopping. The Holiday House admission in $2 and benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs.

·         Crystal Chimes Celebrate Christmas from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at Garvan Gardens is a barbershop chorus that will perform a variety of music with a four-part acappella chorus. Featured quartets include Providence, Four Tune, Crystal Vision and CPAP. The concert is free and open to the public

·         Holiday in the Park at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Hot Springs Convention Center in Horner Hall includes performances by the National Park Community College Choir & Soundwaves, Fun City Choir and additional local high school and elementary school choirs. The entrance fee is two non-perishable food items.

·         Five Star Family Show at 6 p.m. for dinner and 7 p.m. for the show in the evenings and 3 p.m. for the Sunday matinee Dec. 19, 21-23 at the Five Star Dinner Theatre features a two-hour production of Christmas songs and comedy with highlights from the Famous Wilkins Show Stage Career. Prices are $37.95 for adults for dinner and show, $24.95 for the show only, $24.95 for children for dinner and show and $17.95 for the show only.

In our neighborhood at Diamondhead Resort Community we have Santa coming to town at 5 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Clubhouse. Sleigh rides will also be available starting at 5 p.m. The Christmas lights in Diamondhead are worth coming out to see. Many houses are decorated and a drive through Diamondhead is a treat and will put you in the holiday spirit. Add a mug of hot chocolate and it makes for a fun outing.

We enjoy a great community in the Diamondhead area and are eager to have others come and check out the amenities and great folks that live here. If you’d like to schedule a tour, give us a call at 501.520.9201 or 501. 262.9310 and we’ll be glad to show you around. Diamondhead is part of the Hot Springs community near Lake Catherine State Park. 

‘Voices of Angels’

My favorite holiday music last season in Hot Springs was the ‘Voices of Angels’ concert performed by The Muses. This was the first time I had heard the concert that is performed annually, and it was a lovely afternoon of magnificent music.

This year the concert is at 6 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Muses Cultural Arts Center at 428 Orange St. and at 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at Anthony Chapel in Garvan Woodland Gardens. We attended the Sunday matinee last year and felt as if we were in the presence of angels singing holiday music. The musicians were incredibly talented and the choice of music was quite angelic. The setting in the chapel at Garvan Gardens always soothes my soul. The walls are made of glass and the surrounding woods are picturesque. It is one of the most spiritual settings I’ve ever been in.

Add beautiful music and you have the perfect setting to enjoy an afternoon in the chapel that is guaranteed to put you into the Christmas spirit. This year the concert also features ballet dancers from the Hot Springs Children’s Dance Theater who will perform excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.”

After the ‘Voices of Angels’ concert last year I was determined to make this an annual holiday event. I came away with a renewed sense of hope and tranquility to begin the Christmas season. Isn’t that what the holiday season is all about?

I highly recommend the “Voices of Angels” concert to anyone who wants to experience the peace and love of the holiday season. I’d also like to invite you out to Diamondhead Resort Community to see the beautiful natural area where we live. The Diamondhead community includes homes and lots on Lake Catherine. We also have homes and lots backing up to Lake Catherine State Park, the scenic golf course and the woods with abundant wildlife. We have a beautiful place to live and friendly people who enjoy a great lifestyle. Give us a call at 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310 and we’ll be glad to give you a tour of Diamondhead in Hot Springs. 

We have so Much to be Grateful For

I’m one of those people who loves the holidays. This year we are in our new house in Hot Springs and our family is coming to spend Thanksgiving with us. I’m grateful to have a wonderful family and friends to share the holidays with. I’ve learned more about gratitude lately and how quickly changing my attitude to be grateful in whatever situation I’m in changes my perspective. So I challenge us all to look at life from a perspective of gratitude and truly enjoy the holidays.

