Two days of music, an expanded array of contests and exhibits, plus a symposium of widely respected Beatles experts are highlights of the fifth annual Beatles at the Ridge music festival in downtown Walnut Ridge, Ark.
Beatles at the Ridge is slated for Sept. 18 and 19, starting at noon on that Friday with the Artists and Authors Symposium. The symposium takes place at The Studio on Main Street.
One of the featured authors, Ivor Davis, traveled with the Fab Four for part of their 1964 tour. He is author of “The Beatles and Me On Tour.â€
Friday’s Symposium presentations will also feature Jude Southerland Kessler and Seth Swinsky. In addition to the presentations, attendees will view the film, “Beatles Stories,†and there will be question and answer sessions and a book and DVD signing.
Kicking off the music for the weekend will be Deadwood Grove, who will take the First National Bank Beatles Park Stage at 5:30 p.m., followed by Jeffrey & The Pacemakers at 7 p.m.
The Symposium will continue on Saturday with presenters including Ken Orth, Lanea Stagg and Dr. Kit O’Toole. Also featured at the Symposium will be Robert Rodriguez, Anthony Robustelli, Sara Schmidt and Rande Kessler.
Saturday’s events begin at 9 a.m. with the ATF Martial Arts Board Break, performances by Dance Tyme Studio, Marilyn’s Clogging Company and Studio H Dance Company, The Compassionate Friends’ Balloon Release and the Nuttin’ But Talent show.
The British Car Show & Shine will be on Abbey Run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the Car Show People’s Choice Trophy Awarded as the finale.
The Duck Calling Contest will begin at 9 a.m. and will include youth, adult and open divisions.
New to Beatles at the Ridge this year is a Baggo Tournament, which starts at 1 p.m. Saturday. Baggo, also known as Cornhole, is scored by landing beanbags on a board. Getting the bag in the hole will garner higher scores.
Registration fee for the Baggo Tourney is $20 per two-person team. Half of all registration fees will go to the festival and the other half used for cash prizes for the first, second, and third best teams. There is no limit to how many teams can register. Preregistration is available by calling the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce at (870) 886-3232.
Octopus Garden for Kids will be open with a rock-climbing wall, Jurassic Adventure Land, Giant Wave Slide, Obstacle Xtreme and Dino Bounce.
The Cavenaugh Chevrolet Rock n’ Roll Hwy. Stage opens at noon Saturday with air guitar competition, followed by performances by Lauren Richmond, Sonny Burgess & the Legendary Pacers, Arkansas Brothers, Riverbilly, the winner of the Nuttin’ But Talent music division, and at 7:15 p.m. the highly acclaimed Liverpool Legends.
In addition to local eateries, there will be many food vendors that offer pizza, barbecue, sandwiches and funnel cakes among other festival staples.
Vendors who are interested in being part of the festival can download a form by visiting www.beatlesattheridge.com/vendors.
There will be free admission, free parking and free entertainment at the festival. For more information on the Beatles at the Ridge festival, visit the web site www.beatlesattheridge.com/schedule/.