Veterans Day falls on Wednesday this year, and communities across Northwest Arkansas are marking it with ceremonies, flags and even fireworks. Fayetteville’s True Lit Festival brings children’s authors to town, Crystal Bridges hosts a free Second Saturday, and the first holiday events begin.
Here are our favorite kid-friendly picks for Tuesday, Nov. 10 through Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, organized by day. Plans change, so tap each link to confirm before you go.
- Best evening out: Rogers Public Schools’ Veterans Day Celebration with fireworks (Wed.)
- Best for young readers: True Lit author talks at Fayetteville Public Library (Mon.–Thu.)
- Best free museum day: Second Saturday: Celebrating Indigenous Heritage at Crystal Bridges (Sat.)
- Best for little ones: Start with Art: On the Farm at Crystal Bridges (Wed., ages 0–5) and Backyard Bugs at Fayetteville Public Library (Sat.)
- First taste of the holidays: Light the Way Christmas Tree Festival in Rogers, with free Santa photos and hot chocolate (Sat.)
- Best Sunday outing: The first Springdale Veterans Celebration at Luther George Park (Sun.)
Fayetteville – True Lit Festival at Fayetteville Public Library
Fayetteville Public Library’s literary festival runs Nov. 9–12, with author talks, story times and craft activities for all ages (Fayetteville Public Library). The library is at 401 W. Mountain St. Two family talks fall early in the week:
- Meet the Author: Geo Rutherford, Tue., Nov. 10, 6–7 p.m.: The artist and author of “Spooky Lakes” and the new “Spooky Rivers” gives a family-friendly talk about strange lakes and rivers around the world, in the Event Center (Fayetteville Public Library). It’s free, but seating is limited and registration is required.
Fayetteville – Weekday story times at Fayetteville Public Library
The library’s youth calendar lists these programs (Fayetteville Public Library):
- Baby Bookworms, ages 0–24 months: Thu., Nov. 12, 10–11 a.m.
- Preschool Story Time, ages 3–5: Tue., Nov. 10, and Wed., Nov. 11, 9:30–10:15 a.m.
- Toddler Time, ages 2–3: Tue., Nov. 10, and Wed., Nov. 11, 10:30–11 a.m.
Springdale – Turkey Time at Springdale Public Library
Springdale Public Library, 405 S. Pleasant St., has a turkey theme this week (Springdale Public Library):
- Preschool Storytime: Tue., Nov. 10, at 9:30 and 11 a.m., in the Springdale Room
- STEAM for grades 3–5, “Turkeys!”: Tue., Nov. 10, 4–4:45 p.m., with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Registration is required.
- Homeschool STEAM for grades K–5, “Turkey Science!”: Thu., Nov. 12, 11–11:45 a.m. Kids look at turkey feathers under microscopes and make their own turkey calls. Registration is required.
Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day
Rogers – Rogers Public Schools Veterans Day Celebration and Fireworks
The district’s second annual celebration takes place at Whitey Smith Stadium at Rogers High School, 2361 S. 24th St. (NWA Democrat-Gazette; Arkansas Department of Veteran Affairs). The schedule:
- 5 p.m.: Gates open
- 6:30 p.m.: Ceremony. Veterans are invited onto the field as their names, ranks and dates of service are read aloud.
- 7 p.m.: Fireworks
The evening also includes performances by elementary students, inflatables, games and free food for families.
Bentonville – Field of Honor Veterans Day Event
The Rotary Club of Bentonville hosts an ice cream social from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Field of Honor, located between City Hall and the Adult Recreation Center (Arkansas Department of Veteran Affairs). A short ceremony starts at 1 p.m., with meteorologist Dan Skoff as master of ceremonies. The flags stay up through Nov. 14 (Colonial Flag Foundation).
Springdale – Regional Veterans Day Observance
Bo’s Blessings and Robinson Avenue Church of Christ, 1506 W. Robinson Ave., host the 2026 Regional Veterans Day Observance starting at 10 a.m. The Veterans Day National Committee chose it as a regional host site (NWA Democrat-Gazette). The Singing Men of Arkansas will perform, and lunch is provided for all attendees.
Bentonville – Forging in the Ozarks
Check out this year’s Blacksmithing Conference and Festival to Northwest Arkansas at the Benton County Fairgrounds located at 7640 SW Regional Airport Blvd, Bentonville. Demonstrations, art booths, food trucks, art auction. Nov 11 – 14th 9Nov 11th – 15th, 9am to 5pm daily. Check website for ticket information, tickets start at $20.
Bentonville – Start with Art: On the Farm at Crystal Bridges
This week’s program for caregivers and kids ages 0–5 has a farm theme, 10:30–11:30 a.m. in the Garrison Lobby (Crystal Bridges). It’s free, but register both the adult and the child online or by calling 479-657-2335.
Bentonville – Priceless Nights at the Scott Family Amazeum
The Amazeum offers pay-as-you-wish admission on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. (Amazeum). It’s an affordable way to try the new Hangout wing, which opened Nov. 7. The Hangout’s café and lobby are free to enter, and the rest of the wing, including the Early Learning Advancement Center for ages 6 and under, is included with admission (Talk Business & Politics).
