Spring is starting to unfold and the events are picking up! Easter events are top of mind right now, of course. CLICK HERE for a listing of Easter events coming up this weekend. We’ve added a few new events, so hop on over and check that post out!
It’s a PEEPS World
Nothing says spring quite like Peeps! You know, those delicious, colorful marshmallow chicks and bunnies. We’re giving you (and your kids) a chance to create your own Peep World, get as creative as you’d like…melt, mold and manipulate those Peeps to bring your idea to life. Submit your Peep World (in a shoebox or comparable size) to the Walmart Visitor Center on the Bentonville Square by Thursday, April 5th at 5 p.m. All entries will be displayed and winners announced at First Friday.
Date: Thursday, April 5 – Friday, April 6
Location: Walmart Visitor Center (Bentonville)
More Info: n4allen@wal-mart.com for more info.
First Fridays – Bentonville
Activities, food and live music for the whole family! Held on the Bentonville square March through November.
Date: Fridays
Time: 11:30am-1pm and 5-8pm
Location: Downtown Bentonville Square
More Info: www.downtownbentonville.org It’s our opening First Friday event of the year, and we’re wearing the green! Midway to St. Patrick’s Day – A celebration of the Irish in all of us, the March First Friday brings in some of the top tier Irish bands from around the country, along with the traditional Irish dance schools and foods that make this a unique event for Northwest Arkansas.
First Thursdays – Fayetteville
First Thursday Fayetteville is a monthly event held on the Downtown Fayetteville Square. It features various works of art, live music, outdoor movies and other cultural arts representations. Free and open to the public.
Date: First Thursday of the month
Time: 5 – 8pm
Location: Downtown Fayetteville Square
More Info: www.firstthursdayfayetteville.com
Fayetteville Farmers’ Market
For over 35 years, the downtown square market has offered the finest in locally produced vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants, meats, baked goods, honey, eggs, jams, crafts, and fine art from the NWA area. Each market day is a feast for the eyes, ears and palate, with a riot of color, aromas, and sounds — street performers, tourists, and the residents of Northwest Arkansas visiting with over 60 vendors around the beautiful square gardens.
Date: Saturdays (Saturday, April 7 is opening day for 2012!)
Time: 7am – 2pm
Location: Downtown Square (Fayetteville)
More Info: www.fayettevillefarmersmarket.org
Springdale Farmers’ Market
Fruits, vegetables, herbs, honey, eggs, baked goods, plants and crafts. All items sold are produced by members of the market.
Date: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
Time: 7am – 1pm
Location: Memorial Walk of the Jones Center for Families (Springdale)
More Info: Free admission. Call 479.751.3352 with questions.
Circus Oz
Bounding onto the stage with their renowned dare devilry and quirky antics, the irreverently irresistible Circus Oz promises an adventurous contemporary circus explosion.
Australia’s most-loved circus is renowned for the collective mayhem that never stops from the moment the band strikes up until the last curtain call. The powerful acrobatics will contest gravity, graceful aerial artists will win your heart, the knock-about comedy will bowl you over and the live musicians will save the day with the last beat.
Each show, like every Circus Oz performance in 33 years, will be a once off. With bold, courageous spirit, Circus Oz brings you daring, dynamic, quirky circus that will leave you on the edge of your seat, steamed up and howling for more! Suitable for all ages.
Date: Thursday, March 29 – Tuesday, April 3
Time: Evenings and Matinee – check website for showtimes
Location: Walton Arts Center (Fayetteville)
More Info: Tickets $39-49. For ticket info and reservations, www.waltonartscenter.org
13th Annual Celebrate Art! Showcase for NWA K-8th graders
Celebrate Art! showcases the talents of K-8th grade artists from the Madison, Carroll, Benton, and Washington counties. This lively, colorful show is sure to please and inspire, with over 350 pieces of artwork filling both galleries. Award ribbons are given and the open house is a chance for friends and family to see the ACO’s most fun exhibition of the year!
