It’s time to get a little ‘Crazee’ this week

A long-standing tradition in Mountain Home aims to bring back “the old days” that people in this community long remember as this year’s Crazee Dayz festival ramps up later this week.

Having lived in this community the past 19 years, I admit that it remains the perfect opportunity for people, especially those new to our town, to have fun while walking around the different venues featured throughout downtown Mountain Home.

Sponsored annually by members from the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce, it also fosters the spirit of community involvement as it features a lineup of food, fun and music.

Simply put, this festival remains one of the few times each year where local residents gain the chance to freely walk along the sidewalks and roadways through the downtown area that remain closed to vehicle traffic in the interest of public safety. These road closures allow individuals and families to take time to visit these booths and displays in addition to stopping into the dozens of stores in this part of town.

I’m optimistic this experience will grab the attention of many folks who had no idea all of these places even existed before they came to Crazee Dayz. After all, it’s a little tough to see what types of businesses are located in this part of Mountain Home since most of us are too busy keeping our eyes focused on the road to avoid all of the traffic rolling though there.

Having made this festival a yearly tradition my family and I attend, I often catch myself smiling to myself as I remember some of the memorable moments I enjoyed watching and, in some cases, taking time to participate. This included the times when I watched so many adventuresome children and adults who went for a spin, quite literally, on the carnival rides set up in Railroad Park.

For some of these youngsters, these carnival attractions serve as a milestone of sorts. Typically, it becomes the first time many of them had ever been on some of these high-speed carnival attractions.

Looking at what else Crazee Days has to offer, I remember the times when I’d stop and visit the booths that other businesses and craftsmen set up along the city streets. Each of them typically sell everything from jewelry and handmade craft items in addition to serving various types of food dishes that trace their origins to different parts of the world.

As people continued to walk along our city’s streets, I took note of how their sense of curiosity caused many of them to stop and take a closer look at other displays. This included taking an up close look at murals that local artists continued to bring to life as they glided their paint brushes across the canvas to flesh out the details of their creations.

Meanwhile, I watched as a large number of youngsters were drawn to petting zoos, some of whom were hosted by local Optimist Ag clubs. For many of these children, it represented the first time in their lives they stood within arm’s reach of lammas, goats and actual ponies.

Throughout the afternoon, it was easy to pick out the music that echoed across the area as various clubs and organizations took the stage as they held small-scale concerts and demonstrations. Sometimes, those concerts coincided with other events held near these stages that often included children and adults from the local dance studios, who showcased their moves as they jumped in the air while others spun around or performed somersaults as the audience clapped in appreciation.

While Saturday’s yearly festival serves as a time for people to simply take time to have fun, it also serves as a way to raise awareness and raise money for different causes. For example, members of the Mountain Home Fire Department use the day to continue collecting donations from passing motorists.

Money raised during the annual “fill the boot” event goes to benefit the community’s Fourth of July fireworks show, which is hosted each year by these local firefighters. So please take time later this week and get a little “Crazee.” I think you’ll appreciate what this year’s event has to offer.

— Brian S. Orban