Mountain View, Arkansas irises have bloomed their way to becoming the host of Arkansas’ only iris festival. “The Mountain View Iris Festival” is held annually the first Friday and Saturday in May. The fifth annual festival will be hosted May 5-6, 2023. There are events for all ages and admission is free. The “Carousel Organ Association of America Rally” brings the “Happiest Music on Earth” to the courthouse grounds and they play from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday. There will be a Quilt Show at the Ozark Craft School at 101 N. Peabody Ave on the court square. There will be an annual Iris Show and Photo Contest on Saturday from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at “The Meeting Place,” 106 E Washington St and we invite you to enter an iris or iris photos for the judging competition. Another favorite event is the “Children’s Painting of Iris on Canvas,” Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. It is simply amazing the imagination of these small artists as they gaze at the iris and put paint to their creations. The event is free, and canvas and paint materials are furnished. Various other plans are underway to help you enjoy your weekend getaway to Mountain View Iris Festival.
Music is played throughout the festival at several Mountain View venues. While Mountain View is known as the “Folk Music Capital of the World,” there is a variety of genres played throughout the community. There will be music on the Stone County Courthouse stage on Friday night beginning at 7:00 p.m. featuring the”Finley River Boys” who have played a line-up of bluegrass, country, and old-time gospel at Silver Dollar City in Branson and parts beyond. You won’t want to miss this event on the courthouse lawn and don’t forget a lawn chair. Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. we will host the ever-popular street dance with “Dixon Street Band.” Dixon Street is a classic country band playing real country music! They might throw in some fun tunes! Both these great bands may be found on Facebook for more information!
Please go to mountainviewirisfest.com for updated festival event information and remember we will hold our festival rain or shine! Alternate plans are made in the event of inclement weather. Make your reservations early for this delightful, blooming weekend in one of the prettiest locations in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountain Outdoor Spaces! Great indoor and outdoor fun for our visitors and great hospitality by our many retail shops, restaurants, and residents. The irises are in bloom beginning in early April through mid-May as we have planted early, mid season, and late bloomers. If you cannot make the festival dates, we welcome you to visit anytime. You are always welcome, and this is a link to the area Mountain View Chamber of Commerce for year-round event information. yourplaceinthemountains.com
Looking forward to seeing you in Mountain View, Arkansas May 5-6, 2023 if not before!
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.