In Hot Springs we have so many holiday treats starting this weekend and going through December. I mentioned in the last blog about the Holiday Lights at Garvan Gardens that starts this weekend. They are spectacular and something not to be missed. Some additional Thanksgiving events include:

·         Thanksgiving Buffet at Oaklawn – From 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Carousel Restaurant. Guests must be 21 to participate.

·         Arlington Hotel Resort & Spa – From 11 a.m.-3 p.m. a Thanksgiving Feast is available. A Thanksgiving Evening Dinner is served from 6-9 p.m. Call 501.609.2575 for reservations.

·         Porterhouse Restaurant – From 11 a.m.-4 p.m. a buffet is offered. Take-home Thanksgiving is also available. Call 501.321.8282 reservations.

·         Bella Arti – From 11 a.m. -10 p.m. a sit down meal is offered. Call 501.624,7474 for reservations

·         Cracker Barrel and Dixie Café offer a regular menu for Thanksgiving.

·         Diamondhead Community Church invites the community for  dinner at noon on Thanksgiving day

If you’re preparing your own feast or plan to let the restaurants do the cooking for Thanksgiving, I hope you’ll take some time to say thank you to the people who mean the most to you in your life. One of the great blessings in our life has been our move to Hot Springs and to Diamondhead Resort Community.

I love living in an area that promotes and honors our neighbors and community living. We celebrate the holidays together and share with those around us. This Saturday, Nov. 22, we have a bake sale in the Club House from 9 a.m. until the goods are all gone. If you need goodies for Thanksgiving come out and shop with us. If you’d like to visit Diamondhead in Hot Springs and see the wonderful place we call home, give us a call at 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310 and we’ll schedule a tour for you.

Fall Colors are Hanging On

We’ve had several weeks of gorgeous fall foliage in Hot Springs. Fall is my favorite season and I’m always amazed once again when the warm temperatures subside and the cooler weather moves in. The last few days have surpassed cool to cold, but the beautiful reds, yellows and oranges are still around.

Along with the cooler weather brings lots of activities in Hot Springs. My favorite holiday event last year was the Holiday Lights at Garvan Woodland Gardens. This year Opening Night is Nov. 22, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The Opening Night Concert takes place at 6 p.m. on the 22^nd with the Village Big Band in Anthony Chapel.

This year Holiday Lights will have four million brilliant bulbs transforming about 17 acres into an animated holiday display and includes complimentary hot chocolate. The Chipmunk Cafe’ at the Gardens is open each day from 3-9 p.m. For more information on purchasing tickets, go online to garvangardens.org.

Sunday afternoon, Nov. 16, at 3 p.m. Garvan Gardens offers an afternoon with the dancers from the Ballet Arkansas cast of “The Nutcracker.” The afternoon includes the characters in full costume presenting a short performance and reading a portion of the ballet. The Gardens has planned a dessert reception with the dancers along with a photo opportunity after the performance. Tickets can be reserved today online at garvangardens.org or by calling 800.366.4664.

The Annual Chili Cook-Off and Light-Up Downtown takes place from 4-8 p.m. Nov. 24 at the Exchange Street Parking Plaza in Historic Downtown Hot Springs. Money raised by the Cook-Off is used to support the Downtown Association’s Deck the Park Challenge for the holiday lighting display.

I could go on and on about the holiday events coming up but I’ll save that for another blog. If you’re around for any of the events and have some extra time, we’d love to have you come out to Diamondhead Resort Community and take a look at the wonderful place many of us call home. Our community is gated and makes a safe place to live. We have a great golf course, beautiful lots on Lake Catherine and the greatest neighbors anywhere. If you’d like to arrange a tour for Diamondhead in Hot Springs, please give us a call at 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310 and we’ll get you scheduled.

Hot Springs Halloween

If you are in or near Hot Springs Halloween weekend, several options for celebrating await you, but beware there may be witches or zombies. On any holiday we know how to celebrate, but on Halloween we pull out all the stops starting with the International Horror Film Festival Oct. 23-26 at Central Theatre in Downtown Hot Springs. The second annual Festival brings together filmmakers, fans and horror fanatics for four days full of films including insidious indie films, blood spattered scream queens and movie monsters. For more information go to HotSpringsHorrorFilmFestival.com.

