Fort Smith to enjoy Wine & Roses, inaugural Steel Horse Rally and more

It is a busy spring for the Fort Smith region, as the area is set to host a number of special celebrations, fundraisers, and awareness events. The coming weeks will include a  Wrap-up Celebration for the annual United Way Campaign,  the "Divas, Diamonds, and Decadence luncheon," Wine & Roses, "Step Up, Speak Out" block parties, the inaugural Steel Horse Rally, the third annual "Life's an Uphill RUN!" 5k, and Night in the Caribbean.

United Way Campaign Wrap-Up
United Way of Fort Smith will officially conclude its 2014 fund drive with a Campaign Wrap-Up Celebration on Apr. 21.

The event will include an announcement of the total dollars raised, as well as special award presentations for participating companies and agencies.  Lunch will be served.
The luncheon will be held Fort Smith Convention Center in Hall C beginning at 11:30 a.m. To RSVP or for more information, email [email protected].

Divas, Diamonds, and Decadence
Ladies will enjoy a fun afternoon of fashion and food while supporting the Fountain of Youth Adult Day Center at the second annual Divas, Diamonds, and Decadence luncheon on Apr. 22.

The event will feature a diva fashion show, as well as displays of diamond and "bling" jewelry. Guests will be treated to lunch and decadent desserts. A silent auction will also be held.

The luncheon will held at Fianna Hills Country Club in Fort Smith, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are $35, but are limited. For more information, call 484-7782.

Wine & Roses
The Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House will host its 21st annual "Wine and Roses" gala on April 25. The black tie optional benefit will include delicious food and drinks, as well as beautiful art and live music.

Guests will  dine on gourmet food, prepared by River City Deli Catering, and a number of specialty wines. Harpist Hollye Dickinson will perform  as well as the popular group Wingnut.

Local father and son pair Jim and Michael Hadley will serve as the guest auctioneers in the live wine auction, which will include a wide-array of big ticket bottles up for grabs. A drawing for a ladies Rolex watch, donated by Newton's Jewelers, will also be held.

Pieces by 13 regional artists, including Steve Payne, Jason Sacran, and Lyn Snider, will be on display in the silent art auction. Mediums will range from jewelry and pottery to framed canvas paintings and woven baskets. Many of the artists will also be in attendance visiting with guests about their collections.

Wine and Roses will be held at the Reynolds Cancer Support House located at 3324 South M St. in Fort Smith beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased online or by emailing [email protected]. For more information, call 424-1812.

Step Up, Speak Out Block Parties

In honor of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, "Step Up, Speak Out!" will host a number of community block parties Apr. 29-30.

Fort Smith will play host to two parties on Apr. 29, with one at Fairview Elementary School and the other at Pike Elementary School. The Boys & Girls Club of Van Buren will also host a party on-site. All three will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and will include games, prizes, entertainment, food and more.

A block party will also be held in Pocola on Apr. 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. It will take place at Pocola Elementary School.

All parties are free and open to the public. The focus is to help bring communities together for a fun event with a platform to distribute safety information and raise awareness about child abuse. For more information, check out the initiative's Facebook page.

Steel Horse Rally
The inaugural Steel Horse Rally is set to roll through Fort Smith May 1-2. Gates will open at noon on Friday (May 1), with live music featured at Harry E. Kelley Park. Performances will include .357, The Troublemakers, Scott Ellison, and country band Backroad Anthem.

Saturday morning festivities will get underway at 9 a.m. with a "Birds of Prey" exhibition, followed by more live music and the evening parade. Dedicated to military, veterans, law enforcement officers and first responders, the parade will be the largest ever motorcycle event in downtown Fort Smith's history. Line-up will begin staging at 4 p.m. at Fort Smith Park, located at 5301 Riverfront Drive. "Kickstands up" at 5 p.m. as the parade heads to downtown Fort Smith. The parade is free and open to anyone riding a motorcycle or trike. A poker run will also be held on Saturday. The evening will conclude with a performance by Hillbilly Vegas.

The Fort City DayStar Riders #378 will host Biker Sunday (May 3) following the rally. It will take place in the C & H Parking Lot, located at the corner of North 12th and Garrison. The morning will include coffee and donuts, music, and a special service for guests.

Proceeds from the rally will benefit four local charities;  The Fort Smith Museum of History, The Darby Legacy Project, The Arkansas State Veterans Home through the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association AR 7-3, and the Gregory Kistler Treatment Center.

For more information or to view a complete schedule of rally activities, visit the event webpage.

Life's an Uphill RUN! 5K
The Boys & Girls Club of Van Buren will hold its third annual "Life's an Uphill Run!" 5k on May 2. The event will include a 5K through the hills of the city park and surrounding area, as well as a one-mile fun run/walk around the park lake.

The race will begin and end at the Boys & Girls Club, located at 1403 City Park Road.  The 5k will be chip-timed. An awards presentation and celebration with inflatables, snacks and door prizes will follow. Medals will be presented to the first, second, and third place finishers in each category, and to the top overall male and female runners.

Entry fee is $20 in advance and $25 the morning of the race. Registration can be completed online.  Check-in will begin at 7 a.m., followed by the race at 8 a.m.
Each participant will receive a goody bag and dri-fit race t-shirt. For more information, call 474-9401.

Night in the Caribbean
It will be an island getaway right here in Fort Smith as The Gregory Kistler Center hosts its 13th annual "Night in the Caribbean" on May 2.

The party with include a Caribbean buffet and an open bar that will feature mojitos and other specialty drinks by the Top Shelf Bartenders. Live and silent auctions will be held, as well as a drawdown, "Cork for a Cause" wine pull, photo booth, and much more. 
Special entertainment will be provided by the ever-popular Mr. Cabbagehead and the Screaming Radishes.

Night in the Caribbean will be held at Golden Living in Fort Smith beginning at 6 p.m. Individual tickets are $75. To purchase tickets or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, call 785-4677.