Friday 5: Fun things to do in Northwest Arkansas, Dec. 1-3

The holidays are officially in full swing! Not only do we have the Northwest Arkansas 2017 Holiday Events Guide for you to find fun family events, here are 5 other great options in our area this weekend:

The Polar Express Storytime

All aboard! Come in your PJs and join in for a magical evening as Barnes & Noble hosts the annual Storytime of the beloved classic The Polar Express. Coloring and activities to follow.

Date: Friday, Dec. 1

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Barnes & Noble, Rogers

More info: Click here

Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park Christmas Open House 

It’s Christmastime at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park—antebellum Ozark Christmastime, to be exact. Experience the merry traditions of pre-war Arkansas first-hand, as they give you a “taste” of the food, songs, decorations, and lore that made the Ozarks so colorful during this wonderful time of year. Join living historians and park staff for tours, demonstrations, crafts, and more during this antebellum Christmas event.  Admission: Free.

Date: Saturday and Sunday, Dec 2 & 3

Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park

More info: Click here

Freedom Frosty 5K

Warm up this holiday season with RunBentonville and Camp Alliance for the fourth race in the Run Bentonville Race Series: The Frosty 5k. Medals will be awarded to top overall and age group finishers. Long sleeved t-shirts for all participants. Awards for the runners in the “Ugliest Holiday Sweaters”.

Date: Saturday, Dec. 2

Time: 8 a.m.

Location: Lawrence Plaza, Bentonville

More info: Click here

Rogers BMX/Skate Competition & Art Installation 

Join BikeNWA to celebrate the reinvention of the Rogers BMX/skate park with incredible artwork by Graham Edwards. There will be BMX and skate competitions (with some rad prizes up for grabs) and a DJ playing music all afternoon long. 

Date: Saturday, Dec. 2

Time: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Location: Rogers Skatepark

More info: Click here

Christmas with the APO

Join us for this free festive concert for all ages as the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra and Arkansas Philharmonic Youth Orchestra join together to get you in the holiday spirit with Sounds of the Season.

Date:  Sunday, Dec. 3

Time: 4 p.m

Location: Riordan Hall, Bella Vista

More info: Click here

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The 5 events above offer some great options for the family, but if you have a sitter this weekend — and you’re in need of a date night or a Girls’ Night Out — our Friday 5 sponsor, Black Apple Crossing, always has a fun line-up of events during the week and on weekends.

This weekend you can hear Dance Monkey Dance (Friday night, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m.) and  Grassfed (Saturday night, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m.). They also have Taco Tuesdays, trivia nights and book club events during the week! BAX has a new event every Thursday called Sip & Stretch Cider and Yoga Night starting at 7:30pm. 

Black Apple Crossing is the state’s first cidery. It’s located in downtown Springdale off Emma Avenue just past mile marker 13. Black Apple Crossing has produced naturally gluten-free hard apple cider with no added sulfites or other preservatives since July 2015. Click here to visit the Black Apple Crossing website.

Last weekend they released their latest cider, Shadow Queen, an oak-aged Imperial peach cider suffused with a hint of vanilla for the holidays.