Home > AR > Fort Smith > Experiences & Adventures > Find Authentic Festivals and Celebrations in Western Arkansas

Find Authentic Festivals and Celebrations in Western Arkansas

Western Arkansas annual festivals are always crowd-pleasers.

By Jessica Walker Boehm on November 8, 2017

Fort Smith, AR
Fort Smith / Courtesy of Clayton Taylor
Riverfront Blues Fest in Western Arkansas.

There’s no doubt about it: Western Arkansas knows how to celebrate. The six-county region hosts dozens of can’t-miss festivals throughout the year that celebrate its musical and cultural heritage, drawing attendees from across the state and beyond.

Music Festivals in Western Arkansas

Taking place for four days in both June and October in Scott County, the family-friendly Turkey Track Bluegrass Festival has been held in Waldron’s Turkey Track Bluegrass Park for 40 years and is known as one of the largest bluegrass festivals west of the Mississippi River. Past performers include Bluegrass Martins, Branded Bluegrass and Flatt Lonesome – just to name a few – and attendees are invited to join in jam sessions, potluck suppers and other fun events. Many bluegrass fans attend at least one of the festivals each year and set up camp at the park, creating a tight-knit community.

Another popular music festival is the Riverfront Blues Fest, held in downtown Fort Smith along the Arkansas River in Harry E. Kelley Park each June. The all-ages event has taken place for nearly 30 years, making it one of the longest-running blues festivals in the nation, and it has featured performers such as Goodluck Slim, Oreo Blue and Kenny Neal.

Also held in downtown Fort Smith, the two-day Peacemaker Music & Arts Fest graces Riverfront Park each July and offers a diverse lineup of local, regional and national artists. Attracting more than 8,000 people from across the U.S., the festival seeks to expand attendees’ cultural knowledge with concerts, art exhibits, demonstrations and more.

Experience the Great Outdoors in Western Arkansas

Western Arkansas’ Cultural Celebrations, Rallies

In May, Fort Smith hosts the popular Steel Horse Rally, which is an annual charity motorcycle rally that draws approximately 75,000 people and more than 50,000 motorcycles. Raising thousands of dollars for local organizations, the rally includes a village of vendors, a group motorcycle ride, an antique motorcycle display and live music.

Celebrating the Edamame Capital of the World, the daylong Mulberry Edamame Festival is held each spring and includes an edamame tasting, a barbecue cook-off, music, arts and crafts, food vendors, an antique car show, a pageant and helicopter and wagon rides.

“This is one of the first festivals of the season, which makes it a great time to get out with your family and enjoy the weather, learn about edamame and enjoy the events,” says Monica K. Freeland, executive assistant to City of Mulberry Mayor Gary Baxter. “It’s an opportunity to come together as a community and showcase our town, and the influx of people for the day helps local businesses.”

Crawford County also hosts the Old Timers Day Arts & Crafts Festival on Main Street in downtown Van Buren each May. Taking place annually for 40 years, the three-day festival features hundreds of exhibitors from more than seven states, plus food vendors, a carnival and live music.

In addition, downtown Van Buren’s three-day Fall Festival is held each October and draws more than 200 exhibitors who display fine artwork, handcrafted items, antiques and collectibles. The festival also includes a steak cook-off, a karaoke battle, all-day entertainment, helicopter rides and a carnival.

Another favorite autumn event is Logan County’s Mount Magazine Frontier Days Festival, held on the first Saturday of October in downtown Paris. The festival, taking place for nearly 40 years and drawing more than 3,000 people, kicks off with a parade and features Civil War reenactments, live cannon displays at the Old Jail Museum, an antique and classic car show, a quilt show, a 5K run, a pageant, contests and games. Kids have plenty to do, too, with a petting zoo, pony rides, a free pumpkin patch and more.

In Polk County, the annual Lum & Abner Festival honors hometown favorites Chet Lauck and Norris Goff, comedians who created the famous characters “Lum Eddards” and “Abner Peabody.” Held in Mena’s Janssen Park the first weekend of June, the festival features free concerts, fishing derbies, a baseball tournament, 5K run, classic car show, baby crawling contest, food vendors and kids’ activities.

Find Your Great Escape in Western Arkansas

 

Array ( )
Array ( )
Array ( )
Array ( )

Newsletter Sign Up

Keep up to date with our latest rankings and articles!
Enter your email to be added to our mailing list.