The Friday 5: Fun things to do this weekend in Northwest Arkansas, May 20-22

Heads-up: There are lots of fun things to do this weekend in Northwest Arkansas! Five events are listed below and don’t forget about Kids to Parks Day, which is this weekend. CLICK HERE to see what’s happening at area state parks this weekend.

1. Egg, a children’s play, Saturday{Tickets, $8} A magical story of friendship unfolds from a nest of twigs, feathers and shell. Three exuberant birds are on an adventure of a lifetime through which they grapple with growing up and finally take flight.

Told through physical theater, illusion and music, Egg is a funny non-verbal exploration of the theme of leaving the nest performed by In Cahoots Theatre Company of Belfast, Ireland.

Recommend for ages 4 and up, including non-English speakers.

The show will be at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at Walton Arts Center.

Click here for tickets to see Egg!

2. Cowboys for Hospice and Family Country Fun Day, Saturday {FREE} This free event includes: sorting competition Calcutta, pie competition and auction, outdoor music concert, greased pig catchin’, sack races, barrel train, kid’s games, BBQ chicken, smoked brisket, chuck wagon beans, turkey fries and campfire potatoes until they’re gone!

Donations will be accepted at this fundraising event, with all proceeds going to Washington Regional Hospice.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Willow Springs Ranch, 15053 Walker Road, Prairie Grove.

3. Artosphere Festival Orchestra, Saturday. {Tickets, $10} Now in its sixth year, the Artosphere Festival Orchestra (AFO), comprised of more than 90 musicians from prestigious ensembles, orchestras and music programs around the world, will once again gather in the Ozarks for a professional music-making experience unique to Artosphere.

For this year’s opening concert, performing under the baton of acclaimed Music Director Corrado Rovaris, the orchestra will present works by Mussorgsky and Rachmaninoff, featuring renowned pianist Benedetto Lupo.

The event is at 8 p.m. at Walton Arts Center.

The Fayetteville Bike-itecture tour will be taking place beforehand and you’re welcome to bike to the hall. WAC will have a bike valet to assist.

Click here for Artosphere tickets!

4. 6th Annual Block Street Block Party, Sunday noon to dark {FREE} On Sunday, stop by the Block Street Block Party starting around noon for some big fun which will last until dark-thirty.

There will be TONS of local bands playing on stages. The event will kick off at noon with a “high-heel” race. So, yes, racing in high heels! Whee!!

ALSO? There’s going to be a parade in honor of Prince and some other Prince-related awesomeness. Lots of people will be wearing purple in tribute.

So, what else?

• Terra Tots is sponsoring “baby races” where babies crawl on mats for a chance at some sweet gift cards.
• Do you know about Greedy Goats of NWA? They basically serve as local lawnmowers. Seriously. Greedy Goats will be on the corner of Dickson and Block. Petting Booth will be just behind the Fayetteville Funky Yardsale booth and the WAC booth, on the grassy hill. Greedy Goats’ “little pack of cookies” (Snickerdoodle, Biscotti, Oreo, and Nutter Butter) will be there for petting.
• Break dancers
• Food trucks galore
• 200-foot zipline that will cross over the crowd (weather permitting!)
• Inflatables for kids
• More!

The event all about Block Street in Fayetteville, of course, but you basically start on Dickson Street and walk that direction. Loads to do and see!

Click here for more info on the big Block Street Block Party!

5. Early Ozark Manners & Customs presentation, Sunday {FREE} Back in the 1850’s, a dinner party was a well-planned ordeal.  Many host and hostesses received proper instructions on how to pull off a successful gathering from a book written by Catharine Beecher entitled, Miss Beecher’s Domestic Receipt Book. 

Susan Young, outreach coordinator for the Shiloh Museum in Springdale, will offer some suggestions for summertime entertaining as presented in Miss Beecher’s Domestic Receipt Book.

She noted, “Folks will learn the proper way to set a table as well as what is expected of the host and hostess to have a successful soiree.  I’ll also include some of the recipes for ice cream, cake and other seasonal fare as presented in Miss Beecher’s book.”

Should be educational and funny.

Susan’s presentation will be on Sunday at 2 p.m. at  Hobbs State Park visitor center (on Hwy 12 just east of the Hwy 12/War Eagle Road intersection).

For information on other upcoming programs at Hobbs State Park, go to:  http://www.friendsofhobbs.com.