Homesteader Days draws crowds to Hot Springs

The 73rd annual Homesteader Days in Hot Springs kicked off last weekend and while the rain may have kept some away, plenty of people still showed up for a good time. Food trucks, vendors and classic cars lined Main Street as live music entertained the crowd.

Thirty-five children signed up to walk in this year's kiddie parade led by Smokey Bear. Children dressed up in order to be entered into five different categories for prizes: homesteaders, fairy tale, pets, wheels and miscellaneous.

"We always have a good turnout because we give them a dollar token just for entering and then they can also win prizes," said Peg Winebrenner, organizer of the kiddie parade. Winebrenner has been organizing the kiddie parade for the last 30 years and says they usually have around 40 children participate. They award three winners in each category.

In the homesteader's category, Thomas Bras won first place, Kylie Aldridge won second and Sophie Waterbury was third. In the fairy tale category, Leah Redfern won first place, Elaina Smith was second and Althea Mazanec third. In the pet category, Canyon DePoe won first place, Isaac Redfern second and Thai McCrey third. Eden Davis took home first place in the wheels category, Lila and Natalie Stephens took home second and the Dalling and Smith group was third. August Ward won first place in the miscellaneous group, Nyah Barber came in second and Kyla and Emma Redfern came in third.

Hot Springs Senior Center held a fundraiser and sold homemade cookies and pies. Friends of the Library had a booth set up and gave each child four free books. While numbers were slightly down this year, the rodeo still saw a good turnout, even though rain was a factor in the attendance.