Movie Nights on the Square: Ratatouille
You can make it a free family movie night Thursday, September 10, on the Bentonville Square. The event runs from 5:30 to 8, with Ratatouille starting around 6. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, pack your favorite movie snacks and settle in for a night under the stars.
Veterans Appreciation Drive
You can honor local veterans Friday, September 11, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Springdale Public Library. Stop by for coffee, conversation and a panel with local veterans, and if you’d like, bring toiletries like soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes or toothpaste to donate to Arkansas Veterans Village. It’s free to attend.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
You can help build beds for local kids Friday, September 11, and Saturday, September 12, at the North Bentonville Lowe’s. Sleep in Heavenly Peace is trying to build 250 beds for Northwest Arkansas children, and you don’t need woodworking experience to help. It’s free to volunteer, but registration is required.
Arkansas Insect Festival
You can get up close with the creepy-crawly world at the Arkansas Insect Festival Saturday, September 12th, at the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center in Fayetteville. From 9 to 3, you’ll find a live arthropod zoo, butterfly house, honeybees, hands-on activities and even Madagascar hissing cockroach races. It’s free for all ages.
Touch-A-Truck Lowell
If your kids love big trucks, Touch-A-Truck is Saturday, September 12, from 9 to 2 at Ward Nail Park in Lowell. You can get an up-close look at fire trucks, emergency vehicles and heavy equipment, plus meet the people who operate them. Admission is free, with a quieter sensory hour from 9 to 10.
World Champion Squirrel Cookoff
The World Champion Squirrel Cookoff is Saturday, September 12, from 9 to 4 at the Ozark Highlands Nature Center in Springdale. You can sample some seriously creative squirrel dishes, enjoy kids activities, outdoor demonstrations and a free fish fry, then check out the hottest squirrel eating contest. It’s free to attend.
9th Annual Downtown Duck Race
You can watch thousands of rubber ducks race down Spring Creek Saturday, September 12, from 10 to noon at Turnbow Park in downtown Springdale. The Downtown Duck Race also has face painting and family activities, and it’s free to watch. Proceeds from duck sales help fund classroom grants for Springdale schools.
NWA Makers Pop-Up at Pinnacle Hills Promenade
You can shop local Saturday, September 12, at the NWA Makers Pop-Up at Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers. From 10 to 5, more than 60 Northwest Arkansas makers will be selling things they’ve made themselves. It’s free to browse, and you’ll find the market outside near Dave & Buster’s and Malco Cinemas.
Siloam Springs Volunteer Fair
If you’ve been wanting to get more involved in the community, the Siloam Springs Volunteer Fair is Saturday, September 12, from 10 to 2 at the public library. You can meet local organizations, learn where they need help and find a volunteer opportunity that fits you. It’s free, and you can just stop by.
PAWS for PAD
If you’re a dog lover, PAWS for PAD is Saturday, September 12, at Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center in Rogers. The 1-mile walk starts at 11, then the event continues until 3 with rescue dogs available for adoption, pet vendors, food and drinks. It’s free to attend, and you can RSVP ahead of time to reserve a free event T-shirt.
Crystal Bridges Grandma Moses
You can celebrate the opening of Grandma Moses: A Good Day’s Work Saturday, September 12, from 11 to 3 at Crystal Bridges in Bentonville. There’ll be farm animals, folk-art projects, storytelling, music and line dancing throughout the museum. The celebration is free, and you don’t need a ticket.
Rogers Historical Museum
You can spend a relaxing Saturday getting creative at Watercolors in the Fall Garden, September 12, from 11:30 to 1 at the Rogers Historical Museum. You’ll learn some simple watercolor techniques and create your own botanical artwork. It’s free, supplies are provided, and no registration is needed.
Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park
You can try your hand at painting outdoors Saturday, September 12, at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. Painting the Battlefield runs from 1 to 3 at the historic Borden House, where you’ll paint the surrounding battlefield landscape. It’s free, and all the art supplies are provided.
GoodWorks’ Regional Day of Service
You can spend a couple of hours giving back during GoodWorks’ first Regional Day of Service Saturday, September 12th. Choose from hands-on volunteer projects across Northwest Arkansas, from cleanups and gardening to packing food and donations. It’s free, and you can find all the projects and register through the GoodWorks page on The Jones Center website.
Hobbs State Park Night-Sky Program & Telescope Viewing
You can explore the night sky at Hobbs State Park in Rogers Saturday, September 12th. The free program starts at 6:30 with a look at how we came to understand our solar system, followed by telescope viewing around 7:30 with the Sugar Creek Astronomical Society. No reservations are needed.
Fayetteville Block Party
You can bring the whole family out for the Fayetteville Block Party Thursday, September 17, from 5:30 to 8:30 at Creekside Center, 3761 North Mall Avenue in Fayetteville. There’ll be hamburgers, hot dogs, snow cones, games, pickleball and local vendors to check out. It’s free to attend.
Lake Fayetteville Fall Cleanup: Pick Up Where You Play
You can help give Lake Fayetteville a cleanup Saturday, September 19, from 9 to 11:30. Just check in at the Ozark Natural Science Center anytime before 10:30, then help pick up litter along the trails, shoreline and around the lake. Cleanup supplies are provided, and it’s free to volunteer.
Monarch Flight Festival
You can bring the kids to the Monarch Flight Festival Saturday, September 19, from 11 to 4 at Luther George Park in Springdale. There’ll be hands-on activities, crafts, music, food and performances, plus thousands of free monarch wings for kids before everyone joins the Monarch Flight Parade. Admission is free.
Summer Camp Adventure
If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids, Summer Camp Adventure is Saturday, September 19, from 1 to 4 at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville. You can make crafts, grab a snack, try some hands-on activities and meet plenty of adoptable pets along the way. It’s free, but you’ll need to register ahead of time.
Paint a Pet / Paint N’ Sip
If you love animals and getting creative, Paint N’ Sip is Friday, September 25, from 4:30 to 6:30 at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville. You’ll meet adoptable pets, then paint one of them a portrait that can eventually go home with their new family. It’s free, but registration is required.
