August 2019 Calendar of Events for Northwest Arkansas
It’s going to be a busy month, mamas! Here’s what’s going on in August in Northwest Arkansas.
First Thursday August: Tailgate
Bring your school spirit and wear your team colors as First Thursday Fayetteville returns to the downtown square on Thursday, August 1, with the theme “tailgate.” As always, this event is free and open to the public. Join us for live music by School of Rock Fayetteville and ROXY ROCA; a free yoga class at 6 p.m.; a slow roll bike ride for all ages and skill levels; as well as water slide fun, a snippet of Alice in Wonderland by Arts Live Theatre and a spelunking cave built inside a dumpster.
Time: 5-8:30 p.m.
Date: August 1
Location: 21 S. Block Ave. in Fayetteville
Join Springdale Parks and Recreation for our Music in Murphy Summer Concert Series. Bear Chasers will perform on August 1. Enjoy the sweet sounds of Bluegrass with banjo and female harmonies to keep you rolling all night long.
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Date: August 1
Location: 501 S. Pleasant St. in Springdale
Join Springdale Parks and Recreation for our Music in Murphy Summer Concert Series. Trey O’Dell will perform on August 3. Trey O’Dell is a singer/songwriter from Fayetteville. He received the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to audition for the Emmy award winning show The Voice Season 10. In 2015, Trey released his self-titled EP, Trey O’Dell, produced by Haxton Road Studios. While living in Fayetteville to study business at the University of Arkansas, Trey has been working with singer/songwriters and producers to develop his soulful sound and song writing flair. Trey has been compared to pop artists such as Ed Sheeran, James Bay, and John Mayer. His music style spans from pop to rock, all with a soulful edge.
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Date: August 3
Location: 501 S. Pleasant St. in Springdale
Join us for a wild program lead by Animalogy. Children will learn all about the habits and habitats of various wild animals and see these animals in person.
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Date: August 3
Location: Fayetteville Public Library, 401 W Mountain St, Fayetteville
Time for a family play date! The Amazeum is open late for members to come out and play, enjoy some ice cream from Spark Cafe, and be entertained by the incredible artistry of Inspryral Circus at ZINGfling! on Saturday, August 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. Register online today. This event is free for Amazeum members.
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Date: August 3
Location: Scott Family Amazeum, 1009 Museum Way, Bentonville
Almost 160 years ago, one of the bloodiest conflicts of the American Civil War was fought in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. On the night of December 6th, 1862, we imagine many soldiers were gazing at the dark night sky, wondering what tomorrow would hold for them. Please join Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park and the Sugar Creek Astronomical Society for a Star Party to share those same night skies. Telescopes will be set up for an evening of viewing Jupiter, Saturn, nebulae, star clusters, galaxies and more. For more information, call please 479-846-2990.
Time: 8 p.m.
Date: August 3
Location: Borden Entrance of the Prairie Grove Battlefield, 506 East Douglas Street in Prairie Grove
Botanical Garden of the Ozarks Science and Art Summer Camp
Campers will apply critical and creative thinking skills through interactive and hands-on exploration of science and ecology concepts including carnivorous plants, reptiles, mammals, insects, and much more. This is a proud partnership between Ozark Natural Science Center and the local art community for children ages 7-10 years old. Check-in is at 8:45 am and pick-up is at 12:15 pm. Students may bring a snack if desired. Price is $80 for members; $100 for nonmembers (includes a $20 nonrefundable registration and material fee).
Time: 9 a.m.- Noon
Date: August 5-9
Location: Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, 4703 N Crossover Rd in Fayetteville
The annual community building event National Night Out will be at the C.L. “Charlie” and Willie George Park. This event promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer places to live. Springdale Police will be set up in the splash pad area and will have things for the entire family: Touch A Truck, bounce houses, kid print ID, kickball, food and more.
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Date: August 6
Location: Charlie and Willie George Park, 4023 Hylton Rd. in Springdale
121st Tontitown Grape Festival
Join in for spaghetti dinners, entertainment and of course grape stomping at the 121st Tontitown Grape Festival. The festival has free parking, free admission and free nightly entertainment. Your family can expect carnival activity, arts and crafts, music, food, drinks, and more. Spaghetti dinners are served August 8-10.
Time: 5-11 p.m.
Date: August 6-10
Location: Tontitown, AR
Terrific Tuesday Nights at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
From June through August, the Botanical Garden will be open and free to the public from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. Concerts will end at 9 pm. Activities on select evenings may include concerts, enchanted garden walks and other fun activities. On August 6 is “Fun with feathered friends.” Learn more about the birds in our region with Butch Tetzlaff of the Bluebird Shed in Bella Vista and other local groups.
Time: 5-8 p.m.
