Dance Dates
The community dance dates for November are Nov. 4 and 18, both with Country XPress. The dances start at 7pm at the Elkins Community Center. Tickets are $10. The current plan for December is to have Country XPress play Dec. 1, 9, and 30 for the regular dance. According to organizers, the band will play on Dec. 9after the City’s Christmas Parade.
Miss Fall Y'all Pageant
The Miss Fall Y'all Pageant will be Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Elkins Community Center. There will be a variety of competitions, including some newly combined age categories. The entry fee is $75 with a $50 deposit at time of signup. Participants must register by Nov. 3. Contact frederickpageantsllc@gmail.com for more information about the pageant.
Lions Bingo Night
The Elkins Lions Club will host a bingo night 6pm to 8pm, Friday, Nov. 3, at the Elkins Community Center. This fundraiser’s proceeds will be split between the Lions sight, diabetes, & childhood cancer funds, and the ECN children's emergency medical fund. The cost is $20 for five cards.
Writing Class Moving Nov. 11
The November writing class with Author Linda Rigsbee is 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, October 14, but at a new location. Each class includes a lesson and then time for local writers to share their work for constructive critique. The November class will teach about book binding and will be at the craft room at McDaniel Farmhouse Gifts and More on Highway 74 in Wesley.
Jason’s Coat Drive
The 6th Annual Jason’s Project Warm Hearts Coat Drive will collect coats and other cold weather outerwear Oct. 29-Nov. 12 at Nellie B’s and the Elkins Public Library. Free coat distribution will be Nov. 15-17 at 7th Hills Homeless Center, the Elkins Community Center, and the Fayetteville Public Schools Families in Transition Program.
Local Businesses Hosting Events
A number of our local businesses are getting into the holiday spirit and hosting events around our community:
Gypsy Rose Boutique will host its 2nd Annual Gypsy Rose Craft Fair, 10am-4pm, Saturday, Nov. 4 at Gypsy Rose Boutique.
White River Nursery will hosts its Arts & Crafts Fair 9am-4pm on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the nursery.
Poindexter Chiropractic will host its Customer Appreciation Day at 1pm-6pm, Sunday, Nov. 5, at the clinic. The event will include raffles and refreshments.
Wish List Travel will host two events in November. The first is the company’s monthly Passports to Pastries event at Nellie B’s 11am on Nov. 18. The second is a 3-continent virtual cruise that explores Europe, Asia, and Africa. The event is online at 7pm on Nov. 30. Registration info on Facebook or Eventbrite.
TJ Hudson, owner and artist of NWArt Refuge, will have an art installation at The Art Gallery at NWA Mall through the holidays. Her recently-released art book, Paradise Mountain, A Natural State of Seeing, will be highlighted and available for signing.
G’s Meaty Buns will host its annual Christmas Treasures Fundraiser Meal 11am to 6pm on Dec. 1. The event will also include a silent auction. Tickets are $10.
Schools host gym grand opening
The Elkins School District will host a grand opening of its new multipurpose facility on Nov. 20. The festivities begin at 5pm with a short ribbon cutting ceremony followed by the varsity girls and boys basketball games at 6pm. Admission will be free to all the events that night and patrons wanting to tour the facility are encouraged to attend.
School District Report Cards
The Arkansas Department of Education released final school letter grades for 2023 recently. All four Elkins Schools had a "B" letter grade.
“This was a big achievement, and we are so thankful for our hardworking staff and students that made these outstanding grades possible,” said Superintendent Jeremy Mangrum. “Elkins School District was the only traditional public school district in Northwest Arkansas that did not have any C, D, or F rated schools. Our overall school district GPA ranks Elkins second out of 17 traditional public school districts in Northwest Arkansas.”
Elkins Craft Market Nov. 4
More than 40 vendors will be part of the 5th Annual Craft Market hosted by the Elkins Farmers Market. The event is 10am to 4pm on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Harris Baptist Church. The organization’s Winter Market will be every 1st and 3rd Friday of Dec, Jan, Feb, and March at the church.
First Saturdays start Nov. 4
Elkins First Saturday will be 10am to 3pm, Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Elkins Community Center. The December First Saturday event will be at the same time Dec. 2. The events will include games, food, and vendors.
