2022 Holiday Events Guide: Northwest Arkansas Christmas lights, activities and events

Northwest Arkansas Holiday Events Guide 2022: Christmas lights, activities and events

Happy holidays in Northwest Arkansas, mamas! The 2022 cheer is here!

Click on the name of any event for more information. See a list of where to see Christmas lights at the bottom of the post!

For a printer-friendly version of this list, CLICK HERE to get our free printable, sponsored by Riverside Festival of Lights! 

Also: BOOKMARK THIS POST because we’ll be updating with new holiday events!

Fayetteville/Springdale (Washington County):

Nov. 18-Jan. 1, 2023: Lights of the Ozarks, downtown Fayetteville Square. “Lighting Night” happens Nov. 18th with a parade followed by lights coming on at 6 p.m. The Lights of the Ozarks will light the square each evening from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. through New Year’s Day.

Nov. 25-27: The Nutcracker, Walton Arts Center. This popular Christmas story comes to life as a beautiful ballet featuring professional dancers and local kids. Four shows are available.

**Schedule Change** Nov. 26: Christmas on the Creek, downtown Springdale. Christmas on the Creek is a daylong event featuring a hot cocoa crawl throughout downtown, Cycling Santas bike rides, the Mill Street Holiday Market, pictures with Santa at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, live music & the lighting of the tallest live Christmas tree in NWA. The day ends with the Christmas Parade of the Ozarks.  

Nov. 27: Ashtyn Barbaree and the Christmas Trees at The Ramble (Sunday, Nov. 27), Fayetteville, 5 p.m. Free holiday community concert with hot cocoa and jingle bells for all. The Lower Ramble, 255 S West Ave., new outdoor community space near the Fayetteville Public Library.

Dec. 1-23: Winter Nights at Walton Arts Center. Gather with friends, family or coworkers for Winter Nights at Walton Arts Center to enjoy twinkling lights, beautiful silvery decorations, a cozy cup of cheer and photo op perfect for your holiday card. Open 5-11 pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from Dec. 1-23.Full info and reservations for snow globes and fire pits now available >> bit.ly/WinterNightsWAC

Dec. 1-24: TheatreSquared’s A Christmas Carol. An inventive, magic-filled T2 original. Three spirits come to visit the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and take him on a fantastic journey through past, present, and future. But will it be enough to save him? For all ages.

Dec. 2: The Little Craft Show, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fayetteville Town Center. 100+ makers, artists, and creatives for a unique holiday shopping event.

Dec. 2: Caroling on the Creek 2022 starts at 5:15 p.m. at Shiloh Square and Turnbow Park in Downtown Springdale, hosted by the Springdale Public Schools Choral Music Department. Hear holiday classics from every elementary, middle school, junior high, and high school music program in Springdale.

Dec. 3-4: Wampus Wonderland, Mount Sequoyah Center, Fayetteville. A holiday craft show featuring a dozen makers in Northwest Arkansas including illustrators, jewelers, ceramic artists, holiday decor makers and more. The two-day event will be Saturday, December 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, December 4 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. You can plan to spend the day at Mount Sequoyah Center, as there will be multiple holiday themed markets and events happening. The Wampus Wonderland show will coincide with an arts market hosted by Fenix Arts in the Millar Lodge building. Fenix will host music, refreshments, and more artists.

There will also be a Festival of Trees event with refreshments happening in the Parker building hosted by Mount Sequoyah Center’s board and staff. 

Dec. 10: Second Annual Whoville Holiday Extravaganza. Springdale Civic Center, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children and families can look forward to meeting the Grinch (and many other Whoville citizens), breakfast with Santa, enjoy interactive storytelling and dance parties, decorate ornaments and cookies, and more. Tickets: $12.50 or $30 per family. Children under the age of 1 are free when accompanied with a ticketed guest.

Dec. 10: Santa Drop, Rain date Dec. 17. Santa and his Elves will be Parachuting into Drake Field at the Arkansas Air and Military Museum at 11 a.m. (doors open at 10). Throw your Christmas wishes at Santa Claus via paper airplane. Free event.

Dec. 11: “The Snowman” at Walton Arts Center, December 11, 2022, 2 p.m. This show combines a classic, animated holiday story plus music from the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA). 

Date TBD: Santa’s Pump Track Classic, the Jones Center. Runway Bike Park is hosting the annual Santa’s Pump Track Classic. This bicycling event is for kids, ages 3-12.

Rogers/Bentonville (Benton County):

Nov. 19: Bentonville Lighting of the Square, downtown Bentonville. A Christmas light display will begin on Saturday, November 19. Event begins at 4. Lights come on at 6 p.m.

Nov. 19: Lawrence Plaza Ice Skating Rink opens, noon to 6 p.m. 214 NE A St. Bentonville A 7,000 square foot facility that functions as a splash pad from May to September and an outdoor ice rink in the winter months (November to January). Bentonville Parks and Recreation hosts several events and programs at this facility throughout the year.

Nov. 18-19: NWA Boutique Show. A Northwest Arkansas boutique shopping event tradition featuring thousands of unique gifts from over 180 select  merchants… all under one roof. Rogers Convention Center (Embassy Suites, Rogers).There are several special events, including a VIP event and Girls’ Night Out.

