The Fordyce Chamber of Commerce has a big night planned for its annual banquet, which will be held at the Fordyce Civic Center on Saturday, Aug. 22 from 6:00-9:00 p.m.

This year’s theme – “Our Town, Our Legacy” – will honor some of the legendary businesses and civic leaders of the community.

Mary Dell Harper who owns the Jewelry Box, which has been in business for 46 years, will be honored. Additionally, the Klappenbach Bakery family will be honored for their famous pastry shop that was a staple of south Arkansas for nearly four decades. And, the Bill Whitehead family, owners of the Fordyce News Advocate for 70 years, will receive a legacy award.

There will be music at the event. Headliner Hayden Ford, an up-and-coming country music artist who is creating his own legacy, will be recognized and will perform.

“’Leaving a Legacy’ awards will go to the Klappenbach Bakery family and Fordyce News Advocate family Bill Whitehead, while our ‘Living a Legacy’ award will go to Mary Dell Harper, who owns the Jewelry Box and has been in business for 46 years,” said Penny Brent, executive director of the Fordyce Chamber of Commerce. “Our ‘Creating a Legacy’ award will go to Hayden Ford, who is a young musician creating his own legacy in the country music business.”

“A strong community legacy doesn’t happen by chance – it happens because people choose to show up, support one another and invest in their hometown,” added Brent. “I hope everyone will join us Saturday, August 22 at the Fordyce Civic Center to celebrate our legacy together.”

The banquet will be Saturday, Aug. 22 from 6:00-7:15 p.m. There will be a business mingle from 7:15-7:50 p.m. The Hayden Ford concert will run from 8:00-9:00 p.m.

The banquet/concert tickets are $40 per person. For concert tickets only, they are $25. Call or text (870) 858-1073 to purchase tickets.

The Fordyce Chamber of Commerce was incorporated in 1973, although there were other industry groups that advocated for business recruitment prior to that. The chamber represents the business community, which includes banking, retail, timber, manufacturing and agricultural interests.