It’s summer in Fayetteville which means school’s out and the temperature is high. While it’s easy to stay indoors and enjoy the air conditioning, the city has a long list of activities to get out of the house and enjoy the summer. Whether it’s getting together with friends and playing golf at one of the many golf courses around the city, gathering with your family to watch the fireworks at Arvest Ballpark after an Arkansas Naturals baseball game or spending an evening solo to listen to one of the many local artists lined up for the Gulley Park Concert series, there will never be a dull day in Fayetteville. Check out this list of summer happenings curated by the Fayetteville City Lifestyle team to add to your calendar:
The Gulley Park Concert Series
Gulley Park is a staple of Fayetteville, with amenities that include a playground, walking trails, an outdoor gym and an interactive splash pad for children. Additionally, for the last 29 years, Gulley Park has been home to a beloved concert series featuring up-and-coming artists and bands for six nights of live music, food trucks, and artist vendors. Spend an evening celebrating art and live music by attending one (or all!) of the Gulley Park Concert Series’ shows, including a kids’ night that features bounce houses, obstacle courses, face painting booths, and more. This summer’s lineup includes:
June 12: Ultra Suede
June 19: National Park Radio
June 26: Emo Night: Taylor’s Version (Kids Night)
July 10: Rochelle Bradshaw & Hypnotion
July 17: Dandelion Heart
July 24: King Cabbage Brass Band
The Arkansas Naturals Fireworks Show
The Arkansas Naturals baseball team is a beloved staple of Northwest Arkansas. Each home game features local schools’ choirs and marching bands, have interactive games on the fields for children in the crowds, and has different themed games that include $1 Hot Dogs, Thirsty Thursdays and pop-culture themed nights, but did you know that the Arvest Ballpark is home to one of the largest firework shows in the entire state of Arkansas? On certain Friday and Saturday night home games, Arkansas Naturals ticket holders are welcome to stay after the game to enjoy a massive firework show – a perfect way to end the week with your loved ones.
Fayetteville Movement Festival at Mount Sequoyah
It’s important to stay active during the summer, but there are more ways to do so than just exercising or running on the treadmill. On July 4-6th, Mount Sequoyah is hosting its annual Fayetteville Movement Festival, a three-day event that hosts dance, art, therapy and improvisation classes that are designed for beginners. The festival is on a mission to nurture the creative sides of those who attend. Tickets range in price depending on your desired level of access for the weekend, but all children may take part in the festival for free, according to the festival’s website. Grab your tickets while they last!
Firefly Fling Festival
On July 19th from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., the Firefly Fling Festival is hosted at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. Come dressed as a pirate, fairy, pirate, superhero or any other fantastical being and spend the evening with mermaids and pirates. The event will feature food trucks, educational displays, henna tattoos, face painting, fairy houses, and giant bubbles. After a night of singing and dancing, the festival will close with fire dancers and a laser light show. Adult tickets are available for $35 and childrens’ tickets are available for $17 and botanical garden member prices for adults and children are listed for $25 and $12, respectively.
Stonebridge Meadows Golf Club
Spending an afternoon on the green can be an easy way to pass the time this summer, regardless of if you are a member of a country club or not. Stonebridge Meadows Golf Club offers interested golfers access to its golf course and driving range for a fee. Whether you are a golf expert or you are new to the tee, Stonebridge Meadow’s accessibility is a perfect addition to your summer activity calendar.
Wilson Park Municipal Pool
When temperatures are at their peak, one of the best ways to cool off is to take a dip in the water. With affordable admission prices and a range of activities and events such as its Dive-In Movie program, the Wilson Park Municipal Pool can help the entire family beat the heat and make new memories.
Fayetteville Public Library’s Summer Reading Program
While there are great ways to explore the city this summer, sometimes resting at home is a great way to spend the day. Luckily, there is still a way to get involved with the city from the comfort of your home with the Fayetteville Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. For the entire summer, the Fayetteville Public Library is offering an incentive program designed to get readers of all ages to log their reading. Regardless of if you are reading handheld books or through audiobooks, readers are entered in a drawing for each milestone they achieve. Prizes for winners range from local coupons to a grand prize. If you aren’t already a cardholder at the Fayetteville Public Library, join for free today and start getting rewards for your reading!
Local Trails
For the explorers in the family, Fayetteville has a wide selection of outdoors areas to explore. The Lake Fayetteville trail is an approximately 5.5 mile paved circle around Lake Fayetteville that is friendly to walkers, joggers, runners, bikers and electric scooters and has several trailheads to enter from. A much shorter hike is the Mount Sequoyah Woods Trail, an approximately 1.25 mile loop in the woods of Mount Sequoyah and features two trailheads to start your hike.
Local Bar and Coffee Shop Events
While there are several locations and events happening in Fayetteville this summer that are accessible for all ages, there are certainly some happenings this summer designed for the adults. Check out the events calendars of your favorite local bars and coffee shops for a wide selection of ways to spend your evenings while supporting your local businesses, including trivia nights, karaoke nights, wine tastings, and more.
It’s important to stay active during the summer, but there are more ways to do so than just exercising or running on the treadmill
For the explorers in the family, Fayetteville has a wide selection of outdoors areas to explore.
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