Festivals, Challenges and Haunted tours pack Fort Smith area calendar

The Fort Smith region will celebrate everything from animal rescue to Halloween horrors in the coming weeks as it hosts the Saving Paws Benefit, Wiederkehr Wine Fest, the Murder & Mayhem Trolley Tour, BalloonFest and a Survivors' Challenge.

Saving Paws Benefit
Ahimsa Rescue Foundation will commemorate ten years of animal rescue and adoption with its Saving Paws Benefit on Oct. 10.

Hosted at the Blue Lion in Fort Smith, the evening will feature food catered by 21 West End and a homemade dessert bar. Entertainment will be provided by host, comic and ARF volunteer Doug  Shadell. Guests will also have the chance to bid on numerous items in the auction, including a highly collectible "Blue Dog" print, signed and numbered by George Rodrigue.

Saving Paws will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Individual tickets are $50, with reserved tables for eight available fore $500. For more information, call 427-7404.

Wiederkehr Wine Festival
The 51st annual Wiederkehr Wine Festival will get underway  on Oct. 11.

Activities will be held throughout the day, beginning with tours of the historic wine cellars starting at 8:30 am. Visitors will take trips through the Wiederkehr vineyards riding carriages and trams and enjoying wine tastings of some of the area's finest selections.

Authentic German food will be served at Wiedekehr's legendary Weinkeller Restaurant, as well as during the traditional Festival Banquet from 2 to 7 p.m. Those looking for other International flavors can visit food concessions that will also be set up at the festival, which will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The always-popular grape stomping championship and barrel races will be held in the afternoon, along with the "Stein Stemmen" stone toss contest, and "Baum Stossen" log toss competition. A complete schedule of activities is available online.

Wine tasting is free, as is entrance into the festival. Tickets for the festival banquet can be purchased upon arrival. For more information, call 468-WINE.

Murder & Mayhem Haunted Trolley Tour
Those looking for a little spook can jump on board the Murder & Mayhem Haunted Trolley Tour. Presented by the Fort Smith Museum of History, the tour will be offered in the weeks leading up to Halloween and will give riders a glimpse into some of the city's most treacherous tales and haunted sites.

Each tour will begin with drinks and refreshments at the museum, where riders will then board the trolley. Judge and Mrs. Isaac C. Parker, portrayed by Floyd and Sue Robison, will narrate the tour through downtown Fort Smith and the historic Belle Grove District. The "Parkers" will share stories about notorious spooky homes and buildings located throughout the area and share details about infamous murders and crimes that were committed in decades past.

Rides will be offered Oct. 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 and reservations are required. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to participate. All proceeds benefit the Fort Smith Museum of History. To RSVP or for more information, call 783-7841.

Poteau BalloonFest
Thousands will make their way to Poteau for the annual Balloon Fest Oct. 17-18. Voted one of Oklahoma's top events, the festival will feature beautiful hot air balloons, BMX bikes, PBR bull riding, carnival rides, games and more.

The Poteau sky will transform during the festival, as balloons line up for exciting balloon glows and perform via burns, flickers and the wave. Visitors will have the chance to enjoy the "fun in the air" by taking tethered balloon rides that will be featured at the event. Guests will also enjoy delicious food, sporting events, rides, games, petting zoos and other family-friendly activities. Helicopter and monster truck rides will also be offered.

BalloonFest will be held at the LeFlore County Fair Grounds on Highway 271 South. Gates will open at noon on Friday and close at 11 p.m. The festival will resume at 9 a.m. on Saturday and go until 11 p.m. A complete schedule of events is available online. Admission armbands can be purchased in advance for $3 or at the gate for $5. Children ages four and under will be admitted free. For more information, call 918-647-9178.

Survivors' Challenge
The Reynolds Cancer Support House in Fort Smith invites survivors, supporters, walkers, and runners alike to take part in the 23rd annual Survivor’s Challenge on  Oct. 18. Events will include a 5K, 10K and Celebration Walk, followed by a Finish Line Festival at Creekmore Park. Both the 5K and the 10K will be chip-timed.

Survivor's Challenge is the area's largest footrace, with the 10K being a part of the 2014 Arkansas Grand Prix Circuit. Awards will be presented to the top three male and female finishers in each age division. Special team awards will also be handed out for the most spirited, top fundraiser, newcomer, and other categories.

Registration for the timed 5K is $20 and $25 for the timed 10K. Cost is $15 to participate in either the untimed 5K run/walk or in the one-mile celebration walk. T-shirts may be purchased separately upon registration.

The race will begin at 8 a.m. All events will begin and end at the Reynolds Cancer Support House, located at 3324 South M Street in Fort Smith.

Participants must pre-register online or complete the paper registration and return to the Reynolds Cancer Support House prior to the event. No race-day registration will be offered.