14 Excellent Arkansas Late Spring Festivals.

Searching for something to do over the next several weekends? Here are a bevy of great weekend events coming up - including some of Arkansas's best food festivals - to mark on your schedule.

The Arkansas Food Hall of Fame - Celebrating the Great State of the Plate.

It's time to recognize Arkansas's classic eateries, cooks and festivals with the celebration they deserve. I'm thrilled to be able to tell you about the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame.

VIDEO: New Food Items at the 2016 Greek Food Fest in Little Rock.

Check out the new items you'll find at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church during the 32nd Annual Greek Food Fest in Little Rock, May 20-22nd.

May Festivals in Arkansas - Five Weekends of Fun.

The emergence of spring into summer brings flowers and festivals to The Natural State. This list covers some of the most important festivals of the year throughout Arkansas.

Scenes from the 2015 Arkansas Cornbread Festival.

The fifth Arkansas Cornbread Festival is (as of this writing) still underway on South Main Street in Little Rock.  The annual to-do created by Anita Davis and hosted around the Bernice Garden brings hundreds of cornbread lovers to this booming new area each year to celebrate a Southern staple.

22 Arkansas Festivals You Should Squeeze Into Your Summer Schedule.

Arkansas summers are packed with every manner of summer gathering -- from food festivals to musical celebrations, people here tend to find a good reason to get out, have a good bite to eat and do something fun.

There are so many festivals out there to consider.  Here are some of my favorites.  Yes, there are quite a few that share weekends.  It's tough deciding between one or two, but remember -- there's always next year.  Click on festival names to learn more.

Hot Springs Music Festival (May 31-June 13).  Stretched out over two weeks, there are classical performances galore to enjoy, from chamber music to orchestral delights, symphonies and solos and so much more.  If you love the sound of an orchestra, make plans to attend. Hot Springs.

Wakarusa

Wakarusa Camping and Music Festival (June 4-7, early events June 3).  The blended festival combines music from a multitude of genres with the beauty of the Ozark mountains, with art installations, puppet performers and even a farmers market.  Headliners this year include Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, The Roots and Umphrey's McGee amongst the 50+ acts on the schedule. Camping spots are already selling out in several areas of the festival grounds, so go ahead and make your reservations. Near Turner Bend.

Lum & Abner Festival (June 5-8).  Celebrating the popular characters of a radio program that began in 1931, this festival centers around re-enactments of the original Lum & Abner shows, a firefighter challenge, a baby crawlin' contest, parade, Lil' Miss and Mister pageant, a Kiddie Korner with playground and inflatables, a BBQ Cook-off and the Great Lum & Abner Meltdown (ice melting competition). Mena.

Portfest (June 5-6). This annual celebration at Jacksonport State Park near Newport highlights catfish, music and the White River itself.  The event commemorates the area's status as a major port on that river. Musical acts, a carnival and plenty to do for the kids are on the agenda.  Newport.

World Championship Cardboard Boat Races

Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival (June 12-13). Warren and the surrounding area is known for its large tomato farms.  At one point, 900 farmers produced the famed Bradley County Pink Tomato, the state's official fruit AND vegetable).  Though fewer farmers grow the orbs these days, the community still celebrates the tradition.  Warren.

Turkey Track Bluegrass Festival (June 17-20). Enjoy a lot of pickin' and grinnin' at this twice-yearly festival in Waldron.  Three nights of music, Waldron.

Smackover Oil Town Festival (June 18-20).  The little town near El Dorado celebrates its place in history as the location where oil was first discovered in Arkansas... and the boom that followed that discovery.  Lots of fun including duck races, a rib cook off and a lot of family activities.  Smackover.

Emerson PurpleHull Pea Festival

Emerson PurpleHull Pea Festival and World Championship Rotary Tiller Races (June 27).  The little town just north of the Louisiana border celebrates the magnificent pea with a Pea Feast, pea and cornbread cookoff, lots of activities and the one and only, absolutely amazing World Championship Rotary Tiller Races, which are kinda like this. Emerson.

