Here we are in our second week of #awesomeOctober. I wanted to feature three cool things happening around Northwest Arkansas this week because October only comes around once a year! Well, technically thirty-one days a year, but those days go so fast.
1) Take a Ghost Walk
If you’re not into haunted houses (like me), but you still want to get out for a spooky tour, Rogers Historical Museum is holding Ghost Walks starting this week. The museum began the walks in 2013 to connect with local residents and entertain them with true stories from Benton County’s early history.
The Ghost Walks begin with a guide dressed in turn of the century clothing. The tour will include eight stops in downtown Rogers with a story of murder, mayhem or mischief for each stop. Walkers will also enjoy how scenic and active the downtown area is, especially decorated for fall and Halloween.
The Ghost Walks will be held October 15th and 16th this week, and October 22nd-24th. They’ll last one hour and cost $5. Tickets can be reserved at the Rogers Historical Museum.
2) Get Crafty
It’s craft fair weekend in Northwest Arkansas. If you love homemade crafts, handcrafted woodwork, hand-sewn clothing and anything else made by hand, this is your weekend. There are multiple craft fairs happening around Northwest Arkansas. Here are a few to consider.
War Eagle Craft Fair – Set on the beautiful lawn and fields of War Eagle Mill, this is the most scenic of the fairs. War Eagle will have four full days of crafts beginning Thursday, October 15th. It’s so much fun to wander through the tents and vendor booths. As a non-crafter, I’m always amazed at some of the handiwork. You can also cross the one lane bridge, watch the mill’s water wheel spin, and head inside the mill to their gift shop and eat a meal at the Bean Palace restaurant (which is rumored to be haunted).
Ozark Regional Craft Show – If you’d prefer not to travel out to War Eagle, the regional craft show offers an indoor option in three different locations. Opening Friday, you can visit the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale, the John Q Hammons Center – Embassy Suites in Rogers and the Washington County Fairgrounds in Fayetteville. If you’re really crafty, you can hit all three.
Rodeo of the Ozarks Craft Fair – The Rodeo of the Ozarks in Springdale is holding its first craft fair this year October 15th-17th. Take the opportunity to check out the rodeo grounds and visit the booths of over forty local craftsmen and women.
3) Dancing in the Streets
Saturday, October 17th, downtown Springdale will be transformed with live music, dancing, food vendors and more for the 3rd annual ArkanSalsa, an event organized by local non-profit OneCommunity to raise money for scholarships and bring the community together in one place for food, fun and celebrating the rich diversity of Northwest Arkansas. There is an event for everyone at ArkanSalsa, including a 5k run and one mile family walk, a car show, a parade, food booths and street dancing. On Sunday, October 18th, ArkanSalsa continues on the A&M Railroad. You can purchase tickets for a 3 hour ride from Springdale to Winslow and enjoy lunch and music on the train. (Check out the NWA Deal Piggy on the ArkanSalsa Train ride) Find out more at the ArkanSalsa Facebook page.
What are you planning for another awesome October weekend?