Date: Thursday, April 5 – Monday, April 30 (Open House – Saturday, April 7, 1-3pm)
Location: Arts Center of the Ozarks (Springdale)
More Info: www.artscenteroftheozarks.org
Whiffenpoofs of Yale
Founded in 1909 and comprised of 14 senior Yale men, the Whiffenpoofs are the oldest and best-known collegiate a cappella group in the world. With a repertoire that incorporates modern hits as well as classics as old as the group itself, the “Whiffs” will visit Northwest Arkansas during their annual world tour that spans three months and features dozens of foreign destinations.
Date: Friday, April 6
Time: 8pm
Location: Walton Arts Center (Fayetteville)
More Info: Tickets $10-25. For ticket info and reservations, www.waltonartscenter.org
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones: The Original Line-Up
Grammy® Award-winning banjoist and bandleader Béla Fleck has reconvened the extraordinary initial line-up of his incredible combo, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones. Featuring pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy back in the fold alongside Fleck, bassist Victor Wooten, and percussionist Roy “Futureman” Wooten, this is the first tour of the original fab four Flecktones in almost two decades! This can’t-miss concert will bring all genres into play – from classical and jazz to bluegrass and African music to electric blues and Eastern European folk dances – and the result will be an unforgettable meeting of musical minds that remains, as ever, utterly indescribable.
Date: Thursday, April 12
Time: 7pm
Location: Walton Arts Center (Fayetteville)
More Info: Tickets $28-52. For ticket info and reservations, www.waltonartscenter.org
Earth Day Celebration
Join the staff and volunteers at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area as we celebrate our Earth! There will be programs, crafts, hikes, and other activities throughout the day. Get out and enjoy nature as we recognize Mother Nature! Contact the park for a detailed schedule.
Date: Saturday, April 14
Location: Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area (Rogers)
More Info: Free to the public. hobbs@arkansas.com
NWA Heart Walk
The American Heart Association’s signature fundraising event, the Heart Walk promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a family fun environment. This year, over 1 million walkers will participate in more than 400 events, raising funds to save lives from this country’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers — heart disease and stroke.
Date: Saturday, April 14
Time: 10am
Location: Arvest Ballpark (Springdale)
More Info: www.nwaheartwalk.org
Take Me Home — The Music of John Denver
Jim Curry’s powerful performance will be accompanied by guitar/mandolin, flute, keyboard, bass and drums. Jim captures the essence of John Denver’s music and his many hit songs, such as “Rocky Mountain High,” “Annie’s Song,” and “Take Me Home Country Roads.”
Date: Sunday, April 15
Time: 2pm
Location: Arend Arts Center, Bentonville High School (Bentonville)
More Info: www.liveonstagenwa.com
The Hogeye
In its 35th year, the Hogeye Marathon is a Fayetteville tradition. The event includes a full marathon, half marathon, 5K, Corporate 5K Challenge, 4 person Marathon Relay — and a Kid’s Marathon! Children K-5th grades are eligible to participate — logging 25 miles before race day and running the final mile of their “marathon” on race day!
Date: Sunday, April 15
Time: Marathon begins at 7:30am
Location: Downtown Square (Fayetteville)
More Info: www.hogeyemarathon.com for registration details and forms.
SoNA: Masterworks III
For the closing concert of its inaugural season, SoNA explores the theme of love. Mahler’s searing Adagietto is a love song from a husband to his wife, and it is perhaps one of the most famous symphonic movements in music history. The evening ends with Beethoven’s epic Ninth Symphony, which through its final Ode to Joy is a plea for all mankind to embrace and love one another.
Date: Saturday, April 14
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Walton Arts Center (Fayetteville)
More Info: Tickets $25-45. For ticket info and reservations, www.waltonartscenter.org
Mary Poppins
MARY POPPINS is bringing its own brand of Broadway magic to theaters across the country, which has Variety raving, “This is the rare touring production that over-delivers on everylevel!” Featuring the irresistible story and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Disney films of all time, plus brand-new breathtaking dance numbers and spectacular stage-craft, MARY POPPINS is everything you could ever want in a hit Broadway show! So get swept up in the fun of this high-flying musical the New York Post gives 4 out of 4 stars and calls “a perfect piece of musical theater.”
Date: Tuesday, April 17 – Sunday, April 22
Time: See website for evening and matinee showtimes.