Thunder on the Mountain (June 26-28).  Country music stars Carrie Underwood, Big & Rich, the Zack Brown Band and The Band Perry headline this camping-and-country music festival celebrated as "boots and bonfires" atop Mulberry Mountain north of Ozark.  Reserve tickets in advance. Near Turner Bend.

Mount Magazine International Butterfly Festival (June 26-27).  Love butterflies? This is the place to be.  This annual event celebrating all the butterflies in the state includes butterfly watching, hands-on bug experiences and live concerts.  Paris.

Malvern Brickfest (June 26-27).  Head to the Brick Capital of the World to enjoy music, contests, kids activities and a baby-back rib cookoff.  There's also the Brick Toss, the Brick Car Derby and a competition to determine the Best Dressed Brick.  Malvern.

Thunder on the Mountain

Buffalo River Elk Festival (June 26-27). There are few sounds more haunting or more strange than the call of an elk... unless it's dozens of individuals competing to see who has the best elk call.  Jasper will be echoing during this weekend of celebrating the elk in the upper and middle Buffalo National River Valley. Jasper.

Fleur Delicious

Fleur Delicious (July 2-13).  Celebrating the joy of French cooking and culture, Eureka Springs explodes in a hot summer party filled with fleur de lis, cocktails and fine food over this week-and-a-half soiree.  Come hungry.  Eureka Springs.

Hot Springs Quiltfest. (July 10-11).  Appreciate the workmanship and creativity of crafty quilters at this show in the Spa City.  More than 200 quilts will be on display, and there will be plenty of vendors who can leave you in stitches... or draw you into the habit of making your own quilt.  Hot Springs.

Altus Grape Festival

Altus Grape Festival (July 24-25).  There's nothing like getting a little grape between your toes.  Dress like Bacchus, stomp some grapes, have some wine and hear some great music all on the downtown square. Altus.

World Championship Cardboard Boat Races (July 25).  Can you make a buoyant watercraft with nothing but cardboard, duct tape and ingenuity? Even if you don't dare to make such a challenge, you can really enjoy the efforts (and failures) of others who make the attempt to float their handcrafted boats on Greers Ferry Lake.  A spectacle. Heber Springs.

Johnson County Peach Festival

Johnson County Peach Festival (July 30-August 1).  The oldest festival in the state, this festival celebrates everything about the peach and then some.  In addition to peach eating and peach cobbler competitions, enjoy toad jumping and terrapin races, dozens of kid-related competitions, parades and floats and a general good time. Clarksville.

Hope Watermelon Festival

Hope Watermelon Festival (August 6-8).  The world's largest watermelons, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, are raised in Hempstead County.  Enjoy this festival, which includes everything from seed spitting to mini-tractor racing, concerts, vendors and crafts.  Hope.

Cave City Watermelon Festival (August 6-8). The sweetest watermelons in Arkansas are lauded with bluegrass, gospel and country music over the three days in Cave City City Park.  Be there Saturday afternoon for the free watermelon feast. Cave City.

Mountains, Music and Motorcycles (August 13-16).  Riders and enthusiasts head to Mountain View to congregate in the heart of the Ozark foothills and enjoy music, fun and games.  For bikers and motorcycle riders, it's not to be missed.  Mountain View.

Cave City Watermelon Festival

Northwest Arkansas Bluegrass Festival (August 18-20).  Pickin' and grinnin' galore at this park in Harrison in late summer.  The 40th such event covers three days and nights in Beacon Park. RV hookups are available. North of Harrison.

Frisco Festival (August 21-22).  Love trains? Rogers commemorates its past as a railroad town with this family-friendly fest in its downtown park with the Chilisalapeno Competition, the Frisco Chicken BBQ, "Frisco Idol," car shows, a kid's playland and lots of live entertainment. Rogers.

4 New Foods to Try at the Greek Food Festival.

The International Greek Food Festival at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church here in Little Rock has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid.  I recall many May Saturdays over the years where dancing was observed, exotic goods were shopped and gyros were consumed.  This being its 31st year, I've already made my plans to go out and enjoy the fun the weekend of May 15-17.

