5/01/25 - 5/01/25 - First Responder's Drive Thru Lunch - 11:00am-1:00pm
Join us as we honor the first responder's of Hope and Hempstead county. A drive-thru lunch at the HUB sponsored by SignatureCare Emergency Center, Cornerstone Caregiving and Big Jake's BBQ! Open to all first responders and totally free. Drive thru, pick up your delicious lunch and enjoy!
5/06/25 - 5/06/25 - Hope Farmers Market - 7:00am-11:00am
5/07/25 - 5/07/25 - Hope Water & Light Community Coffee - 9:30am-11:00am
5/08/25 - 5/08/25 - High Tunnel Tomato & Pepper Production - 4-6:30pm
High Tunnel Tomato & Pepper ProductionSW Research & Extension Center362 HWY 174 N. Hope, ARHannah’s Berries8074 HWY 67 E. Emmet, AR.May 8 4:00 – 6:30 p.m.Register NowTopics will include:Trellising methods, fertilization, climate management and more.Pre-registration is required as spots are limited.Transportation between locations will not be provided.
5/09/25 - 5/09/25 - Bingo Night - 6:30pm
Family Bingo NightHope Methodist Church 2300 S. Main St., HopeMay 9, 2025 - doors open at 6:30pm$10 for first card, $5 for each additional cardPrizes will be awarded for each gamesnacks and drinks wil be available to purchaseChildren must be accompanied by an adultYouth fundraiser to benefit Hurricane relief mission trip to Perry, FL
5/10/25 - 5/10/25 - Hope Evening Lions Club Food Pantry - 9:00am
5/10/25 - 5/10/25 - “Hands-On” Candle Making Workshop - 9am--1pm
Join us at Historic Washington State Park’s Candle Shop and be part of a hands-on experience making candles and learning the history of candle making. Not only will you make your own creations, but you will take them home so everyone can enjoy the colors and fragrances of the candle that you create. The candle shop is one of the favorite tour sites within the park, for children and adults alike. Must be 12 years and older. Register by calling the park at (870) 983-2684. Admission is $25 per person.
5/10/25 - 5/10/25 - Mother’s Day Tea and Fashion Show - 2pm--4pm
Treat your mom to a delightful tea party and fashion show! Enjoy refreshments based on a traditional Victorian style afternoon tea while being regaled by fashion trends of the 19th century. Register by calling the park at 870-983-2684. Period dress encouraged. Admission is $30 per person.
5/12/25 - 5/12/25 - Heather Manor Skilled Nursing Care Week Reception - 9:30am-11:00am
5/13/25 - 5/13/25 - Hope Farmers Market - 7:00am-11:00am
5/17/25 - 5/18/25 - Intermediate Forging Workshop - 9am--4pm
Join the park smiths at the forge for a hands-on class covering the basic operations of blacksmithing. Participants will make simple art objects and more functional objects with the beauty that only hand forging can give iron and steel! Materials and tools are supplied. The minimum age is 16 (accompanied by an adult). Register by calling the park at (870) 983-2684. Workshop fee is $200 per person. Participants must have previously attended an Introduction to Forging Workshop or have some basic blacksmithing skills.
5/20/25 - 5/20/25 - Hope Farmers Market - 7:00am-11:00am
5/21/25 - 5/21/25 - SignatureCare ER Community Coffee at The CALL - 9:30am-11:00am
5/22/25 - 5/22/25 - Christian Clinic Fish Fry - 4:30pm to 7:00pm
FISH FRY & BAKE SALE - Benefiting Charitable Christian Clinic of HopeNew Location: Hempstead HallThursday, May 22, 2025, 4:30 – 7:00 p.m3 PCS. FISH OR CHICKEN, FRIES, SLAW, HUSHPUPPIES $14.00
5/23/25 - 5/23/25 - SWAAC Local Artists Gallery Show & Reception - 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Southwest Arkansas Arts Council is excited to showcase local artists from Hope & Hempstead County. Several student artists will also be in the gallery show. Refreshments will be served. For more info, please email swaac13@gmail.com.
5/23/25 - 5/23/25 - EARLY BIRD Ticket Sales The Lead Singers of Classic Rock - 8:00am-6:00pm
Early Bird Ticket Sales – Lead Singers of Classic Rock at the 49th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival! 
The countdown to the 49th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival is heating up, and the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the Early Bird Sale Date for concert tickets to this year’s highly anticipated show: The Lead Singers of Classic Rock, featuring Jason Scheff, longtime lead singer of the band CHICAGO, and Tommy DeCarlo, former lead singer of the band BOSTON.
On Friday, May 23, fans can purchase tickets “at a special Early Bird price during a one-day-only sale. This limited-time opportunity allows music lovers to secure their seats at an unbeatable value for what’s sure to be a rock-filled night of legendary hits and high-energy performances.
“We’re thrilled to bring The Lead Singers of Classic Rock to this year’s Watermelon Festival,” said festival organizer Christy Burns. “The Early Bird Sale is a great way for fans to lock in their tickets early and join us for a night of unforgettable music and community fun.”
The Lead Singers of Classic Rock features the iconic voices behind some of the biggest rock bands of the ‘70s and ‘80s, delivering a powerhouse concert experience packed with chart-topping favorites and nostalgic energy.
Tickets will be available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 23 at the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce, 201 S. Main Street in Hope, and online at www.hopemelonfest.com.
