32nd North Arkansas Ancestor Fair

6/02/2023 - 6/03/2023

5:00 pm Friday; 7:30 am Sazturday

Saturday at Veterans Memorial Hall Marshall

Searcy Co. Historical Society

The Searcy County Historical Society is preparing to host the 32nd North Arkansas Ancestor Fair Friday and Saturday, June 2 and 3, 2023 in Marshall, Arkansas, Saturday, June 3, 2023. We have been fortunate to be able to hold the Fair in a Marshall jewel–the Veterans Memorial Hall. The Hall is open at 7:00 a.m. for people and organizations to set up their tables. Tables and chairs are provided free and choice of location in the Hall Goes to first arrivals. At 9:00 a.m. the doors open to the public to visit the information providers, doors close at 3:00 p.m. 

A new feature has been added to this year’s Ancestor Fair. The new, award winning Buffalo River Historic Jail and Museum will be open after the Fair for tours and special events.  If one’s ancestor ended up in jail after a wild weekend, one can see the facilities where he stayed. The North Arkansas Ancestor Fair is truly where one learns about the forefathers from people who know.

Sometimes described as a place to brag on your ancestors, it is a gathering of family genealogists and historians–and just plain interested folks–to share genealogical and historical information–and old family stories–about families and communities. Historical/genealogical societies, libraries and descendant organizations help researchers (or seekers) with information not commonly on the Internet. Visitors from all over the country learn from locals about their forefathers. In 2022 a man from Hawaii met the daughter of his father's best friend.

We try to be broad, certainly to enlist Searcy County’s surrounding counties, but also to go further away to include all of North Arkansas. We have been fairly successful in enlisting other North Arkansas counties and communities. Many visitors start a day or two earlier at the expansive genealogical/historical section of the Searcy County Library.

An opportunity for family researchers to meet with historians/county genealogical societies/ descendant organizations and local experts to research and locate family and ancestors. We meet Friday evening for a Mixer-Dinner and Saturday doors open at Veterans Hall at 7:30 for information providers to set up at provided tables. At 9:00 am doors open for the public and run until 3:00 pm.