2024 Holiday Events Guide: Northwest Arkansas Christmas lights, activities and events

Northwest Arkansas Holiday Events Guide 2024: Christmas lights, activities and events

Happy holidays, mamas! It’s time to ramp up the fun in Northwest Arkansas. We’re ready for it!

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. Bookmark this one because we’ll be updating often with new holiday events!

Fayetteville/Springdale (Washington County):

Nov. 12-17, 2024: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical is slinking over to Walton Arts Center (times vary). Your heart will grow three sizes when you kick off the holiday season with this nostalgic story brought to life on stage. Come sing along to “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas.” Eight shows. There will be a sensory-friendly performance at the Thursday matinee.

Nov. 14-Dec. 21, 2024: Winter Nights will return to Walton Arts Center Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays Nov. 14-Dec. 21 with lots of free activities for families and adults. Winter Nights is a festive, family-friendly holiday bar and gathering space open 6 pm-midnight offering indoor and outdoor seating options surrounded by twinkly holiday décor to get you into the spirit of the season. Family-friendly activities are planned for 6-8 pm, and programming geared toward adults will begin at 8 pm each night. KARAOKE NIGHTS: Every Thursday, Nov. 14-Dec. 19 (excluding Thanksgiving Day), 8:30-10:30 pm; TRIVIA NIGHTS: Every Friday, Nov. 15-Dec. 20, 8-10 pm; LIVE MUSIC: Every Saturday, Nov. 16-Dec. 21, 8-10 pm; FAMILY FUN NIGHTS: Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nov. 14-21 (excluding Thanksgiving), 6-8pm. 

Nov. 22-Jan. 1, 2025: Lights of the Ozarks at the downtown Fayetteville Square. “Light Night” and the ceremonial flipping of the light switch will start on Friday, Nov. 22, at 6 pm. Enjoy the lights along with community choirs, dance groups, Christmas characters and a whole lot of holiday cheer from 6-7:30 pm. Then from 8-10 pm, the people behind the FayPop Festival will take over with performances by Squash Garden and The New School Rock Band. East Street will be closed to traffic from 5-10pm every evening (except Mondays) throughout the Lights of the Ozarks Season. There you can find snack and beverage vendors and Santa’s workshop. Don’t forget to drop your letters to Santa at his mailbox. The lights are free and open to the public every evening from 5 pm until 1 am through January 1st, 2025.

Nov. 16, 2024: 5th Annual Elkins Holiday Expo, Elkins. 10 am to 2 pm at the Elkins Community Center. Expect 25 vendors, including traditional artisans such as crocheters, makers of handmade soaps and cards, creators of various handmade packaged foods such as baked goods and jams, and woodworkers, etc. The Elkins Lion’s Club is returning with their Crockpot Concessions, which involves club members bringing different foods in slow cookers, and the various offerings are sold by the plate. This year, ECN is ramping up its efforts to raise donations for Christmas Treasures, which is the long-time Christmas charity program from the Elkins School District. ECN is hosting a food/toy/clothing drive for Christmas Treasures during the Expo. Guests and vendors are asked to bring their donations to the ECN booth at the front of the row of vendor booths.

Nov. 22-23, 2024: Murmuration Ice Show, The Jones Center, Springdale, 6 and 8 p.m. Le Patin Libre is the world’s first and only contemporary ice-skating company. They travel from Montreal to perform Murmuration, a 60-minute ice show that investigates the virtuosic swarming behavior of migratory birds. Your heart will soar when you witness 15 dancers on ice skates glide like birds over the ice. They turn in circles, swing in all directions or form a large swarm. This reimagining of a stunning natural phenomenon will leave you breathless at the collective beauty and breakneck pace. Dance. Theater. Circus. Figure skating. None of these labels sufficiently captures the Murmuration experience. This is Le Patin Libre’s first-ever visit to the Natural State.

Kickoff Nov. 22 through Dec. 31, 2024: The Light Show NWA, Fayetteville. A holiday drive through light show with over 900,000 lights at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Tickets required for the drive through experience.

Nov. 30, 2024: Christmas on the Creek. Downtown Springdale Alliance is hosting two big holiday events this season. Christmas on the Creek takes place on Saturday, November 30 from noon – 9 PM followed by the Hot Cocoa Crawl on Friday, December 6 from 5-8 PM. At the Christmas on the Creek event, expect free pictures with Santa, pony rides, s’mores, story time, live music & the lighting of the Christmas tree in Shiloh Square. The festivities culminate with the Christmas Parade of the Ozarks hosted by the Rodeo of the Ozarks. The International Hot Cocoa Crawl offers a delicious tour through downtown with over 15 unique stops, each featuring a different take on the classic hot cocoa drink, some with an international twist. The cocoa crawl takes place alongside Caroling on the Creek, a delightful performance by the Springdale School District from 5 PM – 7 PM in Turnbow Park. Enjoy holiday carols while sipping your cocoa in the festive glow of the Downtown Outdoor Dining District. Tickets for the International Hot Cocoa Crawl are available now.

