Mayhaw Festival

The South Arkansas Historical Foundation's Mayhaw Festival is held the first Saturday in May. It is a celebration of the mayhaw berry and features mayhaw jelly, other fine foods, a Dutch-oven cookoff, antiques and entertainment.

The mayhaw is native to low-lying, acid soils of river bottoms, streams and swampland in the South. From mid-February to mid-March, the trees are covered with a profusion of fragrant white blossoms. By early May (hence the name), the branches are loaded with yellow to bright red fruit. When ripe, the fruit resembles cranberries or miniature apples and has a tart, juicy flavor similar to crab apples 

But Mayhaw trees aren't the only attraction at this colorful local festival. You can also purchase Mayhaw Festival T-shirts, as well as mayhaw jelly. In El Dorado, the hard work is already done.  Only fun awaits those who attend the Mayhaw Festival at the Historic John-Newton House.