Fort Smith Region to celebrate Great Futures, Red Shoes and Pink Parks

Italian soirees, a "Fiesta for the Future," and festivals celebrating all things chocolate and all things ale are among just a few of the many events packing the Fort Smith region's calendar in the coming weeks.

A Night in Tuscany
Viva Italia!  Single Parent Scholarship Fund will present "A Night in Tuscany," complete with classic Italian food, wine, and music on Sept. 19.

Hosted at Fort Smith's Riverfront Pavilion, the evening will include food prepared by guest Chef Paul Capel of 21 West End. Guests will also enjoy music and have the chance to bid on a number of wine-inspired baskets in the premier silent auction.

A Night in Tuscany will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $60. Proceeds will benefit single parents in Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, "by placing education within reach so they can increase their income earning potential and bring their children out of poverty."

For tickets, call 434-6171 or email Linda Dowdy at [email protected].

United Way Campaign Kick-off
United Way of Fort Smith will honor "Difference Makers" in the community as it kicks off its 2014 annual campaign on Sept. 25.

The luncheon will signify the official start of the 2014 United Way fundraising campaign, which raises more than $2 million each year for local partner agencies and impact programs. Community leaders, volunteers, agency representatives and  supporters will all be on-hand to hear the formal announcement of the Pacesetter of the Year Award, as well as the total raised from the August Pacesetter companies.

The luncheon will be held at the Holiday Inn City Center beginning at 11:30 a.m. Special guest speaker will be Billy Jones, a client of Abilities Unlimited, a long-time United Way agency.

The event is free and open to the community. For more information, call Mitzy Little at 782-131.

Great Futures Gala
The Boys and Girls Club of Van Buren is throwing a fiesta, as its hosts it inaugural "Great Futures Gala" on Sept. 27. The first fundraiser of its kind for the organization, the "Fiesta for the Future" themed event will feature delicious food and drink, music and entertainment, and a premier live auction.

The outdoor celebration will be held at the home of Jeremy and Stephanie Riffle, located in Van Buren's Scott Farm, beginning at 6 p.m. The menu will feature authentic Latin cuisine, a signature cocktail, and an array of desert options.

Entertainment will include a performance by professional Latin-dance instructor, Barbie Bell Nolte, who will also teach dancers how to show off their best Salsa moves. Guests will also enjoy the chance to bid on a number of sports, spa, decor, and trip packages in the live auction.

Individual tickets are $60 and include dinner, adult beverages, and a bid number. Reserved tables for eight are $500, with other sponsorship opportunities also available. All proceeds from the gala will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Van Buren, whose mission is "to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens."

To purchase tickets or for more information about the event, contact the Club at 474-9401.

Friends of the Library Chocolate Festival
Chocolate lovers will be among friends at The Friends of the Fort Smith Library sixth annual Chocolate Festival  on Sept. 28.

Held at the Dallas Branch, the event will welcome local clubs, businesses and individuals who will serve up delicious desserts to library patrons. Festival-goers will make their way around the branch visiting the dozens of participating vendors and deciding which treats to sample with their tickets.

Admission is $7 and includes tickets for six tastings. To-go boxes will be available. All proceeds from the Chocolate Festival benefit the Friends of the Library, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting the Fort Smith Public Library in its numerous projects and programs.

The Chocolate Festival will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The Dallas Branch is located at 8100 Dallas St., in Fort Smith. For more information, call 484-5650.

Red Shoe Shindig
Masks and red shoes will be the attire of choice at the fourth annual Red Shoe Shindig, "An Italian Masquerade Ball" on Oct. 3. Benefitting the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mercy in Fort Smith, the ball invites guests to don Italian-style masks and their favorite red slippers for an evening of fine dining and celebrations.

Chef Steven Brooks will prepare an exquisite four-course Venetian meal, accompanied by premium Italian wines. Following dinner, the program will include the presentation of the prestigious Lily Award to the Mercy NICU nurses, for their dedication to the patients and families in their care.

A live auction will also be held featuring destination getaways, special event tickets, jewelry, and more. The Shindig will be held at the EpiCenter at MovieLounge in Fort Smith. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $125. For more information, call 756-5600.

Fest of Ale
Guests will have the chance to sample some of the region's finest draft beer varieties as Girls, Inc. of Fort Smith presents its fourth annual Fest of Ale on Oct. 3.

With an emphasis on Arkansas breweries, the event will showcase more than 100 draft beers and ales, providing visitors samples from local distributors. Numerous restaurants and eateries will also be on-hand serving up appetizing dishes and treats.

A special VIP section will be open featuring wine and exclusive selections from AJ's Oyster House. Local favorite Sweet and Low Down will also return to perform live music throughout the evening.

Fest of Ale will be held at the Holiday Inn City Center in downtown Fort Smith from 6 to 9 p.m. General admission tickets are $45 with VIP tickets available for $75. Must be 21 or older to attend.

All proceeds will benefit Girls, Inc. of Fort Smith which inspires young women to be "strong, smart, and bold." For more information, call 782-0375.

Paint the Park Pink 8
Hundreds of cancer survivors, their families, and Komen supporters in the River Valley will come together at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Paint the Park Pink 8 on Oct. 4.

The morning's festivities will begin with a Survivor's Breakfast at 8:15 a.m., where local breast cancer survivors and their co-survivors will be honored. It will held in the UAFS Reynolds Room located in the Smith Pendegraft Building.

The walk will begin at 10 a.m. at the UAFS Bell Tower and will extend approximately one mile around the university's campus. At the finish line, participants will be treated to live music, as well as games and a children's area.

Registration is $20 and can be completed online. Proceeds from Paint the Park Pink benefit the Ozark affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which supports breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment for underserved women and their families in the River Valley and Northwest Arkansas. For more information, call 430-4365, or e-mail at [email protected]