Hobbs State Park-Conservation Center Event

Edible trees and plants workshop

Walk on the wild side with Tamara Walkingstick for this insightful workshop. Learn how wild plants can be used as food sources.

Walkingstick has worked for the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, as an associate professor of extension forestry since 1996. Walkingstick said, "In this comprehensive four-hour workshop, learn to identify some edible species of Arkansas' native and non-native vegetation and sample tasty dishes, including sun-choke soup, persimmon crisp, muscadine ice cream and more. The presentation covers concepts of conservation, history, culture and plant identification. Thirty pages of wild edible recipes are included as well."

Workshop hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Hobbs Visitor Center. The cost is $15 per person -- check or cash accepted on the day of the workshop. Participants must pre-register by calling 479-789-5000.

Last Friday of Summer -- Sunset Dinner Cruise

Take a lake cruise on beautiful Beaver Lake guided by a park interpreter. The cruise will make a stop at Ventris Trails End Resort for a dinner consisting of smothered pork chops, mashed potatoes with white gravy, green beans, dinner roll, French onion soup, salad, tea, coffee or lemonade. A vegetarian option is also available with a portabella sandwich with sautéed green peppers and onions, garlic mayo and Swiss cheese. Ventris Trails End Resort is famous for its desserts. This cruise comes with chocolate cake and some surprise entertainment.

The last Friday of summer dinner cruise leaves Rocky Branch Marina promptly at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, with dinner at 5 p.m. The cruise with dinner is approximately three hours long. Cost is $40 per person, plus tax. Registration and prepayment required. For more information and to register, call the park office.

Fall Festival

A host of free family-orientated events will take place at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area Sunday, Oct. 7. Activities will take place at the Historic Van Winkle Hollow and the Park's Visitor Center.

Historic Van Winkle Hollow events from 1 to 4 p.m. will include a blacksmith demonstration, early food preservation, old-time games, a stone-tool making demonstration, a Van Winkle Historic Hollow presentation, an apothecary shop, a Dutch-oven demonstration, pearling, a dowsing demonstration, mountain woman, pioneer homesteader and tall-tale tellers.

Visitor Center demonstrations from 1 to 4 p.m. will include weavers, smockers, lace makers, spinners, music, "Table Top" programs, kids' crafts and free ice cream.

A free shuttle will be available. Park at the visitor center parking lot on Highway 12 just east of the Highway 12/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. More information is available by contacting the park office.

Park Visitor Center Location and Contacts

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.ArkansastateParks.com/hobbsstateparkconservationarea.

General News on 09/12/2018