Note: Look for the happy pumpkin next to Halloween-related events

Fall Carnival, Parsons Stadium

At the Rodeo of the Ozarks. Pride of Texas will be bringing rides for all ages. Armbands will be available.

Date: Oct. 1-5

Time: Varies

Location: Parsons Stadium, Springdale

Little Sprouts (Theme: Wonderful Weather)

Each Wednesday. A weekly botanically themed program for preschoolers. We will read stories, sing songs, and do fun craft activities. We will meet at 9:30 and 10:15 a.m. No registration required, just show up with your “little sprout.” Admission: free for children, regular admission for adults.

Date: Oct. 1

Time: 9:30 a.m.

Location: Botanical Garden of the Ozarks

More info: Click here

Insect Festival

Date: Oct. 2

Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center, Fayetteville

More info: Click here

Nightmares Haunted House (scary alert!)

Haunting Northwest Arkansas for 27 years. Ride on the Phantom 13 bus to the Nightmares Haunted House. Sponsored by: The Bentonville Lions Club

Dates: Oct. 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 31st, Nov. 1

Time: Bus starts just after sunset

Location: 3706 NW Frontage Road, Bentonville

More info: Click here

Arkansas Apple Festival

Date: Oct. 3-5

Time: Varies

Location: Lincoln

More info: Click here

Lost Corn Maze (This one is scary, FYI)

Date: Opening weekend Oct. 3-4

Time: Varies

Location: Siloam Springs

More info: Click here

Happy Hollow Harvest Moon Festival

The 3rd Annual Happy Hollow Harvest Moon Festival will be on Saturday October 4th 10am-5pm. An Indoor Boutique Show with hands-on educational booths for the kids. Free Admission. Shopping, Food & Fun for the whole Family.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 4

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: Happy Hollow Elementary, Fayetteville

More info: Stay up to date with event info at Happy Hollow Harvest Moon Festival

Tinkerfest (The Amazeum event)

The Amazeum announced the inaugural Tinkerfest presented by 3M to be held 10am – 3pm, Saturday October 4th, 2014 at Old High Middle School in Bentonville. This event is free and open to the public. Tinkerfest is a hands-on event where makers, artists, and tinkerers showcase their work and attendees of all ages join in the fun. Tinkerfest is a fun family activity where all can experiment and learn things together.

Learn how to pick a lock, how to solder electronics, or how to create an electric circuit. Make gigantic bubbles, launch your own rocket, or discover what goes into making a car by taking one apart.

Date: Oct. 4

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

Location: Old High Middle School, Bentonville

More info: Click here or call 479-696-9280 x 201. Click here if you’d like to bring an activity to Tinkerfest.

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day

Join the Ozark Off-Road Cyclists volunteers when they provide instruction for your kid that will enable him/her to enhance their riding skills, including how to navigate “all terrain”. In addition to healthy fun, Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day helps develop a connection between kids and the natural world. A Two-Part Ride: 10 – 11 a.m. Take a Kid Mountain Biking Skills Course – This ride is recommended for beginners. Instruction will consist of a brief introduction to riding, an obstacle course, and some smooth single track trail. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Take a Kid Mountain Biking Main Ride – Join the Ozark Off-Road Cyclists for a fun mountain bike ride along a five-mile section of the Hidden Diversity Trail, including a portion of Townsend Ridge Road. This fun day of learning and riding will be followed by a FREE celebratory hotdog and chips lunch sponsored by the Ozark Off-Road Cyclists. Inportant Note: Helmets are mandatory.

Date: Oct. 4

Time: Basic skills course starts at 10 a.m.

Location: Hobbs State Park

More info: Click here

Demolition Derby

Date: Oct. 4

Time: Gates open at 6; action starts at 7:30 p.m.

Location: Parsons Stadium, Fayetteville

More info: Click here

Sidewalk Sundays at the Walmart Museum

Drop in any time between 2 and 5 p.m. each Sunday for free, family-friendly fun! This will be the last month for the year to enjoy these events. Here’s a list of dates/ activities:

Sunday, October 5: Create funky pumpkins with Abrakadoodle.

Sunday, October 12: Have fun with classic toys and games.

Sunday, October 19: Create imaginative masks with the Jones Center.

Sunday, October 26: Sword-fighting demonstrations and practice with the NWA Fencing Center.

Date: Every Sunday in October

Time: 2-5 p.m.

Location: Walmart Museum, Bentonville

More info: Visit the Walmart Museum Facebook page at www.facebook.com/walmartmuseum or call 479-273-1329, ext. 2.

Hobbs State Park Fall Festival

A host of FREE family-orientated events will take place at Historical Van Winkle Hollow as well as the park’s visitor center, both located on Hwy 12 east of Rogers. Bring the entire family to learn about how it was done in the past. Schedule Historic Van Winkle Hollow 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. • Blacksmith demonstration • Civil War physician • Old timey games • Music • Flint knapper • Van Winkle historical presentation • Working portable saw mill • Tall Tales Tellers • Dutch oven demonstration • Trapper • Native Plant sales Schedule Hobbs State Park visitor center 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. • See demonstrations: o Weavers o Lace makers o Spinners • Music • Kid crafts – take home • Short hikes All of these family activities are FREE and the public is welcome. Historic Van Winkle Hollow is located on Hwy 12 about 12 miles east of Rogers. The Hobbs State Park visitor center is located on Hwy 12 just east of the Hwy 12/War Eagle Road intersection.

