First beginning in 1981 with a concert by Johnny and June Carter Cash, the Fordyce on the Cotton Belt Festival will return for its 44th year this month.
The small town celebrates its history with the annual festival, culminating on the fourth Saturday in April. Along with plenty of activities for the community, the festival has a major financial impact on Fordyce and the surrounding area.
All festival entertainment is open to the public free of charge. The week full of activities is expected to see a large turnout by locals and out-of-town visitors celebrating a long tradition of trains, sports and music.
In addition, with numerous class reunions scheduled for the weekend, April sees the return of many former Redbugs celebrating their alma mater.
This year’s musical lineup on the outdoor stages at 206 W. Third St., beginning April 25 at 5 p.m., includes:
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Zach & Poppa Binns from 5-6 p.m.;
Garry Burnside Band featuring Tesa Daniel from 6:15-7:45 p.m.;
Reagan Harvill from 7:45-8 p.m.;
DuWayne Burnside Band from 8-9:30 p.m.
The Burnside brothers, each with their own band, bring their own unique twist to the world renowned Mississippi Hill Country Blues genre originated in Holly Springs, Miss., by their father R.L. Burnside and his compatriots, Junior Kimbrough and Kenny Brown.
April 26 will be a full day with one of the state’s largest parades beginning at 11 a.m. This year’s parade will go in reverse, starting next to the railroad at the historic Cotton Belt Depot and winding its way north up Main and west along Fourth Street to end on Edgar Street in the west side of town.
The grand marshal will be Mike Fordyce from Sheridan, Wyo. Fordyce is the great-grandson of the city’s namesake, Samuel Wesley Fordyce.
With the conclusion of the annual procession, a full lineup of entertainment will begin on the Courthouse Square, including:
Rock City Jukebox from noon-1:30 p.m.;
During the interim between the first two bands, the Fordyce Chamber of Commerce will hold a drawing;
A pair of local duos will follow: Roots & Revolt from 1:45-2:45 p.m. followed by Hayden Ford & Kaylyn Butler from 2:45-3 p.m.;
Port City Blues Players will appear from 3-4:15 p.m.;
Sierra Hempstead from 4:15-4:30 p.m.;
This year’s headliner, piano virtuoso Jason D. Williams, will take the stage from 4:30-6 p.m.;
Carli Green & Phil Wallace will perform from 6-6:15 p.m.;
Super group, The Camden Panthers will rock the town from 6:15-7:45 p.m. The three lifelong players originating from Camden have combined careers as professional musicians totaling 125 years;
The long anticipated return to Cotton Belt of popular band Octember will round out the night from 8-9 p.m.
Entertainment will move indoors one block up Third Street to the historic 1908 vintage, “300 Club” building at 300 Main Street for the first “Cotton Belt Afterparty.”
Little Rock based Arkadelics, featuring longtime local favorite Bob Wagnon, will perform from 9 p.m. until midnight with adult refreshments and a food truck.
Other activities during the week-long event in the Civic Center will see the annual Gospel Explosion along with a Community Wide Youth Rally.
Temple Baptist Church hosts Master’s Voice quartet.
The Redbug Reunion Rally in the Fordyce Civic Center will also be held.
Throughout the weekend, there will be one of the world’s largest model train displays in the Temple Baptist Church Family Life Center plus 30 arts and crafts vendors adjacent to the stages, numerous food trucks and an antique car show on the Fordyce Methodist Church parking lot at the corner of Fourth and Main streets.
The Rex Raney Riding Arena on West Fourth Street will host a two evening rodeo with riders from across the region participating in a full roster of competitive events.
The Cotton Belt committee would like to thank its sponsors and remind everyone to support the local businesses that help make the annual event a success through their generous contributions.
Sponsors are:
ERS; Travel Center; Dallas County Farm Bureau-Doug Petite; Tobacco Station; HNO; Watson’s Pharmacy; Spartan of Fordyce; Titan Marine; Arkansas Sand & Gravel; Shippers/Signode; Sonic Drive-In; Benton Funeral Home; Holt Builder’s Supply; Days Inn of Fordyce; Chase McCollum/Shelter Insurance; Milton Insurance; Dallas County Medical Center; Kinetic; Freer trucking; Dean’s Heating & Air; Tractor Supply Company; Millcreek of Arkansas; Precision One Therapy; Todd’s Signs; FBT Bank & Mortgage; Rotary Club of Fordyce; Georgia Pacific Corp.; Relyance Bank; Home Services; A-1 LED; and Mr. Bug Pest Control.
