The October guide
Things to do in Northwest Arkansas in October
Peak month, no contest. Bikes, Blues & BBQ season, Eureka Springs at its most gloriously strange leading into Halloween, foliage on every trail, and more festivals than free weekends.
The big ones in October
October · Rogers
War Eagle Fair
The big October arts and crafts fair, free to get in ($5 parking): Thursday to Saturday 8 AM to 5 PM, Sunday 8 AM to 4 PM
October · Springdale
NWA Hispanic Heritage Festival
Free afternoon of music, dance, food trucks and family activities each October. The 14th festival ran Saturday, Oct 10, 2026; the 2027 date isn't announced yet
October · Eureka Springs
Nightmare in the Ozarks
A horror film festival at the downtown Auditorium, Oct 21–24, 2026, the week of the Zombie Crawl
Fall · Highway 59
Pickin' Time on 59
Roadside bluegrass along the state line
October · Bentonville
Big Sugar Gravel
Life Time's season-ending gravel race: 100, 50 or 25 miles of Ozark gravel out of the Momentary on Saturday, Oct 17, 2026, with a free expo and a week of group rides around it
October · Pea Ridge
Pea Ridge Mule Jump
Mules clearing a rail bareback from a standstill, plus mule barrel, flag and pole races: the 37th is Saturday, Oct 10, 2026, $5 for adults
October · Eureka Springs
Eureka Springs Zombie Crawl
The town's free Halloween parade and street party: Saturday, Oct 24, 2026, activities from noon in Basin Park, zombie parade down Spring Street at 6 PM
On the October calendar now
Already confirmed — the calendar adds more nightly from 80+ local calendars.
12 events
Morning before noon · 6
- 9AM
NWTI English Class / Clase de inglés
Community:Springdale Public Library· Springdale
- 9:30AMFree
- 10AM
- 10AM
Storytime with Ms. Julia (Ages 1-3)
Family & Kids:City of Siloam Springs Public Library· Siloam Springs
Ages 1–3 - 10:30AM
Start With Art (Ages 0-5) | Weather Wonders
Arts & Culture:Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art· Bentonville
Ages 0–5 - 11AM
Afternoon noon to 5 · 1
- 4:30PM
Soulful Tunes with Don & Scott
Live Music:Eureka Springs Carnegie Public Library· Eureka Springs
Free
Evening 5 to 9 · 4
- 5:30PM
October MTB Progression Camp (Day 4: Jumps)
Outdoor & Active:Coler Mountain Bike Preserve· Bentonville
$300 - 6PM
Richard Burnett
Live Music:JJ's Grill on Steamboat· Fayetteville
- 6PM
Wicked Witch Cake Class
Family & Kids:Rick's Bakery· Fayetteville
$43.58 - 6PM
Fay Beer Works Craft Nights
Food & Drink:Fayetteville Beer Works· Fayetteville
All day & open hours no set start · 1
- All
dayCommunity Spotlight: University of Arkansas Psychology
Family & Kids:Scott Family Amazeum· Bentonville
October festivals in NWA
Know about something we missed?
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