Downtown Bentonville Incorporated (DBI) will be highlighting some of the best art, music, and culinary experiences that Bentonville has to offer from Friday, September 2nd through Saturday, September 10th.  Art & Culinary Week is sponsored by the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and will include multiple in-person and virtual events over eight days in Downtown Bentonville. 

Festivities begin with September First Friday: Art & Culinary, which begins at 11:00am on Friday, September 2nd, as food trucks open and live music plays on the Bentonville Square. At 3:00pm, activiations and activities will open to the public and will feature a unique collaboration between the DBI event team and the Northwest Arkansas Jazz Society, featuring an all-star lineup of some of the most talented jazz musicians in the region!  Over 80 local artists, artisans and craftspeople will showcase their talents on the Bentonville Square. Attendees can expect chalk muralists, live painting, live iron forging, a percussion painting exhibit, and other hands-on art experiences.   

At 5:00pm, the Avad3 MainStage will kick off the evening with a spectacular, curated line-up from Northwest Arkansas Jazz Society. At 8:00pm, the mainstage will feature a can’t-miss performance by Charlie J Memphis, a Texan by way of Illinois who plays a mix of country, southern rock, and blues that he calls “Swamp Rock.”

September First Friday: Art & Culinary is generously sponsored by Werther’s Original.  Attendees can stop by Werther’s Original and Mamba tents in the event footprint for games, photo opportunities, and candy samples! 

Art & Culinary Week continues on Saturday, September 3rd and the Bentonville Square will be full to the brim with 85+ growers, bakers and makers in part of Bentonville Farmers Market and Art Market. This is a free event and will run from 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m and attendees can expect special art demonstrations throughout the morning.  

On Sunday, September 4th, Oz Art NWA will offer a self-guided mural and neon tour through its Oz Art Map, which can be downloaded at this link.  

Monday, September 5th features one of the city’s favorite weekly culinary offerings, Spaghetti Night at Ramo D’Olivo! Try a bowl of their delicious Tontitown pasta served with Laura’s homemade sauce, an Italian meatball, salad, and bread.  Don’t forget to add your favorite bottle of wine!  Reservations are recommended for this special event and dinner service begins at 4:30pm.  

Join Chef Erin Rowe for an Ozark Culinary Tour of Downtown Bentonville on Tuesday, September 6th! On tour, guests will enjoy four food stops including dessert and one adult beverage or mocktail. As a local food author and Ozark expert, Erin will pack in all the arts, culture and history knowledge along the way on your guided walking food tour.

Lunch and dinner tour options are available.  This is a ticketed event and tickets can be purchased here: https://s1zerugo.paperform.co

Learn how to make amazing appetizers on Wednesday, September 7th at 6:00pm at Bentonville Provisions!  The Appetizer Class will teach attendees how to make bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers, caprese antipasto, seasonal bruschetta, and cauliflower buffalo dip.  Tickets cost $65 and the class includes snacks, apps to take home, complimentary beer or wine and 20% off in the store the day of the class. Sign up online at bentonville-provisions.com.

Take an Art Gallery Stroll through Downtown Bentonville on Thursday, September 8th starting at 6:00pm.  Participating galleries will offer exhibits, free or discounted beverages, and select galleries will offer food. To see a full list of participating galleries, click here.  While you’re downtown, don’t forget to stop by the Bentonville Farmers Market on Thursday evening to participate in the POP! Kids Club program, which incentivizes children to make healthy choices at local farmers markets by giving them $2 coupons to spend on fruits and vegetables.

Continue Art & Culinary Week with a family-friendly dinner and a movie on Friday, September 9th starting at 6:00pm.  Bring a chair or picnic blanket and enjoy a free viewing of Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs!  K’Zoli’s Italian Food Truck will be on the Bentonville Square to serve up spaghetti and meatballs – plus other Italian Favorites. 

Lastly, on Saturday, September 10th don’t miss live painting and the POP! Kids Club program at the Bentonville Farmers Market from 7:30am to 1:00pm.  The market will also feature a food demonstration by UAMS and Double your Dollar.

Throughout Art & Culinary Week, select Downtown Bentonville restaurants will be offering unique Art & Culinary Week desserts and specials utilizing Ghirardelli chocolate.  Restaurants include 211 Cafe, Pressroom, Bentonville Provisions, Ozark Mountain Bagel Co., Crepes Paulette, Sweet Freedom Cheese, Bentonville Taco & Tamale Co., Trash Creamery, Tavola Trattoria, The Spark Cafe at the Walmart Museum, Table Mesa Bistro, Airship Coffee, and Wrights Barbecue. Please check individual restaurants for menu and hours.  

Also throughout the week, Downtown Bentonville Incorporated will share virtual culinary and art stories on its social media accounts. Follow @DowntownBentonville on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn to follow along!  

For more information on these events, click here.

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