Tri-County Fair invites young artists for Kids Art Contest

Children in Lee, Monroe and Phillips counties can enter the Tri-County Fair Kids Art Contest, where K3 through sixth-grade students will compete under the theme “Fair Finds” for cash prizes and a chance to have their work recognized during fair week.

The contest gives Phillips County families an early way into the Tri-County Fair, which returns May 26-30, 2026, at the Tri-County Fairground on Highway 49 in Marvell. Visit Helena lists the fair at 1334 US-49 and says gates will be open daily from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. as the event shifts from a late-summer slot to May.

The fair’s 2026 lineup is set to include pageants, livestock exhibits, carnival rides, games, live music, fair food and rides for all ages. That mix has made the fair a regional draw for Phillips-Lee-Monroe counties, and the kids art contest adds a school-centered entry point for younger children whose work can be displayed as part of the fair’s broader celebration.

Organizers have also been building on traditions that already give the fair a strong family identity. Prior coverage has included complimentary kids’ games such as sack race, ring toss and cup stacking, along with recurring demolition derby action that closes the fair with a 6 p.m. start. Those events help explain why the art contest matters: it broadens the spotlight beyond motorsports and midway attractions and puts elementary-age students on the fair schedule too.

The Tri-County Fair Board has also been active with updates and continued planning for the 2026 event, underscoring that this year’s fair is being shaped as a fresh return rather than a repeat on autopilot. For families looking for more information, Washburn at the Marvell Water Department can be reached at 870-829-1001.