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Marianna, Arkansas

Upcoming Events in Marianna Arkansas


May

20 Make Your Own Cane Fishing Pole - Cane pole fishing is a great way to enjoy your local parks. Since we obviously cannot remove native cane from the state park or national forest, we are making poles out of non-native golden bamboo that can be found in the St. Francis National Forest. We provide the bamboo, weights, fishing line and hook as well as instructions so you can make your very own cane pole. When you get done, you can try your pole in the Ranger pond or Bear Creek Lake. Don’t forget if you are 16 years old or older you will need a valid fishing license in order to fish. 3:00 p.m.

Address: Mississippi River State Park, 2955 Hwy 44 , Marianna, Arkansas
Ph: 870-295-4040 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: mississippiriver@arkansas.com
Web: www.arkansasstateparks.com/mississippiriver
Fee: Free

26 Arts In The Park - Live music on the square. Bring lawn chairs and picnic supper.

Address: Downtown Square , Marianna, Arkansas
Ph: (870) 295-2469 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: chamcom@cablelynx.com
Web: www.mariannaarkansas.org
Fee: Free

27 Bird Nest box Workshop - Wrens and Chickadees are fun backyard birds. They come to bird feeders and are also fans of homemade nest boxes as long as you make them the right size. And make sure the entrance hole is the right size as well. Join us to build a nest box that will attract several of our smaller native birds including Carolina chickadees and Carolina wrens. We will also discuss how to maintain the boxes.

Register by stopping by or calling the visitor center at 870-295-4040 to reserve your spot and materials. Cost is $5 per box. 2:00 p.m..

Address: Mississippi River State Park, 2955 Hwy 44 , Marianna, Arkansas
Ph: 870-295-4040 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: mississippiriver@arkansas.com
Web: www.arkansasstateparks.com/mississippiriver
Fee: Cost is $5 per box.

28 Tracks and Scat - We may not always see the animals living in the forest, but if you pay attention you can find all sorts of signs that they have been here. Stop by the touch table in the visitor center between 2 and 3 to visit with a park interpreter and see what types of fun facts you can discover about the signs animals leave behind. 2:00 p.m. Visitor Center.

Address: Mississippi River State Park, 2955 Hwy 44 , Marianna, Arkansas
Ph: 870-295-4040 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: mississippiriver@arkansas.com
Web: www.arkansasstateparks.com/mississippiriver
Fee: Free

4 Fishing with a Can - Today is National Kids to Parks Day, so we thought it would be fun to show you just how simple it is to enjoy your local state park and national forest. Join a park interpreter who will show you how to make a soda can fishing pole and then we will use them to see what type of fish we can catch at the Ranger Pond. Remember if you are over 16 you will need a valid fishing license. 11:00 a.m. 1 hour. Amphitheater

2:00 p.m. – Name that Fish - Beech Point Campground Drop-In

How familiar are you with the fish that live in the lakes and rivers of Mississippi River State Park? Stop by to test your skills at identifying some of the fish that are found in these bodies of water. You may even discover interesting facts about them you did not already know.

4:00 p.m. - Sound Discovery - Trotting Fox Trail - 45 mins

Preschoolers to 6th grade grab your guardian and join the park interpreter to listen to the world around you. Discover just how much you can figure out about what is around you just by listening. This is a flexible activity so please join us rain or shine.

Address: Mississippi River State Park, 2955 Hwy 44 , Marianna, Arkansas
Ph: 870-295-4040 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: mississippiriver@arkansas.gov
Web: www.arkansasstateparks.com/mississippiriver
Fee: Free

5 Kayak Tour of Bear Creek Lake - Kayaking is a great way to experience Bear Creek Lake. You can check out little coves for wildlife or just enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of Crowley’s Ridge. All skill levels welcome. We will cover basic paddling techniques before we get started and make sure everyone is comfortable in their kayak. Cost is $12 (kayak rental included) or $6 if you bring your own kayak. Space is limited, so pre-register by calling the Visitor Center @ 870-295-4040. 2:00 p.m. 1.5 hrs. Visitor Center

Address: Mississippi River State Park, 2955 Hwy 44 , Marianna, Arkansas
Ph: 870-295-4040 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: mississippiriver@arkansas.com
Web: www.arkansasstateparks.com/mississippiriver
Fee: $6-12

10 What makes a Bird a Bird? - Birds have one thing unique to just them. Do you know what it is? Drop-by the touch table in the visitor center between 3 and 4 to visit with the park interpreter and discover the answer as well as other details about our native birds. 3:00 Drop-in. Visitor Center

7:30 p.m. 35 mins – Bats Campfire Circle - Beech Point Campground

Friday evenings are often a good time for a quick orientation to the park for new visitors. This evening we will start our campfire program off with a quick welcome and park orientation. We will finish with a short program looking into the often misunderstood world of our native tree dwelling bats. Join a park interpreter to get acquainted with the park and discover some facts and debunk several misconceptions of these winged wonders.

