Northwest Arkansas to celebrate Noodling, heart health, and Spring

April will bring more than just showers to Northwest Arkansas as the region plays host to a number of special events. Activities will include a film and discussion with Bradley Beesley at Crystal Bridges, the Heart Walk 2015, the NWA Sunshine School Gala, LIVE UNITED Day, and the return of Springfest.

Crystal Bridges presents film and discussion with Bradley Beesley
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will kick off the exhibition "Fish Stories: Early Images of American Game Fish" with a screening of the documentary "Okie Noodling" by renowned filmmaker Bradley Beesley on April 10.

"Okie Noodling" premiered to sold-out crowds at the 2001 South by Southwest Film Festival, winning the Audience Choice Award and First Runner Up for Best Documentary  The film features interviews with hardcore handfishing veterans, as well as rousing footage of real noodlers in action. The film also won Best Documentary at the 2001 Great Plains Film Festival.

Following the screening, Beesley will participate in a discussion with the audience. A special Meet and Greet session for aspiring filmmakers will also be held prior to the film screening. The event will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Great Hall at Crystal Bridges. It is free to attend, but participants should register in advance. For more information, call 657-2335.

NWA Heart Walk (benefitting the American Heart Association)
The American Heart Association will help raise awareness and funds for heart disease with its 2015 NWA Heart Walk on April 11.

Held at Arvest Ballpark, the event invites supporters to secure sponsors for their participation in the walk. There are no fees to walk, but walkers are eligible for a Heart Walk t-shirt once they have raised a minimum of $100.

Festivities begin at 8 a.m. and include the heart walk, special recognitions, prizes and more. To register or for more information, visit the NWA Heart Walk page.

NWA Sunshine School Gala
The Northwest Arkansas Sunshine School will host its annual Sunshine Gala on April 11. The evening will include dinner, auctions, live music and casino style gaming.

The gala will be held at Horton Farms, located at 15799 Bethlehem Road in Gravette, beginning at 6 p.m. Live entertainment will be provided by Jamie Wolfe and the Wranglers.

Tickets are $100. All proceeds support the Sunshine School and Development Center which serves individuals with special needs. For more information, call 479-636-3190, ext. 117.

LIVE UNITED Day
United Way of Northwest Arkansas will present LIVE UNITED Day on April 15. One of the largest one-day volunteer efforts of the year, the event draws together more than 800 NWA volunteers to serve throughout Benton, Madison and Washington counties in Arkansas and McDonald County in Missouri.

Local volunteers are paired with non-profits to complete much needed projects.  In 2014, more than 800 volunteers participated and $40,248 worth of volunteer time was accomplished on LIVE UNITED Day. The event is held annually in conjunction with National Volunteer Week.

Volunteers are still needed for a variety of projects. Service opportunities include landscaping, cleaning, sorting merchandise, and more. A complete listing of projects is available online. For more information, contact Director of Community Engagement Kelsey Brock at 303-4426 or [email protected].

SpringFest!
SpringFest will return to Fayetteville on April 18. The popular NWA festival will include the traditional pancake breakfast, a 5K, a dog parade and more. Festivities will get underway with the pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. Presented by Habitat for Humanity, the meal will be hosted on the patio at Jose's on Dickson Street.

The Springfest 5K will get start at 8 a.m.  Advanced registration is $20 for students ages 18 and under, and $25 for adults. Day of registration will increase to $30. The chip-timed event will begin on Dickson Street, with pre-registration and check-in starting at 6:30 a.m.

The Dog Parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. Participation is free and proud dog owners can take part by arriving at Dickson Street Liquor at 10 a.m. Bed races will follow at 1 p.m. Entry fee is $30 per team, and the beds will be provided.

Live music will be played on Dickson Street stages throughout the day. A number of arts and crafts, food, and other vendors will also be featured. The festival will conclude with a pub crawl along Dickson starting at 6 p.m.