Festivals, food and fun: Live, work and play in Southeast Arkansas
Small towns mark their seasons with festivals. Whether cheering on a fishing tournament at sunrise or biting into a pink tomato so juicy it requires a plan of attack, you can fill your calendar in Southeast Arkansas. Here, we prove that you don’t need a big city to throw a big party – just a good idea and a community ready to celebrate.
There are about 20 species of armadillos in the world, and only one of them is found in North America. The nine-banded armadillo always gives birth to identical quadruplets formed from the splitting of a single egg. You can learn more armadillo trivia at Hamburg’s World Famous Armadillo Festival, an annual event that for more than half a century has drawn thousands of people, including some world-famous headliners, to a small town in Southeast Arkansas to shop local vendors, eat the local cuisine, hear great music, and enjoy the carnival. The armadillos have not yet provided their final attendance counts.
The Buddy Bass Tournament in Crossett has a legacy almost as old as the armadillos. For more than 40 years, anglers have gathered at Crossett Harbor to cast a weekend of memories – and hopefully catch the winning bass. Please note that Buddy is not to be confused with Billy of the “Big Mouth Billy Bass” animatronic singing fish fame. The alliterative nicknames are just a coincidence. Meanwhile, the father-son fishing powerhouse duo of Ryan and Donnie Strebeck are related and are looking for their third consecutive win. Will they be able to reel it in?
“I’m an old Southern woman and we’re supposed to wear funny looking hats and ugly clothes and grow vegetables in the dirt. Don’t ask me those questions. I don’t know why, I don’t make the rules” So said Ouiser Boudreax (lovingly played by Shirley MacLaine in “Steel Magnolias”). And there is no tomato sweeter than a pink tomato from Warren, Arkansas. Don’t believe us? Come to the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival and judge for yourself. The festival is one of the oldest continuous running festivals in Arkansas and has something for everyone. BYOFLHAUC – bring your own funny-looking hats and ugly clothes.
When you come to Southeast Arkansas, be sure to tune your dial to the King Biscuit Blues Festival. Founded in 1986, the three-day festival draws tens of thousands of blues enthusiasts to historic downtown Helena on the banks of the Mississippi River. The festival gets its name from King Biscuit Time, the longest-running daily radio show, and has hosted such legendary blues artists as Pinetop Perkins, Robert Lockwood Jr., Sam Carr, Luther Allison and Billy Lee Riley. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee once played bass guitar at the festival!
Kick off the fall festival-and-fair season by running, walking or biking your way to Rison in the Fall. Rison’s “event of the season” celebrated its 35th year in 2025 with an all-star cast that included Sunny Sweeney, Thom Shepherd, Coley McCabe and Ernie Halter. The annual music festival, sponsored by Rison Shine Community Development Inc., also includes a barbecue cookoff and Fall Into Fitness runs and bike rides of various lengths.
Lake Village kicks off fall with its annual Lake Chicot Fall Fest. Held at the historic Courthouse Square, Fall Fest features live music performances, local and regional cuisine, artisan arts and crafts, a classic car show, and a carnival. The highlight of the two-day event is the Fire on the Water BBQ Cook-Off that pits pitmasters for the coveted title of best barbecue in the county.
One of the newest events in Southeast Arkansas is the Outlaw Nation Chuckwagon Races in Hamburg. The event, which began in 2025, was founded by Professional Bull Rider and Hamburg native Chase Outlaw. In addition to the chuckwagon race, the event includes a youth rodeo, concert, and bull riding.
Cowboys, horses, and queens. For almost eight decades, the Crossett Riding Club has put on its PRCA Rodeo. Founded in 1948 at the old home site of Edgar Woodward “Cap” Gates, one of the founders of the Crossett Lumber Company and developer of the city, the rodeo was recognized as a top five PRCA Medium Rodeo of the Year two years in a row. You can ride into action the Wednesday after Memorial Day at Cap’ Gates Arena.
Find your place in the Natural State where natural beauty meets economic opportunity, creating a unique and welcoming environment. Southeast Arkansas’ expanding industries, affordable cost of living, and commitment to community make it an attractive destination for residents and visitors alike. With a growing focus on education, healthcare, and innovation, Southeast Arkansas continues to be an ideal place to live, work, and explore. For more information about making your move, contact a talent ambassador or explore available jobs.