Date: August 6
Location: Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, 4703 N Crossover Rd., Fayetteville
Spend a summer evening outdoors gazing at the stars and enjoying the night sky! Each Star Party will begin at sunset watching the light show inside James Turrell’s “Skyspace: The Way of Color,” followed by a chance to look through telescopes, chat with astronomers from Sugar Creek Astronomical Society, and engage with activities inspired by the night sky. Free, no registration required.
Time: 8-9:30 p.m.
Date: August 7
Location: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 600 Museum Way in Bentonville
There’s fun for the whole family with lots of free Live Bluegrass in the Basin Spring Park band shell. On August 9th, Casey & The Attaboys perform first, followed by the Old Salt Union. On August 10th Casey & The Attaboys perform again followed by the Po Ramblin Boys.
Time: 3 and 5:15 p.m.
Date: August 9 and 10
Location: Basin Springs Park, 4 Spring St. in Eureka Springs
Summer Family Fun: Mil’s Trills
Give summer one last hurrah with Mil’s Trills, an award-winning Brooklyn-based children’s music artist, as she brings the NWA community some joy through rhythm and music. Free, no registration required.
Time: 7-8 p.m.
Date: August 9
Location: Walker Landing; Durand and Estes, Bellows and Cassatt, Rain plan: Great Hall at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 600 Museum Way, Bentonville
Join us for a back to school carnival at The Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s in Rogers on August 9th from 5-8 pm. This event will be free to all adoptive families. We’ll have face painting, magic, games with prizes, a balloon creation station, sensory stations, playground area, a photo booth, a hotdog dinner and Cinderella will be at our book exchange: bring one book and take two. Please let us know you plan to come by clicking the Eventbrite ticket option. Every family who is registered through Eventbrite and signs in at the carnival on August 9th will be entered into a drawing for a door prize!
Time: 5-8 p.m.
Date: August 9
Location: The Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s, 1200 W. Walnut, Rogers
Join the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission for the most exciting safety lesson in town. Life jackets save lives, but do you know how to check if they’re on safely? Try putting one your child on while wearing the Amazeum’s “Goofy-Goggles” and even participate in a life jacket relay race. Pass the test, win the race, or what-have-you on Saturday, August 10 from 10am-12pm.
Time: 10am-Noon
Date: August 10
Location: Scott Family Amazeum, 1009 Museum Way, Bentonville
Watch professional chalk artists turn concrete into masterpieces at Crystal Bridges. On Saturday, August 10, watch the pros at work and get an up-close look at their chalk creation process. Then, come back on Sunday, August 11 to see the finished products and take fun photos with them. On both days, admire impressive chalk art while enjoying live music, food trucks, a kids chalking area, and artmaking, and chalk it up to a good time. Free, no registration required.
Time: 10 a.m. on August 10, 12 p.m. on August 11
Date: August 10, 11
Location: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 600 Museum Way Bentonville
Little Tinkers are family workshops that invite adults and children ages 3-6 years old to be innovative thinkers and problem-solvers as they work together creating, building, and trying new things. Creativity flows as you and your early learner explore tools and tinker with materials. A new theme is explored each month.
Adult, age 18 or older, must accompany child during the workshop. We recommend no more than 3 children per adult. Amazeum members: $5 per child, $5 per adult caregiver. Non-members: $7 per child, $7 per adult caregiver. Advanced registration and payment required.
Time: 9-10:30 a.m.
Date: Saturday, August 10
Location: Scott Family Amazeum, 1009 Museum Way, Bentonville
Registration details available here.
An educational program taught by everyone’s favorite teacher Miss Frizzle from the book and show The Magic School Bus. The audience will learn fun facts about space while helping build a solar system together and then learn about how it works in the universe.
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Date: August 10
Location: Fayetteville Public Library, 401 W Mountain St, Fayetteville
Celebrate National S’mores Day by making s’mores. Join the park interpreters as they make delicious s’mores desserts and learn a bit about the tasty treat while they’re at it. This event is free and everyone is welcome to join. S’mores are available on a first-come-first-served basis as supplies are limited. To give us an idea of how many people to expect, please contact the park at (479) 369-1010 by August 9 if you’re planning on joining in on the fun.
Date: August 10
Location: Visitor Center Fireplace, 15458 Shepard Springs Road
Mountainburg
Quilt historian Alice McElwain will host a quilt show-and-tell session, Saturday, August 10, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. Folks are invited to bring in quilts for McElwain to examine for clues about the quilt’s history. She will also offer tips for care and storage of quilts and on the process of having your quilt appraised.
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Date: August 10
Location: The Shiloh Museum, 118 W. Johnson Avenue, downtown Springdale
Terrific Tuesday Nights at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
From June through August, the botanical garden will be open and free to the public from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. On August 13 is a concert by Jesse Dean Co. Concerts end by 9 p.m.
