Weekly Wonders

Street fairs offer family-friendly opportunities

First Thursday, First Friday, Second Saturday -- what does it all mean?

Generally speaking, it means a street fair, and it means fun for adults and families alike.

FYI

Fayetteville First Thursday

Music Headliners

April 2 — Amanda Rey & The West Street Blues Band, Mr. Sipp

May 7 — Leah and the Mojo Doctors

June 4 — Farmer & The Markets

July 2 — Arkansauce

Aug. 6 — Cutty Rye

Sept. 3 — Ultra Suede

Oct. 1 — Got It Covered

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Bentonville First Friday

April 3 — International Street Faire

May 1 — Footprint Friday

June 5 — Art and Culinary Festival

July 3 — American Art and Music Festival

Aug. 7 — Back to School Celebration

Sept. 4 — Sugar Creek Days

Oct. 2 — Oktoberfest

Nov. 6 — Toyland on the Square

Centered around art -- but also around entertainment options such as food and beverages -- these events bring people to several downtowns in Northwest Arkansas. The season for such events begins next weekend.

What follows is a roundup of several such events:

Fayetteville First Thursday

WHEN -- 5:30-9 p.m. the First Thursday of each month, April-October (the first is Thursday, April 2)

WHERE -- Downtown Fayetteville square

INFO -- firstthursdayfayetteville.com

Thursday kicks off the street fair season as First Thursday returns to the Fayetteville square. With it come more than 40 artisans selling their wares on the square and locations designated for food and drinks. Main stage entertainment this year focuses on local artists, including this Thursday, when blues act Mr. Sipp offers a free preview of the Blues in the Natural State Festival, scheduled for later this month. Organizers have decided to forgo individual themes for 2015 events, instead relying on the strength of the bands. However, several new elements will be added this year. Although the exact location has yet to be determined, movies will be shown on Block Avenue starting in May, says Hazel Hernandez, special events manager for the Fayetteville Visitors Bureau. The movies come courtesy of a partnership with the Seedling Film Association in Arkansas, and like the beer that will be offered in the official beer gardens of First Thursday, the shows will feature Arkansas talent.

The idea behind First Thursday is simple, Hernandez says.

"It's a great community event with food, live music and beer."

Bentonville First Friday

WHEN -- The First Friday of each month April-November (the first is Friday, April 3)

WHERE -- Downtown Bentonville square

INFO -- 254-0254 or downtownbentonville.org

Bentonville's First Friday returns April 3 with the annual International Street Faire featuring jugglers, fire eaters and more parading the downtown streets. New for this year's slate of programming is the May event called Footprint Friday, a partnership with Wal-Mart that seeks to raise awareness for the company's campaign against hunger. Another new event is Sugar Creek Days, which takes place Sept. 4. During the event, a re-creation of the 1893 bank robbery in town will take place.

Returning this year are many of First Friday's popular themes, from Oktoberfest to the Arts and Culinary celebration in June. It closes on Nov. 6 with a return of Toyland on the Square, where dozens of area vendors show off their new toys in advance of the holiday shopping season. The typical First Friday event draws between 3,000 and 5,000 guests. Meanwhile, Toyland on the Square entertained an estimated crowd of 15,000, says Krystle Goodwin, downtown events manager for presenting organization Downtown Bentonville Incorporated. The downtown events are all family friendly, and there are often after-parties at nearby restaurants for those not ready to wind down at 8 p.m.

Eureka Springs' Second Saturday Gallery Stroll

WHEN -- Until 9 p.m. the second Saturday of April-December at participating galleries in Eureka Springs

WHERE -- downtown Eureka Springs

INFO -- info@quicksilvergallery.com

Galleries in Eureka Springs stay open late one evening each month, with the exception of May, which is the May Festival of the Arts in that town. Instead, the galleries stay open each Saturday night that month. The gallery strolls offer the opportunity to see art and enjoy light refreshments along the way.

NAN What's Up on 03/27/2015

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