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Bean Festival In Mountain View

Mountain View, Arkansas is a unique little town in the Ozark Mountains. It is called “The Folk Music Capitol of the World.” That may be true on most weekends. This weekend though it could be called “Bean Capitol of the World” as thousands of people lined up for free beans and cornbread. There was plenty [...]

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Mountain View, Arkansas is a unique little town in the Ozark Mountains. It is called “The Folk Music Capitol of the World.” That may be true on most weekends. This weekend though it could be called “Bean Capitol of the World” as thousands of people lined up for free beans and cornbread.

There was plenty of music though. This group was picking over in Washington Park just off the Square.

Another group in Washington Square. Washington Square has three “picking” pavilions. They were all being used. As you can see from these pictures, several groups just set up on the grass. People come from all over the nation to play here at this once a year event. I’ve met pickers and singers from Australia, England, and other countries who have found their way to this little town.

These folks got a good spot to play on the porch of the local music store.

This is something you just don’t see much of in the USA anymore – two kids hustling the crowd, selling homemade peanut brittle. I’m thinking this may be a wave of the future. The peanut brittle was great by the way.

Still waiting patiently for those beans!

Meanwhile, in front of the courthouse, they were getting down!

Then, there are some that just don’t get too excited about beans…

Finally, everybody did get fed. And it actually got quiet enough to hear the music.

These guys didn’t come to eat beans, they came to play, even though they had to stand in the middle of the street to do it.

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Filed under: Arkansas, Food, USA

About the Author:

Gar Williams liquidated his former life, sold all his possessions that wouldn’t fit into a 46 liter backpack, and left it all behind at age 63. He is now traveling the world, and, in his words, is finally doing what he wants to do. Gar stops by at VagabondJourney.com from time to time to offer his wisdom and advice on the Senior Vagabond series. has written 65 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.

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Gar Williams is currently in: Ecuador

4 comments… add one

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  • claptona1 October 29, 2011, 6:07 pm

    Good article Gar,
    Nice pictures too.
    I could appreciate some good beans down here in Central America.
    They just don’t cook ’em like they do in the states.
    Cheers,
    John D. Wilson

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  • Gar October 29, 2011, 8:17 pm

    Hey John, thanks for dropping by. Yeah, believe it or not, I had to come home and open a can of chili. By the time I got around to eating it was too late. At least I got some good peanut brittle.
    — Gar

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  • Rob Wilson November 1, 2011, 7:43 pm

    Good stuff, Gar – excellent writing. Really liked the “Eating Jelly in Estados Unidos”

    Some top-notch story-telling going on here.

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    • Gar November 1, 2011, 7:52 pm

      Thanks so much for the kind words and thanks for dropping by.

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