BATESVILLE, Ark. — 77th White River Water Carnival Cancelled
Due to health and safety concerns, the long-running festival scheduled for September 2020 will not take place this year, Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce officials announced.
“With an abundance of caution around public health concerns for spread of COVID-19, we have made the decision to cancel the event that has been a staple of the community for many years,” said Crystal Johnson, President/CEO of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce. “Moving forward, we are exploring a partnership with the City of Batesville and plan to lend support and add additional attractions to White River Wonderland. Festivals are an important piece to community and economic development by creating a source of community pride as well as boosting tourism. We feel confident in offering a safe event alternative this December following state and local guidelines to ensure the safety of our community,” she added.
White River Wonderland lighting ceremony is scheduled November 25, 2020 and lights will be on through January 4th. The Kiwanis Christmas Parade is scheduled December 5, 2020. Water Carnival floats and participants are encouraged to participate in the Christmas Parade. You can stay up-to-date with the latest event information by viewing the Events Calendar at experienceindependence.com/events.
Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late ’60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit.
Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000.
After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year.
In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow.
She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training.
Drew is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current membership chair.
In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.