Hobbs State Park-Conservation Center Events

Fall festival

A host of free and fun family-orientated events will take place at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area Sunday, Oct. 7. Activities will take place at both the Historical Van Winkle Hollow and the Park's Visitor Center. Bring the entire family to learn how some things were done in the past.

Historic Van Winkle Hollow events from 1 to 4 p.m. will include:

• Blacksmith Demonstration

• Early Food Preservation

• Old Timey Games

• Music

• Stone Toolmaking Demonstration

• Van Winkle Historical Presentation

• Apothecary Shoppe

• Dutch Oven Demonstration

• Pearling

• Dowsing Demonstration (It really works.)

• Mountain Woman

• "Snake Oil" Salesman

• Pioneer Homesteader

• Tall Tales Tellers

Visitor Center demonstrations from 1 to 4 p.m. will include:

• Demonstrations for weavers, smockers, lace makers, spinners, music, "Table Top" programs, kids crafts and free ice cream.

Please park at the visitor center parking lot on Arkansas Highway 12, just east of the Highway 12 and War Eagle Road intersection. The free shuttle will run continuously from 1 to 4 p.m. between the visitor center and Historic Van Winkle Hollow.

All of these family fun activities are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, contact the park office.

Three loon migration cruises

By popular demand -- Hobbs State Park has teamed up with the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society to offer three memorable loon migration cruises on Beaver Lake. Each cruise will be led by guides well experienced with waterfowl migration.

Beginning at the end of October to mid-November, the waterfowl migration will be in full swing. There will be many bird species to see and identify on these cruises. Besides common loons, participants could see red-throated loons, Pied-billed and horned grebes and possibly western and eared grebes. These trips fall right in the middle of waterfowl migration, and participants could see 10 or more species of ducks, one to three gull species, and even bald eagles. The cruise loop starts at Rocky Branch, goes down the lake towards Twin Cove, crosses to Lost Bridge-Glade and a little further west, then finishes back at Rocky Branch.

The three cruises will leave Rocky Branch Marina at 10 a.m. each of the three days, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 27; Saturday, Nov. 3; and Sunday, Nov. 11. These are adult-only cruises with a cost of $10 plus tax per adult (13 years and older). Reservations are necessary. For more information and to make reservations, call the park at 479-789-5000.

Park Visitor Center

The Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area Visitor Center contact phone number is 479-789-5000. The visitor center is located on Arkansas Highway 12 just east of the War Eagle Road intersection. To learn more about upcoming Friends of Hobbs speakers and other park programs, go to www.friendsofhobbs.com and www.ArkansasStateParks.com/hobbsstateparkconservationarea.