Rock Candy

WHITE RIVER WATER CARNIVAL
5 p.m., Riverside Park, Batesville. $15-$25.

For 65 years, folks in Independence County and beyond have been gathering on the banks of the White River in Batesville. Elvis played the 12th annual, and at least according to a Scotty Moore tribute web page, told off-color jokes, “stormed off stage” after only four songs and effectively “ruined the show.” The Colonel refunded the carnival its $50. For shame, Elvis! Guessing from a survey of this year's line-up — not quite Kingly, but still pretty heavy — this year will probably be shenanigan-free. On Friday, '80s refugees Night Ranger, who're famous mostly for singing “Sister Christian,” headline. Saturday, the names get bigger and countrier as young, leggy country starlet Ashton Shepherd performs at 6 p.m., followed at 7 p.m. by one of the founding fathers of bluegrass, Dr. Ralph Stanley, and with country stalwart Earl Thomas Conley finishing out the music part of the festival at 9 p.m. Like any good carnival, there's also a host of kids' activities, wrasslin' demonstrations and beauty pageants. Get the full schedule here.