What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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Tickets On Sale Now! sonamusic.org / 479.443.5600 Symphony of Northwest Arkansas Paul Haas, Music Director NOV. 3, 2018 – 7:30PM Walton Arts Center Rautavaara, Come un sogno Bernstein, Three Dance Episodes from On the Town Brahms, Symphony No. 1 Masterworks I: Bernstein & Brahms Sponsored by Highlands Oncology Group 40 WHAT'S UP! ARTS AWAY! OCTOBER 14-20, 2018 This year's fair concert series started Friday with headliners the Charlie Daniels Band, who last played the fair six years ago. Upcoming performances include Ginuine, Northwest Arkansas' own Joe Nichols, Blane Howard, Ratt, Stokley, POP Evil, Mark Chestnut and Twista. Admission to concerts is included in fair gate admission, but people who want to sit closer can always get Premium Concert Seating or VIP Deck Seating tickets for $15-$20 and $25-$40, respectively. To relive some of the musical past of the fair and Barton Coliseum, visit the Barton Rock and Roll Museum. But not all the entertainment comes from the big-stage musical acts. The Hiland Hill area and other fairground areas will see plenty of performances every day. Last year's Moogician is back again to do his regular "dairy related" shows and to wander around the grounds for impromptu performances in between. Acrobats, jugglers and stilt walkers with the Arkansas Circus Arts group will also be around, and Wildlife Wendy will present her trick- performing parrot pals. The newest piece of entertainment comes from the Sea Lion Splash, performed every day. "I don't think Arkansas has ever had a sea lion exhibit," Shoptaw says. For a more up-close experience with animals, there's the Exotic Animal Petting Zoo with creatures from around the world and pony rides. Exotic animals are fun and crazy, but animals of a more domesticated variety are the real stars of the State Fair. "We're a livestock fair," Shoptaw says. "The State Fair is our major fundraiser for the year to pay for our livestock programs." That includes scholarships and other educational programs that promote youth involvement in agriculture. Shoptaw estimates they have between 6,000 and 6,500 livestock entries each year. People from all over the state bring their cows, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits and chickens to the fairgrounds to be judged, and fair visitors are welcome to see the animals in their temporary homes and watch the competition. At the AG in Action Center, children can learn more about animals and agriculture through interactive exhibit experiences. A different way of appreciating the livestock comes with the PRCA ProRodeo, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19-20 in Barton Coliseum, $10-$25. The livestock competitions aren't the only contests that draw people from all over the state. The Arts & Crafts Building welcomes around 10,000 entries in a wide variety of categories. There's a wine competition and tasting, ice cream making, pie baking, flower arranging, quilts, cooking with Spam, canned goods and almost any other creative and culinary endeavor one could imagine. Then there are the various pageants and youth talent competitions, most of which take place next week and all of which, Shoptaw says, are "very, very popular. "There are nights you can barely get in, there are so many people there." Fair Continued From Page 38 FYI Arkansas State Fair Music Lineup OCT. 14 — Ginuwine, 7 p.m. OCT. 15 — The BIG Talent Show, 7 p.m. OCT. 16 — Joe Nichols, 8 p.m. OCT. 17 — Ratt, 8 p.m. OCT. 18 — Stokley, 8 p.m. OCT. 19 — POP Evil, 8 p.m. OCT. 20 — Mark Chesnutt & Redhead Express, 6 p.m. OCT. 21 — Twista, 7 p.m. INFO — arkansasstatefair.com File Photo/MITCHELL PE MASILUN Quinton Lyons, 9, of Bradley gets some shuteye during the swine showmanship competition at last year's Arkansas State Fair. Exotic animals are fun and crazy, but animals of a more domesticated variety are the real stars of the State Fair, says Ralph Shoptaw, president and general manager of the annual event.