Other notable Halloween events in Hot Springs include:

7^th Annual Haunt Springs Trick or Treat for Children – from 4-7 p.m. Oct. 30 in Downtown Hot Springs from Ridge St. to Whittington Ave. Downtown businesses will hand out candy and treats. Costume contest takes place at the Parking Deck on Exchange Street at 4:30 for strollers to 6 year olds, at 5:30 for 7-12 years old and at 6:30 for 13-17 year olds. For more information go to hauntsprings.org.

Haunted Springs – Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Masonic Lodge on Albert Pike Rd. includes speakers, workshops, documentaries, psychic gallery and vendors. The event features speakers with authentic and documented paranormal cases from the area. Also includes a ghost hunt and costume contest. For more information go to hauntedsprings.net.

Halloween at Oaklawn – 6-10 p.m. Oct. 31 at Oaklawn Racing and Gaming includes a costume contest with a $1,000 prize. The event also includes prize drawings and drink specials.

Murder and Macabre Mystery Dinner Theater Presents The Night of the Dead Living – 6:30 p.m. dinner and 7:30 p.m. show time at the Porterhouse Restaurant in Downtown Hot Springs. Participants are asked to dress in their favorite Zombie attire. The event includes fun, food, dancing and some pretty weird characters. Call 501.262.4521 for reservations.

“Magic Screams” – 4-11 p.m. on Saturdays, 4-9 p.m. Sundays and 4-11 p.m. on Halloween night through Nov. 2 at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls. The event includes two haunted houses, a children’s house, trick or treat trail, Fright Flicks Terror Trail and several of the rides in the Park. For more information go to magicsprings.com.

Our local Halloween event at Diamondhead is the annual Halloween Trunk or Treat from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Clubhouse parking lot. The event includes Diamondhead residents who decorate their trunks and fill them with candy to hand out to children on Halloween. Prizes are awarded for best costume and the best decorated trunk. It is a safe and fun way to celebrate the holiday. At Diamondhead we enjoy celebrating all of the holidays with our neighbors and especially Halloween. Diamondhead is a safe, gated community with lots of amenities and gorgeous fall scenery throughout the area and on Lake Catherine. For more information on Hot Springs or to schedule a tour of Diamondhead, give us a call at 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310. We’d love to show you around.

With Cooler Weather Comes Health Benefits

It’s definitely getting a little cooler, with more to come. Fall is my favorite season, and I think it’s simply because we get a break from the hot, humid summer. The leaves are turning and it’s time to dust off my tennis shoes, go outside and get moving. Hot Springs is such a beautiful area to take advantage of the great weather on one of the wonderful hiking and biking trails and get some exercise.

Garvan Gardens is one of my favorite places to go take a walk. When we moved to Hot Springs about 15 months ago, one of the first things we did was buy a membership to the Gardens. During the cooler months we walked the Gardens at least once a week. Now that fall has arrived organized exercise events are also offered:

 

Health Walks for Beginners – takes place at 9 a.m. now through the end of November on Tuesday mornings. The guided one-mile walk includes an invigorating walk through the colorful autumn plantings and beautiful scenic views at Garvan Gardens.

Health Walks for Intermediates – takes place at 9 a.m. now through the end of November on Monday mornings. The guided walks are three miles and include different routes on over five miles of Garden trails.

Tai Chi in the Gardens – Kathy Packard of the Oaklawn Center on Aging leads Tai Chi, an ancient low-impact method for staying flexible and toned, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursdays through Dec. 4. Participants meet on the Great Lawn for class.

