The Batesville Area Arts Council hosted its eighth annual Artoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 12, bringing together local and regional artists, food vendors, and musicians for a day of community celebration. The festival, held in downtown Batesville, featured over 50 vendors, live music, and student art competitions.
Performances included sets by Ed Casper, Matthew Lebrato & Jon Healey, and The Natural Disasters, providing entertainment for festivalgoers throughout the day. Food trucks offering a variety of local cuisines were also on-site, adding to the festive atmosphere.
A sidewalk chalk art competition and a coloring contest for grades K through 12 were part of the fun. Winners of the Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest were recognized in two age categories. In the K – 6th grade category, Sloane Hodges (pictured below) took 1st place, followed by Wyatt Muse in 2nd place, and Dathan Allen in 3rd place. The Junior High – College category saw Carlie Hubbard in 1st place, Keziah Wilder in 2nd place, and Tyson Williams in 3rd place.
For the Artoberfest Coloring Contest, 1st place winners were determined by votes on the Batesville Area Arts Council’s Facebook page. Winners included Kinleigh Adair (9th grade), Emery Sandefur (5th grade), and Luke Dye (3rd grade).
The festival, presented by Citizens Bank and sponsored by several local businesses, including FutureFuel Chemical Co., Lyon College, First Community Bank, the Wood Family Dealerships, and the Bank of Cave City, continues to grow each year, according to the Arts Council.
“We hope the community enjoyed this year’s Artoberfest and we look forward to the continued growth of this event,” the council said in a statement.
Sloane Hodges with her 1st place certificate and trophy for the 2024 chalk contest. Her chalk art is below.
John Parks & Sarah Jo Sample of The Natural Disasters
Above, from left: Kori Foster (BAAC Board Member), Carly Dahl (BAAC Executive Director), and Kristi Clark (BAAC Board Member)
Main Street Batesville Director Maggie Smart with her family
Matthew Lebrato & Jon Healey performing
Ed Casper playing accordion
Images provided by the Batesville Area Arts Council
Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ every weekday morning and afternoon. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5.