Northwest Arkansas is home to festivals that celebrate the region’s heritage, provide entertainment and simply offer plain ol’ fun.
From Civil War buffs to natural- ists, music lovers to craft makers, virtually anyone can find some annual event that tickles a fancy.
At Tontitown’s Grape Festival, founded in 1899, about 7,000 spaghetti dinners are served. Other events may draw hundreds, while some — such as the annual collection of craft fairs that have come to collectively be referred to as War Eagle Weekend, or the transplanted Wakarusa Music Festival — draw tens of thousands.
Diversity remains a good description of all that is available in the form of festivals throughout Northwest Arkansas.
MARCH
Battle of Pea Ridge Commemoration Early March Pea Ridge National Military Park
• Civil War buffs will love the artillery demonstrations at this well-preserved battlefield.
Fat Saturday Parade of Fools Early March
Dickson Street, Fayetteville • A family-friendly Mardi Gras parade, including floats, bands and walking groups in costume.
Eureka Gras
March 3-8
Historic downtown Eureka Springs • Week-long event put on by the Krewe of Krazo that includes the Hookers and Jokers Ball, costume contests, a pub crawl and a Mardi Gras parade.
Mardi Gras on Dickson St. March 8 Dickson Street, Fayetteville • Street party and foot parade with costumed revelers and a Zydeco band.
APRIL
Fort Smith Heritage Festival
Early April
Fort Smith: Historic Downtown • A celebration of Fort Smith history and culture that benefits the Meals for Kids program.
Pickin’ in the Park
April through October
Rogers: Frisco Park • Enjoy acoustic country, gospel and bluegrass every Saturday night.
Artosphere April and May Various locations in Fayetteville • The Walton Arts Center hosts this celebration of art, nature and artists inspired by nature.
Springfest Late April Fayetteville: Dickson Street • A family-friendly event that celebrates Fayetteville’s musical heritage and culture.
Dogwood Festival Last weekend of April Siloam Springs City Park • An arts and crafts fair that boasts entertainment, a 5K run and a petting zoo.
MAY
War Eagle Mill Craft and Culinary Fair Early May Rogers: Historic War Eagle Mill
• Northwest Arkansas’ oldest and most revered craft fair features country crafts and whimsical charm.
Ozark Regional Arts and Crafts Show Early May Springdale: Northwest Arkansas Convention Center • The largest indoor arts and crafts fair in Arkansas, this festival was named one of the top 100 craft fairs in the country.
Frisco Station Mall Arts and Crafts Festival Early May Rogers: Frisco Station Mall
• More than 250 craft exhibitors greet visitors to the craft fair.
Spanker Creek Farm Arts and Crafts Fair Early May Bentonville: Spanker Creek Farm • This twice-annual arts and crafts fair takes place along idyllic Spanker Creek.
Heart of America Plein Air Paint-Out
Mid-May
Bentonville: Peel Mansion, Compton Gardens and Downtown Square • Artists from around the country flock to Bentonville to paint outdoors.
Crawdad Days
Third weekend in May
Harrison: Town Square • Country music, Cajun food, hot rods and carnival rides are all part of this yearly festival.
Pickin’ on the Square May through September Bentonville: Town Square • A weekly bluegrass jam in downtown Bentonville.
Gulley Park annual concert series Late May through Mid-August Fayetteville: Gulley Park
• Local bands play selected Thursday nights at 7 p.m. throughout the summer.
Old Fort Days Rodeo Week of Memorial Day Fort Smith: Kay Rodgers Park • An old-fashioned, Old West rodeo that features calf roping, barrel racing, wild horse racing, bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding and bull riding.
JUNE
Wakarusa
Early June
Ozark: Mulberry Mountain • Bands and fans from around the country flock to this weekend celebration of music, carnival rides and camping.
Eureka Springs Blues Weekend Early June Eureka Springs: The Auditorium and downtown • A celebration of local and regional blues musicians.
KUAF Summer Jazz Concert Series June and July Fayetteville: Various locations downtown • A series of finger-popping jazz concerts.
Bentonville ArtsFest
Mid-June
Bentonville: Downtown Square • The indoor/outdoor ArtsFest features art from around the region, live theater and music, children’s activities, culinary explorations and workshops.
Opera in the Ozarks Mid-June to Mid-July Eureka Springs: Inspiration Point Theatre, 16311 U.S. 62 West • Traditional operas performed by a nationally renowned local group.
Riverfront Blues Festival Late June Fort Smith: Harry E. Kelley Park • A two-day festival featuring national blues acts such as Robert Cray and Johnny Lang.
Mount Magazine Interna- tional Butterfly Festival Late June Mt. Magazine State Park • Visitors can see 91 of Arkansas’ 127 butterfly species on Mount Magazine.
Rodeo of the Ozarks Late June/early July Springdale: Parsons Stadium • A yearly rodeo festival that features traditional rodeo events, mutton bustin’ and stagecoach rides for the kids, an old-fashioned street dance and a barbecue contest.
AUGUST
Annual Decatur BBQ
First Friday of August
Decatur: Decatur City Park • Enjoy your barbecue while listening to live country music or watching a parade.
Tontitown Grape Festival Early August Tontitown: St. Joseph Catholic Church grounds • Savor homemade spaghetti and fried chicken or tour craft booths and a carnival.