In Hot Springs we have multiple hiking trails including Hot Springs National Park, Lake Catherine State Park, Cedar Glades Park and others. Every Saturday morning at 9:15 a.m. until Jan. 31, 2015, Hot Springs National Park has a guided walk starting at the Fordyce Bathhouse at 369 Central Ave. No reservations are required. Hikers are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes, bring water and insect repellent. For more information go online to www.nps.gov.

Lake Catherine State Park has walks with a park interpreter scheduled for 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. a.m. Saturdays, Oct. 13, 20, and 27. This peaceful walk on the Falls Branch trail is an easy ½-mile short cut to the waterfall. For more information go online to www.arkansasstateparks.com/LakeCatherine.

Cedar Glades Park encompasses 432 acres of cedar forests, panoramic views of streams, miles of nature trails, biking trails and camping areas. The Park is situated near Historic Downtown Hot Springs off Cedar Glades Road. For more information online go to www.hotsprings.org/places/cedar-glades-park-garland-county/.

It’s time to go outside and get moving. In Hot Springs we have so many great places to exercise either individually or as a group. At Diamonhead Resort Community we also enjoy exercise on the golf course, in Aerobics and Strong Women and Men classes, in the weight room, playing disc golf or just taking a walk around Diamondhead. The air is crisp, the leaves are turning and the area is beautiful. For more information on Diamondhead or to schedule a tour, give us a call at 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310.

Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Coming Soon

Last year my husband and I attended many of the documentaries during the annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival and we enjoyed every film we saw. We had no idea what to expect and it far exceeded our expectations. We had so much fun picking which films we wanted to see and trying to make the schedule work so that we saw as many of the documentaries as possible.

And, we’ll do it again this year. Once again, this is an event that Hot Springs does well. The films are national and international in scope and subject matter, and they are very well done. They broadened our horizons and were the subjects for lots of conversation. For more information and a schedule go online to www.hsdff.org.

 

So, I highly recommend attending as much of the Film Festival as possible. This year it takes place Oct.10-19 at the Arlington Hotel and Low Key Arts. On opening night the featured film is “Glen Campbell…I’ll Be Me.”  The movie will be screened at 6:15 p.m. followed by a Q&A with Director and Producer James Keach, Producer Trevor Albert and members of the Campbell family including Kim Campbell and children Ashley, Cal and Shannon.

 The featured documentaries for the Film Festival include:

“Satellite Beach”

“The Story of the Rhinestone Cowboy”

“Meet the Patels”

“An Honest Liar”

“Stray Dog”

“George Takei”

If you’re in Hot Springs during the week for the Documentary Film Festival and have some free time, we’d love to have you come out to Diamondhead Resort Community and take a look around at our relaxing and fun lifestyle. We are a safe gated community situated near Lake Catherine State Park with many homes on Lake Catherine. Our golf course is beautiful and challenging with homes on the course. The fall leaves are beginning to turn and the scenery is beautiful. Give us a call at 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310 and we’ll be glad to arrange a tour of Diamondhead. We’re a short drive from Downtown Hot Springs.

Fall Fun Kicks Off Oct. 3 in Hot Springs with Multiple Events

Now that cooler weather seems to be here in Hot Springs we have several events planned for the weekend of Oct. 3-5 which involve outdoor activities. It’s so much fun to be able to spend lots of time outdoors and different Hot Springs events are planned to take advantage of this great weather.

Hot Water Hills Music & Arts Festival – Oct. 3-5 at Hill Wheatley Plaza

This is the 4^th Annual Hot Water Hills Festival which has come to be known as a “quirky mix of music, art, food, drink, contest and kids activities.” Along with the music for three days, an Art Fair is included with artisans selling one of a kind art including paintings, pottery, jewelry and more. Admission is $7 and a music schedule is online at www.hotwaterhills.com.

