May 2024: Northwest Arkansas Calendar of Events

Northwest Arkansas Calendar of Events for May 2024

We MAY have lots of great events to share with you, mamas! We definitely do, actually. Find fun things to do with the kids this month in Northwest Arkansas. Click on the name of any event below for more information:

Artosphere 2024

The Artosphere Festival celebrates art, music and nature with exciting performances, activities and events that the whole family can enjoy. Each year, Artosphere spotlights artists and performers from around the world who are inspired by nature, and provides a creative framework for the community to discuss issues of sustainability and environmental awareness. The below May Artosphere events and activities are completely free. You can find a full list of events, including even more budget-friendly outings starting as low as $10, on the Artosphere page.

• Yoga in the Garden, Saturday, May 4 | 9:30am | Botanic Garden of the Ozarks

• Trout Fishing in America, Tuesday, May 7 | 6:30pm | Botanic Garden of the Ozarks

• Trail Mix, Friday, May 10 | 5-7pm | The Lower Ramble and Fayetteville Public Library

• Recycled Bead Flowers Workshop, Saturday, May 11 | 2pm | Fayetteville Public Library Art & Movement Room

• Paper Mums Workshop, Thursday, May 16 | 4:30pm | Fayetteville Public Library Teen Project Room

• Nature Sensory Play, Friday, May 17 | 9:30am | Fayetteville Public Library Youth Craft Room

• The Falconer: Bird Abatement Demos and Walmart AMP Mini Tour, Sunday, May 19 | 11am and 11:30am | Walmart AMP

• Jazz on the Mountain featuring Backbeat Jazz, Thursday, May 23 | 6pm | Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville

Love, Loss, And What I Wore

Theatre Collective of Northwest Arkansas (TCNWA) will present a production of Love, Loss, And What I Wore by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron. This heartwarming and hilarious play follows the lives of several women and explores love, loss, and the memories woven into our clothes. The playrights, sisters Nora and Delia Ephron, also wrote blockbuster movie scripts, including “When Harry Met Sally,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “You’ve Got Mail,” and “Hanging Up.” Tickets range from $25-$35 and can be purchased here.

Dates and times:

• Friday, May 3rd at 7:00 pm
• Saturday, May 4th at 7:00 pm
• Sunday, May 5th at 2:00 pm

Location: Performances will be held at The Medium in Springdale (214 S Main St)

First Thursday Fayetteville

First Thursday is a vibrant, free monthly arts & culture festival brought to you by Experience Fayetteville. From May through October of each year, the event features live music, a robust vendor market, community activations, group bike rides, and different activities based around a new theme each month.

Date: Thursday, May 2

Time: 5:30-9 p.m.

Location: Downtown Fayetteville Square

First Friday Bentonville

The May First Friday theme is Outdoor Adventure. Whether you’re big on camping, glamping, or anything in between this event is for you. Bentonville First Friday is a free community event for the whole family.

Date: Friday, May 3

Time: 3-9 p.m.

Location: Downtown Bentonville Square

May the Fourth Free Comic Book Day

Free Comic Book Day is an annual event celebrating comic books and fandom to promote literacy. “May the fourth” be with you as the Fayetteville Public Library celebrates a special Star Wars themed Free Comic Book Day. Kids of all ages are invited to enjoy this two-hour event with free comics and other super attractions. Activities will include bounce houses, costumed characters, games, crafts, build-a-lightsaber, photo-ops, cantina music from a bassoon quartet, a teen comics workshop, a special Star Wars trivia contest, prizes, and much more. Feel free to show your fandom by wearing your favorite Star Wars or comics t-shirt or even come in costume dressed as your favorite superhero, Star Wars or cosplay character. Free comic books and crafts will be available while supplies last.

Date: May 4

Time: 10 a.m. to noon

Location: Fayetteville Public Library Gathering Glade

Family Fun Day

Arkansas Game and Fish Family Fun Day returns to Murphy Park in Springdale for free fishing and fun for the whole family. Free lunch provided, vendors and games for the kids. Outdoor activities will include fishing, BB gun shooting, archery, canoeing, fish cleaning and cooking demonstration. Free health and wellness screenings also will be offered. REGISTER here: register-ed.com/events/view/211664

Date: May 4

Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Location: Murphy Park, 501 S. Pleasant Rd., Springdale

Strawberry Festival at Rivercrest Orchard

Tickets are required and include: Music, photo opportunities, unlimited bounce pillows, bumper, cars, bubble barn, barn chute slide (must be 42″), train ride, and hog train, zip lines, barnyard playground, & more. Pre-Picked and Pick Your Own Strawberries(while supplies last), face painting, food, and drinks will be available for purchase.

Dates: Saturdays and Sundays in May: May 4-5, May 11-12, May 18-19

Time: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.

Location: Rivercrest Orchard, Fayetteville

Mother’s Day Mugs

Create a custom Mother’s Day mug at the Fayetteville Public Library. This program is open to patrons of all ages. You’ll be using oil-based markers to decorate and a toaster oven to bake them to perfection. All abilities are welcome. For disability accommodations, call 479.856.7050 or email centerforinnovation@faylib.org 2-3 days before a program. All patrons under 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entire class.

Date: May 10

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Location: Fayetteville Public Library Center for Innovation

FamJam: Doktor Kaboom! and the Wheel of Science 

So much science, so little time. . . Doktor Kaboom! is having trouble picking his favorite science demonstrations, so he’s bringing them all. Unfortunately, there are way too many demonstrations to do at once. The solution: the Wheel of Science.

Date: Saturday, May 11 

Times: 2PM & 6PM

Location: The Jones Center for Families, Springdale

Mother’s Day in the Garden

Members’ mothers and mother figures enjoy free Botanical Garden of the Ozarks admission all day. Succulent giveaway while supplies last. Admission is available for purchase at the door.

Date: May 12

Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, Fayetteville

Fayetteville Strawberry Festival

The inaugural Fayetteville Strawberry Festival will celebrate the Northwest Arkansas community and highlight local food, music, and culture in this free kick-off to summer.

Date: May 19

Time: Noon to 6 p.m.

Location: Downtown Fayetteville Square

Shrek the Musical

Our favorite ogre is back in the hilarious stage spectacle based on the Oscar®-winning, smash hit, DreamWorks animated film. Tony Award-winning duo Jeanine Tesori (music) and David Lindsay-Abaire (book) revisit their first collaboration to deliver a more intimate and engaging experience – a joyful, colorful SHREK that leans into the humanity in all of us that celebrates our differences.

Dates: May 28-29

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Walton Arts Center