First Friday 2024 ….is HERE!

It’s the last month for Bentonville’s First Friday of the 2024 season!

For 7 months, from April to September, we’ve dusted off the ole’ boombox and brought back the classic hits! And now we’re calling everyone to Downtown Bentonville for October where “It’s Hip to be Square!”

We are thrilled to have Walmart as our presenting sponsor for the 2024 season. We also want to thank our incredible community partners, including the City of Bentonville, Visit Bentonville, and the Walton Family Foundation.

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NEW FOR ‘24 — First Friday Jams

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

NOW…DRUM ROLL PLEASE…Here’s what to expect at October's First Friday in Downtown Bentonville!

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1. October’s Theme: Spooktacular!

• Tricks, Treats, & everything SPOOKTACULAR!  Picture this, Halloween-themed games, crafts, and face paintings.  Get ready to shop fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving-themed jewelry, home goods, and hand-made items from local vendors.

• Calling all ghosts, ghouls, and goblins! Our Halloween Costume Contest is creeping up, and it’s going to be scare-rific! Whether you're going solo, bringing a boo, gathering the whole ghoul gang, or showing off your little monster's spooky style—there's a category for everyone! 🕸️ Judges will be the DBI staff, so keep your eyes peeled.some text
  • Best Solo Costume (feeling ghosted? Show off your solo fit)
    Best Couple Costume (spook-tacular duos welcome!)
    Best Group Costume (squad ghouls for life!)
    Best Kids Costume (tiny terrors unite!)

• We haven’t forgotten about our fun, furry friends. Bring your pups for the Best Friends Doggy Costume Contest, visit the paw-some, Halloween-themed photo booth at Animal Urgent Care of Bentonville, and Dog Paw Pumpkin Prints at Winston & Company.

• Come celebrate a spooktacular Hallo“weenie” with the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. Take pictures with this American icon and “meat” the Hotdoggers that drive it all across the country, you also might be able to get some special ‘Wienermobilia’ during your visit!

• NWA Space is bringing to life Frankenstein’s Laboratory along with some awesome science experiments that you can engage in.

• Unlock the secrets of your future! 🔮 Visit our fortune-telling booth for insights into love, luck, and destiny. Your path awaits—are you ready to discover it?

• If there’s something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call?! GHOSTBUSTERS! That’s right, THE Ghostbusters and their Ectomobile will be on the hunt for Slimer and the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man! Keep your eyes peeled!

• Travel to the center of the square for Jurassic Park with Better Homes & Gardens Journey. They’ll also be giving away a 12-foot Halloween yard skeleton!

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2.  This Month’s Take-Over Sponsor: Werther's Originals

Nothing speaks to fall better than Werther’s Candy! YUM! Visit the Werthers booth on Main Street for baking recipes full of harvest flavors (Apple, Pumpkin, Cinnamon, Maple). They will have FREE candy and an extravagant fall photo booth!

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3. Oktoberfest Biergarten

Experience local Breweries during First Friday - Bentonville Brewery, Rendezvous Junction, Bike Rack Brewery, and Social Project Brewery. Join us in the alleyway behind Arvest Bank. Brats by Downtown Dawgs and a variety of beer will be available for purchase from 4:00 - 8:00 PM.

- Rendezvous Junction

- Bentonville Brewery

- Bike Rack Brewery

- Social Project Brewery

Must be 21 & Up to enter.

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4. The First Friday Schedule - Slim Chickens MainStage:

12:00 - 1:00 PM FREE Yoga with Yoga Story

3:00 - 9:00 PM First Friday Vendor Booths Open

4:30 - 4:45 PM Perry Ryan  Theater

4:45 - 5:00 PM NWA Ballet Theatre - Dracula

5:00 - 6:00 PM CLASSIC FLOW

6:00 - 7:30 PM Vintage Pistol

7:30 - 9:00 PM Uncrowned Kings Band

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5. Your Favorite Food Trucks Return To The Square!

Here’s the full food truck lineup for October: Make your way up Main Street for these yummy options…

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Downtown Dawgs

Rolling Taco

Carsten Concessions

Swalty

Chelle's Burger Joint

Kona Ice of Bentonville & Fayetteville

Hillbachi Grill

Joyhouse Coffee

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6. Sensory Alley

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

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. We 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.

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 PlayStrong Pediatric Therapy are taking over!

• Stop by Sensory Alley and join them for various stimulating activities.
• Spooky sensory bins: monster eyeballs, Frankenstein slime, pumpkin guts, etc.

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

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7.  Kids Zone at First Baptist Church

Located behind Studio 412 on Main St, FBC hosts a FREE, KIDS ZONE including bouncy houses, blow-up slides, yummy waffles on a stick, and so much more fall fun!

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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 behind Arvest Bank (201 NE A St). 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 Arvest for providing the new location!

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Public Restrooms are available at Bentonville Community Church of the Nazarene.

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9. Chill Zone/Blue Room

• Coldwell Banker’s Chill Zone/Blue Room: Located on the corner of Main and Second, stop in for refreshing drinks and complimentary snacks.

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10. 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!

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

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

Downtown Bentonville Parking Map

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As always, we recommend carpooling with your friends and family. Arrive in Downtown Bentonville early and explore the many shops and restaurants this sweet town has to offer. To explore more, click the link here.

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11. 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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Our 2024 September 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 McLarty Daniel:

• Stroll down S. Main 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 for the whole family. 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.  Vendors will educate, inspire, entertain, and offer products of all kinds for the whole family.

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