Oct. 19 will mark the 60th annual White Hall Founder’s Day Festival. It was started to celebrate the town’s earliest developers. One of the many notables over the years to address the crowd was Gov. Bill Clinton in 1983.
Ever since the city of White Hall’s incorporation on July 14, 1964, the Founder’s Day Festival has been the city’s most popular and widely attended event during the community’s chock-full annual calendar of events, according to https://whitehallfoundersday.com/index.html.
From humble beginnings as little more than a picnic in the park, the event now stands as one of the premier annual activities of southeast Arkansas.
The 2024 installment includes a 7 a.m. pancake breakfast sponsored by the Lion’s Club and FBT Bank and Mortgage, one of the largest parades in the region beginning at 10 a.m., kid rides in the park and an antique car show sponsored by Insley Towing starting at 11 a.m., and live music from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
There will be 10 food vendors and more than 50 booths for attendees to enjoy. Festivities will center around the White Hall City Hall located at 101 Parkway Drive.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Founder’s Day is put on by the White Hall Chamber of Commerce and always a fun time,” said White Hall Mayor Noel Foster. “For a small town, our parade is pretty substantial. Our city park is the focus of activities. The public workers do a lot in preparation for this day along with all our volunteers. We all pull together to make it a day filled with family fun.”
“One of my favorite things is the parade, getting to see all the smiling faces and excited children. Our Chamber of Commerce does an excellent job with this and all the year round activities we have here,” Foster said.
“We’d love for everyone to come out and spend the day with us,” said Debbie Johnson, president of the White Hall Chamber of Commerce. “Bring your lawn chairs, watch the parade and entertainment and enjoy good food.”
She further shared how this year’s parade grand marshal will be former White Hall football coach and school superintendent Doug Dorris.
Performances scheduled for the White Hall Amphitheatre include:
11-11:30 a.m. White Hall School Band;
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Marybeth Byrd band;
12:30-12:45 p.m. Diamond State Paw Spa grooming demonstration;
12:45-2:15 p.m. Gravel Yard bluegrass band;
Intermission: White Hall Star Steppers square dancing;
2:15-2:30 p.m. Southeast Gymnastics and Cheer;
2:30-3:30 p.m. Matt Wilkerson solo.
There will also be Elias Gasaway solo and Shelby Huber performing, “Speechless.”
Details: https://whitehallfoundersday.com/schedule.html.