The 120th Tontitown Grape Festival begins Tuesday on U.S. 412 west of Springdale with an evening of carnival rides, free live entertainment and a grape stomp. The festival will continue through Aug. 11 with other activities and food highlighting the town's Italian heritage, including the festival's infamous grape ice cream.
Hundreds of volunteers organize and staff the annual event benefiting St. Joseph Catholic Church and the community, says Alice Walker, the festival's communications and marketing director. The festival commemorates the local Italian settlers' harvest celebration, which dates back to 1898.