Hot Springs Wine and Food Fest – Oct. 4 at Central Park Fusion Cuisine

The Wine and Food Fest is a great event with music, wine, fun, food and a silent auction benefiting Project Hope Food Bank. The two events scheduled for the Fest are a Grand Tasting from 3-7 p.m. for $50 per person and a Reserve Tasting for $150 per person. For more information go online to www.hotspringswineandfoodfest.com.

Oktoberfest at Oaklawn – Oct. 4 at Oaklawn Racing and Gaming

An Oktoberfest is scheduled at Oaklawn from 6-10 p.m. with $5,000 in prize drawings, a $4.99 German buffet in Lagniappes Restaurant, $1 Oktoberfest drafts and live entertainment. For more information go online to www.oaklawn.com.

Garland County Trash Bash at the Gardens – Oct. 4 at area lakes

Garvan Gardens is offering free lunch, admission to the Gardens, T-shirt and prizes in exchange for helping to clean up around Lake Catherine, Lake Hamilton or Ouachita River from 8-11 a.m. Participants should check online at www.garvangardens.org/eventcalendar/default.aspx for more information.

Swinging with the Angels Golf Tournament – Oct. 5 at Diamondhead Golf Course

The 8^th annual golf tournament with a $65 fee per person is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start and benefits Guardian Angels Cat Rescue and Adoption Shelter. The tournament includes golf, prizes and food. For more information contact Diane at 501.276.1480.

We have so many fun events in Hot Springs year ‘round, but the first weekend in October offers a great assortment of possibilities for those living in Hot Springs and for out-of-town guests. If you’re participating in any of the Hot Springs events and have a little extra time, we’d love to have you come out to Diamondhead Resort Community and check out our great gated community, beautiful scenery on Lake Catherine, first-class golf course, great neighborhood and good food at the 19^th Hole Bar and Grill. For more information or to schedule a tour, please call 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310.

Exquisite Chihuly Exhibit Showcased in Little Rock

            I’ve already been to visit the Chihuly Exhibit at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock twice from Hot Springs, and I’m not through yet. This impressive collection of the famous glass artist Dale Chihuly is outstanding and certainly worth a trip to Little Rock. The exhibition will be at the Presidential Center until Jan. 5, 2015.

            The artist has an international reputation as being the finest glass artist alive today and he is credited with changing the perception of the glass medium from craft to fine art. He has architectural installations around the world in historic cities, museums and gardens. His presentation of color, shape and form is outstanding.

            Chihuly knew President Bill Clinton during his years as president and the Clintons gave presidential gifts of Chihuly blown glass to dignitaries from other countries. And so the partnership continues with the fabulous exhibition at the Presidential Center.

 

            Four installations of Chihuly glass were designed for the Little Rock exhibition including:

            Red Reeds is at the entrance to the Presidential Center and is stunning and dramatically lit at night

            Sea Blue and Green Tower is located in the Sky Lobby and includes about 700 hand-blown glass elements

            Mille Fiori installation is an amazing garden of glass on the first floor

            Seaforms and Drawings is in a temporary exhibition space on the second floor and is exquisite in the detail of each of the glass pieces and accompanying drawings.

            I guarantee anyone making a trip to the exhibit won’t be disappointed. We are fortunate to have this caliber of art available in Little Rock. The works are both inspirational and incredibly creative. For more information on the Chihuly exhibit at the Presidential Center go online to clintonlibrary.gov.

            We are fortunate in Hot Springs to have such great art available nearby. For those in Diamonhead Resort Community, we are about 15 miles closer to Little Rock than those living in Hot Springs. This is an advantage that we love every time we make a trip to Little Rock for dinner, shopping, a special event or visiting the Presidential Center. We’d love to show you around Diamondhead and give you a tour of our many amenities. It’s a great place to live and an easy drive to Little Rock. For more information on Hot Springs or to schedule a tour, give us a call at 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310.

