On the Road
Stuttgart Wings Over the Prairie
This wildlife-focused festival brings crowds to Stuttgart’s picturesque downtown
BY
Laura Keech Allen
PHOTOGRAPHY
Kendy Schimmel



A few items from Ragans Gifts.


Wilkerson Jewelers


Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie
November is an exciting time in Stuttgart, as this close-knit community assumes its role as the “rice and duck capital of the world,” welcoming the influx of waterfowl enthusiasts who hope to take advantage of the superior hunting opportunities provided by the area’s prime location on the Mississippi flyway, where countless migratory geese and ducks spend a portion of their winter.

To celebrate the occasion, Stuttgart hosts the annual Wings Over the Prairie Festival, a week of events that includes the World Championship Duck Calling Contest. This year’s festival begins Saturday, November 18 with the Queen Mallard Pageant, followed by open house at the local downtown retailers on November 19. The carnival and duck calling events begin Wednesday, November 22, while the arts and crafts fair kicks off on the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 24. The festival continues through Saturday, November 25, culminating in the Duck Gumbo cook off and World Championship Duck Calling event.

Shopping

Spectacular, service-oriented retailers are a big part of Stuttgart’s appeal, with many stores located on and around Main Street. Shop the selection of high-quality home furnishings at Mayn-Mart, where names like Broyhill, Rowe, Ashley, Pulaski and Hooker fill the showroom. At Morris & Co. Romancing the Home, floral and interior design are the specialties, and a hand-picked array of gifts and home décor is sure to catch your eye. Known for their furnishings, Buerkle Furniture also offers custom bedding and window treatments, interior design services, and all the elements to complete the look of your home, from wallcoverings and flooring, to stone, tile and countertops.

We love all the goodies at Ragans Gifts, including a wide selection of Arthur Court Designs pieces, Vietri pottery and Wedgwood china, along with irresistible gourmet foods from Stonewall Kitchen. Gifts, home accessories and jewelry fill the shelves at The Added Touch, along with candles by Yankee and Root and a full selection of Lampe Berger. Full-service florist Fern and Feather is also known for their chic and sophisticated gifts, holiday décor, flags and stationery, while Coker Hampton offers plenty of décor and accessories from names like Vera Bradley.

You can’t make a trip to Stuttgart without stopping in Wilkerson Jewelers, where oodles of diamonds by Hearts on Fire are joined by fashionable favorites like Tag Heuer watches. Ladies will love the apparel at accessories from brands like Tribal at Ware Haus, and Lumber One has everything you need to outfit your home from start to finish, from flooring, paint, fencing and Andersen windows and doors, to patio furniture and rugs. And at S&W Nursery & Produce, you can browse row after row of lush botanicals and even take home some local delicacies.

For a true Grand Prairie experience, you have to set aside plenty of time to visit Mack’s Prairie Wings, America’s premier waterfowl outfitter. Whether you’re in the market for clothing, hunting gear, hunting dog supplies or even outdoor-inspired home décor, they’re sure to have plenty of options to choose from. And just next door, RNT Duck Calls, started in 1976 by world champion duck caller Butch Richenback, hand-crafts versatile, realistic duck calls for passionate hunters the world over.

Dining

The premier culinary event during Wings Over the Prairie is the Duck Gumbo cook off on Saturday, November 25. This is a legendary party that you won’t want to miss, with 48 teams competing for the title of world’s best duck gumbo, the music of Superflux and a fun-loving crowd that’s sure to include old friends you haven’t seen in years. Along with sampling all the fried delights the carnival midway has to offer, be sure to stop in local favorite The Little Chef for delicious Southern home cooking, or La Petite Cajun Bistro for plenty of seafood and Cajun specialties.

Entertainment

Explore the area’s agriculture past (and future) at the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie. This award-winning museum has a huge range of interpretive exhibits that are sure to engage kids of all ages, plus lots of awe-inspiring machinery from days past.

Lodging

An easy hour’s drive from Little Rock, Stuttgart has a few national hotel chains to choose from if you’d like to stay overnight, but for the full effect, make arrangements to stay at one of the myriad of hunting lodges and camps in the area. From more luxurious options like the amenity-laden Wildlife Farms to more rustic accommodations, these lodges can set up hunting trips of a variety of lengths or leave you to enjoy the natural wonders of this amazing location. Contact the Stuttgart area chamber of commerce at 870-673-1602 or www.stuttgartarkansas.org for a current and complete list.

Wings Over the Prairie Festival, Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce 870-673-1602, stuttgartarkansas.org.

Mayn Mart 870-673-1953
Morris & Co. Romancing the Home 870-673-2386
Buerkle Furniture 870-673-6371, 800-990-9187
Ragans Gifts 870-673-2741
The Added Touch 870-673-1306
Fern and Feather 870-673-2656
Coker Hampton 870-673-2691
Wilkerson Jewelers 870-673-4441
Ware Haus 870-673-9244
Lumber One 800-434-3601
S&W Nursery and Produce 870-673-8211
Mack’s Prairie Wings 877-MACKSPW, mackspw.com
RNT Duck Calls 888-RNT-CALLS, rntcalls.com
The Little Chef 870-673-7372
La Petite Cajun Bistro 870-673-1833
Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie 870-673-7001
Wildlife Farms Wildlife Farms 870-241-3275, wildlifefarms.com