The yearlong celebration of 200 years of Fort Smith kicks off Christmas Day — and while several events are planned throughout the year, it's not too late to plan more, the mayor said.
Fort Smith's Bicentennial Celebration will be split up into four quarters — arts and culture in January through March, western heritage in April through June, homecoming in July through September and future Fort Smith in October through December.
The Homecoming quarter is intended to encourage people who have family heritages in Fort Smith to plan family reunions or get-togethers or those from Fort Smith who no longer live here to pay home a visit. In April, the Arkansas Historical Association will have its annual conference in Fort Smith.
While a bicentennial committee made up of about 25 volunteers have largely organized and finalized several events, organizations in Fort Smith are welcome to come up with more ideas and coordinate bicentennial events, Mayor Sandy Sanders said. Volunteers are still needed for virtually everything.
The first event will be a re-enactment of the landing of the U.S. Army troops at Belle Point at 2 p.m. Monday — Christmas Day — at the National Historic Site, 301 Parker Ave.
"At 2 o'clock, a keelboat will land with a group of people as soldiers of the regiment from Ohio that landed on that very day 200 years ago to establish what has become Fort Smith," Sanders said. "Following that landing, they will move on up into the historic site area, and there will be a short program, so we'll maybe talk about the history of what happened and there will be some activities for people. Following the short program, the Museum of History across the street will be having birthday cake and hot chocolate, so it will be something for the whole family — something memorable — we're standing on the same place that 200 years ago to the very day that federal troops first landed to begin our city."
The event is free.
Those who cannot make it to the kick-off event on Christmas will have plenty of opportunities to celebrate the bicentennial — an exhibit of original Fort Smith native John Bell paintings will be at the Regional Art Museum from Jan. 5 to April 22, the Fort Smith Symphony will host a bicentennial celebration concert April 21 and organizers are planning to bury a time capsule in August, to name a few.
"This doesn't come around but every couple hundred years," Sanders said.
More information, including how to volunteer, can be found at gofortsmithar.com.