Date: Oct. 5

Time: 1-4 p.m.

Location: Hobbs State Park, Rogers

More info: Click here or call 479-789-5000

Moms on the Farm Tour

The Moms on the Farm Tour will provide attendees with the opportunity to tour local farms to gain a better understanding of the processes used to provide them and their families with food. During the tour, attendees will visit local beef, dairy and poultry farms, and after the farm tours are completed lunch will be provided and cooking demonstrations will be held at the UA Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Arena.

Date: Oct. 6

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More info: Click here

YMCA Halloween Carnival

The Mad Scientist, Zombie Zumba, the family fun run, and Say Cheese Photo Booth will all return this year. We will have new carnival games, a Little Spooks area, and Bricks4Kids are all new this year.

Date: Oct. 9

Time: 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Location: Mercy Family YMCA, Rogers (Village on the Creeks)

More info: Click here

Home Free Vocal Band

Date: Oct. 9

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Walton Arts Center

More info: Click here

Pea Ridge Mule Jump

Date: Oct. 11

Time: Starts at 9 a.m.

Location:

More info: Click here

Sid the Science Kid LIVE — Let’s Play!

Imaginations soar when PBS KIDS show Sid the Science Kid LIVE! comes to life in an exciting onstage production from Jim Henson Productions. Together, kids and parents discover the curiosities of the world with characters Sid, May, Gabriela and Gerald. A lively musical score sets the tone for fun and adventure with audience interaction, cooperative problem solving and plenty of laughs. Sid the Science Kid LIVE! will have the whole family cheering, exploring and dancing.

Date: Oct. 12

Time: 1:30 and 4:30 p.m.

Location: Walton Arts Center

More info: Click here

Taste of Home Cooking School

There will be food sampling, free recipes, and door prizes. The Taste of Home’s Culinary Specialist, Jamie Dunn, will be there to share her home cooking tips and tricks while demonstrating step-by-step recipes for the season’s best dishes. The cooking show begins at 6:30pm. $10 general admission, $25 for VIP ($15 at the door).

Date: October 16

Time: 4:30-9:00pm

Location: Springdale Civic Center located at 2323 S. Old Missouri Rd (corner of Hwy 412E and 265)

More info: Visit www.TasteofHome.com/Cooking-Schools.

The Adventures of Robin Hood

Date: Oct. 16

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Walton Arts Center

More info: Click here

Bill Engvall, Walton Arts Center

Get ready for an evening of standout stand-up as Billboard Comedy Chart topping and American Comedy Award-winning comedian Bill Engvall returns to Walton Arts Center. Perhaps best known as one of Jeff Foxworthy’s comedian friends (along with Ron White and Larry the Cable Guy in the Blue Collar Comedy Tour), it all began in the early ‘90s when Engvall decided to try his hand at stand-up comedy. Then came a decade of TV appearances and sold-out engagements. Fastforward to 2012 when he reunited with Foxworthy for the “Them Idiots Whirled Tour” on CMT, and the rest is history. If you’re looking for fun, fast paced and “fairly clean” comedy chock-full of laughs, this is your ticket!

Date: Oct. 17

Time: 7 and 9:30 p.m.

Location: Walton Arts Center

More info: Click here

Puppets in the Park (Wilson Park, Fayetteville)

Free family festival celebrating the art of puppetry! Games, music, puppet shows for all ages, puppet making workshops, storytelling, food, & GIANT puppet Pageant. Visit http://theartexperienceinc.org/ for full schedule of events.

Date: Oct. 18

Time: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Location: Wilson Park, Fayetteville

More info: Click here

Centennial Community Cookout and Family Fest

Fayetteville First Assembly of God is celebrating 100 years of service to the Fayetteville community and Northwest Arkansas. There will be free BBQ chicken dinners, $100+ worth of door-prizes, carnival style games, Bouncy Houses, Ladies Pampering Lounge, Men’s Billiard Corner, S’more making and free admission to Tennessee’s Southern Gospel group Heirline in concert at 7 pm. There will also be vendors featuring local community services and businesses offering free or reduced services- including $10 haircuts, health screenings, and more.

Date: Oct. 18

Time: 2-7 p.m. (Free concert at 7)

Location: Fayetteville First Assembly of God

More info: Click here

Haunted Night on the Battlefield

Date: Oct. 25

Time: 7-10:45 p.m.

Location: Prairie Grove Battlefield

More info: Click here

Local YA author book signing

Karen Akins of Bentonville has written her first novel called LOOP, which will be released Oct. 21. It’s a Young Adult time travel story and the release signing is going to be at the Rogers Barnes & Noble at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday 10/25.

Date: Oct. 25

Time: 11 a.m.

Location Barnes & Noble, Rogers (Scottsdale Center)

More info: Click here to read more about the event and book

Events on Oct. 31st:

Mall-O-Ween

Children ages 12 and under are invited to trick or treat participating merchants for goodies and treat bags while supplies last. And there will be a costume contest! Prizes will be awarded to the top three in each age group, based on creativity and originality.

Date: Oct. 31

Time: 6-8 p.m.

Location: NWA Mall

More info: Click here for more info on the event, including age groups for the costume contest.