Springfest downtown this Saturday

A plant swap will be one of the highlights of Springfest ’09, an event planned for Saturday, May 2, in downtown Stuttgart.
Springfest is being sponsored by the Downtown Business Committee of the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce.
The public is invited to bring bags of seeds, bulbs, cuttings and extra plants they dig up to the Plant Swap, which will take place at 10 a.m. on the 2nd Street Parking Lot next to Freemyer’s Best Brands Plus.
“Everyone who brings an item to the Plant Swap will be able to take an item home. No one will leave empty-handed,” said Chamber President Tammy Bracewell. “For example, if you set 5 plants on the table, you will get 5 plants to take home. Each participant gets a ticket and tickets are drawn one at a time.”
Several other activities are planned for Springfest.
FFA students from Stuttgart High School will be selling plants from their greenhouse starting at 9 a.m. at the 2nd Street Parking Lot. SHS teacher Patricia Adcock said money raised from the sale of plants will benefit the local FFA program.
Downtown merchants will also be holding Sidewalk Sales that day. To coincide with the Sildewalk Sales, shoppers will have a chance to try their luck at one of the most popular games sweeping the country, Baggo, the official bag toss game.
Baggo boards will be set up in front of downtown stores, allowing the public to try and win store discounts.
“Baggo is played like horseshoes,” said Angela Reinhart, director of programs at the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce. “It’s fun for the whole family and tournaments are held throughout the country. This is a great way to get introduced to the game and try it out.”
Cuppy’s Coffee will set up downtown during Springfest. The Stuttgart Animal Shelter will also be downtown on Saturday offering an Adopt-A-Pet program.
Stuttgart Animal Control Officer Darren Findley said he hopes all the animals currently at the animal shelter will find homes at Springfest.
The Arkansas Forestry Commission, along with Smokey the Bear, will be at Springfest giving away tree seedlings to the public.
Mal R Duck, the official mascot of the Wings Over the Prairie Festival, is also expected to be a Springfest.