Organizers for the Southeast Arkansas District Fair & Livestock Show proved last year bringing back a carnival and rodeo make the entire event an even bigger hit — so much so that they’re back.
Tuesday marks the start of the fair’s 86th annual rendition at Hestand Stadium. The fair will be open through Friday from 6 p.m. to either 10 p.m. or “when they don’t have any more customers,” said fair secretary Dale Dixon, and from noon until 10 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $5, and parking is also $5.
Adding the carnival and rodeo brought about the fair’s largest crowds on the third and fifth nights last year, Dixon said, although he didn’t have an exact number. The fair was in jeopardy of being canceled in 2021 and 2022 before local donations by Simmons Bank and Go Forward Pine Bluff revived the event.
“The people always wanted a fair and rodeo, and we’re trying to get it out there that we need people there to see it,” Dixon said. “Hestand Stadium is a very safe place. We have law enforcement out there. We have the ambulance out there during the rodeo.”
The rides, operated by Swyear Amusements of New Athens, Ill., made their return to the District Fair in 2024 after a five-year hiatus due to financial strains and the impact of covid-19. The District Fair will cap off this week with two nights of professional rodeo headlined by local bull rider Kobe Galloway, announcer Garrett Wise and Oklahoma funny man Tuffy Smith. CK Rodeo LLC of Searcy is operating the competition, which will begin at 8 p.m. both Friday and Saturday and include a Money Scramble for youths.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“This rodeo here is going to be a little better than we had the year before,” Dixon said. “They’re going to have more contestants, and they’ll have that for each night.”
FBT, Relyance and Simmons banks are coming together to sponsor Senior Citizens Day on Thursday. Free drinks and chips will be offered to senior citizens, and nurses will be on hand to check vitals.
Monday was the last day for fair entries in home economics and horticulture. Entrants will vie for cash in categories including (but not limited to) art, baked goods, crafts, photography, woodworking and ornamental horticulture.
“Our fair is so close to the state fair, they’ve got to get registered up there and stuff like that,” Dixon said. “We basically cover 17 counties. Last year, we had record-setting (entries) for all of our animals. A lot more kids are getting involved in the 4-H programs, and most all your kids coming with your sheep, cattle, goats, pigs and everything, most of them are in 4-H.”
The Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock is Oct. 10-19.
Dixon said the South Arkansas Livestock Association, which operates the Southeast Arkansas fair, is always looking for volunteers to help with its events at Hestand Stadium. To ask about volunteer opportunities, call Dixon at (870) 541-0395.
“I just want and the A&P (Pine Bluff Advertising and Planning Commission) wants to promote Pine Bluff because it’s not just Pine Bluff, but a lot of smaller counties couldn’t afford a carnival, so they’ve basically dropped out,” Dixon said. “We’re trying to do the best we can with what we’ve got to work with.”