Location: Walton Arts Center (Fayetteville)
More Info: Tickets $60-75. For ticket info and reservations, www.waltonartscenter.org
An Evening with Cake
CAKE has been rocking the alternative scene for the better part of 20 years. Consisting of singer John McCrea, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, guitarist Xan McCurdy, bassist Gabe Nelson and drummer Paulo Baldi, the band has been noted for McCrea’s sarcastic lyrics and deadpan voice, DiFiore’s trumpet parts, and their wide-ranging musical influences, including country music, Mariachi, rock, funk, Iranian folk music and hip-hop. CAKE has released seven albums over the course of their career, but their hit “The Distance” from Fashion Nugget is the band’s biggest hit to date. The band’s most recent album, Showroom of Compassion, was released in 2011 to much critical acclaim.
Date: Thursday, April 19
Time: 8pm
Location: AMP at the Washington County Fairgrounds (Fayetteville)
More Info: Tickets $25-87. For ticket info and reservations, www.waltonartscenter.org
Cocktails for a Cause
Held the third Thursday of every month, April’s event supports People Helping People and ESDN. Come play on DeVito’s new Sky Dining deck, have a cocktail, sample something new from Glazer’s Distributors, and support a great cause. Cover charge $10 + 33% of drink sales will be donated to both 501c3 nonprofits!
Date: Thursday, April 19
Time: 5-7pm
Location: DeVito’s (Eureka Springs)
More Info: Click here to RSVP.
Wildflower Weekend
Withrow Springs State Park protects habitat for many beautiful spring wildflowers, including the rare Ozark white trillium. Join park interpreters and guest presenters for a weekend of wildflower themed programs such as hikes, photography, wild edibles and art. Contact the park for a schedule.
Date: Friday, April 20 – Sunday, April 22
Location: Withrow Springs State Park (Huntsville)
More Info: withrowsprings@arkansas.com
8th Annual Carving in the Ozarks Festival
The chips are flying! Competing chainsaw carvers turn logs into works of art while you watch. Lots of handsome carved items for sale. An annual favorite!
Date: Friday, April 20 – Sunday, April 22
Location: Hwy 62 East and Rockhouse Road (Eureka Springs)
More Info: www.carvingintheozarks.com
Big Gigantic
Electronica band Big Gigantic is the brainchild of Boulder, Colorado saxophonist/producer, Dominic Lalli, and drummer, Jeremy Salken. Conceived in 2008, the duo found their niche and created a name for themselves in the electronic music scene. By combining vibrant jazz melodies over pulsating dance beats, Big Gigantic delivers an innovative, distinct sound that’s all their own. As a testament to their timeliness and unique melody, Big Gigantic has made a profound impact on the jamtronica landscape. From playing modest gigs around Colorado, to instantaneously headlining shows throughout the country and hitting major festivals, Big Gigantic showcases an amplified array of compositions that combine elements of a DJ and live band that leaves fans from coast to coast anticipating more. The band has produced three albums to date, “Fire It Up,” their EP, “Wide Awake,” and “A Place Behind the Moon,” which debuted September 2010 on 1320 Records. The two-man sound machine continues to magnify their reach and reputation with a future that shows no signs of slowing down.
Date: Saturday, April 21
Time: 7pm
Location: AMP at the Washington County Fairgrounds (Fayetteville)
More Info: Tickets $22. For ticket info and reservations, www.waltonartscenter.org
Walk MS NWA
Walk MS Northwest Arkansas, will bring over 500 Arkansas residents to the rallying point of the MS movement, a community coming together to raise funds and awareness for the National MS Society: Arkansas. This year we will be combining the Bentonville and Fayetteville walks! With a goal to raise $40,000 for MS research and programs. Family-friendly fun.
Date: Saturday, April 21
Time: 10am
Location: Lake Fayetteville Park (Fayetteville)
More Info: www.walkmsarkansas.org
(Brand new music school) School of Rock activities
School of Rock is a performance based after-school music education program for kids ages 6-18, also offering summer camps.
Friday, April 20th, the school will have a performance at the Pinnacle Hills Promenade from 6-8. It is free and open to the public and will be performed by the All-Star music students from one of the sister schools in Dallas.
