The 15th Annual Hope Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade will begin rolling on Monday December 7, at 6 p.m. Applications need to be turned in no later than Friday December 4, at 4:30, according to Mark Keith, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director.

One of the most important efforts of the Hope Lions Club is the annual Lions Club Christmas Auction, which has grown steadily in the 60 years it has been in existence.

Two large gatherings took place over the last two days to honor veterans. The Hope Kiwanis Club honored veterans at the Hope Country Club Tuesday at the noon hour and the VFW 4511, the American Legion 427 and Post 12, and Sentimental Journey  also honored veterans with a hot dog and fellowship time on Wednesday, at the Hope Fair Park Coliseum, November 11, at the 11th hour.

Veterans Day is honored all over the nation. Every year at the courthouse here in Hope, a special ceremony is held for all the veterans around the area and a dinner is provided. One Hope resident that will be in attendance for this special day of observance is Osie Lee Wyatt.

One after another of many heartfelt toasts filled with memories and sentiment were expressed at the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope scholarship fundraiser Roast and Toast Birthday celebration in honor of George and Effie Frazier on Frazier’s 91st birthday Thursday.

This year will be a Halloween marked with several events for young and old alike. The weatherman says it will be rainy and cold, so appropriate dress and precautions against trips and falls, and vehicles are added to the mix.

One of Hope’s best known couples will be the honorees Thursday at the second annual University of Arkansas Community College at Hope Roast and Toast at Historic Washington State Park.

The 65th Southwest District Fair parade was the biggest ever, with over 100 entries this year. Parade winners were announced in three divisions.

The 65 Annual Southwest Arkansas Fair and Rodeo Parade will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at the intersection of Sixth and Elm Streets in Hope.

Hope, Hempstead County, and Southwest Arkansas celebrated Tuesday as the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope broke ground for one of the premier educational facilities in the state and opened a state-of-the-art science technology center on campus.

  As a young boy  Brad Rogers followed in his dad’s footsteps and watched as his father, Pod Rogers, promoted Hope watermelons all over the world. Hope promoter and co-owner of the Hope Star, Pod Rogers died in 1998, but his legacy remains strong in Hope, Arkansas. Rogers recounts the days his dad worked to reinvent the Hope Watermelon Festival.

Over 2000 people attended the Tracy Byrd concert based on the most recent figures from  the University of Arkansas Assistant to the Chancellor for Institutional Advancement Dolly Henley.

Some were back from the past and some were new on the scene taking a shot at getting the big trophies in watermelon eating and seed spitting at the 2009 Hope Watermelon Festival contests.
Red headed champion Sabrina Bear, of Bodcaw, brought home the first place trophy in her division in watermelon eating, and second place overall, as she gave up the overall title to Michelle Harrison, of Lawton, Ft. Sill, Okla.

This year’s Hope Watermelon Festival has some new entertainment including country music star Tracy Byrd and some old favorites. Tracy Byrd concert tickets are available at several buisness locations throughout the city of Hope.

The Politically Correct watermelon eating contest champion for the last five years, Hope Vice Mayor David Johnson, will be back to Hope Watermelon Festival this year, as will other festival champions.