Hot Springs Motorcycle Rally Revs Up this Weekend

            One of the first signs of fall in Hot Springs is the annual Hot Springs Motorcycle Rally that is scheduled for this coming weekend, Sept. 4-6 in Historic Downtown Hot Springs. This is always a fun event because of all the great bikes and biker events that take over Hot Springs for the weekend. One of the attractions for bikers coming to the area is the great riding through the beautiful Ouachita Mountain area.

            The schedule for the Rally includes several fun events:

            Concerts – Two great concerts take place this weekend in the Hot Springs Convention Center Summit Arena including The Eliminator Band, a band of three ZZ Top fans who play on stages across the Midwest and on television, Friday night and Trace Adkins, the Grammy nominated country western celebrity, on Saturday night.

            Poker Run – Two poker runs happen this weekend with one long run, about 130 miles and one short run about 50 miles, which can be run on Friday or Saturday or on the same day. During the Poker Run bikers visit several checkpoints drawing a playing card at each one. The object is to have the best poker hand at the end of the run. Prizes will be awarded for the best hand in each run and the top five hands in each run qualify participants for the Grand Prize.

            Parade – At 6 p.m. on Friday a Parade through downtown Hot Springs takes place where spectators can see the great motorcycles in town for the Rally weekend.

            Bike Show – From 1:30-4 p.m. Saturday a Bike Show is open to the public at the Convention Center. The Show features all makes and models, both stock and custom broken down into several classes from Radical Custom to Rat Bikes.

            Field Events – On Saturday Field Events feature not only motorcycle events but also non-motorcycle events throughout the day. For those who don’t participate, it’s also great fun to watch.

            Vendor Mall – Thursday-Sunday a Vendor Mall is open and offers clothing, jewelry, pin stripping, Rally t-shirts, motorcycle accessories and more at the Convention Center.

            Closing Ceremony – At 7:45 p.m. before the concert Saturday night with the help of the Hot Springs Police and Fire Departments Closing Ceremonies salute American’s Military at the Convention Center.

            For more specific information on the Rally, go online to thehotspringsrally.com.

            While you’re in town for the Rally, we invite you to come out to Diamondhead Resort Community and take a look around at a wonderful place to live. We have hilly roads, a challenging golf course, gated safe community and lots of good people who live there. There might even be a few bikers. For more information on Hot Springs or a tour of Diamondhead, please give us a call at 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310.

September seems to be the Month for Music in Hot Springs

            What could be more fun than an evening listening to men’s voices singing acapella in the barbershop harmony style? The Hot Springs Fun City Barbershop Chorus Concert kicks off the spa city September music season the middle of the month at 7 p.m. Sept. 13. The concert this year “Give My Regards to Broadway” is at the Hot Springs Convention Center in Horner Hall. For more information or tickets go online to FunCityChorus.org.

            The next day, Sept. 14, an Opera Classics program titled “Four Seasons in Art and Song” featuring arias, duets and ensembles from the world’s greatest operas takes place at The Muses Cultural Arts Center. For more information and tickets go online to the website at themusesproject.org.

            One of the musical highlights of the year in Hot Springs is the Annual Hot Springs JazzFest Sept. 16-21. This is a week of some of the finest jazz played anywhere with some of the top jazz performers. The jazz music venues take place all over Hot Springs starting with Larry Womack at 7 p.m. on Sept. 16 at the Arlington Hotel. JazzFest concludes Sept. 20 with Jazz After Church at 2:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. During the week there is a multitude of jazz performed in different venues with many talented jazz performers, ensembles, bands and orchestras during the day and in the evening. Many of the performances are free. For a schedule and ticket information go online to HSJazzSociety.org.

            If you’re making plans to spend some time listening to some of the great music performed in Hot Springs in September, we’d also like to invite you out to Diamondhead Resort Community to see some of the highlights of our great lifestyle in a gated community. The scenery is spectacular with Lake Catherine surrounding Diamondhead. The hills, trees and wildlife offer a wonderful lifestyle. It is also a great place to listen to great music in a majestic setting. When you’re in Hot Springs, give us a call at 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310 to set up a tour of Diamondhead. 