Nov. 25 – Dec. 31: Riverside Festival of Lights, Riverside Entertainment will be hosting the first Riverside Festival of Lights located at 17023 Chamber Springs Rd in Siloam Springs. Festival of Lights begins on November 25th and includes acres of lights, a manger scene, a 30-foot lighted snowman, horse-drawn carriage rides, a kids’ train, photo opportunities with Santa, hot chocolate, Santa’s workshop, and a dedication to all Servicemen and women and first responders. There will be more surprises to come, so visit often!

Nov. 25 thru December: Rogers Christmas Pic Passport. Make a fun trip to downtown and take photos at eight festive locations. Upon completion, participants will receive a Rogers scarf as a gift. Use the hashtag #RogersARChristmas when sharing photos on social media. Pick up your scarf at either Rogers City Hall or the Rogers Historical Museum. 

Nov. 26: It’s a Wonderful Life screening. 7 p.m. Films at APT. APT at the Victory Theatre in Rogers is hosting a series of film screenings over the holidays.

Dec. 2: Rogers Christmas Parade, downtown Rogers, 7-9 p.m. Santa Claus makes his appearance at the end of the parade.

Dec. 3: Bentonville Winter Market, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Downtown Bentonville.

Dec. 10: The Polar Express. 1 p.m. Films at APT. APT at the Victory Theatre in Rogers is hosting a series of film screenings over the holidays.

Dec. 9-10-11: Northwest Arkansas Nativity and Noel, 1101 McCollum Dr., Bentonville. Live Nativity presentation, community Christmas concerts, & over 250 nativities from around the world.

Dec. 9-10, 16-17: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever play at Trike Theatre, Bentonville. Picture the most inventively awful kids in history. That’s the Herdmans. Now imagine having to put on a Christmas pageant with those kids ‘volunteering’ for the best parts. What happens when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head on? Is it truly the best Christmas pageant ever? Or just Serious! Funny! Mayhem! See this enduring seasonal favorite, loved by Trike Theatre audiences for years.

Dec. 10. Bentonville Christmas Parade, downtown Bentonville, 6 p.m.

Dec. 10: Rogers Historical Museum 22nd Annual Holiday Open House, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s theme is ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. This free event features guided tours of the 1895 Hawkins House featuring Clement Moore’s 1822 poem and a look at how families in early Rogers celebrated the season at home. They will also have holiday crafts, refreshments and a visit from Santa Claus.

Dec. 17: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. 2 p.m. Films at APT. APT at the Victory Theatre in Rogers is hosting a series of film screenings over the holidays.

For a printer-friendly version of this list, CLICK HERE to get our free printable, sponsored by Riverside Festival of Lights! 

Where to See Christmas Lights:

Riverside Festival of Lights, Riverside Entertainment will be hosting the first  Riverside Festival of Lights located at 17023 Chamber Springs Rd in Siloam Springs. Festival of Lights begins on November 25th and includes acres of lights, a manger scene, horse-drawn carriage rides, a 30-foot lighted snowman, a kids’ train, photo opportunities with Santa, hot chocolate, Santa’s workshop, and a dedication to all Servicemen and women and first responders. There will be more surprises to come, so visit often!

Lights of the Ozarks, downtown Fayetteville Square. “Lighting Night” happens Nov. 18th with a parade followed by lights coming on at 6 p.m. The Lights of the Ozarks will light the square each evening from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. through New Year’s Day.

Downtown Bentonville Square. Saturday, Nov. 19; Event begins at 4. Lights come on at 6 p.m.

Stewart Family Christmas Light Display. 4279 E. Wyman Road, Fayetteville. Open Nov 18-Jan. 3, 2023. Five million lights hundreds of tons of inflatables. Train Rides, Camel Rides, Pony Rides, and Food Trucks. Nov. 17 is “Light the Night for All Abilities.” Free admission, 5-10 p.m. This is the preseason night set aside for families with individuals who have a disability. Typically, admission is $8 per person. Nov. 18 regular season starts; 5-10pm weekdays; 5-11pm weekends.

Great Passion Play Lights Drive-Through, Eureka Springs, starts Thanksgiving night, Nov. 26. Thursdays through Sundays through New Year’s Day. Enjoy a forest of hundreds of Christmas trees on the way to see the Christ of the Ozarks statue. Dark until 8 p.m.

Dye Family Christmas-Cloverdale Lights. Starts Thanksgiving night, Nov. 24, 5:30 p.m. to midnight, 10537 Oak Tree Circle, Rogers. Family light show is sequenced to music and uses new technology lighting.

McKim Family Lights. Starts the night after Thanksgiving. 3506 Hamm Lane, Springdale. Lights are on Sunday-Thursday 5:30 pm-9 pm, Friday-Saturday 5:30-10 Tune to FM 91.1 to hear the music.

Lights on Driftwood. A Holiday Light Show located at 326 Driftwood Dr. in Farmington Ar. With a display of over 70,000 lights all synced and dancing to music. Tune to radio station 100.5FM or just roll down your windows.

For a printer-friendly version of this list, CLICK HERE to get our free printable, sponsored by Riverside Festival of Lights!