News Release

Celebration of the River Community at Akers to be Held May 19-20

Date: May 11, 2018
Contact: Dave Tobey, 573-323-8093
Contact: Dena Matteson, 573-323-4814

Eminence, MO:  Ozark National Scenic Riverways will host a special celebration of the historic Akers community on May 19 and 20 in partnership with the Shannon County Museum and Ozark Heritage Project. Everyone is invited to attend this event, which will highlight the rich history of the upper Current River. 

On Saturday, May 19, a local Current River bluegrass band will provide entertainment at the Akers Visitor Center from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tiny’s Hillbilly BBQ will be on hand so that visitors can enjoy an evening meal on the banks of the Current River while listening to the music. A dutch oven cooking demonstration will be conducted as well. Participants are encouraged to explore all the nearby historic sites, including Akers Ferry, Mt Zion Church, Devils Well, Howell-Maggard Cabin and Welch Spring. Rangers will be available at Akers Visitor Center to provide information and directions for seeing those areas.   

On Sunday, May 20, activities will begin at 11:00 a.m. with a special service at the Mt. Zion Church, located one-half mile north of Akers Ferry on State Route K. At noon, everyone will gather at the Akers Visitor Center to enjoy a picnic lunch, a bluegrass open jam session with local musicians, and stories about life on the upper Current River from descendants of local families. Those with a connection to the Akers community will have an opportunity to share memories with everyone in attendance. At 2:00 p.m. we will kick-off the 2018 Current River Canoe Race with a short paddle from Welch Spring to Akers. A brief visit to the Howell-Maggard Cabin will be included during the paddle.   

Events:
Saturday, May 19

• 5:00 to 8:00 pm: Bluegrass music, Tiny’s Hillbilly BBQ, and Dutch Oven Cooking at Akers Visitor Center

Sunday, May 20

• 11:00 am: Church service at Mt. Zion Church
•  Noon: Picnic Lunch, Bluegrass Open Jam Session, Stories of the Upper Current River  
•  2:00 to 5:00 pm: Current River Canoe Race Kick-off and Interpretive Paddle from Welch Spring to Akers 

Join us to learn more about the cultural history of the upper Current River! For more information about this event call [phone]; visit the park’s Facebook page, or website at www.nps.gov/ozar.


For more information about the Riverways, call [phone]; visit the park’s Facebook page, or website at www.nps.gov/ozar.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people.
 

-NPS-
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees who care for America’s 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.