Frisco Festival Last weekend in August Rogers: Historic Downtown District • This event includes the Great Cardboard Train Races, the Chilisalsapeno Competition, Kids Connection and more.
Eureka Springs Family Bluegrass Weekend Late August Eureka Springs: The Auditorium and Basin Spring Park • A free festival that has featured such bluegrass luminaries as Ralph Stanley, Mike Snyder and Doc Watson alongside local talents like the Eureka Springs Bluegrass Band.
Madison County Fair Late August Huntsville: Sky High Rodeo Arena • Carnival rides, lawnmower races, a parade, arts and crafts and livestock are part of this county fair.
SEPTEMBER
Washington County Fair
The week before Labor Day
Fayetteville: Washington County Fairgrounds • The fair includes a carnival, food, livestock shows and entertainment.
Clothesline Fair Labor Day weekend Prairie Grove: Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park • Includes an Ozark craft show, antique farm equipment, walks through historic buildings and Civil War artifacts.
Arkansas Hot Air Balloon Championships Early to Mid-September Harrison: Soccer Complex • Residents can come out to watch hot air balloonists compete or just take in the balloon glow.
Pinnacle Hills Art and Food Festival Second weekend in September Rogers: Pinnacle Hills Promenade • Live music, art, food and the annual “Living It Green” expo are part of this art sale.
Cane Hill Harvest Festival Third weekend of September Cane Hill: Historic Cane Hill College Building • Sorghum and apple butter making, dulcimer players, entertainment, a tractor parade and demonstrations offered.
Benton County Fair
Mid-September
Vaughn: New Benton County Fairgrounds • Old fashioned county fair with beauty pageants, a talent show, horse shows, a junior livestock sale and amusement rides.
Bikes, Blues and BBQ Late September Fayetteville: Dickson Street; Tyson Track Complex • One of the largest motorcycle rallies in the country, featuring a barbecue contest and live blues performances.
Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair Late September Fort Smith: Kay Rodgers Park • One of Arkansas’ largest fairs, featuring beauty pageants, livestock shows, food and a carnival midway.
OCTOBER
Eagle Watch Weekend
October
Eureka Springs: Belle of the Ozarks at Starkey Marina, Beaver Lake • Passengers learn about bald eagles.
Arkansas Apple Festival
First weekend in October
Lincoln: Lincoln Town Square • An arts and crafts fair, beauty pageant and music festival that celebrates the legend of Johnny Appleseed.
Yonder Mountain String Band’s Harvest Festival Mid-October Ozark: Mulberry Mountain • This music festival has featured national Americana acts such as Leftover Salmon, the Avett Brothers and the Wailers.
Ozark Regional Arts and Crafts Festival Third weekend in October Rogers and Springdale: John Q. Hammons Center and the Northwest Arkansas Conven- tion Center
• The largest indoor arts and crafts fair in Arkansas, this festival was named one of the top 100 craft fairs in the country.
Bella Vista Arts and Crafts Festival Third weekend in October Bella Vista: South of Arkansas 340 and 279
• More than 350 exhibitors, live entertainment, food, singers and dancers will be on hand.
War Eagle Fall Arts and Crafts Fair
Third weekend in October
Rogers: War Eagle Mill • Activities include craft exhibits, cooking and corn meal-grinding demonstrations. Jones Center Fall Arts and Crafts Festival Third weekend in October Springdale: Jones Center for Families • A juried arts and crafts show featuring more than 100 exhibitors and access to the center’s recreational facilities.
NOVEMBER
Original Ozark Folk Festival
First Thursday through Sunday in November Eureka Springs: The Auditorium and Basin Spring Park
• The oldest, continually-running folk festival in the country.
Lights of the Ozarks Friday before Thanksgiving through Jan. 2
Fayetteville: Fayetteville Square • The annual lighting of the Square, parade, Christmas songs and pony rides are featured.
Springdale Rodeo of the Ozarks Christmas Parade
Saturday after Thanksgiving
Springdale: Begins at rodeo grounds and travels down Emma Avenue • The annual Springdale Christmas parade.
Festival of Trees Late November through early December Bella Vista: Various locations throughout the village • Golf courses, shopping centers and the Veterans Wall of Honor participate in this yearly Christmas tree showcase.
DECEMBER
Rogers Christmas Parade
Dec. 1
Rogers: Downtown Rogers • Parade includes floats, marching bands and Santa Claus.
Eureka Springs Christmas Parade First Friday in December Downtown Eureka Springs • Evening parade features floats, Santa and thousands of lights.
Light Up Siloam Springs Christmas Parade First Saturday in December Siloam Springs: Downtown • A traditional, family Christmas parade sponsored by the Heritage League of Siloam Springs.
Prairie Grove Battle Re-enactment First weekend in December each even-numbered year Prairie Grove: Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park • More than 1,000 Civil War re-enactors participate in the anniversary.
Winter Wonderland Parade Early December Bentonville: Town Square • Christmas parade winds through downtown Bentonville.
Fayetteville Christmas Parade Second weekend in December Fayetteville: Dickson Street and the Square • Parade includes decorated cars, Christmas lights and carols.
First Night Fayetteville New Year’s Eve Fayetteville: Northwest Arkansas Mall • The New Year’s celebration features local artists and fun for all ages.