Celebration returns to Marmaduke

Organizers hope the Marmaduke Picnic makes its return in grand fashion. This year marks the first the event has been held since the small town was hit hard by a devastating tornado in 2006.

The picnic will be held Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, at the city's park. Events are scheduled Friday evening and all day Saturday, when area residents and guests gather to celebrate not only the birth of America, but also the re-emergence of Marmaduke.

The event will feature a number of beauty contests, performances, a talent show and delicious food, as well as the opportunity to unite with old acquaintances and make new friends.

The action will begin Friday with three pageants. Concessions will be open during the Friday events.

A pageant for girls ages five to seven will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by a pageant for girls ages eight to 11 and a pageant for girls ages 12 to 14 at 8 p.m. Persons interested in registering for any of the picnic's pageants may contact Monta Hedge at (870) 597-4412 or Lori Long at (870) 450-1581.

Saturday's pageants begin with baby contests for both boys and girls. Contestants will range from newborn to 11 months at 10 a.m. The next contests will be for boys and girls ages one to three at 3 p.m. Contests for boys and girls ages three to four will be held at 5 p.m. The pageants will conclude with the Miss Liberty Bell contest for girls ages 15 to 18 in the Marmaduke School District at 8 p.m.

The picnic's parade also returns, with a starting time of 9 a.m. Saturday. Persons interested in being a part of the parade are encouraged to contact Betty Jackson at (870) 597-2753.

There are two new additions to the annual celebration. A wing cook-off will be held at 7 p.m. Friday. For a complete list of rules, persons are encouraged to visit www.houndsden.com or contact either Long or Hedge for additional information.

A three-on-three basketball tournament will be held Saturday at the park's outdoor courts. Persons may contact Long or Keith Richey at (870) 595-4390 for more information.

The Marmaduke Picnic also will feature a number of performances onstage. Musical performances will be offered Saturday by local talent like Awake at 11:30 a.m., Shirley Long at 4 p.m. and Scatter Creek at 6 p.m. There also will be an all-ages talent show at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Those interested in taking part in the talent show may call Ginger Richey at (870) 597-2442.

A prize of $500 will be given away near the conclusion of Saturday's events. Tickets for the prize are available for a donation of $1 each or 25 for $20.

The celebration will conclude with a fireworks display at 10 p.m. Saturday.

The picnic's return is a vital step for Marmaduke.

"It's very important to get it going again," Long, one of the event's organizers, said. "Due to the tornado, we just haven't had the involvement that was needed because people were busy rebuilding their lives. Now, most of the town has been rebuilt and we felt like it was time to get the picnic going again for the spirit of the community."