Elkfest Meeting Nov. 16
The next planning meeting for Elkfest will be 6pm, Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Elkins Public Library Community Room. The committee is reorganizing to plan the 2024 event. Contact Jamie Smith at jsmith@elkinsar.org with questions.
Friends of EPL Holiday Party Dec. 16
Join Friends of Elkins Public Library as we give you the gift of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire! There will also be crafts and games! We hope you join us for some holiday and Harry Potter fun on Saturday, December 16, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m at the Elkins Community Center.
Razorback Softball Camp
The Razorback Softball Camp was rescheduled for Nov. 5 at the Elkins Sports Complex. The times will be the same, 10U and Under: 1pm-3:30pm, and 12U and older: 4pm to 6:30pm. Contact patrickyarberry@elkins.arkansas.gov with any questions.
Senior Bingo Nov. 20
The Elkins Senior Wellness and Activity Center will host bingo night 4pm-6pm, Monday, Nov. 20, at the center. A sloppy joe dinner will be served until 5pm and Bingo begins at 4:45pm.
Jimmy Cotton Benefit Nov. 4
White River Baptist Church will host a Fall Festival and Jimmy Cotton Family Benefit starting at 3pm, Saturday, Nov. 4, at the church. Kids games start at 3pm, the turkey shoot and pumpkin throw are at 4pm, dinner/cook-off starts at 5pm with the silent auction starting after, 6pm is a hayride, and 7pm is the cakewalk and s’mores.
Goshen Holiday Market
The Goshen Farmers Market is hosting the first of two holiday markets 9am-12pm on Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Goshen Community Building.
Daddy Daughter Dance
Elkins Softball will host its 3rd Annual Daddy/Daughter Dance at 5pm-8pm, on Jan. 13 at the Elkins Community Center. If you have any questions, please reach out to Coach Culpepper at jculpepper@elkinsdistrict.org.
Christmas celebrations in Elkins, Goshen
For the first time in about two decades, Elkins will have a Christmas parade, Mayor Troy Reed announced recently. “Christmas on the River”will take place December 9. Applications are due Dec. 1 and the parade committee is looking for sponsors. Contact the City for more information. Any proceeds from the event will go to purchasing decorations for future years’ Christmas festivities.
The City of Goshen will host a Lighting of the Community Christmas Tree at the Community Center at 6pm, Saturday, Dec. 2.
Filing Period starts Nov. 6
The Party Candidate and Judicial Candidate filing period begins on Monday, Nov. 6, and will end on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Senior Secret Santa
This holiday season you will have the opportunity to give to the Elkins senior community through the "Senior Secret Santa" program hosted by the Elkins Farmers Market.
Similar to the Angel Tree for children, the "Senior Secret Santa" functions to brighten the holidays for seniors in the Elkins community by providing them with items they want or need as indicated by their completed questionnaire. Beginning in November, various locations throughout Elkins will have trees
with seniors to sponsor. Gifts will be returned to the Elkins Farmers Market for market managers to deliver. All gifts will need to be returned by Dec. 15 to ensure timely delivery.
For more information please contact the Elkins Farmers Market via email at Elkinsmarket@gmail.com or call Jennifer Howard at 479-287-2551.
EABN Nov. 9
The last Elkin-Area Business Network networking event for 2023 will be 6pm, Thursday, Nov. 9, at Rio Grande. The host will be Wish List Travel. We would love for local business leaders to join us to discuss their business.
Blood Drive Dec. 20
The American Red Cross, in partnership with local residents, is hosting a blood drive 10am-2pm, Wednesday, Dec. 20, at the Elkins Community Center. While walk-ins are welcome, donors are asked to make an appointment if possible. To sign up visit redcrossblood.org and search for Elkins or 72727 on Find a Drive.
Senior Thanksgiving Dinner
The Elkins Volunteer Fire Department will host their annual Thanksgiving Dinner for Senior Citizens in and around Elkins on Nov. 18 in the Elkins High School Cafeteria. The event starts at 5pm with a musical performance. The meal is free for area seniors.