What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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www.rogerslowell.com www.rogerslowell.com Online Event Returning April 1-30 Attention Employers! Presented by Don't miss out on the NWA Employment Showcase! Register now at RogersLowell.com! Showcase your career opportunities and job openings to job seekers at the NWA Employment Showcase returning the month of April at RogersLowell.com. It's the newest event from the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce and Careers NWA helping your business to recruit talent online. Purchase your webspace now, starting at only $100, promoting your company's recruitment video, job listings and links. 4 WHAT'S UP! MARCH 14-20, 2021 And that, says Thomas now, turned out to be the key to surviving a pandemic. "I think 2020 has given folks a longing to spend time together, to have fun, to laugh and to celebrate good times," he says. "Our recent research shows that folks are longing for things that are found at Silver Dollar City — our craft demonstrations, our mild to thrill rides, our music festivals, our food and our humor." In 2021, "many of our guests will experience their first rides on Mystic River Falls," he adds, saying the adventure "really features four experiences on one ride: a thrilling river ride, the lift tower that slowly rotates the boat upward, the thrill of the elevated channel ride and then the world-famous drop back into the river." That doesn't mean all the changes from covid-19 have been washed away. "As part of our pandemic protocol, we operated at 50% attendance capacity in the 2020 season," explains Lisa Rau, director of publicity for Silver Dollar City. "We found that travelers were, indeed, looking for outdoor family options — and by creating more outdoor stages and activities, we were able to provide that getaway. "We believe what we did worked well, and the protocols, including limiting capacity at the park and on rides, currently are scheduled to continue for 2021, minus the need for reservations. We will still require masks, practice social distancing and other measures found in detail at 0silverdollarcity.com/playsafe." With outdoors as the new "in" destination, Silver Dollar City has added a brand new event, Street Fest, which begins in April, following Spring Ride Days, Rau says. "This event will have lots of unique performers and music throughout the 'City.' And we also adding new 'Tasting Passports' for Street Fest in April and Bluegrass & BBQ in May that offer tasting throughout the park." "Our food team has developed an incredible list of new menu additions that will only be available during Street Fest," enthuses Thomas. "However, some of these items taste SO good, that I'm guessing they may show back up at the City at some point in the future." What Thomas and Rau agree on is this: "Every spring, as Silver Dollar City opens for the season, there is excitement in the air," Thomas says. "But this year, our employees and guests seem even more excited." "And with the of challenges of today, we have only become stronger as a leadership team and as a culture park wide," adds Rau, "determined to always provide great entertainment." Future Continued From Page 3 BUT THERE'S MORE! See the 40-page Best of Bran- son insert inside today's Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Traditional American craftsmen are at the heart of Silver Dollar City and have been since the Herschend family opened the theme park on May 1, 1960. (Courtesy Photo/Silver Dollar City) Opened in 2020 at a cost of $23 million, Mystic River Falls includes the tallest drop on a water raft ride in the Western Hemisphere and a one-of-a-kind rotating, four- platform, eight-story lift. (Courtesy Photo/Silver Dollar City) COVER STORY