Concerts, movies, cultural events, art workshops, festivals and much more will be held from April through December in the Front Street Park. The Delta Arts Festival will celebrate a wide range of artistic expression. The Depot Days Festival is a showcase of local, regional, and national talent paying tribute to the early history of Rock and Roll. Festival goers from Europe, Australia, and all over the U.S. make annual pilgrimages to Front Street to catch a glimpse of living legends from the 50’s as well as younger generations of musicians who were inspired by the elders. The fall event includes the best backyard barbecue contest, a Lions Club auction, family-friendly attractions and lots of dancing! The early day “rock ‘n’ roll train” steamed out of Memphis in the 1950s and roared into Jackson County nightclubs. Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Sonny Burgess all frequented the venues along the highway when Rock music was in its infancy. A collection of rock ‘n’ roll-era memorabilia can be viewed in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Highway Museum in Newport.
Three rivers, wooded areas and numerous lakes provide great outdoor activities for both young and old throughout Jackson County. Outdoor enthusiasts flock to the area during duck and deer hunting seasons, and the fishing is spectacular. Public and private preserves, plus lodging facilities, are available. Jacksonport State Park tells the story of this historic White River port, one of the oldest steamboat landings in north Arkansas. The park also includes picnic areas, sandy beaches, a pavilion, playground, the Tunstall Riverwalk, a boat launch ramp and 20 Class A campsites (50-amp service) with restroom/shower facilities.
Visit newportarcity.org for more information.
