Saturday's RailFest brings the return of a country music headliner, this time with Parker McCollum on the main stage.
This year's RailFest was scheduled for downtown, but rain in the forecast necessitated a move to the Four States Fairgrounds Entertainment Center.
An up-and-coming, Austin-based singer-songwriter, McCollum was tapped by Rolling Stone Country as one of its "New Country Artists You Need to Know." The performer is young, only 25, and has a 10-track album in tow with "Probably Wrong," and he's received praise from publications like Saving Country Music, The Digital Journal and Lonestar Music Magazine.
After daytime activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., RailFest concert gates open to ticketholders at 6 p.m. with Dusty Rose Band performing at 7 p.m. and McCollum on stage at 9 p.m.
"He's got some great YouTube hits," said Andi Darby, senior account executive at Townsquare Media, who are organizing this year's RailFest. McCollum also performs blues, folk rock and Americana.
The main daytime festivities, which are free, include a children's area with activities. There's plenty of fun ready with bounce houses, temporary railroad tattoos, face painting, a selfie station, cornhole, washers, horseshoes, slime shack, train express picture station, a coloring station and more.
Entertainment is scheduled for the daytime with Traci Walker Dance, BC Dance, North Heights Jazz Band, Lacy's Shotokan Karate, Melissa Mitchell and DJ Godfather. Shopping with craft and food vendors provides more to do.
Darby has lined up different local companies to provide those various activities for children. "Then the activity is free," she said. There will be a rest station set up where folks can relax.
"It's all different, it's all fun," Darby said. A VIP area at RailFest will have a beer garden.
After 5 p.m., the event will close and then reopen at 6 p.m. for the public with night concert tickets.
In addition to the festivities Saturday, a pre-launch concert is happening tonight, 7 p.m., at the Arkansas Municipal Auditorium with performers Tracy Davis, Michael Howard and Danny Maxey. Tickets are $15 at the door and proceeds benefit Grace Clinic in Texarkana.
(Saturday night concert tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. VIP tickets are $50 and can only be purchased online at Eventbrite.com. Tickets can also be purchased at Road Runner locations.)