RISON - The Pioneer Crafts Festival returns to the Pioneer Village this weekend after a 15-year hiatus.The event will kick off Friday, April 19 at 5 p.m. with a “Beans and Greens” supper including live music from The Johnson Family, a bluegrass family band from Mayflower.Meals can be purchased for $10 for dine-in or carry out.On Saturday, April 20, festivities run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and include a variety of vendors, craft demonstrations and more. Admission on Saturday is $5 at the gate.The Johnson Family will return Saturday to play throughout the day at the Village.Demonstrators will cover a wide variety of crafts and skills including blacksmith, Morse code telegraph operations, wood shingle making, candle making, dutch oven cooking, crocheting and handicrafts.Other activities include the tea room inside the McMurtrey House, goods for sale inside the Mercantile, as well as a Civil War encampment set up on the grounds. There will also be an antique tractor show at the Village.Inside the Exhibit Halls, vendors will be set up including Teresa Haustein with silicone beaded keychains, wristlets, car charms and more; Lana Jane Creations with mesh wreaths; Kathy Wilson with shelf setters, center pieces, summer crafts; Laura Lotu with wreaths, bows, headbands, jewelry and more; Patricia Wyant with freeze dried candy; Friendship EHC with fried pies; Regina Pickering with crafts.Additional vendors are still being added. Sharon Gray noted there is also a limited number of booth spaces available for anyone still interested.The day will also feature two unique contests that afternoon - a watermelon seed spitting contest and a best beard contest.Those participating in the contests are asked to be on-site by 1 p.m. for registration. Cornhole games will also be set up for playing throughout the day.Looking back at its peak, the festival was a two-day event that attracted dozens of crafters showing off and selling their hand-made creations. There were times when so…
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