Caraway, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — May 20, 2025 — The 79th Annual Caraway 4th of July Picnic is back on track after an outpouring of volunteers showed up to show their support in a meeting Monday night.
This comes after the city announced April 24 that it would not be holding the picnic this year due to a lack of volunteers. It has been hosted since 1946.
“It was never completely canceled,” said City of Caraway administrative assistant and event volunteer Terry Gauf. “We were just not getting enough volunteers to our meetings, but last night [May 19] they showed up kindly in force and just about everybody knew somebody else that just couldn’t make it last night and volunteered them as well.”
While they are looking at doing a lot of different things, Gauf said planning is still in the early stages; however, with the push to go forward, she is already reaching out to find entertainment.
“We’re going to have something. We just don’t know what,” she said. “We do have a few vendors that promised that they were going to stop and cancel whatever their plans were and still reach out to try to help support us.”
However, she said they are still looking for more volunteers, as well as sponsors and vendors.
Gauf said a few new things are being considered for the picnic, but none have been confirmed. Some of these plans include having an event the night before to draw people into Caraway and to the park, and possibly a ball game at the park before the fireworks begin.
As plans are confirmed, Gauf said a complete schedule and lineup will be shared. For now, the schedule is similar to last year’s event.
The parade will start at 9 a.m. and activities will continue through 2 p.m. After a break, the picnic will culminate with the annual fireworks display sponsored by the City of Caraway and the Caraway Fire Department at 9 p.m.
Caraway Parks and Recreation will be hosting more meetings in the coming weeks about volunteering and plans for the event. The next meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, in the city council room at the Caraway City Hall.
Those wanting more information about volunteering, being a sponsor, or becoming a vendor can contact Gauf or Cathy Smith at the Caraway City Hall at 870-482-3716 or message Caraway Parks and Recreation on Facebook.
“We’re excited now because we did get a shot,” Gauf said. “Having those extra new faces show up helped rejuvenate those of us that have been sitting at that table looking at the few of us that was there, but then we had some new faces and some new ideas, and we’re going to get to keep having it.”