Mountain View Iris Festival

Organizers of the first Mountain View Iris Festival this weekend have planned a slate of activities focusing on the classic blooms along with live music and a car show, all around the courthouse square.

Events will conclude Sunday morning with a prayer breakfast at the Ozark Folk Center’s Skillet Restaurant hosted by Mayor Roger Gardner.

The festival will include an Iris Show sponsored by the Mountain View Iris Society, taking place 1-5 p.m. Saturday. Iris entries may be viewed at Mountain View Meeting Place on the northeast corner of the courtsquare. Entries of iris stalks will be accepted 4-7 p.m. Friday at the show location. Exhibition tips are available at the website for the American Iris Society.

A photo contest is also part of the show. The contest is open to everyone and entry is free for one photo in each of five categories: 1) Irises in a garden or in nature; 2) One or more persons with irises; 3) Portrait of a single iris or multiple blooms of the same cultivar; 4) Photos of pets, wildlife or garden art with irises (no people); 5) Mountain View city garden or historic downtown structure with irises. Entries will be accepted in person at the Mountain View Iris Festival office at 312 W. Main, Mountain View or photos can be delivered to the iris show 9-11 a.m. on Saturday. For complete rules and entry requirements or to ask questions regarding the contest, contact the Mountain View Iris Society at 870-269-4044 or by e-mail to mountainviewirisfest@gmail.com.

Friday evening there will be a Children’s Iris Rock Concert on the courthouse stage at 6:30, with youth invited to sing along or lip sync to popular songs. Aunt Minnie will greet the public at 7:30, after which there will be live music.

Saturday begins with art for children at 9 a.m., with youngsters invited to use provided easels and canvases to depict the iris blooms around the courthouse. Participants will be invited to parade their artwork around the square at 11 a.m. during the Parade of Irises.

There will be a Corvette car show on the west side of the courtsquare beginning at 11 a.m.

Aunt Minnie will again greet visitors at 1 p.m., followed by live music while the iris show is underway.

There will be a street dance featuring 1950s-60s music on Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m.

Everyone is invited to the prayer breakfast Sunday morning at the Skillet Restaurant. Mountain View Mayor Roger Gardner will address visitors. Arts and crafts vendors are encouraged to set up during the weekend for a $50 booth fee, part of which will benefit the local iris society. For vendor space, call 870-269-4044.

More information at MountainViewIrisFest.com, call 870-269-4044 or visit the Iris Festival office at 312 West Main St. in Mountain View.