The Cotter-Gassville Chamber of Commerce will present the 21st edition of one the Twin Lakes Area’s biggest annual events. The First Security Bank Greater Cotter Trout Festival and Car Show are scheduled for Saturday from 9 in the morning until 9 in the evening at Big Spring Park in downtown Cotter. Other sponsors include Bank OZK, the Home Depot, Shawnee Supreme Boat Company, Vexus Boats, Double XX Boats, the Cotter Trout Dock, Roller Funeral Home, Dally’s Ozark Fly Fisher and the city of Cotter.
Vendors will start setting up at 8, and the festival gets underway with the morning parade at 9:30. Participants in the parade will line up at Second Street and Combs Avenue starting at 9. The Cotter Marching Band will be among the participants. For further details about the parade, contact Samantha Nazarenko at 915-525-7612.
Opening ceremonies will start on the stage at 10:30, featuring Raquel Houck of Mountain Home High School performing the Star Spangled Banner. The music will immediately follow with the Kattie Laney Project taking the stage until 1:30. The Leslie Williams Band will later perform from 1:30 to 3:30, and the Nick Reed Band will play from 5 to 8:15.
Kattie Laney Project
Leslie Williams Band
Nick Reed Band
After making its first appearance last year, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s large mobile aquarium is returning. The aquarium will be available at the pavilion from 9 to 4.
This year’s car show will be presented by the Bad Habits Car Club and Modded Minds starting at 10. Anyone looking to enter is asked to bring a toy valued at $5 for Christmas in Cotter or food items for the Backpack Program. For more information about the car show, contact Ray Frasier of the Bad Habits Car Club at 870-421-5391.
A kids’ fishing derby will also be available for those ages 15-and-under. The derby will be held the Cotter Trout Dock from 10:30 to 2:30.
The duck race also makes its return to the trout festival. Tickets are $1 each, six for $5 or 25 for $20 and will be available for purchase from 10:30 to 4 at the gazebo. There will be cash and prizes available to the winners. For tickets, contact Jason Nazarenko at 931-627-5056.
A boat provided by Rob and Ripken Finley of Shawnee Supreme Boat Company is being raffled. Tickets for the 2023 207 XP Supreme River Boat with a trailer can be purchased at First Security Bank, the Cotter Trout Dock or the Natural State Fly Shop. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. More information on the boat raffle can also be sought by calling 870-425-2116 or 870-435-7447.
The After Party Under the Bridge Craft Beer Garden will be held from 5 to 9 (controlled access only). Other activities include a poker run and a kids’ bounce house and slide provided by Mountain Home Party Equipment Rentals.
Arts and crafts vendors and other exhibits are scheduled to be available until 4. For further details on vendor space, contact Linda McCarthy at 870-656-8547.
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