Address: Mississippi River State Park, 2955 Hwy 44 , Marianna, Arkansas
Ph: 870-295-4040 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: mississippiriver@arkansas.com
Web: www.arkansasstateparks.com/mississippiriver
Fee: Free

11 Kayak Test Drive - Animal Tracks and Signs - Snakes of Mississippi River State Park - Saturday May 23, 2015

10:00 a.m. – Kayak Test Drive - Bear Creek Swim Beach - 2 hours

Are you curious about kayaking? Well here is your chance to try your hand at this paddling sport. We will have a couple of kayaks available for you to try. The park interpreter will be on hand to answer questions and give you pointers. This is a great way to find out if a kayak would be right for you without buying it first, or just to see what it feels like to sit in a kayak on the water. Kayaks can be used for general recreation and enjoyment as well as fishing, photography or exercise.

2:00 p.m. - Animal Tracks and Signs - Beech Point Campground - 1 hour

Animals leave us all sorts of clues telling us where they have been and what they’ve been doing. Drop by between 2 and 3 to learn about some of the signs our native animals leave here in our park.

3:30 p.m. – Snakes of Mississippi River State Park - Visitor Center - 35 minutes

Snakes have gotten a bad reputation over the years, but they are a very beneficial part of our natural ecosystems. Join a park interpreter for a look at this often misunderstood creature. We will be sure to cover the ones you need to watch out for as well as discussing the ones that only pests need to worry about.

Address: Mississippi River State Park, 2955 Hwy 44 , Marianna, Arkansas
Ph: 870-295-4040 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: mississippiriver@arkansas.com
Web: www.arkansasstateparks.com/mississippiriver
Fee: Free

12 Can Good Candles - Trash to Treasure - 2:00 p.m. – Can Good Candles - Visitor Center - Drop-In

Today we are multi-tasking. We are going to reuse your old tin cans, mason jars, or other non-flammable container to keep them out of the landfill and create something to help keep those pesky mosquitoes away at the same time. Drop by between 2 and 3 to make a citronella candle. Bring an empty container if you have one, we will also have a few available if you don’t have any lying around your camper or home.

4:00 p.m. - Trash to Treasure - Lone Pine Campground - Drop-In

Ever wonder what to do with all those plastic shopping bags? Well instead of sending them to the landfill or allowing them to litter the roadside we are going to reuse them to make a kite. Join a park interpreter to help you turn what you might consider everyday trash into a kite to fly on those windy days.

Address: Mississippi River State Park, 2955 Hwy 44 , Marianna, Arkansas
Ph: 870-295-4040 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: mississippiriver@arkansas.com
Web: www.arkansasstateparks.com/mississippiriver
Fee: Free

12 - 11 Arts in the Park - Monroe County native, Marion Deaton, returns home for the first show in many years. He will be performing a Tribute to Willie Nelson on May 21st at 6 pm at the Marianna Arts in the Park festival, along with the Smooth Willie Show Band.

Marion recently returned from touring this show internationally and is excited about appearing in front of a home town crowd. Bring a lawn chair. Admission is free.

Fee: free

17 Woodland Wander - As the days get longer in spring, it allows us a wonderful opportunity to look for wildflowers, butterflies and other bits of nature that we don’t see during the short cold days of winter. Join a park interpreter and wander along the Bear Creek Lake Nature Trail to search out a variety of wildlife and plants. Hike is 1 mile in length. Wear sturdy shoes or boots, bring water and don’t forget your insect repellent. 7:00 p.m. - 1 hour - Bear Creek Lake Nature Trail

Address: Mississippi River State Park, 2955 Hwy 44 , Marianna, Arkansas
Ph: 870-295-4040 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: mississippiriver@arkansas.com
Web: www.arkansasstateparks.com/mississippiriver
Fee: Free

18 Fire Starting - Native Mammals - Full Moon Adventure - 2:00 p.m. – Fire Starting - Beech Point Campground -1 hour

For some people building a fire means piling a bunch of logs together pouring on lots of lighter fluid and throwing a match on the whole thing. But if you build your fire correctly not only can you get rid of that lighter fluid but you might also be able to start it without a match or butane lighter. Join a park interpreter to try your hand at starting a fire using traditional methods such as bow drills, flint and steel, or even a Fresnel lens while learning about the importance of tinder and other btleties of campfire construction.

