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.