This time around, though, there are four new foods you should try.  I was one of a few lucky folks who got to go to the church Wednesday night and see what's in store for this year.  Here's a preview.

1.  Saganaki.  Flaming cheese, oh boy.  In this case, slices of Kasseri cheese (made from sheep's milk) are griddle-seared and flamed before being laid across grilled pita bread.  It's all the joy of fondue without the stick and dip, and it's fun to watch.

What did I think?  I think I'd like to eat hot Kasseri cheese all day long.  I could wear it like an edible glove of cheese.  Someone's probably already thought of that, though.  It has a great farmer's cheese flavor, slightly salty, that's enhanced by melting.  The pita's just there to get it into your mouth... which, as Grav can attest, is absolutely necessary.

If you want to try saganaki, you'll want to get out there Friday.  Just 800 pounds of the kassari have been brought in... it'll never be enough for me... er, for cheese lovers.  I think Steve Shuler of Little Rock Foodcast agrees with me on this one.

2,  Loukoumathes.  These are essentially cinnamon dusted, honey dunked doughnut holes.  The machine to make these was specially created in Seattle and shipped to Arkansas.  It's a lot of fun to watch... but it has to be done with care, since the oil for frying is well over 300 degrees and you have to make sure the balls aren't too large or too small.

Loukoumethes have been around for more than two thousand years.  They were "golden pennies" given to the winners of the original Olympic games.  They are similar to the sticky buns that would be brought to weddings by guests and piled up for the happy couple to attempt to kiss over (the predecessor to the wedding cake) and they are easily poppable.

My thoughts?  Wow.  The dough is barely sweet at all, but the honey is really sweet, so you get a balance.  When they're hot, it's hard not to gobble everything up.  When they cool, they aren't quite as good but chances are, you won't have the chance to try them cold.  They'll go quick.  A nice new addition to the fare.

3.  Za'atar Pizza.  This is a leavened flatbread that's been dolloped with a pesto-like substance (za'atar) that includes dried oregano, sumac, sesame seeds and other herbs in an olive oil base.  It's very simple.

What did I think?  I have had similar dishes of herbs on flatbread, and this is pretty representative of that.  I also have a pretty broad palate.  The flavor is unique and it's tasty but a little wild for those used to milder foods.  The texture is rather twiggy, but if that does not bother you then you will certainly like this.

4.  Mediterranean Chicken Wraps.  These are exactly what they're said to be.  They look like burritos but they're filled with grilled chicken cooked in Mediterranean spices and olive oil.  If you're looking for a good carry-around food but don't want a gyro, this is the way to go.

What did I think?  Tasty.  I could make a meal of these.  The chicken is succulent and I could see Hunter digging it.  Just be careful - they are extra juicy inside.

The International Greek Food Festival is just over a week away.  Make your plans now by checking out the event website.  It's free to the public.  Also, my advice is to get your pastries early... though there will be 25,000 individual pieces of baklava, sourota and those delectable wedding cookies, there are never any left over at the end of the event.

One more thing -- do remember that the Greek Food Festival is, as far as I know, the only Arkansas food festival with its very own drive-thru!  So really, even if you don't have time to enjoy the dancing, activities and excellent shopping, you can still have your Greek fix.

The Emerson PurpleHull Pea Festival and Rotary Tiller Races Celebrate 25 Years.

There are festivals for large things in Arkansas, like watermelons. There are festivals for medium-sized things like peaches and apples and even cornbread. But, the one festival held the furthest south in our state happens to celebrate the smallest Arkansas food product -- the tiny PurpleHull pea.

Brand New Thing - The Argenta Foodie Festival.

Starting a new festival is risky business. How do you go about building something new? How do you draw people in? And how do you prove it's popular enough to become an annual event?

The first step, of course, is to have a good idea. You don't want to have an eggplant festival if the town in the next country also has one -- it's not unique. You want a theme, an idea that can draw in a crowd and entertain.

North Little Rock's Argenta District just might have struck it right.