The following day (Saturday the 21st) the school will be super busy with all kinds of activities for the public. Some of the All-Star kids from the School of Rock’s sister schools in the DFW area will be playing some music at Razorfest in Fayetteville in the morning, and the school is also having an open house at the school from 10-4. After that, from about 6-9pm, they will be having a benefit show at the school for the NWA Children’s Shelter, also with live music. The event is free.
Date: April 20
Time: See above
Location: See above
More info: School of Rock, Bentonville/Rogers
Glen Campbell
Country Music Hall of Famer and Arkansas native Glen Campbell has been in the business for over a half-century. Best known for his hits as a singer, Campbell has also hosted his own television show “The Glen Campbell Good Time Hour” on CBS, and even tried his hand at acting, including a role in the original “True Grit.” During his 50 years in show business, Campbell has released more than 70 albums. He has sold 45 million records and racked up 12 RIAA Gold albums, 4 Platinum albums and 1 Double-Platinum album. Of his 74 trips up the country charts, 27 landed in the Top 10.
Date: Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28
Time: 8pm
Location: Walton Arts Center (Fayetteville)
More Info: Tickets $43-79. For ticket info and reservations, www.waltonartscenter.org
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Annual NWA Arkansas affiliate of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. 10K/5K/Family Fun Walk. Also Bark for the Cure, Kids for the Cure and Teens for the Cure.
Date: Saturday, April 28
Time: 10K starts at 7:30am. 5K starts at 8am
Location: Pinnacle Hills Promenade Mall (Rogers)
More Info: www.komenozark.org
Parenting Conference
Dr. Rob Rienow will be presenting four sessions (two on Saturday and two on Sunday morning) on practical ways to blend biblical values and parenting skills. There will also be two breakout sessions on Saturday.
Date: Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29
Location: Fellowship Bible Church (Rogers)
More Info: Contact Michelle Yount at miyount@fellowshipnwa.org or call 479.659.3610. Cost is $20 for a single or $30 for a couple. Space limited.
38th Annual Dogwood Festival
A true festival with something for everyone in the family, the Dogwood Festival is held the end of April each year. Food, rides and activities for kids, handmade and resale items for sale–over 100 vendors. Entertainment throughout the weekend. Join us in our beautiful parks in historic downtown Siloam Springs!
Date: Friday, April 27 – Sunday, April 29
Location: City Park and Bob Henry Park (Downtown Siloam Springs)
More Info: siloamchamber.info
LIBRARY STORYTIMES and events
Fayetteville – www.faylib.org for a full calendar.
Bentonville – www.youseemore.com/bentonville for a full calendar.
Springdale – www.springdalelibrary.org for a full calendar.
Rogers – library.rpl.lib.ar.us for a full calendar.
Fayetteville MOPS
A faith-based fellowship for mothers of preschoolers age birth to 5. The group meets regularly to share breakfast, share support, to learn from guest speakers and to celebrate Jesus Christ.
Date: 2nd Monday of every month
Time: 9-11am
Location: Trinity United Methodist Church (Fayetteville)
More Info: www.fayettevillemops.com
Rogers MOPS
A faith-based fellowship for mothers of preschoolers age birth to 5. The group meets regularly to share breakfast, share support, to learn from guest speakers and to celebrate Jesus Christ.
Date: 1st and 3rd Friday mornings
Time: 9-11am
More Info: Contact Summer Manzo, sumsum55@yahoo.com.
MOMSNext
An extension of MOPS, our group is focused on K-6th grades.
Date: Wednesdays
Time: 6:30-7:30pm
Location: Rogers 1st Nazarene Church (Rogers)
More Info: Contact Ginger Larsen, gingerbread4life@yahoo.com
The MOMS Club of Bella Vista/Bentonville
MOMS is Moms Offering Moms Support, a newly-formed group meeting primarily during the day when stay-at-home moms need the most support. Includes surrounding areas and communities, as well.
Date: First Thursday of every month
Time: 10am
Location: Christ the King Lutheran Church (Bentonville)
More Info: Meetings are open to all members and guests, including children. More info, momsclubofbvb.blogspot.com
*There are also MOMS Club chapters in Farmington and Fayetteville. The Farmington chapter is new. There is also an active mom meetup called NWA Playgroup. Email us (mamas{at}nwamotherlode.com) if you need help connecting with them.
