BANKS, Ark. – The City of Banks and Buck Fever Festival Committee are working hard and super excited to host the 37th Annual Buck Fever Festival. The tradition of Buck Fever being on the opening weekend of deer season continues and the dates are Thursday, November 9th through Sunday, November 12th.
Activities will begin Thursday, November 9th with an optional pageant practice for all ages 6pm-7pm. The traditional Buck Fever pageant will begin for our little ones age 0-4 years old on Friday, Nov. 10th at 6:30pm. Be sure to come with an appetite as there will be food vendors available Friday night as well.
Saturday, November 11th, the festival continues at 10:00am with lots of wonderful vendors, a flu shot clinic, and a children’s corner hosted by Primetime Riders. The children’s corner will include a camo obstacle course, inflatables, games, and face painting all for $5 with an all-day arm band. The Cake Walk and Cutest Dog Contest will be taking place at 10:30am, so while you are waiting for the parade to start, walk for a chance at a delicious dessert and see all the adorable pups. The parade begins at 12:00pm with a best overall entry prize of $200, a best float prize of $300, and all other parade divisions have a cash prize as well. Be sure to check out the Facebook page for more details.
The fish dinner will follow the parade at 12:15 in the big tent and the 2nd Annual Banks All Class Reunion will take place at 1:30pm in the Banks Community Center located at 218 North Pine.
The talent show with a grand prize of $250 will start at 2:00pm. This is open to all ages so come show Banks what you got. Along with fish there will be several other food venders for all the hungry hunters, family, and friends. Be sure to check out all of the venders as well. You never know, you might knock out some Christmas gifts while you’re there.
Continuing Saturday night, an award ceremony will be held at 6:00pm for the daytime events and the older girls will grace everyone with their beauty with the pageant continuing at 6:30pm. The Miss Buck Fever contestants will be competing for a $4000.00 scholarship from University of Arkansas at Monticello. For those that missed the pageant entry deadline, the festival is accepting late entries for an additional $10 through Nov. 3rd. They can be dropped off at Johnny’s Radiator Shop in Warren or can paid via PayPal and sent via email. The baggo tournament will start at 8:00pm and winning team takes home $250.
The Biggest Buck contest continues this year with a $250 prize for the biggest buck deer. In addition to that, there’s a $100 prize for biggest doe and a $50 prize for youth biggest doe. These big deer contests will be judged Saturday night only 6:00-8:00pm and the harvest tag must be dated Nov 11th. Winner will be announced before the featured band Stone Pony starts at 8:00pm.
Sunday, November 12th, at 12:30pm Pastor Jim Bales will bless everyone with his message at Camo Praise and Worship Church in the tent. Hunters can come as they are after enjoying God’s amazing creation on the deer stand. Everyone is welcome and lunch will be served.
The City of Banks and Committee members are working hard to ensure an amazing time is had by all.