Thursday, Nov. 12 and Friday, Nov. 13
Fayetteville – Meet the Author: Lauren Tarshis at Fayetteville Public Library
The author of the “I Survived” series closes True Lit with a family-friendly, interactive talk on how she brings history to life. It’s Thu., Nov. 12, 6–7 p.m., in the Event Center (Fayetteville Public Library).
- Tickets: Free, but seating is limited and tickets are required. The library’s teen calendar now marks the event as full (Fayetteville Public Library), so check for openings before you go.
- Books: Pearl’s Books will sell books, and a signing follows.
Fayetteville – Fun Friday: Story Time With Ms. Jessica
Fayetteville Public Library hosts a preschool story time Fri., Nov. 13, 10–11 a.m., in the Walmart Story Time Room (Fayetteville Public Library).
Heads-up: The Jones Center in Springdale is closed all day Friday, Nov. 13, for its Big Night event (Jones Center).
Bentonville – Second Saturday: Celebrating Indigenous Heritage at Crystal Bridges
Crystal Bridges celebrates Indigenous Heritage Month with an afternoon of art, storytelling and hands-on creativity, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., museum-wide (Crystal Bridges). It includes in-gallery experiences and drop-in artmaking led by Jay Benham and Bobby C. It’s free and drop-in.
Fayetteville – Super Saturday: Backyard Bugs at Fayetteville Public Library
Kids can sing and dance with the Backyard Bugs, 10–11 a.m., in the Event Center (Fayetteville Public Library). It’s a family program.
Note: ROBO RIOT, the combat robotics competition originally set for Nov. 14, has moved to Sat., Nov. 21, 1–5 p.m. (Fayetteville Public Library).
Rogers – Light the Way Christmas Tree Festival
Micah 6:8 Initiative fills McAuley Hall at the Jones Center for Non-Profits, 1200 W. Walnut St., with decorated Christmas trees (Rogers-Lowell Chamber; Light the Way). The festival offers:
- Free pictures with Santa
- Free hot chocolate
- Holiday activities
- A silent auction that supports housing for people experiencing homelessness
Details:
- Cost: Free (Visit Northwest Arkansas)
- Hours: [EDITOR: listings say 10 a.m.–6 p.m. or 8 a.m.–7 p.m.]
Rogers – Victorian Holiday Traditions at Rogers Historical Museum
Benton County Master Gardeners present a program on Victorian holiday greens and traditions, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., at the Key Wing Education Center, 322 S. Second St. (Rogers Historical Museum). Participants make a traditional Victorian kissing ball to take home. It’s free, and no registration is required. Best for older kids and tweens who like crafts.
Fayetteville – Veterans and Vehicles Car Show
The Arkansas Air and Military Museum, 4290 S. School Ave., hosts a car show from 8 a.m. to noon (NWA Democrat-Gazette; Arkansas Air and Military Museum). Attendance is free, according to the newspaper. Regular museum admission is $6 for kids 6–16 and $11 for adults, and kids 5 and under get in free.
- Bentonville Indoor Farmers Market: 9 a.m.–noon at Record, 104 SW A St. (Downtown Bentonville Inc.). The market’s Kids Club meets the second Saturday of each month (Eat Local NWA).
- Fayetteville Farmers Market: 7 a.m.–1 p.m. on the downtown square (Fayetteville Farmers Market)
Springdale – Springdale Veterans Celebration at Luther George Park
Downtown Springdale’s first Veterans Celebration runs 2–7 p.m. at Luther George Park, 300 Park St. (Arkansas Department of Veteran Affairs). The VFW, American Legion Post 139, the Springdale Veterans Memorial and Downtown Springdale are hosting. It includes:
- A talk by Gen. John D. Lamontagne
- Food vendors
- Family activities
- Live music from The Atlantics, The Dead Horse Mountain Bound, and Gavin Sumrail and the Band
Bentonville – Amazeum Sunday Afternoon
The Amazeum is open 1–5 p.m. on Sundays. It’s open Monday and Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Tuesdays (Talk Business & Politics). Admission is $17 for ages 2 and up, and members and kids under 2 are free (Amazeum).
- Hobbs hunting closures, Nov. 14–18: Hobbs State Park closes the Hidden Diversity, Pigeon Roost, Sinking Stream, Shaddox Hollow and Wolf Den trails, plus the shooting range, during permitted hunts (Arkansas State Parks). Plan another trail this weekend.
- Free anytime: The Ozark Discovery Canopy at Crystal Bridges is open daily from dawn to dusk (Crystal Bridges).
- Veterans see “Grandma Moses” free: Admission to Crystal Bridges’ “Grandma Moses: A Good Day’s Work” is free for veterans and for youth 25 and under (Crystal Bridges).
- Coming next week: Winter Lights & Market opens Thu., Nov. 19, in the Ozark Discovery Canopy. It runs Thursday through Saturday, 5–9 p.m., and tickets are $10, or $25 for families of three or more (Crystal Bridges).
Find more in our November 2026 Northwest Arkansas Calendar of Events.
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