Bean Fest & Championship Outhouse Races: Where Tradition, Laughter, and Community Come Together
There’s something magical about waking up in Mountain View on Bean Fest weekend. The smell of beans simmering over open fires fills the air, and laughter around the courthouse square. Every October, our town comes alive with one of the quirkiest, most heartwarming events you’ll ever experience — Bean Fest and the Championship Outhouse Races.
A Festival Built on Family and Tradition
For more than 40 years, Bean Fest has been a tradition that celebrates everything that makes Mountain View special — good food, good music, and good company. But the true heart of the festival is found in the families and friends who come back year after year to cook beans.
Some of these teams have been part of Bean Fest for more than a decade, setting up in the same spot, cooking the same recipes, and making new memories. What started as a friendly cook-off has become a family tradition for many — a time to reconnect, laugh, and enjoy time together over big cast-iron pots.
By early Saturday morning, the courthouse square is lined with cooks tending to their pots, fires burning low, and the smell of beans drifting through town.
When the dinner bell rings at noon on Saturday, it’s time for the big moment — free beans and cornbread for everyone! It’s a sight (and smell) to remember: long lines of visitors, bean cookers serving steaming cups, and the kind of happiness that only comes from sharing food made with love.
The Sound of Mountain View
Of course, you can’t have Bean Fest without music — and in Mountain View, that means the square is alive with local musicians who embody the spirit of our quaint town. From fiddles and banjos to guitars and mandolins, you’ll hear the sounds that define our hometown.
Our artists and performers take pride in carrying on the folk and bluegrass traditions that have been part of Mountain View for generations. It’s not just a show — it’s a celebration of community, talent, and hometown pride.
Throughout the weekend, live music fills the courthouse stage — starting Friday afternoon and continuing through Saturday night. It’s the perfect soundtrack for a festival built on tradition.
The Championship Outhouse Races
After everyone’s had their fill of beans and cornbread, it’s time for one of the most unforgettable events in Arkansas — the Championship Outhouse Races.
Teams build their own “outhouses on wheels,” decorate them with hilarious themes, and race them down Main Street. Each team has two pushers and one brave rider, together they barrel down the road in front of cheering and laughing crowds.
Just like the bean cookers, many of these outhouse race teams have been participating for over what seems like forever, returning year after year with their racers, new jokes, and the same friendly rivalries. And make no mistake — the competition is fierce!
The outhouses to beat are the long-time champions Jack’s & JoJo’s, a beloved local resort and restaurant, the Ozark Folk Center, and Mountain View Chevrolet’s “General Pee.” These teams have become local legends, consistently battling it out for bragging rights and bringing just as much laughter as they do speed. Whether they’re racing neck-and-neck down Main Street or showing off their unique racers, these teams have become crowd favorites.
The Parade of Outhouses kicks off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, followed by the races themselves. No Outhouse Racer Parade would be complete without the familiar sight of Keith Symanowitz showing off his signature move — a midair heel clap worthy of a fiddle tune. It’s a crowd favorite that always gets a big round of applause!
The Beauty of Fall in the Ozarks
One of the things that makes Bean Fest weekend even more special is the timing. Late October in Mountain View is breathtaking — the hills and mountains surrounding our town burst into color with rich shades of red, orange, and gold. The crisp air and vibrant leaves make the perfect backdrop for a weekend spent outdoors with friends and family.
Visitors often say it feels like stepping into a Hallmark Movie — the music echoing through the square, the smell of beans cooking, and the golden glow of the mountains all around. There’s simply no better time to visit Mountain View than fall.
The Heart Behind It All
For me, Bean Fest is deeply personal. I’ve been involved in every part of it — planning, setting up, coordinating vendors, and making sure every last detail comes together. It’s a labor of love shared by so many people.
Watching it all unfold — the beans cooking, the music playing, families laughing, and visitors discovering our town for the first time — fills me with pride. This event showcases the very best of Mountain View: our hospitality, creativity, and sense of humor.
The Mountain View Area Chamber of Commerce does an incredible job putting this event together each year. It takes months of planning and a community full of dedicated volunteers to make it happen. And every year, when it all comes together, it’s worth every minute.
Come Join Us!
This year’s 43rd Annual Bean Fest & Championship Outhouse Races will be held October 24–25, 2025, in beautiful downtown Mountain View, Arkansas.
Friday, October 24
11 AM – Artisans Market opens
Noon – Food and merchandise vendors open
12 PM & 7 PM – Live music on the courthouse stage
Saturday, October 25
7 AM – Bean cookers start their fires
9 AM – Vendors and Artisan Market open
10:30 AM – Live music at the courthouse stage
12 PM – Dinner bell rings (beans & cornbread served!)
1 PM – Parade of Outhouses and Championship Outhouse Races on Main Street
2:30 PM & 7 PM – More live music
Bean Fest is more than just an event — it’s a reminder of how special small-town life can be. Whether you come for the food, the music, the laughter, or the fall colors painting the mountains, you’ll leave with memories that will bring you back year after year.