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Date: August 13
Location: Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, 4703 N Crossover Rd Fayetteville
Shiloh Saturday Family Program
Kids of all ages are invited to join staff members from Feed Communities for a seed-ball making workshop, Saturday, August 17 at 10 a.m. at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. Seed balls are a mixture of seeds, clay, soil, or compost that can be planted just by tossing them onto bare soil. Seeds provided for this project will include native plants and wildflowers. The event is part of the museum’s Shiloh Saturday series for families.
Time: 10 a.m.
Date: August 17
Location: The Shiloh Museum, 118 W. Johnson Avenue, downtown Springdale
A free drawing workshop is being offered in conjunction with the Holiday Island Art Guild 31st Annual Art Show. The free youth drawing workshop is 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on August 20 in the Country Club Ballroom with instructor Holiday Island Craft Guild Coordinator Sandra Walker. Sandra is an experienced art educator. There is no registration required. For additional information, send an email to: info@visitholidayisland.com. Put Drawing workshop in the subject, please.
Time: 10 a.m.- noon
Date: August 20
Location: Holiday Island Country Club, Ballroom 1 Country Club Dr. Holiday Island
Terrific Tuesday Nights at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
From June through August, the botanical garden will be open and free to the public from 5:00 to 8:00* pm on Tuesdays. Join us on August 20 for an enchanted walk with Harpist Beth Stockdell to explore the garden while enjoying beautiful harp music.
Time: 5-8 p.m.
Date: August 20
Location: Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, 4703 N Crossover Rd. Fayetteville
Retired archeologist John Riggs will explore the history of Arkansas’s western boundary line in a program entitled, “Politics, Prejudice, and Permanent Posts,” Wednesday, August 21, at noon at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. During his thirty-four year career in archeology, Riggs worked in Arkansas for the Arkansas Archeological Survey, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Time: Noon
Date: August 21
Location: Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, 118 W. Johnson Ave. Springdale
The Good Life Experience at Frisco Festival
Join us as we celebrate our quality of life and culture of food, arts, music and outdoors at The Good Life Experience at Frisco Festival, with activities designed for families, young professionals, foodies, art and outdoor enthusiasts. The whole community is invited to come together for this fun and festive way to experience The Good Life that we all enjoy.
Date: August 22– 24
Location: Downtown Rogers
The Northwest Arkansas Walk to Defeat ALS will take place Saturday, August 24 at the Compton Gardens in Bentonville. Walk check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. and the walk starts at 10:30 a.m. Visit the ALS Arkansas website for fundraising tools, such as the Walker Handbook a guide with interesting ideas, helpful tips and chapter contact information; the My Walk Supporters Pledge Sheet to keep track of your donations; a Deposit Slip if you are mailing your donations to The ALS Association before the Walk; and more.
Time: 10 a.m.
Date: August 24
Location: Compton Gardens, 312 N. Main Bentonville
Terrific Tuesday Nights at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
From June through August, the botanical garden will be open and free to the public from 5- 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. August 27is the “Dog days of summer nights.” Bring your pup to the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks this one night only. Dogs must be up-to-date on all vaccinations and must remain on a leash while inside the garden. Owners are required to clean up after their pets.
Time: 5- 8 p.m.
Date: Tuesday, August 27
Location: Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, 4703 N Crossover Rd., Fayetteville
Arkansas State Parks Legacy Week
Join everyone at Lake Fort Smith State Park as we celebrate the lasting legacy of our State Parks and the rich history of our park. Family-friendly interactive programs, lake tours, activities, and hikes will be offered throughout this week. It’s time to join in on the park family’s lifetime of fun!
Date: August 28
Location: Visitor Center, 15458 Shepard Springs Road in Mountainburg
Benefits Micah’s House. $5 for unlimited voice house and obstacle course access. Popcorn, cotton candy, and hotdogs $1
Date: Aug. 30
Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: First Christian Church
Get your glow sticks ready for the seventh annual Light Night festival. Guests of all ages are invited to explore an illuminated wonderland of creativity, lights, music, and dance around Leo Villareal’s “Buckyball.” Enjoy live music, fire dancers, glow artmaking, a black light graffiti wall, food trucks, and more, including playful art installations with the Valley of the Giants by artist Mari Hildago King and interactive works by talented local artists. Kick off the night with a glow bike ride and social hour at Bike Rack Brewery from 6 to 7:30 pm. Prizes will be awarded for the best light-decorated bikes. Free, no registration required.
Music Lineup:
7:30-8:15 pm Spaghetti Eddie! Rocking Family Show at the Buckyball
8:00-9:15 pm Frisson at the Main Stage
8:30-11 pm DJ Classy B at the Buckyball
9:30-11 pm Aqueous at the Main Stage
Time: 8-11 p.m.
Date: August 31
Location: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 600 Museum Way, Bentonville
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