A-State and Campus Community to Celebrate JRCC Paint the Town Red Week

August 31, 2026
two women wearing red make the "howl" symbol with their hands.
Participants celebrate at the pep rally, cheering on the Red Wolves ahead of the home opener. 
Paint the Town Week is an annual week-long event that celebrates Arkansas State University and the campus community.

JONESBORO – Celebrating Arkansas State University has been part of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce’s (JRCC) mission for nearly three decades. This is the 29th year of Paint the Town Red, an annual week-long event that encourages community members and local businesses to display their Red Wolf pride.   
 
“Our businesses, schools, community leaders, alumni and neighbors come together to celebrate Arkansas State and, most importantly, to remind our students that they are part of a community that supports them and wants them to succeed,” said interim Chancellor Calvin White Jr. 
 
The event will run from Monday, Sept. 7, through Friday, Sept. 11, culminating with the first home football game of the season. The game against West Georgia will be held from 6 – 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Centennial Bank Stadium.  
 
“Arkansas State and Jonesboro have grown together, and our partnership is essential to our continued success,” White added. “Paint the Town Red demonstrates what makes that relationship so special.” 
 
Hosted by JRCC’s A-State Committee, the week includes a decorating contest, a pep rally at a local intermediate school, and a block party.  

The pep rally will include members of the A-State football program, cheerleaders, mascots Howl and Scarlet, members of the A-State Committee, and Mayor Harold Copenhaver, who will declare the week “Paint the Town Red Week” for the City of Jonesboro.  

“This is always one of the most exciting times of the year for our community and our football program, and we are grateful to the A-State Committee for their outstanding work to make it happen,” said A-State Head Football Coach Butch Jones. 
 
The final event of the week, the Great A-State Tailgate, will be held downtown on Main Street. Multiple businesses will participate from 5 – 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11. Live music begins at 5 p.m. on the main stage with a keynote address from Jones. 

“We continue to place an emphasis on being a community-based program, and we’re thankful for the strong support we receive,” Jones added. “We talk about how we collectively have ‘A Pride of Who We Are’ – those words are on our schedule poster this year – and seeing Jonesboro covered in scarlet and black is a direct reflection of that.” 

This free, family-friendly event will allow participants to enjoy fun activities and interact with members of A-State athletics.