First Friday 2024 is HERE!

Downtown Bentonville Incorporated’s First Friday is BACK!!!!  This year we are throwing it back, as we dub our season ‘Downtown Mixtape’.  Get ready for big hair, neon colors, and of course unforgettable tunes.  For 7 months, from April to October, dust off the ole’ boombox and bring back the cassette tapes because we’re calling everyone to Downtown Bentonville where “It’s Hip to be Square!”

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This season will be unlike any other.  We are thrilled to have Walmart as our presenting sponsor for the 2024 season. We also want to give a big THANK YOU to our incredible community partners including the City of Bentonville, Walmart, Visit Bentonville, The Walmart Museum, and the Walton Family Foundation.

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NEW FOR ‘24 — First Friday Jams

🎶 GET READY for the monthly block parties by jamming out to the ultimate First Friday Mixtape. Click here to listen!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE…. Here’s what to expect at APRIL First Friday in Downtown Bentonville!!

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Our 2024 April First Friday Neighborhoods:  

Neighborhoods make their return for our 2024 First Friday season! Divided into three distinct zones named Remix, Rewind, and Replay, the neighborhoods promise a fun and organized way to experience First Friday.

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Remix sponsored by McClarty Daniel:

• Stroll up NE A Street to visit the “Remix” Neighborhood. The booths will include some of Bentonville’s most talented artists and makers. As well as interactive crafts for the whole family.

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Replay sponsored by Deep Roots Health Center:

• Our “Replay” Neighborhood will feature a variety of interactive, interesting, and entertaining action.  Vendors and activities will be located on N. Main St.

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Rewind sponsored by NW Orthodontics:

• Continuing over to Second St. is the portal to our “Rewind” neighborhood. This neighborhood is where you’ll feel the vibe of this month’s theme!  Vendors will educate, inspire, entertain, and offer products centered around the Eclipse.

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1. April’s theme: The Eclipse

The total solar eclipse on April 8th is one of the coolest events in Arkansas's history! It will bring people from all over the United States to the Natural State to view this awesome phenomenon. First Friday will celebrate all things ✨Eclipse✨ and get the community educated and excited about Monday’s event. As a BONUS, join us on Monday, 4/8, for our ‘Solar-Bration On The Square’ - an eclipse viewing party on the Downtown Bentonville Square.

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But before the moon passes in front of the sun… it’s First Friday.

What can you expect to see:

• What would an eclipse event be without NWA Space? At its booth, NWA Space will show a demo that explains how an eclipse works. In this interactive experience, you'll have the opportunity to understand, witness, and even simulate solar eclipses.

• Additionally, we will have a Solar System Walk – a journey through space where you can immerse yourself in a celestial neighborhood. Imagine yourself stepping into the vastness of outer space, each step you take represents millions of miles traversing the distances between planets. Each step you take brings an understanding of the wonders of the cosmos while inspiring awe and wonder.

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• The CB to You Mobile Art Lab will host a drop-in artmaking activity and hand out free art kits with tickets to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art’s latest exhibition, Exquisite Creatures, so grab one while they last! Further exploring the beautiful intersections of art and science, the Crystal Bridges team is collaborating with the Amazeum to celebrate the eclipse.  Stop by the Amazeum booth to learn about and create a Pinhole card projector. Then decorate your card at the Crystal Bridges/ Momentary booth.

• Peel Compton and The Bentonville History Museum will have some fun Eclipse activities as well.

Even our vendors are jumping in on the fun! Themed candles, clothes, artwork, crafts, jewelry and more. Plus, a ton of eclipse-themed games! Check out The Paper Trail Book Store and The Cozy Librarian for interesting books on space, the planets, and the eclipse.

We can’t imagine a flashback and Eclipse event without including the Star Wars team!  Catch them roaming around for photo ops!

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2. April Takeover Sponsor: Daiya

Get ready to eclipse the ordinary with Daiya’s mouthwatering Dairy-Free Mexican Blend Shreds Quesadillas and Dairy-Free Cheddar Slices Grilled Cheese. Thanks to our new & improved Daiya Oat Cream™ blend, Daiya’s cheese melts like dairy! Some fun Daiya keepsakes will also be distributed for a limited time. Don’t miss out on First Friday with Daiya as they celebrate the solar eclipse with an explosion of delicious dairy-free treats.

