With the changing leaves and dropping temperatures, fall ushers in a whole new set of outdoor activities. Arkansas has a lot to offer in this department — festivals, corn mazes and pumpkin carving to name a few. There are a number of activities that you can partake in around Searcy to enjoy the season.
Corn mazes are a highlight of fall. Peebles Farm is probably the most frequented corn maze close to Searcy. This year’s maze design features a man riding a tractor. The farm also sells pumpkins and hosts a few barnyard animals and a llama.
Located off Highway 64 near Augusta, it is open until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, but closes at 6 p.m. the rest of the week. Admission is $8.
“It was awesome,” freshman Emily Herr said. “My favorite part was definitely all the stars you can see. They were so amazing. We were in the middle of nowhere, so you could see them clearly. And since it was so dark out, it made the corn maze so much fun. And not having a flashlight made things all the more memorable.”
Arkansas has plenty of festivals during the fall. Bean Fest, a free weekend celebration combining folk music, pinto bean tasting and outhouse racing, is this weekend, Oct. 27 to 29.
The festival is in Mountain View, which is about a two-hour drive from Searcy. On Saturday morning, avid bean aficionados will heat up 2,000 pounds of beans in cast-iron pots, each with a special recipe. Many cooks dress in theme and hand out cornbread with their respective spiced beans, all vying for the bragging rights of having the best beans. The beans are free, but the lines can get long. They start serving the beans mid-morning and quickly run out.
“I like the people watching and the free beans,” senior Brianna Sims said. “It’s a change of scenery and a change of pace; it’s a way of getting away from life on campus. Plus, when you’re driving out there, it’s beautiful with the hills and the changing leaves. Also, the town is really cute.”
Around the square, venders sell crafts and fair food. All day, musicians gather in groups around the festival and play folk, bluegrass and gospel music.
For the outhouse races, competitors paint wooden outhouses, flip them horizontally, outfit them with wheels and push them down a hill. Two team members push and a third team member sits inside and steers. The races begin at 1 p.m.
So put down the books and take a hike in the Ozarks to see the fall leaves change. There is no need to fear the heat, mosquitos or jam-packed camping sites.
It’s time to take the opportunity before winter hits and humanity is forced indoors from the snow and cold.
“I like camping, especially at this time of year, because it’s a change of pace,” senior Paul Bradshaw said. “The weather is really nice, and you don’t have to worry about school work, people calling or texting you. All you have to worry about is how big you are going to make your fire.”
For a complete list of festivals, parks and activities, visit Arkansas.com.