Hot Springs Blues Festival Set for the End of August

            If you enjoy listening to the “blues” then you’ll love the 18^th Annual Hot Springs Blues Festival Aug. 29-31. Hot Springs offers so much great music year ‘round, but the Blue Festival is especially entertaining. This year the Festival has added additional music on Friday night to kick off the weekend.

            The Festival is sponsored by Spa City Blues Society and includes music workshops, an artists alley for local artisans to share their wares, after parties in local venues and a full line-up of local, regional and national acts.

The headliner for the weekend is Larry Garner on Sunday evening. Garner has won numerous awards and accolades through the years. He is from Louisiana and was inducted into the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame in 2002. Ghost Town Blues Band, a modern blues band influenced from blues, rock and improvisational jams, from Memphis will open for Garner. GTBB is a Beale Street success story and has received quite a bit of airplay in the U.S. and Europe.

JP Soars and the Red Hots is the headline performer on Saturday evening. Soars has a diverse musical background with a lot of musical influences. He played in the 2013 Blues Festival. Well-known queen of Beale Street Barbara Blue will open for Soars. Since 1997 Blue has performed on Beale Street five nights a week at Silky O’Sullivan’s.

The line-up for the Festival on Friday night is Heavy Suga & The Sweetones, Steve Hester and DeJaVooDoo and the Hump Night Blues band with special guests.

For more information and a schedule go online to www.spacityblues.org/bluesfest2014.

            Hot Springs is an exceptional city with wonderful music in many venues throughout the year. While you’re visiting during the Festival, we invite you to come out to Diamondhead Resort Community and take a look at our beautiful place to live. We support all the cultural arts in Hot Springs and we especially enjoy the Blues Music Festival each year. Diamondhead is a quiet, gated community with great people, activities and Lake Catherine in our neighborhood. It’s a great place to crank up the music, kick back with a cold drink and enjoy a great lifestyle. For more information on Hot Springs or to schedule a tour of Diamondhead, give us a call at 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310. 

Boat Tours and Fishing Expeditions on the Horizon in Hot Springs

Lake Ouachita Boat Ramp

             Lake Catherine State Park, Lake Ouachita State Park, Mid-America Science Museum and the 3^rd Annual Fishing Challenge in Hot Springs offer summer activities involving fish, fishing or boat tours. With three major lakes in the Hot Springs area, Lake Catherine, Hamilton and Ouachita, there seems to always be an event about or on the water.

            At Lake Catherine State Park from 9:30-10:30 a.m. starting Friday, July 26, and on weekends through Aug. 24 the Park offers a relaxing cruise on Lake Catherine to enjoy the morning breezes and explore Lake Catherine nestled in the Ouachita Mountains. For a schedule or reservation information, go to www.lakecatherine@arkansas.com.

At a sister park, Lake Ouachita State Park, two opportunities await for boat tours on the lake starting July 26 with a Bird Island Tour and an Island Adventure Tour. Bird Island is a habitat for migrating birds including purple martins, egrets, herons and ibises. Two Bird Island Tours are available each weekend July 26- Aug. 31at sunrise from 5:30 a.m.-7:15 a.m. and at sunset from 7:15-9 p.m. Island Adventure Tours begin July 26-Aug. 24 and include boat rides out to some nearby islands and shorelines. Check the website for dates and reservation information at www.lakeouachita@arkansas.com.

Mid-America Science Museum Exhibit: “Amazon Voyage: Vicious Fishes and Other Riches” takes visitors to seven ports of call along the Amazon where they can see piranhas, anacondas, stingrays and pink dolphins. The hands-on activities include multimedia presentations, computer interactive, storytelling, live fish in uniquely designed tanks, original artifacts, dance, music and live demonstrations. The exhibit will be available through Aug. 10. For more information contact Cara Matthews at 501.767.3461 or go online to caram@midamericamuseum.org.

