Bingo Fundraiser
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Wrightsville Gym
- •Donations welcomed
- •Concessions available
- •Proceeds support community programs and the 44th Annual Wrightsville Day
Wrightsville Day is August 28-29
View Weekend Schedule
Wrightsville Day 2026
A Celebration of Legacy, Unity & Community
Honor the Past.Celebrate the Present.Empower the Future.
August 28-29, 2026
Wrightsville, Arkansas
Join us for a weekend celebrating our community's legacy, unity, and future — with a bingo fundraiser, the J.C. Cook park dedication, a health fair, food, and family fun.
Get final updates and city alerts: Text HIGHWAY365 to 91896
"Powered by Our Past. Driven by Our Future."
Weekend at a Glance
Your Guide to August 28-29
Here is what is happening across the weekend. Tap any flyer to view the full details.
J.C. Cook Ribbon Cutting & Park Dedication
5:00 p.m. - sunset
City Park Under the Hill, Highway 386
- •Live entertainment
- •Food trucks
- •Activities for all ages
- •Community dedication ceremony
- •Bring your lawn chairs
Live Entertainment: Butterfly from New Orleans & The All Stars ft. Mac Royals
Fri 5:00 p.m. (JC Cook Park) & Sat 11:00 a.m. (City Hall Park) - until sunset
JC Cook Park (Fri) & City Hall Park (Sat)
- •Headliners: Butterfly from New Orleans & The All Stars featuring Mac Royals
- •Lineup: DJ XT1, DJ Fatality, Tonya Leeks, Michael Lee, @SteveJamesIndie, Lady Kenbria & The Girls, and JT Line Dancers
- •Live music, food trucks, and fun activities for all ages
- •Vendors & more
Wrightsville Day Health Fair
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Wrightsville Gym
- •Free blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and vision screenings
- •Health and wellness information sessions
- •Free snacks and incentives
- •Partners: Arkansas Minority Health Commission, ArchWell Health, Oak Street Health, and NLR Lions Club
Vendor Sign-Up Is Still Open
Deadline extended to August 25, 2026
By popular demand, we have extended the vendor sign-up window. Food vendors, crafters, and organizations can still reserve booth space at Wrightsville Day 2026.
Complete the Vendor / Information Booth registration form to secure your spot. Payment can be submitted through the form.
Reserve Your BoothQuestions? cityofwrightsville.ar@gmail.com or (501) 897-4547
Community History
Honoring the Legacy of J.C. Cook High School
Honoring the generations of students, educators, families, and community members it served.
J.C. Cook High School served generations of Black students in Wrightsville and surrounding Pulaski County during the era of segregated public education. During the 1958-59 Little Rock “Lost Year,” when Little Rock's public high schools were closed amid resistance to desegregation, J.C. Cook expanded its already crowded school to help educate displaced Black students from Horace Mann High School.
Historical records show that approximately 205 Horace Mann students were admitted, four additional teachers were hired, and classrooms in Cook's older frame building were reopened. The legacy of J.C. Cook belongs not only to Wrightsville's alumni, educators, families, and community, but also to the broader history of Black education and the civil-rights struggle in Arkansas.
The Lost Year, 1958-59
~205
Horace Mann students admitted or planned for admission
395
students already attending from the Cook attendance area
4
additional teachers hired
4
classrooms reopened in the older frame building
A Working Timeline
By 1950
J.C. Cook is documented as one of Pulaski County's two Black high schools.
1955
A surviving yearbook, The Bulldog, documents school life before the newer building.
c. 1956
A new seven-classroom Cook facility is built.
1957-58
Little Rock Nine desegregation crisis at Central High.
1958-59
The Lost Year: Cook takes in about 205 displaced Horace Mann students, adds four teachers, and reopens four older classrooms.
1961-62
Surviving yearbooks document graduates, clubs, and community life.
Desegregation era
Cook High is repurposed as an integrated elementary school.
1971-72
Federal court records show Cook Elementary still had a heavily Black enrollment.
1976
Historical district summaries list J.C. Cook Elementary as closed.
Archival Gallery
Yearbook photographs from J.C. Cook. Use the arrows or thumbnails to browse; open the full scan or expand the caption to read the names preserved in the original record.
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Principal and Cafeteria Workers
Show names in this photo
Standing, from left to right: Mr. J.C. Cook, Mrs. I. Harris, Mrs. Mary Macon, Mrs. Sylvette Fierson, and Doris Stallcup.
Historical Booklet
Read the full research booklet documenting J.C. Cook's history and the Lost Year.
Download the Historical BookletHelp Preserve the Story
Are you an alum or family member? Share memories, help identify people, or contribute memorabilia.
Share Your MemoriesFrequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Wrightsville Day 2026