Clotheslining

There is perhaps nothing more American than small town festivals, fairs or reunions. Traditionally, these events happen annually in their respective small towns, and represent a time when all of the town's citizens come together to celebrate something. Those who have moved away often come back and reconnect with old friends and family and their roots. Some use it as an excuse to catch up on the town's gossip. I mean, if there's that many people gathered together, there's got to be a good story somewhere.

In my hometown of Prairie Grove, Ark., we have the annual Clothesline Fair every Labor Day weekend. I was told this was once referred to as the "Clothesline Fair and Reunion" some time ago, but the "reunion" part has since been removed from the name. Regardless, it's still basically a reunion for the town, and I find it silly not to keep that in the name.

I mean, look at Dalhart's annual XIT Reunion that I wrote about a few weeks ago...just throwing that out there to you fellow PGers.

Anyway, it would be a mortal sin to not go home for the Clothesline Fair, so I went home for the long weekend.

Traditionally, the Clothesline Fair kicks off on Saturday morning with a parade. Then for the next three days, there's a large craft fair in the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. Every school group or civic group has a volunteer booth, selling corn dogs, kettle corn, snow cones, burgers...you get the picture. One challenge to the really involved people in the town is that it usually falls right after the Washington County Fair. So, once those two weeks are over, Prairie Grove citizens are exhausted. In fact, they even gave the school kids Tuesday after Labor Day off to recuperate.

You see all kinds of venders, selling things like purses made from old vinyls, pottery, jewelry, and a lot of other crap you really don't need but buy anyway.

It's a great time, though, because you see people you haven't seen in years. I noticed this year that everyone I saw that I went to high school with was pushing around baby strollers.

Back in the day, I didn't make it through a Clothesline Fair without purchasing a rubberband gun. This was a yearly tradition. Now, I just get my kicks from kettle corn.

In the parade, there's cheerleaders, the band, antique tractors, a few random four wheelers that no one really understands why they are in the parade, horses, election candidates, the grand marshal, and of course, square dance groups.

Yes, square dancing is a big deal in the Grove during the Clothesline Fair. If you're not from there, it may be a concept that is hard to grasp. It may sound silly. It may evoke a response, such as, "That's so Arkansas."

Whatever you may have to say about it, one fact remains: It's a big stinkin' deal in Prairie Grove. Hundreds gather to spectate or watch their kids "circle up eight" or get back to their partner for a right and left grand.

From the time you turn about four or five until you graduate high school, you're eligible to be in a group. You dance in exhibition until you get to junior high, then you start in competition.

And let me just mention, the competition of square dancing groups is just as big of a deal as winning the football game on Friday night. Surrounding towns like Farmington and Lincoln now bring groups over, and the rivalry that exists between the towns is still very evident on the dance floor. Group supporters bring noisemakers, they wear t-shirts sporting the groups' names. People go nuts.

On the topic of group names, let me give you a few examples: Jumpin' Jelly Beans (this was my group's name back in the day until our group fell apart in the mid-90s), Buckles and Bows, the famous Levi's and Lace, Dixie Dynamite...the list goes on. Except now, much to my irritation, there's groups named "Get R Done"...seriously people. What are you trying to make us look like? Rednecks or something?

A picture of my old group the Jumpin' Jelly Beans was printed in Southern Living magazine when we were like six years old. Yes, that is impressive, I know. Too bad I don't actually have that picture to display for you. Sorry.

There's typically around 60 groups. That number used to be a lot higher. But regardless, all the cool kids square dance. You start practicing as early as late July to get your moves down. In competition, the dances last as long as 10 minutes, and there's some pretty complicated moves in these dances folks.

You have four girls and four boys. Then you have a caller who shouts out the calls for the group to follow. When it comes to competition, callers from days gone by have become infamous for being tool sheds (this means "dorks" for you older folks). They devote their life's energies to the Clothesline Fair's square dancing and their quest for victory is nothing short of pathetic, yet entertaining.

But at the end of the day, the winners of the year's competition get to retain a pride that lasts a lifetime. In fact, my all-time favorite quote about the event is from my esteemed brother-in-law following his group's victory a few years ago:

"This year has been great because we beat Farmington in football and square dancing."

That may not be an exact quote, but it's pretty darn close. I think that pretty much sums up my point right there.

It's a special time for Prairie Grove, whether you still live there or not. As with any town's festival, the year wouldn't be complete without the Clothesline Fair.

Long live small town fairs.