What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1468987
MAY 29-JUNE 4, 2022 WHAT'S UP! 3 FYI Silver Dollar City 2022 Festivals Moonlight Madness July 23-Aug. 7 Silver Dollar City's world-rec- ognized roller coasters soar into the night skies, accentu- ated by nighttime fireworks. Southern Gospel Picnic Aug. 25-Sept. 5 The Ozark hills fill with the joyful harmonies of the nation's most notable Southern Gospel groups throughout the day, plus nightly performances in Echo Hollow Amphitheater. Country Music Days Sept. 8-11 and 15-18 Featuring a series of country music concerts. Watch silverdollarcity.com for upcom- ing announcements. Harvest Festival Sept. 21-Oct. 29 With a major expansion scheduled for 2022, "Pumpkins in The City" is a highlight inside the Harvest Festival. At sunset, tens of thousands of pumpkins — carved, sculpted, life-sized and themed — illuminate the night sky, accompanied by a lively, blacklight dance party every night in Pumpkin Plaza. A daytime dimension includes hundreds of demonstrating crafters, plus cowboy lore and music throughout the streets and stages. And culi- nary experts create specialty seasonal foods with sweet and savory pumpkin flavors and hearty soups. An Old Time Christmas Nov. 5-Dec. 30 In an unprecedented five- time title streak, Silver Dollar City's An Old Time Christmas is America's Best Holiday Theme Park Event, claiming the desig- nation from USA TODAY 10Best Reader's Choice Awards. The city's "Citizens" create a dazzling parkwide wonderland with 6.5 million lights, A Holly Jolly Light Parade, an eight- story animated Christmas tree, Christmas in Midtown spectac- ular, Joy on the Town Square light show, Broadway-style shows, roller coasters at night and gourmet holiday foods. COVER STORY Magic In The Air 'Zirkus' highlights Kids Fest at Silver Dollar City BECCA MARTIN-BROWN NWA Democrat-Gazette M y mom was walking the wire still when she was 6 months pregnant with me, so circus has been a part of my life since before I was born," says Nik Wallenda. "My parents first put me on the wire when I was 2 years old, and I've been practicing my art every since." It was a decade ago that Wallenda captured the imagination of Branson — and broke daredevil records — by dangling using only his jaw from a helicopter 200 feet over the Silver Dollar City amphitheater with 4,000 people watching anxiously from below. This summer, he'll be back at the theme park with his family to debut the all-new Nik Wallenda's Zirkus June 11 through July 24. The "Zirkus" has no animal performers. It will include acrobats, aerial stunts, human pyramids, trick bicycling, juggling and the family's specialty, high-wire walking. The theme, he says, is "the impossible is possible." Wallenda's Zirkus is part of this year's National Kids Fest at Silver Dollar City. "The Wallendas are incredible performers," enthuses park spokeswoman Lisa Rau. "Much of the world knows that from so many generations of Wallenda family circus royalty performing high- wire acts that have never been done elsewhere. Nik himself is a master of mixing showbiz with inspiring messages coupled with daredevil acts of courage — the kind that won't let you breathe while you watch, but you can't look away! "Over the years, Nik has remained in close contact with Silver Dollar City leadership," Rau explains. "He has forged many a new path since he was here a decade ago, including working on directing and producing other circus-like shows. He told us he wanted to do his own production — a Wallenda family show that would bring to audiences not only entertainment but inspiration. We were sold at 'go!'" "My family's history is in Germany, and Zirkus is German for circus," Wallenda picks up the story. "Circus is really a passion for me, so the opportunity to put together a show, and work alongside my family — and even give opportunity to the next generation of circus performers — is really exciting for me." While Wallenda himself has broken 11 Guinness World Records and is known for his walks over Niagara Falls, over an active volcano and above the Grand Canyon, he remembers clearly those Wallenda is excited to be working with his family this summer at Silver Dollar City. (Courtesy Photo) See Zirkus Page 37