2026 Fall Fun Guide for Northwest Arkansas: Top 10 Events, Activities and Things To See

2026 Fall Fun Guide for Families in Northwest Arkansas

Happy Autumn, mama friends! To help you enjoy all that fall has to offer, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best things to do over the next few months.

Click on the names of the events below to find out more about each activity:

1. Pick a pumpkin and navigate a corn maze.

If you want to pick your own pumpkin, let the kids pet some cute animals, get lost in a corn maze and hang out on a farm for a few hours, there are several options around here, including Farmland Adventures. They are a tradition in Northwest Arkansas! Be sure to check out these features: Petting farm, giant corn maze, pig races, pony rides, a mini-maze for little ones, corn pits, pedal karts, rubber duck races, hay pyramids, U-pick sunflowers, and a play area. Dates and hours are September 11 – November 1, 2026 on Thursdays and Fridays from 3-9pm. and Saturdays from 9am – 9pm. Sundays starting October 4 from 1 to 6pm.

Mama Memo: Farmland has several “Special Admission” days (formerly called Mothers’ Day Out days) planned with discounted admission: September 29th, October 7th, October 7th, and October 15th. Hours are 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on those days.

You can also find some pumpkins and fun at:

McGarrah Farms Rivercrest Orchard Fall on the Farm, 2991 Dead Horse Mountain Road, Fayetteville
Vanzant Fruit Farms, Lowell, (fresh fruit in season plus a pumpkin patch)
Exeter Corn Maze, Exeter, Missouri, (for activities and haunted attractions)

2. Find some fall fun adventures.

There are always fun fall events on tap across NWA. In downtown Springdale, celebrate the endangered Monarch Butterfly, its habitat, and yearly pit stop during its migration from Canada to Mexico during the free Monarch Flight Festival, Sept. 19, 2026.

The Benton County Fair is Sept. 25 thru October 3, 2026. On Sunday, October 4, 2026, check out Fayetteville Falltoberfest, a downtown festival that celebrate all things Fall in Fayetteville.

The Junk Ranch Fall Show will be held in Prairie Grove on November 20-21, 2026 with hours from 10am to 5pm.

There’s also the Homegrown Festival in Siloam Springs, set for Oct. 3, 2026.

Vintage Market Days of NWA will be at the Benton County Fairgrounds on Oct. 9-11, 2026.

The Arkansas Apple Festival in Lincoln is back on Oct. 2-4, 2026.

3. Take a scenic stroll.

The fall foliage on the Crystal Bridges trails are beautiful this time of year, so you should definitely make the trip.

We also recommend visiting War Eagle Mill, Lake Atalanta, Devil’s Den State Park or Hobbs State Park.

Tanyard Creek in Bella Vista is also a family favorite with a pretty waterfall to explore.

You also don’t want to miss beautiful Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. There are lots of walking trails, historical markers to read and a playground for the kids.

If you want to visit a restaurant in the woods, try Airship in the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. You can only get there by walking or biking (and they have lots of kids’ activities)!

4. Seek out vintage treasures and cool antiques.

We love to kick around cool vintage and antique stores in the fall. Here’s where to look:

In Fayetteville, there’s Fayetteville’s Funky Flea Market, In Retrospect Vintage Mall & Boutique and 410 Vintage Market.
In Rogers, we recommend Somewhere in Time Antique Mall and Sweetpea & The Rusted Rooster.
In Bentonville, try True Treasures.
In Gentry, check out The Chicken Coop.
In Prairie Grove, our long-time favorite is Daisies and Olives (there’s a Customer Appreciation Open House event on Nov. 7, 2026).

5. Craft a beautiful day at a craft fair.

There are several fun craft fairs planned for mid-October this year, including the It’s Fall Y’all Craft Fair in Bentonville on Oct. 15-18, 2026.

The Ozark Regional Arts & Crafts Fair at the Springdale NWA Convention Center on Oct. 16-17, 2026

One of the most legendary, popular craft fairs in the region is War Eagle and it will run Oct. 15-18, 2026.

6. Follow the Arkansas Wine Trail.

One way to really see the beauty of Arkansas is to visit the various wineries across the Natural State. We have two wonderful wineries in Northwest Arkansas, including Sassafras Springs Vineyard in Springdale and Tontitown Winery in Tontitown (we hear good things about the music there, but the bingo nights sound amazing, ha!). Here’s a list of other wineries across Arkansas.

7. Take in the NWA view from a local patio.

We love to hang out on a patio in the fall here. Here’s a list of popular patios across Northwest Arkansas, including info about the outdoor refreshment districts in downtown Fayetteville and Springdale.

8. Shop unique boutiques.

In late November, mark your calendar for the 20th Annual NWA Boutique Show . This year the show is scheduled for Nov. 20-21, 2026 at the Rogers Convention Center. This juried show features boutique booths with custom and one-of-a-kind creations from local and regional designers. Clothing, jewelry, art, stationery, gifts, personalized items, home décor, furniture, baby essentials and more. See you there!

9. Enjoy the bounty at Farmer’s Markets around NWA.

The various farmer’s markets in hometowns across NWA run through the fall, so if you haven’t been out to one yet, you should visit those while you can. Keep in mind these markets host LOTS of fun events the fall season!

Here are the links to each farmer’s market:

10. Get ready for all the Halloween events!

We’ll publish our annual list of Halloween events on October 5, 2026, and we’ll also link to it here.

For now, here are a few events to hold you over: Skeleton Acres is offering their new Haunted House, with a grand opening on October 2, 2026. After the opening, the Haunted House will be open from 7 to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays in October.

In October, the Walton Arts Center has special showings of two iconic scary movies: Rocky Horror Picture Show (hosted at George’s Magestic Lounge on Dickson Street) and Night of the Living Drag at 7:30pm on Friday, October 30, 2026.