NWA Celebrates Seechi Day, Frisco Festival, and a Summer Homecoming

Summer may be coming to an end, but the activity continues in Northwest Arkansas with Seechi Day, Art by the Glass, Frisco Festival, and an Arkansas basketball star attending A Cool Summer Homecoming.

Seechi Day on Beaver Lake
The Beaver Water District will host the 9th annual Seechi Day for the community on August 16. The family-friendly day will include hands-on water science and ecology fun for all ages, as well as snacks, lunch and ice cream.

Festivities will get underway at 9 a.m. at the Prairie Creek Recreation Area in Rogers. Named for the Secchi disk, a black and white device used to measure water clarity, the event incorporates science and family fun to celebrate the one of the region's most valuable and beautiful natural resources.

In the early part of the morning, citizen science volunteers, using their own boats, will collect water samples and take Secchi disk readings. They will depart from various Beaver Lake locations and later bring their samples and clarity readings to shore to be recorded.

Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Pre-registration for volunteers is required. For more information, email [email protected].

Art by the Glass
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will explore one of the latest crazes, Gelli-art, at its August "Art by the Glass" event. Guests will learn about the new, innovative printmaking technique, while enjoying good food and fellowship.

Attendees will walk through the steps of Gelli-art, creating their own print in the process. Participants will also be treated to wine and cheese during the class.

Art by the Glass will held at Crystal Bridges in the Durand & Estes Studios from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Cost for museum members is $36 and $45 for non-members. The event is open to adults ages 21 and older.

To RSVP or for more information, call Guest Services at 657-2335.


Rogers Frisco Festival
Rogers will present the town's 30th annual Frisco Festival on Aug. 22-23. The fun will start on Friday evening with a catfish fry and opening ceremony. Several vendors will be on-hand, along with carnival games and a Kids Zone.

Saturday's festivities will include The Eliminator 5K, Race for the Spike, Farmer's Market, a Frisco 5-Card Bicycle Poker Ride and more. The annual Chili-Salsa-Peno Competition will include three ways to win with a Chili Cook-off, Salsa Contest and Jalapeño-eating  contest. Both days will feature live music on the infamous Frisco Stage. Festival acts will include several regional favorites such as Boom Kinetic, Members' Only, and Backroad Anthem.

The Festival will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday and from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.  Admission to the festival is free. For more information, 936-5487.

A Cool Summer Homecoming
In honor of heat stroke awareness month, the Kendrick Fincher Foundation will hold "A Cool Summer Homecoming" on August 23, featuring special guest speaker, NBA legend Scottie Pippen.

Hosted at the Fayetteville Town Center, the evening will include dinner, drinks, and dancing. A silent auction will also be held. Dan Skoff with KNWA will serve as the emcee, with DJ Brock heading up the entertainment. As fitting with any homecoming event, a king and queen will also be crowned.

A native of Hamburg, Ark., Pippen went on to be part of the six championship teams with the Chicago Bulls, as well as a member of the 1992 Olympic gold-medal winning USA "Dream Team." After 17 years with the NBA, Pippen was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.

Individual tickets are $100 and may be purchased online. Reserved tables for eight are also available for $1,000. All proceeds will benefit the Kendrick Fincher Hydration for Life Foundation, which strives to "promote proper hydration and  prevent heat illness through education and supporting activities."

A Cool Summer Homecoming will last from 6 to 11 p.m. For more information, call 986-9960.