Community celebrates Black Walnut Festival traditions and triumphs

From the El Dorado Springs Newsroom

The 65th Annual Black Walnut Festival brought three days of fun, food, and community spirit to El Dorado Springs as crowds gathered to celebrate a tradition that has grown into one of the area’s most anticipated fall events.

Taking center stage Saturday night was the crowning of the 2025 Black Walnut Festival Queen. Miss Lamar, Brenna Morey, received the crown, with Miss Acellus Academy, Sophia Kirar, named first runner-up. Miss Stockton, Gracie Abercrombie, was recognized as Miss Congeniality.

El Dorado Springs’ own candidate, 17-year-old senior Lilly Willinger, represented her hometown with poise and pride. While she did not win the crown, the community applauded her effort and dedication, showing strong support for her on and off the stage.

The festival also included a wide variety of activities for families and children. In the always-popular kids’ bicycle contest, Eleanor Sulltrop pedaled away with first place, followed by Evajean Swopes in second. The crowd roared during the terrapin races, where Britt Jones claimed the top spot, Nichole Carter placed second, and Henry Sherry finished third.

This year’s Black Walnut Festival also highlighted the dedication of local law enforcement. Chief Deputy Clay Jeffries was seen throughout the weekend serving in multiple ways, from directing traffic when a fire truck broke down to quietly mingling among the crowd to ensure safety. Even when many might have thought he was “off duty,” Jeffries kept a watchful eye, balancing the needs of the festival with county calls. He was not alone — deputies from the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office and Stockton City police officers worked together, visible throughout the festivities and behind the scenes, to help maintain order and keep families safe. Their commitment was noted and deeply appreciated by many festival-goers.

Vendors lined the square offering food, crafts, and entertainment. Sertoma, the longtime organizer of the festival, shared its appreciation after the weekend. “THANK YOU for another successful BWF! We had several vendors mention to us that this was their most successful festival to date. That is music to our ears! Months of preparation go into three days of fun, and it is heartwarming to see all of the hard work unfold,” the group said in a Facebook post.

Sertoma also announced that planning for next year’s event is already underway. The 66th Annual Black Walnut Festival is set for September 24–26, 2026. “Our wheels are already turning for 2026 and how to make it even better,” the post continued. “Stay tuned, folks, we have some magic up our sleeves. Thanks for coming!”

As the festival closed, one thing was certain: Cedar County once again proved that community traditions thrive when neighbors gather, cheer, and celebrate together — with thanks also due to the officers who worked tirelessly to make it possible.