Oktoberfests are busting out all over Northwest Arkansas this month, with two very different versions scheduled on the next two weekends.
Eureka Springs
Hosted by the Rotary Club, the Eureka Springs Oktoberfest is in its sixth year, says Dorothy Guertin, Rotary secretary.
"It all goes to charity -- and stays here locally in Eureka Springs," she says of the proceeds from the event, which is scheduled for Saturday.
"It's going to be great fun," she enthuses. "We'll close off Center Street between DeVito's and the Grotto, we'll be serving brats and turkey legs, and six breweries will offer samples of their beer. Oh, and we'll have live music playing -- this year, it's Eureka Music Revival. They play a little bit of everything from Johnny Cash to '80s and '90s to country and original music."
The club always donates to the Back Our Kids school backpack program, Guertin says, although the rest of this year's recipients haven't been decided.
Hours will be 1-5 p.m. Saturday, and cost is $20 to sample beer in a souvenir tasting mug. Non-drinkers pay $5.
Springdale
Down the road in Springdale, the Downtown Springdale Alliance is offering four days of Ozarktober fun starting Thursday with a sold-out farm-to-table dinner aboard the A&M Railroad.
On Oct. 26, there will be a community bonfire, says Kelly Hale Syer, executive director of the Alliance. "Some of the best memories are made around a crackling fire with family and friends," she says of the event, which will feature live music, food trucks, pumpkin decorating and more from 6 to 9 p.m. at Parsons Stadium. Admission is free.
On Oct. 27, Springdale Parks & Recreation and the Springdale Police Department will team up for a huge downtown Halloween celebration, with candy giveaways, Touch-a-Truck, carnival games and a costume parade from 4 to 7 p.m.
And the weekend wraps up with Ozarktober Fest Brews & Tunes with music by National Park Radio, Jamie Lou & The Hullabaloo and more, along with a ticketed beer festival from 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 28 at Magnolia Gardens. Cost is $25 in advance or $30 at the door.
Find out more at downtownspringdale.org/ozarktober-fest.
-- Becca Martin-Brown
NAN What's Up on 10/19/2018