Nov. 30, 2024: Festival of Trees: Wonderland Arts Market, Mount Sequoyah Center, Fayetteville. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy a cozy day of art and holiday cheer. This year’s event will feature 16 area artisans. Stay tuned for details on all of the vendors. Make a day of it on the mountain and visit the Fenix Arts Holiday Market as well.

Dec. 5, 2024: The Lights of the Ozarks Parade will wind through downtown Fayetteville on Thursday, December 5 starting at 6:30 p.m. The lights on the square are free and open to the public every evening from 5 pm until 1 am through January 1st, 2025.

Dec. 7, 2024: Hot Cocoa with Santa, Theatre Squared, Fayetteville, 10 a.m. to noon.

Dec. 7, 2024: Holiday Market on the Fayetteville Square, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Holiday Market will feature unique handcrafted holiday wreaths, artisan crafts, and baked goods in addition to seasonal vegetables, fruit, meats, eggs, and cheeses. Local vendors and live music. This is the last market on the Square before the market moves indoors.

Dec. 7, 2024: Santa Drop, Arkansas Air and Military Museum, Fayetteville, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Watch Santa skydive. This event is very weather dependent so please watch the museum’s social media closely. Gates open at 10 AM, Santa Jumps at 11 AM, Family Photos can be taken until 1 PM. Back-up date Dec. 14.

Dec. 6, 2024: International Hot Cocoa Crawl. This event, in downtown Springdale, offers a delicious tour through downtown with over 15 unique stops, each featuring a different take on the classic hot cocoa drink, some with an international twist. The cocoa crawl takes place alongside Caroling on the Creek, a delightful performance by the Springdale School District from 5 – 7 PM in Turnbow Park. Enjoy holiday carols while sipping your cocoa in the festive glow of the Downtown Outdoor Dining District. Tickets for the International Hot Cocoa Crawl are available now.

Dec. 8, 2024: The Snowman: A Family Concert. Walton Arts Center, Sunday, 2 p.m. This fun holiday show combines a classic children’s book with live symphony music in a one-of-a-kind concert created specifically for families. The Snowman is based on Raymond Briggs’ classic children’s book, with the original score performed live by the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas ( SoNA). Following the screening, acclaimed Music Director Paul Haas will lead the audience in a sing-a-long of other holiday favorites. Join us for a merry and bright afternoon of family-friendly symphonic music. The event is perfect for kids, especially those who love animated movies and music.

Rogers/Bentonville (Benton County):

Nov. 22-23, 2024: The 18th Annual NWA Boutique Show at the Rogers Convention Center will offer a curated collection of over 180 boutiques featuring home decor, gifts, art, jewelry, fashion, holiday items, gourmet food, candles, toys, children’s clothing and more. There’s a VIP Shopping day on Friday, Nov. 22, and a Girls Night Out  that evening. There are also General Admission Shopping Hours on Friday, November 22, and General Admission Shopping Hours on Saturday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. General admission includes all the same great shopping with concessions, door prizes and more. Kids 12 and under are free, and strollers/carts are welcome during general admission hours.

Nov. 23, 2024: City of Bentonville’s Lighting of the Square. Downtown Bentonville Square. Ring in the holiday season at the City of Bentonville’s Lighting of the Square on November 23rd. There’s a fun evening of fun lined up for the entire family. Here’s the schedule: 4:00-5:30PM The 2024 Downtown Bentonville Holiday Window Contest; 5:00PM- 7:00PM Santa Photos presented by FNB; 5:00-5:50pm Perry Ryan Theater in partnership with NWA Ballet Theater; 5:50 PM Window Contest Winner Announced; 6:00 PM Lighting of the Square; 6:30 PM Ice Skating Show at Lawrence Plaza

Nov. 30, 2024: Winter Market of NWA. An incredible day of shopping, supporting over 50 local vendors, and finding unique gifts for everyone on your list. From handmade crafts to delicious treats. Free pictures with Santa will make this day extra magical.

Dec. 6, 2024: Rogers Christmas Parade, Frisco Plaza, Rogers, Friday, Dec. 6, 5-8 p.m. The Rogers Christmas Village will take place before and during the Rogers Christmas Parade. 

Dec. 14, 2024: Fireside with Santa, Bella Vista Public Library, 11 a.m. Photos with Santa, cocoa, caroling, crafts and more.

Dec. 14, 2024: The 2024 Bentonville Christmas Parade is planned for Saturday, December 14 at 6 p.m. The theme is Christmas On Canvas. This long-loved tradition is a favorite within the community. 

Where to See Christmas Lights:

The Light Show NWA, Fayetteville. A holiday drive through light show with over 900,000 lights at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Kickoff Nov. 22 through Dec. 31, 2024:  Tickets required for the drive through experience.

Lights of the Ozarks, downtown Fayetteville Square. “Lighting Night” happens Nov. 22nd. 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. The lights on the downtown Bentonville Square will be flipped on Saturday, Nov. 23. 

Stewart Family Christmas Light Display. 4279 E. Wyman Road, Fayetteville. Opening night Satruday, Nov. 16. Six million lights and hundreds of tons of inflatables. Train Rides, Camel Rides, Pony Rides, and Food Trucks. 

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.