The 20th anniversary celebration of Dinner on the Grounds and Trail Ride will continue Oct. 25 and 26.
Presented by the Quilted History, the biannual event is held each spring and fall and draws scores of people for hayrides, wash-pot “cracklins’” and lye soap-making demonstrations, Frost Famous Tea Cakes, a Brush Arbor service, entertainment and more.
The anniversary celebration kicked off with the spring installment on March 29 and 30 and is believed to have drawn the largest crowd ever for the two-decade-old event.
Carolyn Williams, event organizer and curator, manager and owner of The Quilted History — a nonprofit organization/museum that highlights and preserves black history, culture and heritage — said the event pulls in crowds from multiple states, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Ohio.
Many are repeat visitors and Williams said that while crowds are typically larger in October, the crowd size averages no less than 100 people for each annual installment of the event.
“We have some new people to come every year. Invitations go out to the people who consistently come. It’s become an annual or semi-annual event for them,” Williams said. “This one will be the actual anniversary because I started it October. In the spring, it seemed like more people arrived that Friday. I don’t how many were there for the weekend, but I know there was no food left.”
Visitors who arrive Oct. 25 may attend a gathering and camp out overnight on the “grounds” at 2343, Iron Mountain Road, which is also the site of The Quilted History Museum.
On Oct. 26, activities will kick off with the trail ride, which will line up at 9:30 a.m. in Junction City Park.
Pullout will follow at 10 a.m. for the 15-mile ride — including horses and horse- and mule-drawn wagons and buggies — along U.S. 167 to the Iron Mountain Road site for Dinner on the Grounds.
All horseback riders are asked to wear western attire.
Mule skinner for the trail ride will be Henry Rochell. Charles Phillips and Cletis Charles will serve as trail boss and chief scout, respectively. Scouts will be Williams and Theodis Cornelius and wagon bosses will include Jewel Smith and Zummie Law. “Bad Money” L. Morris will serve as greeter.
Williams said a growing number of younger attendees have participated in the trail ride in recent years.
“The older ones who have been coming since the beginning, the longer they have come, the less they are participating in the trail rides. More and more of them are sitting out on the trail rides, especially if it’s cold or raining. They let the younger ones do it and they come to the festivities at the house (on Iron Mountain Road),” Williams said with a laugh.
Friends and family who attend the event will serve as guest speakers for the Brush Arbor Service and provide entertainment during Dinner on the Grounds, Williams said.
Visitors who stay until Oct. 27 are invited to attend church services at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Strong.
The event is free and open to people of all ages.
For more information, call Williams at 870-881-0443 or 417-217-2986.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].