During the Early Bird Sale, adult general admission tickets will be offered for just $20. After the sale, ticket prices will increase to $25, with day-of-show tickets available for $30, children’s tickets for $10, and reserved seating for $45.
During the Early Bird Sale, adult general admission tickets will be offered for just $20. After the sale, ticket prices will increase to $25, with day-of-show tickets available for $30, children’s tickets for $10, and reserved seating for $45.
Don’t miss your chance to rock out at the 49th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival with The Lead Singers of Classic Rock! Mark your calendar for May 23 and grab your discounted tickets while they last.
For more information and ticket purchases, visit www.hopemelonfest.com.
5/24/25 - 5/24/25 - Cemetery Workshop - 9am--Noon
Our local cemeteries are important parts of our community history. Learn how to properly care and clean tombstones with the park curator. The workshop will cover the basics of tombstone care and demonstrate cleaning techniques on stones in the Pioneer Cemetery. Register by calling the park at (870) 983-2684. Workshop fee is $25 person.
5/26/25 - 5/26/25 - Memorial Day Service - 11 a.m.
Memorial Day Service 2025. Please contact Hempstead County Veterans office 870-359-0181 for more information. Starts at 11 a.m. at The Old Courthouse, 400 South Washington, Hope AR. Thank you.
5/27/25 - 5/27/25 - Hope Farmers Market - 7:00am-11:00am
5/28/25 - 5/28/25 - First United Methodist Church Community Coffee - 9:30am-11:00am
5/31/25 - 5/31/25 - Harness and Driving Workshop - 9am--3pm
This course covers the basics of safe harnessing and driving horse teams. If you like hands-on learning opportunities and want to experience the fun of wagon and carriage transportation, this class is for you! Registration is required. Minimum age for participation is sixteen years old, those under eighteen must be accompanied by an adult. Register by calling the park at (870) 983-2684. Workshop is $65 per person.
6/04/25 - 6/04/25 - Hempstead Hall Community Coffee - 9:30am-11:00am
6/07/25 - 6/07/25 - Introduction to Dutch Oven Cooking Workshop - 10am--2pm
This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the world of cooking in Dutch ovens. Participants will prepare a simple stew and bread and learn how to use and care for Dutch ovens. Register by calling the park at (870) 983-2684. Workshop fee is $15 per person.
6/11/25 - 6/11/25 - First Presbyterian Church Community Coffee - 9:30am-11:00am
6/14/25 - 6/14/25 - Hope Evening Lions Club Food Pantry - 9:00am
6/14/25 - 6/14/25 - Introduction to Forging Workshop - 9am--4pm
Join the park smiths at the forge for a hands-on class covering the basic operations of blacksmithing. Participants will make simple art objects and more functional objects with the beauty that only hand forging can give iron and steel! Materials and tools are supplied. The minimum age is 16 (accompanied by an adult). Register by calling the park at (870) 983-2684. Workshop fee is $100 per person.
6/18/25 - 6/18/25 - Red River Credit Union Community Coffee - 9:30am-11:00am
6/25/25 - 6/25/25 - Hope Physical Thereapy - 9:30am-11:00am
6/28/25 - 6/28/25 - History through the Shadows Hike - 7pm--9pm
Spend an evening wandering through the shadows and pondering history at Historic Washington State Park. This guided evening walk allows visitors to reflect on the past, as the intricacies of history, architecture, and the way of life and death are illuminated and explained. Each site visited will feature houses that have stood since the antebellum years. Reservations are required. Register by calling the park at (870) 983-2684. Admission is $15 per person.
7/04/25 - 7/04/25 - The Reading and Signing of the Declaration of Independence - 10:30am--3:30pm
Hear the Declaration of Independence read, as was commonly done in the 19th century, at the 1874 Courthouse. Afterwards, sign your own "John Hancock" to a copy of the Declaration that you may take home. The readings will take place at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
7/30/25 - 7/30/25 - Watermelon Royalty Community Coffee - 9:30am-11:00am
8/02/25 - 8/02/25 - History through the Shadows Hike - 7pm--9pm
Spend an evening wandering through the shadows and pondering history at Historic Washington State Park. This guided evening walk allows visitors to reflect on the past, as the intricacies of history, architecture, and the way of life and death are illuminated and explained. Each site visited will feature houses that have stood since the antebellum years. Reservations are required. Register by calling the park at (870) 983-2684. Admission is $15 per person.
8/04/25 - 8/04/25 - Watermelon Festival Parade - 9:30am-11:00am
8/07/25 - 8/09/25 - 49th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival -
9/12/25 - 9/12/25 - Hempstead County Economic Development Annual Luncheon - 11:30 am -1:00 pm
EDC Annual Luncheon. Free of cost. Anna Powell or Brandi Tuttle
9/24/25 - 9/24/25 - Leadership Hope-Hempstead County Community Coffee - 9:30am-11:00am
10/04/25 - 10/04/25 - Taste of Hope - 6:00 PM-8:30 PM
Taste of Hope Goes Main Street“Oh the Places We Will Go”With a Dr Seuss theme, attendees will be able to enjoy “all things Seuss.” This night provides an opportunity to showcase our local restaurants & eateries! The evening will be filled with games, activities, music, fund-a-project, LIVE auction, and much, much more! Join us as we celebrate downtown revitalization & historic preservation!