The holidays are here and, all across Arkansas, the brightly colored, twinkling lights, creative displays, and classic Christmas tunes are ready. Come follow along the Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights!
It seems that almost everyone enjoys colorful Christmas lights – and who can blame them. Can you imagine how dark and dull December nights would be without them? You don’t even have to celebrate Christmas to appreciate the warmth, joy, and good will they express during one of the colder times of the year.
Arkansans are no different than anyone else – we love our holiday decorations, too. In fact, we might even like them a little more than most. That’s the sense one gets, looking at a listing of Arkansas’ public holiday light displays!
The upcoming, Original Ozark Folk Festival is America’s longest, continuously running folk festival. Ozark Folk Festival 2019 marks the beloved tradition’s 72nd anniversary. Come see what all the fuss is about November 6th through the 10th in Eureka Springs, AR!
Eureka Springs’ Ozark Folk Festival has been an autumn tradition since 1948. The festival is a showcase of folk music mountain music in the Ozark tradition, often performed on handcrafted instruments. You’ll also be treated to big name, national acts, like headliners, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Marty Stuart.
This year’s event includes nearly 30 performances, many of which are free!
Get ready for 9 days of nonstop films, filmmakers, and film lovers at Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival 2019! October 18th through the 26th, 2019 in Hot Springs, AR.
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival 2019 (HSDFF) marks the 28th annual return of North America’s longest running, non-fiction film festival. Movie Maker Magazine has named it one of “50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee,” and we agree.
Musicfest El Dorado 2019 is just weeks away. This year’s 2-day event sees headliners Walk the Moon and Brett Young with 7 others, plus food, drink, crafts, a kid’s world, and fun attractions like a zip line and obstacle course. September 27-28, 2019 in El Dorado, AR.
ACANSA Arts Festival is just around the corner, September 13th through the 28th, 2019. The 6th annual Arts Festival of the South will once again host a series of special weekend performances and events in various venues around Little Rock and North Little Rock, AR.
The annual ACANSA Arts Festival of the South has been bringing a diverse array of talent to Little Rock every September since 2014. The festival celebrates with live music, theater, workshops, symposiums, and art in all its myriad forms.
This year’s event continues the tradition with a roster that includes Latin pop sensation Gina Chavez, award-winning food historian Jessica B. Harris, contemporary dance troupe BODYTRAFFIC, and renowned jazz guitarist Bill Frisell!
Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird, it’s a plane! No, wait. It’s much better than that. It’s Arkansas Balloon Festival 2019, Sept 6-8, 2019 in Harrison, AR!
The Arkansas Hot Air Balloon State Championships are a popular annual event, held in Harrison, AR since 1995. While the event is primarily a chance for balloon pilots to show off their skills, that’s not all. The three-day event also features helicopter rides, skydiving, tethered balloon rides, food, drink, and goods vendors, and live music.
“Chuck Wagon Racing” (detail) by xlibber is licensed under CC BY 2.0
If you’re looking for some good, old fashioned fun and excitement, look no further than the 33rd annual National Championship Chuckwagon Races, in Clinton AR!
Chuckwagon racing got its official start as a spectator sport at the 1923 Calgary Stampede. The U.S. National Championship Chuckwagon Races, on the other hand, have been a Labor Day weekend tradition in Clinton, AR since 1986.
Come experience the fun of Arkansas’ longest running festival at the 78th annual Johnson County Peach Festival! July 18th through July 20th, 2019 in Clarksville, AR.
The Johnson County Peach Festival has been an Arkansas tradition since 1938. The best part of such a successful and long running event is the trust it engenders. I mean, after 78 years, you know they’ve got this thing down.
That’s certainly true of Johnson County Peach Festival 2019. The weekend is a veritable cornucopia of activities, entertainments, and attractions.
The 75th annual Rodeo of the Ozarks – June 26th through the 29th, 2019 – is coming right up! Don’t miss your chance to experience one of the top five outdoor rodeos in the country!
Rodeo of the Ozarks has been a staple of summer entertainment here in NW Arkansas since 1944. The event draws hundreds of folks from around the country to come compete and spectate.
More than 500 of the nation’s best cowboys, cowgirls, and rough stock are expected at this year’s event. Rodeo events include bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. Youth events include a calf scramble, a “wild horse” race, and – of course! – mutton busting.
The whole shebang winds up with a parade and an exciting fireworks display!
If you’re looking for some good, old fashioned excitement and entertainment, then don’t miss Old Fort Days Rodeo 2019, May 27th through June 1st in Fort Smith, AR.
The annual Old Fort Days Rodeo has been a tradition in Fort Smith for 86 years, now. The rodeo attracts talented cowboys and excited audiences with a winning combination of high prize money and fast paced, quality rodeo action.
Events include calf and team roping, barrel racing, bull riding, bareback and saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, and mutton busting. The event also includes an annual rodeo parade, nightly live entertainment, special theme nights, and much more.
The holidays are here and, all across Arkansas, the brightly colored, twinkling lights, creative displays, and classic Christmas tunes are ready. Come follow along the Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights!
