The ASSDF has a yearly fall festival dance in a different Arkansas city, usually around the second weekend of October, which is usually on Columbus Day Weekend. There is a Trail-In Dance on Thursday night (separate admission, details below)...then the Friday night dance features a National Caller for the Square Dancing...and Arkansas Cuers for the Round Dancing. Saturday activities feature fun dances, workshops, the ASSDF Delegates Meeting at 9am Saturday morning, plus the afternoon and evening dancing to Arkansas' Callers And Cuers. There will also be door prizes, plus a Teacup Auction, and a Silent Auction...plus possibly Split The Pot, at the weekend. All clubs are requested to provide Gift Baskets for the dance, which will be auctioned off, with a minimum bid that they place on it.
As a side note, it's possible that the 2019 Fall Festival may be the last one with a National Caller doing every tip on Friday night. A different format
may be in the works for the 2020 Fall Festival...details on this will be posted as soon as possible.
It's worth noting that ''While visitors can watch the dance at no charge, the moment they step on the dance floor to dance, they become dancers...and will be expected to pay the at door registration fee (for Friday and Saturday), and, if they attend the Thursday Night Trail-In Dance, a separate fee payable at the door. If not, they will be asked to leave the dance floor, and the premises''...because of liability and insurance issues. Lastly, there is a CHANGE in the fee structure for the 2019 Festival, and that is noted here.
There is a Wal-Mart, across from the Super 8 By Wyndham Motel (noted here)...so, one can take care of their shopping needs as required.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SCHEDULE BELOW IS TENTATIVE, AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE!!. Also, be sure to CALL BEFORE YOU TRAVEL, to be sure the dance is still scheduled.
Saturday, August 24 - Pioneers, Mountain Home, AR
Monday, August 26 - Kingsdale Squares, Bella Vista, AR
Tuesday, Sept. 10 - Jubilee Squares, Batesville, AR
Friday, Sept. 13 - Levis And Lace, Hot Springs, AR
Saturday, Sept. 21 - Guys N Dolls, New Boston, TX
Friday, Sept. 27 - Heber Springers, Rosebud, AR
NOTE: Travel to the club dances of the Blue Belles And Beaus in Judsonia, and to the Swingin' Cavaliers in Charleston, are being RESCHEDULED to dates to be announced.
Tickets are $15 per person...and the cost is whether you come for the dinner and dance, or just the dance only...as the food will still be available for the latecomers. You will pay at the door.
The menu will include brisket, barbecue chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, and pulled pork...more selections may be added later. As a side note, I'm not much for potato salad, but the rest of it sounds scrumptious!! So, one will need to dance all that good food off!!
There will be Split The Pot, a Teacup Auction, Square Dance Clothes For Sale, and a ''horse race''. For an information flier on the Trail In Dance, click here. You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view/print the flier(s). Contact information if you have questions is on the flier.
According to their websites (via the Google Search Engine), the Super 8 By Wyndham offers functional rooms, some with sitting areas, in a casual budget hotel with an outdoor pool. It is located at 2008 Highway 65 South, in Clinton, and they can be reached at (501) 209-4358.
The Best Western, is located at 1025 US-65B in Clinton, and can be reached at (501) 745-4700. It is on a hill off US-65. This modest hotel is less than a mile from the Van Buren County Historical Society, and 1.2 miles from Clinton Municipal Airport. Straightforward rooms come with complimentary Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs with premium cable channels, and tea and coffeemakers. Some have microwaves, minifridges and/or mountain views. Kids 12 and under stay free with a parent. Other amenities include a seasonal outdoor pool and a business center.
Both hotels offer a complimentary breakfast and parking. You are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to make your reservations as soon as possible, and will need to GUARANTEE the room with a credit or debit card.
For weather conditions for Clinton, Arkansas...from the National Weather Service in Little Rock, Arkansas, click here. The link provides a 7 day forecast for the area, along with links to any current watches, warnings, and advisories, that are in effect.
1) The Trail-In Dance, on Thursday night, is a separate fee, payable at the door. It is $15 per person, which includes a dinner, starting at 5pm, and a dance, starting at 7pm. Since the food will still be available for latecomers, the fee is $15 per person, whether you arrive in time for the dinner, or just for the dance.
2) For dancers who pre-register in advance for all dancing on Friday afternoon, Friday night, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday night, the fee is $20 per person.
3) For dancers who register at the door for all dancing on Friday afternoon, Friday night, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday night, the fee is $25 per person.
4) For dancers who attend either the Friday, OR the Saturday dancing, it is $15 per person, at the door, per day. If you attend Friday night, and pay the $15... then discover on Saturday that you'll be able to attend the Saturday dances after all, you'll have to pay another $15 fee...meaning $30 total. So, it'd be better if you think you are going to attend Friday and Saturday activities, to pay that fee together, and save a little money. A printable flier is located here.