4:00 p.m. – Native Mammals - Bear Creek Lake Day Use Area - 1 hour

Do you know what mammals can be found in Mississippi River State Park? Would you be able to figure out what types of food they might eat by looking at their skull? Join a park interpreter to see how familiar you are with the furry critters that live here.

8:30 p.m. – Full Moon Adventure - Bear Creek Swim Beech Parking Lot - 1 hour

The full moon is always a good time to look for the park’s nocturnal residents. So join a park interpreter to see how many we can spy or at least hear. We won’t be using flashlights during our exploration, but it is always a good idea to have one on you just in case. Also wear sturdy shoes and long pants since we will be walking over possibly uneven terrain. Walk will be approximately ½ mile in length.

Address: Mississippi River State Park, 2955 Hwy 44 , Marianna, Arkansas
Ph: 870-295-4040 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: mississippiriver@arkansas.com
Web: www.arkansasstateparks.com/mississippiriver
Fee: Free

June

1 Kid's Free Fishing Derby - This event coincides with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Free Fishing Week. The Ranger Pond will be stocked with catfish for the event. The first 15 kids between the ages of 3-5 will receive a Zebco pond patrol fishing pole, and the first 85 kids to register between the ages of 6-12 will receive a Zebco 202 Combo Fishing pole. Trophies will be awarded to the winners in different categories. Registration will start at 7am and the fishing will begin at 8am. 8-10am.

Address: St. Francis Ranger District Pond , Marianna, Arkansas
Ph: (870) 295-5278 (Always call and confirm events)
Web: www.agfc.com
Fee: Free

1 Walks through History Tour in Marianna, AR - The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program's next "Walks through History" tour will visit the Marianna Commercial Historic District on Saturday, June 13, 2015, at 11 a.m. Located along the L'Anguille River, the Lee County seat of Marianna was home to thriving timber and cotton industries in the early twentieth century. Court Square Park is a focal point of the district. Public, institutional, and commercial buildings are located in downtown Marianna, providing a rich architectural heritage. "Walks through History" at the Marianna Commercial Historic District begins at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center, located at the southwest corner of W. Main and S. Church streets in Marianna. The tour is co-sponsored by the Marianna/Lee County Chamber of Commerce and The Gladlands. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call Rachel Silva at 501-324-9788.

Ph: 501-324-9788 (Always call and confirm events)
Fee: Free

September

14 Annual Autumn on the Square - A Festival full of food, fun, and entertainment! Bring the whole family this year to listen to the bands, climb the rock wall, shop, and many more fun games! Activities start at 10:00am and go until 4:00p.m. If that is not enough there will be an evening band street dance from 8:00p.m-11:30pm. This year will be the best year yet!

Veterans Recognition Ceremony at Noon. Our Guest Speaker will be a retired Air Force General and a Marianna native John Miller.

Ph: 870-295-2469 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: chamcom@att.net
Web: www.mariannaarkansas.org/

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Great River Road National Scenic Byway

The Great River Road, Arkansas's portion of the Mississippi River Parkway, runs for 363 miles paralleling the Mississippi River in Eastern Arkansas. This scenic highway is composed of these highways: Ark. 82, U.S. 65, Ark. 4, Ark. 1, U.S. 165, Ark. 316, Ark. 318, Ark. 20, Ark. 44

Marianna, AR Scenic Byways

Crowley's Ridge National Scenic Parkway

National scenic byway follows the 198-mile length of the Delta's only "highlands;"

Marianna, AR Scenic Byways

St. Francis National Forest

At just over 20,000 acres, the St. Francis is known for the diversity of its plant and animal life. Bear Creek and Storm Creek Lake Recreation Areas provide camping, picnicking, fishing. Crowley'

Marianna, AR National Forests

St. Francis Scenic Byway

This scenic byway, comprised of Phillips County Roads 239 and 217, along with Lee County Road 221, is located in the St. Francis National Forest between the cities of Marianna and Helena/West Helena. This winding route is located atop Crowley's Ridge for more than 21

Marianna, AR Scenic Byways


Things to do near Marianna, AR

Delta Gateway Museum

Old photographs and maps that depict the history of Blytheville; housed in the old Kress Building which is listed on the N...

Forrest City Country Club

Course Access: PrivateHoles: 18Reserve Advance Tee Times: Yes...

Mississippi County Historical Center

Directions: Across From The Courthouse Located in a 1904 building that once housed a dry goods store....

Jonesboro Country Club

Course Access: PrivateHoles: 18Reserve Advance Tee Times: 2 days...

Forrest Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center

Directions: Located off Lawson Road and Ark. 141, south of Jonesboro The second of four nature centers constructed by the ...