DeltaARTS Carnival returns as virtual event

Support the arts with dinner and a show during annual fundraiser auction

By THE TIMES NEWS STAFF

news@theeveningtimes.com

DeltaARTS’s 35-year-old annual fundraising tradition, the Janine Earney Carnival, is back as a virtual event with live entertainment and an online auction. Headlining sponsors for the 2021 Janine Earney Carnival are Fidelity Bank (Legacy Sponsor), Premier Bank of Arkansas, and Best Beverages of West Memphis. Production sponsors are Ford of West Memphis and Southland Casino Racing.

Still in honor of the nonprofit’s late executive director, the newly reimagined event again will be presented as a one-night virtual lip sync competition streamed online with an auction component. Carnival will take place Saturday, Aug. 28, starting at 6 p.m. Anyone can watch, vote, and bid during the live stream, but tickets ($35 each) come with a carryout meal by Melissa’s Catering, to-go beers from Best Beverages of West Memphis, and early access to the auction.

“The ‘New Carnival’ was so much fun last year, and we had an overwhelmingly positive response to the new format,” says DeltaARTS Executive Director Alex Waddell Smith. “But most of all, in a very difficult year, it was successful in its main purpose – raising money for the imaginative arts education programs of DeltaARTS. We are especially thankful for our community’s continued support during these challenging times.”

The lip sync contestants, or “talent,” are representatives of Carnival’s major sponsoring organizations. Viewers can “vote” for their favorite contestants by making donations to DeltaARTS through the event website. Contestants, who prepare for their performances with a professional choreographer, will be encouraged to “crowdfund” on social media before the event to get a head-start on the competition.

The broadcast will also include special guest performances, appearances by familiar faces in the community, and videos from Delta-ARTS program participants – all available to watch online at Carnival’s event site, deltaartscarnival.swell.gives. From there, the public can purchase tickets, “attend” the event, watch the competition, bid on auction items, vote for contestants, view the live progress of funds raised, and see event-related social media feeds all in one place.

Carryout meals for ticket- holders will include a side salad; chips, cheese dip, and salsa; a Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcake; and choice of entrée – Firecracker Enchiladas (beef, meat, cheese), Chicken Green Chile Enchiladas, or Cheese & Onion Enchiladas. To-go beer will also be provided by Best Beverages of West Memphis. Meals and drinks will be available to pick up at the DeltaARTS Glenn P. Schoettle Arts Education Center (301 S. Rhodes, West Memphis) from 3 to 5 p.m. the day of the event.

The winner of the lip sync contest will receive a custom- designed trophy donated by Trudy Jolly of The Trophy Shop. Performance trophies, also donated by The Trophy Shop, are available for Best Costume, Best Dance Moves, or Most Stage Presence – all voted through social media hashtags by viewers.

Last year’s winners, representing the DeltaARTS Board, were Atara Dorsey, Sheri Lowe, and Tracye La-Battes Parker. Andy Luttrell, representing Fidelity Bank, won Best Costume. “Pretty Kenny” Hamilton, representing Ford of West Memphis, won Best Dance Moves, and Laura Carlson and Chrissy Carlson, representing Fidelity Bank, won the Most Spirited Performer trophy.

Purchase tickets online at deltaartscarnival.swell.gives through Friday, Aug. 20. For more information, call (870) 732-6260 or visit deltaarts. org.

Fidelity Bank is returning as Legacy Sponsor for DeltaARTS’s 35th Janine Earney Carnival, an all virtual FUNdraising event. Carnival will broadcast live on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 6 p.m., at deltaartscarnival. swell.gives. Pictured are DeltaARTS Board President Dickie Bland, Executive Director Alex Waddell Smith, and Fidelity Bank Marketing Officer Shelby Jo Moore.

Submitted photos

Co-hosts Frank Barton, Alex Waddell Smith, and Meg Webb present the trophy for 2020 Janine Earney Carnival Lip Sync Contest to Tracye LaBattes Parker, Atara Dorsey, and Sheri Lowe, who raised the most “votes” (donations to DeltaARTS) as Diana Ross and the Supremes representing the DeltaARTS Board.