The Annual Turkey Trot Festival
(Picture courtesy of the Yellville Area Chamber of Commerce Webpage)
(Information courtesy of the Mountain Echo Newsapaper, Yellville Arkansas)
Starting in 1945, with the very first turkey dropped from the roof of the Marion County Courthouse in the town square in Yellville, Arkansas, the Turkey Trot Festival was born.
Turkey Trot is a festival celebrated in the city of Yellville, Arkansas every October. It's a time of fun, competition, and a time of gathering for the citizens of Yellville and for fans of good country music and for turkey hunting/preservation.
Today, 1998, Turkey Trot celebrates it's 53rd Anniversary. It's now sanctioned by the National Wild Turkey Federation, and is a meeting place for Turkey enthusiasts all over the south, and even the United States.
Many pastimes occur during this festival: A Lip Sync Contest usually sponsored by the Yellville-Summnit FBLA is held where children and adults alike have fun getting on stage acting out their songs. Schools let out at noon so everyone can partake in the festivities. Area School Bands come and play to join in the festivities. Dances, Miss Turkey Trot Pageants, Miss Drumstick Pageants, Turkey Calling Contest (which gives Turkey Trot much refute), Turkey Shooting Contests, The Turkey Trot "Trot" 5K Walk/Run, and a big Turkey Dinner at the Yellville-Summit High School Cafetorium are just parts of the festivities held at Turkey Trot.
One of the most famous activities in Turkey Trot, the Parade has to be the most famous. Turkey Trot starts on a Friday, and lasts all weekend. On Saturday, people from all over set up a parade starting from the top of Broadway Street (which is where I live) up on Hammerschmidt Hill, all throughout Hwy 14, to the Town Square, where it loops, and passes right through the Town Square, where it finally disbands. Even governor, Mike Huckabee, has attended this parade!
Let us not forget the music and entertainment! John Conlee, famous singer of the song "Rose Colored Glasses" performed in 1997. This year, Jeannie Kendall, from the Grammy-Award-Winning country group, "The Kendalls" performed. Also, local musical talents, like Joe Sasser and Friends, and The Muddles perform at Turkey Trot, as well as Carnes McCormack (who also runs the Crooked Creek Trading Co., in Yellville).
The one thing about Turkey Trot that gets the most attention is the Turkey Drop. Turkeys are usually dropped from a low flying plane all throughout the festival. This has prompted attention worldwide. Yellville and the Turkey Trot Festival was featured in The National Enquirer, as an example of animal cruelty. The famous 1970's TV citcom, WKRP, even created a parody of the Turkey Trot Festival.
This information is a work in progress. Much thanks to the Mountain Echo for their help.