Eliminate boredom this July in The Natural State
July begins with a bang in Arkansas, and the fun continues for the entire month in The Natural State.
Thrilling fireworks shows will take place at various locations throughout the state on July 4, including at Lake Ouachita, Lake Hamilton, Greers Ferry Lake and Beaver Lake, where the displays create breathtaking reflections on the water. Arkansas.com has an extensive list of fireworks shows and other Independence Day events for everyone to enjoy.
Arkansas families can plan their weekends around other events happening throughout the month.
The famous World Championship Cardboard Boat Races will occur July 20 at Greers Ferry Lake’s Sandy Beach in Heber Springs. Boats made entirely of cardboard will race for bragging rights. There will also be a watermelon-eating contest and a volleyball tournament.
In Clarksville, The Johnson County Peach Festival is a three-day event beginning on July 18 with a number of associated activities including a bicycle obstacle course, peach pit spitting contest, fishing derby, horseshoe pitching tournament and, of course, plenty of peaches to enjoy.
A week later, Arkansas celebrates the world’s sweetest watermelons at the 40th Annual Cave City Watermelon Festival, July 25-27. One can feast on juicy Cave City watermelons while enjoying music from country music star Mark Chesnutt, country band Shenandoah and Christian group Down East Boys.
Arkansas.com has a complete listing of all events happening throughout the state in July. Check it out. It’s the perfect cure for the summer doldrums.
About Arkansas Tourism
Arkansas Tourism, a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, strives to expand the economic impact of travel and tourism in the state and enhance the quality of life for all Arkansans. The division manages 14 Arkansas Welcome Centers and employs more than 60 staff members across The Natural State. For more information, visit www.arkansas.com.
For information on the region visit www.ozarkgateway.com
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.