Arkansas Rice Festival

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Food & DrinkWeiner
DatesDates TBA · Usually OctoberCheck locally before booking
DurationAutumnEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forRegional food & drinkThe festival's origin ties directly to a
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryFood & DrinkFestival type
The story

Arkansas Rice Festival in Weiner

The Arkansas Rice Festival takes over the small town of Weiner every second weekend of October, celebrating the state's status as the nation's top rice producer. Anchored by a free rice-tasting meal featuring more than 400 dishes made by area residents, the festival also includes a parade, crafts, games, carnival rides, and live music.

Weiner is a small town in Poinsett County, in the heart of Arkansas's rice-growing region, and the annual Arkansas Rice Festival exists to make that identity visible for one weekend each October.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's origin ties directly to a specific civic project: a 1976 rice-tasting exhibit organized as Arkansas's contribution to the national bicentennial proved popular enough that local citizens formed a dedicated festival board the following year, which became a nonprofit organization still running the event today

02

The mystery stays covered

Its signature feature remains unusual for a food festival of this scale: a free meal built from more than 400 rice dishes contributed by area residents themselves, rather than catered or vendor-sold, giving the tasting a genuinely homemade, community-cooked character tied to the final days of the year's rice harvest

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival grew out of the Arkansas Delta's rice-farming economy

Water and renewal

Living ritual

timed each year to the final days of the rice harvest and coinciding with National Rice Promotion Month

The sacred route

Living ritual

Its community-cooked

The local code

Living ritual

free rice-tasting meal continues a tradition established at the festival's 1976 bicentennial origins

Tradition 5

Living ritual

when local residents first contributed homemade rice dishes for public tasting

Tradition 6

Living ritual

a practice the nonprofit festival board has preserved every year since

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually October

Getting around

For Arkansas Rice Festival, plan transport around the exact Weiner venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Casual fall clothing suited to mild mid-October weather in northeast Arkansas, comfortable shoes for walking Weiner's closed-off streets, and a light jacket for cooler evening hours during...

Safety

Use normal food-market caution, hydrate, and leave time between crowded stalls.

Where to stay

For Arkansas Rice Festival, stay near the part of Weiner you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Entry may be free while tastings, meals, or special tables are paid locally.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map35.62 N, 90.90 WOpen in Google Maps

Weiner, AR

Nearest airportMEM — Memphis
TransportFor Arkansas Rice Festival, plan transport around the exact Weiner venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Arkansas Rice Festival, stay near the part of Weiner you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Weiner via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Weiner, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for October.Compare faresFestival gearCasual fall clothing suited to mild mid-October weather in northeast Arkansas, comfortable shoes for walking Weiner's closed-off streets, and a light jacket for cooler evening hours during the parade and music.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Arkansas Rice Festival?

Arkansas Rice Festival is listed for October · Autumn. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Arkansas Rice Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Weiner, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Autumn is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Weiner, AR

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLarkansasricefestival.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually October
Source statusOfficial source linked
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