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3. April’s First Friday Schedule

11:00 AM Lunch on the Square- Food Trucks open

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12:00 PM Yoga on the Square with Yoga Story (FREE)

• Before the First Friday festivities begin, join Yoga Story at 12, noon on the Bentonville Square for a complimentary yoga class. All yoga levels are welcome to attend! Be sure to bring your own mat, blanket, or towel, and plenty of water.

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3:00 - 9:00 PM All First Friday booths officially open!

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3:30 - 4:00 PM Gather at NWA Rolling Video Games in front of Walmart’s Neighborhood Market with the Bentonville Chamber of Commerce for the NWA Rolling Video Games Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – featuring Retro-style games for the whole family!

5:00 - 8:00 PM Backroom Social Club’s Silent Disco (stage-side)

• Experience the heartbeat of Bentonville's music and arts scene at Backroom Social Club's Silent Disco booth at April’s First Friday. Put on one of our 40 headsets and be whisked away to a world of music where you can dance freely to a live DJ mixing classic House tracks on the square, while others marvel at the immersive experience.

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5:00 - 9:00 PM Slim Chickens Mainstage – Live music (read on for full schedule)

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4. Slim Chickens Mainstage

April’s stage is being turned over to NWA’s favorite DJs. Join 4 of our area’s top DJs for a pre-eclipse dance party!

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Mainstage:

5:00 - 6:00 PM ThatDJMike

6:00 - 7:00 PM Swift720

7:00 - 8:00 PM M.Bolez

8:00 - 9:00 PM Theronious Chunk

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5. Your Favorite Food Trucks Return To The Square!

Here’s the full food truck lineup for April:

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• Carsten Concessions
• Rolling Taco
• Flavorful Kettle Corn
• Who Cut the Cheese Food Truck
• Hillbachi Grill
• Downtown Dawgs
• The Swalty Kernel
• Sweet Spins Cotton Candy

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6. Sensory Alley is BACK!

The Schmieding Foundation Inc. presents Sensory Alley sponsored by Go-Go SqueeZ

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First Friday is a large, loud event that can be overstimulating.

The Schmieding Foundation Inc.’s Sensory Alley is an inclusive space for individuals who experience barriers in attending First Friday.

DBI and The Schmieding Foundation Inc. want all individuals who experience these barriers to have a safe and inclusive space inside the First Friday footprint in order to attend and enjoy First Friday.

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Sensory Alley is a drop-in, cool-down space. To ensure a safe and inclusive space, all individuals requiring support must be accompanied by a family member/caregiver while visiting the space.

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This month our friends at Post Pediatrics Therapy are taking over!

• Solar system water beads sensory bin
• DIY cardboard rocket tent coloring

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*Sensory Alley is generously funded by The Schmieding Foundation Incorporated.

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7.  Kids Zone at First Baptist Church

Each First Friday, be sure to visit FBC’s Kids Zone! Behind Studio 412 on Main St, FBC hosts a FREE, kids zone including bouncy houses, blow-up slides, yummy waffles on a stick, and more!

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8. Free Bike Valet

Our friends at @bentonvillemovescoalition have teamed up with @pedalitforwardnwa and @we.are.trailblazers to bring First Friday goers a FREE bike valet at the Dave Peel Park green space. The bike valet will be open from 3-9 PM.  Simply bike to First Friday, check your bike in with the Bentonville Moves team, and enjoy the fun on the square! Once you're ready to leave, head back to the valet, pick up your bike, and you're good to go! It's that easy. Look for their tents! Racks were generously donated by Pedal It Forward. Special thanks to Bentonville Parks and Rec for the location at Dave Peel Park.

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9. Now let’s talk parking.

We want to offer as much guidance as possible when it comes to parking downtown because we know it can get tricky. As our town is growing and developing, we are here to help!

Please remember, that roads directly around the Bentonville Square will be closed to accommodate the crowds.

Use this link here to access our updated Downtown Bentonville Parking Map!

Downtown Bentonville Parking Map

As always, we recommend carpooling with your friends and family.

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10. Share your photos with us & follow along.

@DowntownBentonville is the official social media account for Downtown Bentonville Inc.  We’ll post all event updates on our accounts first, so follow us for the latest news, and be sure to check out our stories for fun sneak peeks.

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Be sure to tag us for a chance to have your photos and videos reshared!

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