Calendar of Events

Welcome to the Delta Cultural Center's Calendar of Events page. The museum hosts special blues music events and programs throughout the year, such as Delta blues festivals, gospel festivals, folk art exhibits and much more. Don't miss the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival in October, formerly known as King Biscuit Blues Festival. This Delta blues festival is the largest free blues festival in the nation!

Please check back often to find upcoming events at the Delta Cultural Center, or subscribe to our Delta Currents E-Newsletter to get regular email updates.

King Biscuit Time
Each weekday
Helena-West Helena - DCC Visitors Center 141 Cherry Street Helena-West Helena
12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
http://www.deltaculturalcenter.com
“King Biscuit Time,” the nation’s longest-running blues radio program, is hosted each weekday at the DCC Visitor’s Center by “Sunshine” Sonny Payne, from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

Admission is free; the public is welcome to attend.

“Delta Sounds,” hosted by DCC Assistant Director Terry Buckalew and Payne, is broadcast each Friday at 1 to 1:30 p.m.

Gallery hours at the DCC Visitors Center at 141 Cherry Street and the nearby DCC Depot at 95 Missouri Street are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

For more information, interested persons can contact the Delta Cultural Center at (870) 338-4350 or toll free at (800) 358-0972, visit the DCC online at www.deltaculturalcenter.com, or email info@deltaculturalcenter.com.

'Nature: Sunrise to Sunset' Photography Exhibit
Through Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Helena-West Helena - Delta Cultural Center Visitors Center 141 Cherry Street
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
http://www.deltaculturalcenter.com
The "Nature: Sunrise to Sunset" exhibit features approximately 70 wildlife photos shot in the Delta region of Arkansas and Mississippi by Helena-West Helena photographers Patty Smith, Susan Winston, and Jane Woodie.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Admission is free.

For more information, interested persons can call (800) 358-0972.

Blues Heritage Youth Art Competition
Deadline for entries is May 3, 2010
Helena-West Helena - Delta Cultural Center 141 Cherry Street Helena, AR 72342
http://www.deltaculturalcenter.com
The Blues Heritage Youth Art Contest, co-sponsored by the DCC and the Pillow Clinic in Helena-West Helena, encourages the artistic pursuits of Delta youths and stimulates their interest in the cultural history of the Delta. For this year’s contest, young competitors are asked to focus their energies and imaginations on the theme of “Country Blues.”

Student artists are asked to create a piece of artwork on posterboard, art paper, or canvas no larger than a standard posterboard.

The medium utilized will be the artist’s choice. The name of artists, their ages, grade levels, school district, their teacher, and town of residency should be recorded in typed script on the back of their artwork.

The deadline for entries is May 3, 2010. The art will be judged in June 2010, and school districts will be informed of winning entries. An exhibition and reception will be held in conjunction with Helena’s internationally-famed Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival in October 2010.

The Pillow Clinic of Helena-West Helena provides cash awards totaling $800. Winning student artists will be encouraged to attend the reception during which the Pillow Clinic will present cash awards.

In 2010, the elementary (kindergarten through fifth grade) winner will receive $60; the middle school (sixth through ninth grade) winner is awarded $100; and a $250 cash award is presented to the high school (sophomore through senior) winner. In addition, two merit awards of $20 will be presented to students in each division. Teachers of the first place award winner in each division will receive $50 to aid classroom instruction; the teacher of each merit award winner will receive $20.

This contest is open to all area public and private schools, as well as home-schoolers.

The theme, “Country Blues,” suggests the rural origins of blues music in the Mississippi River Delta, as well as the agricultural environment in which the music evolved.

Student artwork in the competition becomes the property of the DCC.

In 2009, Helena-West Helena Central High School student Latoya Edmond won the senior high division; senior high merit awards went to Vanessa Patton of Barton-Lexa High School and Chloe Moorehead of The Art School of Conway.

Monticello Middle School student Frederica Davis won the middle school division; middle school merit winners were Laurel Beale and Kadijah Akins, both of Monticello Middle School.

Crews Franklin of St. George’s Episcopal School at Clarksdale won the elementary division; elementary merit awards went to Britt Burchfield of Presbyterian Day School at Clarksdale and Bailey Shadell of The Art School of Conway.

For more information, interested persons can call DCC Educational Coordinator Jack Myers at (870) 338-4350 or toll free at (800) 358-0972.

Wild Hog Motorcycle Rally & Musicfest
Thursday, April 22, through Sunday, April 25
Helena-West Helena - Cherry Street Pavilion Historic Downtown Helena-West Helena
http://www.wildhogmusic.org
The Wild Hog Music Festival & Bike Rally is an annual event held in the historic downtown district of Helena-West Helena.

A full listing of events and registration details will be available at the event website, www.wildhogmusic.org.

Musical acts will be listed closer to the event date.

10th Annual Arkansas Delta Family Gospel Festival
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Helena-West Helena - Cherry Street Pavilion Historic Downtown Helena
http://www.deltaculturalcenter.com
The Delta Family Gospel Fest is an annual event sponsored by the Delta Cultural Center, a museum of the Arkansas Department of Heritage. The festival features the finest local, regional, and national gospel performers.

The event receives co-sponsorship funding from the Helena-West Helena Advertising & Promotion Commission and the City of Helena-West Helena.

Acts slated will be announced closer to the event date.

For more information, interested persons can contact Thomas Jacques, event director, or Matthew McKing, community coordinator, at the Delta Cultural Center at (800) 358-0972 or (870) 338-4350.

Admission is free.

Fifth Annual Mother's Best Music Fest
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Helena-West Helena - Cherry Street Pavilion
1 p.m. - 10 p.m.
http://www.deltaculturalcenter.com
The Delta Cultural Center presents an eclectic music festival featuring the diversity of musical talent in the Delta each June.

Enjoy an afternoon and evening of music lounging on the Helena levee on the banks of the Mississippi River at the Delta Cultural Center's FREE Mother's Best Music Fest on Saturday, June 5.

Acts include:
1 p.m. Blue Mother Tupelo (pictured)
2 p.m. Ben Peyton
3 p.m. Vince Cheney
4 p.m. Bill Abel
5 p.m. Eddie Harrison & The Short Kuts
6 p.m. Spoonfed Blues featuring The Mississippi Spoonman
7 p.m. Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm
8 p.m. Lucious Spiller
9 p.m. Earnest "Guitar" Roy

For more information, interested persons can call the DCC at (800) 358-0972.

Contact the Delta Cultural Center at (870) 338-4350 or (800) 358-0972 for more information.

Free admission. Rain or shine!

Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival
Thursday, October 7, through Saturday, October 9, 2010
Helena-West Helena - Historic Downtown Helena
http://www.bluesandheritagefest.com
The Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival, organized by the Sonny Boy Blues Society and financially sponsored by numerous businesses and organizations, including the Delta Cultural Center, is held annually along Helena's historic Cherry Street by the Mississippi River levee.

Admission fees and performance lineups will be announced closer to the event date.