Cash Music Festival, Riverfest make top 100 events

Two Arkansas events, the Johnny Cash Music Festival in Jonesboro and Little Rock’s Riverfest, have been selected by the American Bus Association as two of the ABA’s 2013 Top Events in North America.

Riverfest has an impressive record with this honor, having also been selected in 1984, 1987, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2010, and 2012. The Johnny Cash event will only be in its third year in 2013 but has established itself as a very popular destination event. This annual tribute to one of Arkansas’s native sons has also been selected as one of the ABA’s “Events to Watch,” a new offering this year.

Arkansas Tourism Director Joe David Rice commented on the awards.

“I attended last year’s Johnny Cash benefit concert with my wife and parents and all of us thoroughly enjoyed the evening. We already have our tickets for the 2012 show (October 5) and are eager to get back to Jonesboro.” Regarding Riverfest, Rice said, “I’m still not sure how they do it, but Riverfest gets better every year. It’s one of those rare events where everyone in town is invited to the same party – and we all make the most of it.”

Now in its 31st year, the 2013 Top 100 Events in North America is published as a guide for travel professionals and the general public to use when planning group tours and vacations.

Each spring, the Top 100 selection committee, which is comprised of group travel professionals, selects the winners from among hundreds of nominated fairs, festivals, parades, exhibits, theaters and shows based on their broad appeal, accessibility to large groups arriving by motorcoach and other criteria.

According to Arkansas Group Travel Manager Renee Robison, “Motorcoach operators use the Top 100 designation as new ideas for their group tours. It is a highly sought-after selection where Arkansas events are up against major festivals from all over North America, not just the United States’ destinations. Arkansas continues to compete favorably year after year in getting its events chosen.”

“The events included in the 2013 Top 100 represent the best of the diverse array of group travel attractions available to motorcoach groups throughout the continent,” said ABA President and CEO Peter Pantuso. A full listing of the winners is available at http://www.buses.org/News-Publications/Top-100.