It all began in 1928. A prize of $15 was offered for a name. Mrs. J.W. Moore wrote “Arkalalah” on a strip of paper. Ark, for the town and alalah, the Indian word for good time. She tossed the paper aside thinking it wasn’t good enough. Mr. Moore thought it was; he turned it in and Mrs. Moore received the prize and honor of naming the Ark City annual fall festival.
This years fall festival will continue through Saturday with activities starting at 11 AM today and lasting until midnight.
| Wednesday, October 25 | |
| 11 a.m. | Concessions Open in Downtown Area |
| 12:30 p.m. – Midnight | The Beer Garden will be open from 12:30 p.m. – Midnight |
| 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. | $5 Dinner and Craft Sale American Legion Auxilary 112 E Washington |
| 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. | All You Can Ride Night at Carnival for one low price. Ticket booths open at 5:30 p.m. Rides open at 6:00 p.m. $18.00 per person at carnival Discount tickets $15.00, if purchased at ticket outlets before noon on Wednesday, October 25th. Ticket outlets are Community National Bank, RCB Bank downtown location, Union State Bank downtown location, and the Arkalalah Office. Any changes because of bad weather will be made at the discretion of the Carnival and announced over the local radio stations. |
| 8 p.m. | Fireworks show sponsored by Community National Bank and Rogers Family Dentistry |
| Following the Fireworks show | Parade of Lights sponsored by Westar Parade begins at Spruce and Summit Street and ends at Adams Avenue. Night Parade Lineup Click here for more information. |
| Thursday, October 26 | |
| 11 a.m. | Concessions Open in Downtown Area |
| 12:30 p.m. – Midnight | The Beer Garden will be open from 12:30 p.m. – Midnight |
| 5 p.m. | Carnival Opens |
| 6 p.m. |  Cowley College Presents: DodgeBallalah Battle Royal4th Annual Arkalalah Dodgeball Tournament in the W.S. Scott Auditorium FREE Admission | Open to the public l WIN STUFF! Click here for more information. |
| 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. |  All Class Reunion Concert in the Park Featuring Jason Savory Wilson Park Rotunda Free Admission Cash Bar |
| Friday, October 27 | |
| 10 a.m. | Carnival Opens |
| 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Arkalalah Arts/Crafts Show at Arkansas City Rec Center Click here for registration form. |
| 11 a.m. | Concessions Open |
| 11 a.m. to dusk | Helicopter rides at Carver Park $40 per rider per flight with a minimum 2 riders per flight |
| 12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Cornhole Tournament in the 200 block of South Summit. Sponsored by 1025 The River – register at 1025 The River Click here for registration form. Click here for rules. |
| 12:30 p.m. – Midnight | The Beer Garden will be open from 12:30 p.m. – Midnight |
| 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. | All You Can Ride Night at Carnival for one low price. Ticket booths open at 12:30 p.m. Rides open at 1:00 p.m. $18.00 per person at carnival Discount tickets $15.00, if purchased at ticket outlets before noon on Wednesday, October 25th. Ticket outlets are Community National Bank, RCB Bank downtown location, Union State Bank downtown location, and the Arkalalah Office. Any changes because of bad weather will be made at the discretion of the Carnival and announced over the local radio stations. |
| 2:30 p.m. | The finalists for Little Mr. & Miss will be announced The Crowning will take place at Coronation Click here for more information. |
| 2:30 p.m. | Judging for prizes for Children’s Parade |
| 3 p.m. | Children’s Parade sponsored by VFW Post #1254 and Auxiliaries Parade begins at the corner of Summit and Chestnut |
| 7:30 p.m. | Queen Alalah Coronation and the crowning of Little Mr. & Miss – Brown Theatre Admission is $8.00 Advance Reserved Seats Tickets may be purchased at the Arkalalah Office, 106 South Summit |
| Saturday, October 28 | |
| 5:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Kiwanis Pancake Feed |
| 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 am | Registration for Arkalalah Run at Arkalalah Office |
| 9 a.m. | Arkalalah 2 Mile Run Sponsored by the Ark City Rec Center & GE Engine Service Race begins in the 100 block of North Summit. Click here for registration information. |
| 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Arkalalah Arts/Crafts Show (Ark City Rec Center) |
| 9:45 a.m. | Check in for Kids Fun Run for grades K – 5 (5th Ave. & Summit) Sponsored by RCB Bank |
| 10 a.m. | Presentation of trophies and prizes for the 2 mile Arkalalah Run Sponsored by Ark City Rec Center |
| 10 a.m. | Carnival opens |
| 10 a.m. to dusk | Helicopter rides at Carver Park $40 per rider per flight with a minimum 2 riders per flight |
| 10:15 a.m. | RCB Bank Fun Run for elementary students – presentation of Good Sport Award following Run |
| 11 a.m. | Concessions open |
| 11 a.m. | Bank presentation of good sport award and $300 Fitness Grant to U.S.D. 470 Elementary School with highest percentage of participants in Fun Run and $200 to private elementary schools. |
| 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | St. Paul United Methodist Church Chicken Noodle Dinner located at 220 E. Washington |
| 11:15 a.m. | Street Games Sponsored by the Lion & Lioness of Arkansas City and the Arkalalah Executive Committee Downtown – Summit Street Click here for more information. |
| 12:30 p.m. – Midnight | The Beer Garden will be open from 12:30 p.m. – Midnight |
| 2 p.m. | Arkalalah Big Parade Click here for contest information. |
| 4 p.m. | Band & Flag Festival (Bulldog Stadium) All participating KSHAA Schools are invited. For more information contact Hans Judd at 620.441.2030 or [email protected] |
| dusk | Light Show |