Last but not least, another exciting event in the Hot Springs area is the 3^rd Annual Fishing Challenge on Lake Catherine and Hamilton through July 31. Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said, “The prize for catching Big Al, the top-money fish, is $10,000. And we have increased the total number of tagged prize fish placed in Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine from 53 to 60. For rules and regulations, go to www.agfc.com/fishing/pages/fishingregulations.aspx or call Steve Arrison for more information on the event at 501.321.2027.

So many of the events around Hot Springs involve one of the three beautiful lakes in the area. Lake Catherine is partially-situated in the Diamondhead Resort Community. Many of the houses are lakefront or lake view lots with picturesque views of the water. Other lots back up to the beautiful golf course. We have a wonderful lifestyle at Diamondhead with the gorgeous lake, great golf course, Olympic-size swimming pool, children’s playground, tennis courts, park for picnics and the best neighbors you can find anywhere. For more information on Diamondhead give us a call at 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310. We’d love to answer your questions or give you a tour of Diamondhead in Hot Springs.

Hot Springs Gallery Walk to Celebrate 25-Year Anniversary

Gallery Central

            One upcoming event which will be celebrated in the Arts District in Hot Springs is the 25^th Anniversary of the monthly Gallery Walk. To mark this important milestone, the fine art galleries will be hosting special events throughout the weekend Aug. 1-3. The Gallery Walk is a monthly event that takes place at the Hot Springs art galleries the first Friday of each month in the evening from 5-9 p.m.

The kickoff for the 25^th Anniversary event weekend on Aug. 1 includes opening receptions at all downtown Hot Springs galleries from 5-9 p.m. Wine samples from The Wine Rack and previews of artwork for “Paws in Prison” fundraiser will be at Gallery Central. Justus Fine Art Gallery has an opening of a special exhibition celebrating the 25^th Anniversary of Gallery Walk and the Gallery’s 10^th anniversary.

            Other gallery events include:

            Alison Parsons featuring “Art and Architecture in the Spa”

            American Art Gallery featuring the work of Valerie Hanks Goetz

            Legacy Fine Art Gallery featuring live music and interpretive painting

            Artists’ Workshop featuring an exhibition opening

            Taylor Bellott Nature Gallery featuring an exhibition opening

            Linda Palmer’s Gallery featuring colored pencil drawings and paintings

            Fine Arts Center showcasing the Finalist Exhibit of Regional Art Competition

            On Saturday, Aug. 2 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. special events are planned in the galleries including “Women’s Paint Out” at Gallery Central; “The Creative Power of Depth of Field, Aperture, and Shutter Speed” by Taylor Bellott; silk scarf painting; Jennifer Lee discussing “How to Start Collecting Art” at Justus Fine Art Gallery; and additional special addresses by local and guest artists at several galleries.

On Sunday from 1-4 p.m. some of the events include an afternoon tea, trunk show and

Alison Parsons Gallery

special sale at Legacy Fine Art; Paws in Print fundraiser at Gallery Central; demonstration on multiple image-making in dry media at the Artists’ Workshop Gallery along with more events throughout the afternoon. This should be a fantastic weekend celebrating the arts in Hot Springs. For more information and a schedule of events contact Dolores Justus at 501.321.2335 or hotsprings.org.

            Fine arts in Hot Springs is alive and well and the 25^th Anniversary looks to be an exciting event weekend with a myriad of events planned by local artists and local art galleries. If you’re attending the weekend events and have extra time, we’d love to have you visit our picturesque development at Diamondhead Resort Community. We enjoy a wonderful lifestyle with a gated community including Lake Catherine, a great golf course, Olympic-size swimming pool, friendly neighbors, special events throughout the year and an all-around fun place to live, work and play. For more information on Diamondhead in Hot Springs or to schedule a tour, please give us a call at 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310.