By Dr. Curtis Varnell
The long Fourth of July weekend arrived and, like most of rural Arkansas, a myriad of outdoor experience awaited. Atypical of the larger towns where people gather at home swimming pools, BBQ, watch baseball games followed by choregraphed fireworks, country people celebrate in wildly differing ways. Days before the event arrives, individuals load ever possible outdoor vehicle, purchase enough food for an army, and obtain enough fireworks to light up a medium small town. Joined by people from across the U.S., they gather at state parks, recreation areas, or just camp out along rural streams preparing for a several days celebration.
Many of the local towns had firework displays, most often managed by the local fire department. Running every night from July 3-5, people have to choose the venue that best fits their time and taste.  Nearby every-town of any size in Arkansas has some sort of celebration constructed around gigantic fireworks displays and patriotic themes. Greenwood, AR. always has one of the best all-day celebrations and features various genre or music, great food, and awesome fireworks. Staying closer to home, we began our celebration at Paris in Logan County on July 3.  As darkness approached, the crowd swelled to thousands, probably equaling the population of the small town.
The American flag flew proudly from the extended arm of the fire rescue truck and billowed in the wind as the celebration began by the singing of the National Anthem. Â Kids ran back and forth, waving red, white, and blue light sticks. Â The fireworks lite the sky, the first phase of the long week-end celebration.
Nothing like a long ride through the national forest on a four-wheeler to celebrate life and freedom, and the holiday. Breezing along country trails, we saw a doe and fawn grazing near the stream. A lonely solitary wood duck flew overhead, honking to locate its mate. A smorgasbord of shades of green covered the mountain on our left as we traversed the narrow trail. Dark puddles of gooey brown water sporting floating green yuck and traces of previous travelers’ oil or gasoline covered portions of the trail. Normally avoided but feeling adventuresome, we splattered into pool after pool, scattering water and mud. The third such pool looked a little longer and deeper but, in country fashion, our bravery over-rode our intelligence and we hit it at full speed. That was for about the first fifty foot. The four-wheeler completely sank beneath the water as I exited off the side in nearly five-foot-deep water and muck. Fortunately, the vehicle bobbed back to the top still running. Thirty-minutes later, we had extracted the vehicle and ourselves from the mud. Our clothes will never be the same but my phone still worked and we were both still in one piece. Just another part of a country adventure.
Hamilton horse camp on Shoal Creek was packed.  More than forty camping sites covered with tents and campers, primarily Hispanic’s from throughout the region.  Those individuals know how to celebrate a holiday.  Campfires gave off the delicious smell of cooking burgers and veggies, tables groaned from the weight of the food. Side-by-sides and four-wheelers zoomed past, carrying the kids down to the swimming area.  Joining them, we waded over the slick rocks and splashed through the ice-cold water.
New Blaine is a small-town with a big heart. The residents work together to provide the amenities of a larger community. A small rural library, a large fire department, a skate park, and a basketball court are products of that work and the Fourth of July fireworks celebration is one the best and attracts thousands. Starting early, the town of less than a hundred hosts a breakfast, then music, and food trucks but the big draw is taking kids (and adults) for rides to Shoal Bay recreation area on the back of the large fire engine. Lights flash and sirens roar as the truck departs on a thirty-minute ride. The huge fireworks display afterward is absolutely awesome.
After cooking out, kayaking, and swimming at Cove Lake on Magazine Mountain on the fifth, we were just too tired to attend the Dublin fireworks display near Scranton. An awesome show, some of it over the waters of the Arkansas River, my neighbors will be telling me what I missed for the next two weeks. Country people, they know how to celebrate but now its time to recuperate and prepare for the next big outing.
