Beatles at the Ridge Set for Sept. 21
The schedule has been set for the Beatles at the Ridge Music Festival and Symposium Sept. 20 and 21 in downtown Walnut Ridge. Two outdoor stages will feature music, including a return appearance of the Grammy-nominated Liverpool Legends, contemporary Christian performances and a Friday night concert that will trace the roots and branches of rock and roll music.
This year’s festival will feature eight bands, including Louise Harrison’s Branson-based Liverpool Legends, who will close out the festival on Saturday night on the Cavenaugh Rock n’ Roll Hwy. Stage.
Friday night, Lockhouse Orchestra will perform from 6-9 p.m. on the First National Bank Beatles Park Stage, starting with rockabilly and country tunes from the ’50s and ’60s and then covering rock songs from the ’60s and ’70s and finishing up with Beatles favorites.
Bodagus will kick off Saturday’s performances on the Rock n’ Roll Hwy. Stage at 1:30, followed by Cory Jackson at 3:30 and Gary Hardy & Memphis 2 at 5:30. The Legends are scheduled to take the stage at 7:30.
Having received many honors from the Arkansas Festival and Events Association, including being named 2017 Festival of the Year, Beatles at the Ridge also includes a two-day Artists and Authors Symposium that brings in renowned Beatles experts.
The symposium kicks off on Friday, Sept. 20, at noon. This year’s featured author is Jim Berkenstadt and the featured artist is Ken Orth. The theme for this year’s symposium is Beatles memorabilia. Not only will different memorabilia be discussed, there will also be rare Beatles memorabilia on display at the event, as well.
Beatles at the Ridge also features a car show, a barbecue wing contest, a variety of vendors, local entertainment and activities for kids. More information can be found at beatlesattheridge.com. Anyone who needs vendor information can contact the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce at 870-886-3232.
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.