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Written by Clay Miller
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Saturday, 09 August 2008 |
 This afternoon, August 9th, the 17th Annual Dixie Day Celebration was held at Conley Park. Dixie Days was founded 17 years ago by Rev. Vernon Allen Sr. as a means for the Dixie Addition residents to shine a positive light on their neighborhood and give a little luster to a community that the event organizers describe as a "Diamond in the Rough".
Over 600 people attended, including around 100 to 150 family and friends who came from out of town. The celebration started off with an opening ceremony that included a speech by District 34 Arkansas State Senator Tracy Steele. After the opening ceremony there was a parade around the community that included classic cars and the Heavenly Riders, a group of motorcycle enthusiasts.
 The Dixie Day celebration was originally intended to be a one time event,
but after its initial success, Doris Allen, who had been the Assistant
Chair at the original Dixie Days, took over the direction of the event
and has worked hard to keep Dixie Days going over the past 16 years.
The Dixie Addition is in East North Little Rock, between Rose City and Sherman Park south of the Union Pacific railyards. Prior to 1927 the Dixie area was farmland but between 1927 and 1929 the first families started moving in to the subdivision, which initially included 28 blocks. The Dixie Addition was built primarily to provide a housing for workers of the Dixie Cotton Oil Mill.
Some of the notable politicians who attended the event included Senator
Tracy Steele, County Judge Buddy Villines, and Alderwoman Linda
Robinson.
A family sharing watermelon with the Dixie community.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 09 August 2008 )
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