Before we get started, we wanted to give a big THANK YOU to our generous community partners including Walmart, the City of Bentonville, Visit Bentonville, The Walmart Museum, and the Walton Family Foundation.

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Here’s what you can expect from September First Friday fueled by ZOA Energy!

ZOA statement: “When you find energy, that motivation to get started, it doesn't stop with you. It keeps going, keeps evolving, keeps igniting those around you. ZOA is here to light that spark inside you with a cleaner energy formula. Crafted to help you reach your potential and inspire others to reach just as high.”

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1. The theme: “In Motion”

Bentonville is a town on the move! “In Motion” will encompass everything that moves…And who better to lead the movement than our September First Friday sponsor, Segway?!

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2. Sponsor: Segway

Join the Segway Takeover on the Downtown Bentonville Square and take part in an innovative, sustainable, and technological journey in the micro-mobility space. Test ride their latest kickscooter models the F-SE and the C15. Experience the Segway Thrill going up to 19 mph on kickscooters and take home a small gift to remember.

Segway is the worldwide leader in personal transportation. Founded in 1999 by renowned inventor, Dean Kamen, Segway has always strived to provide high-quality, safe, and reliable products for its customers.

3. The First Friday Event / Music Lineup

4:30-4:40 PM Opening

4:40-5:00 PM Flippenout Trampoline Show

5:00-5:30 PM DJ Girlfriend

5:30-5:50 PM Flippenout Trampoline Show

6:00-6:30 PM DJ Girlfriend

6:30-6:50 PM Flippenout Trampoline Show

6:50-7:20 PM DJ Girlfriend

7:30-9:00 PM Kris Allen

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4. Flippenout Trampoline Show

"Flippenout provides a world-class heart-pounding trampoline show including Olympic-type routines, skis, snowboards, acro ball, single double, and even triple flips with each performance. The show performers use plenty of comedy and witty commentary to keep you entertained and engaged the entire show! Get ready to cheer on America's most entertaining trampoline artists as they present the Flippenout Extreme trampoline show!"

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5. What will you see at “In Motion”:

Amazeum

Automata

• A mechanical toy that can be tinkered with using stoppers, cams, cranks, and toppers. Guests can explore the inner workings of the mechanism and how force and motion affects the different parts of the toy.

Squig Toss

• Peek inside the inner workings of mechanical toys to explore force and motion. Put motion into action through a fun game of Squig Toss!
• A fun game where you get to see force and motion put into action through tossing squig toys onto a target board. Guests can explore different trajectories and best ways to throw the Squigz so they stick to the board.

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NWA Wood Designs Trains

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Learn to dance with:

• Fred Astaire Dance Studios
• Rince Arkansas Academy of Irish dance & Ozark Mountain Irish Arts

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Swim like a fish with:

• Goldfish Swim School

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NWA Space and Science Center:

• Physics of bicycles.

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Burn some calories with:

• Orange Theory
• Hotworx and
• Pure Barre Pinnacle Hills

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Bike with:

• All Bikes All Day
• Trailblazers

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Soccer Skills Challenges:

• Sporting Arkansas

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Exercise creativity:

• Crystal Bridges Mobile Art Lab

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6. Stay moving with Yoga by Yoga Story NWA

• 12:00 PM: Yoga on the Square with Yoga Story

• Before the First Friday festivities begin, join Yoga Story at noon on the Bentonville Square for a complimentary yoga class.  All yoga levels are welcome to attend!  All you need to do is bring a yoga mat and water.

• 1:30 and 5:00 PM: Kitten Yoga by Yoga Story

• Join the class to help benefit the Mew Cat Rescue
• 25 people per class
• $22/ticket
• https://www.yogastory.info/workshops

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7. Neighborhoods At First Friday: First Fridays in 2023 are bigger, better, and easier to navigate by being divided into 4 sections called neighborhoods - Engaging, Creating, Welcoming, and Belonging. Read on to learn more.

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Engaging sponsored by Bentonville Acupuncture:

Our “Engaging” Neighborhood will feature a variety of interactive, interesting, and entertaining action.  Vendors and activities will be located on 2nd Street.

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Creating sponsored by McClarty Daniel: Stroll up NE A Street to visit the “Creating” Neighborhood. The booths will include some of Bentonville’s most talented artists and makers. As well as an interactive craft for the whole family.

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Welcoming sponsored by NW Orthodontics: Continuing over to SE Main street is the portal to our “Welcoming” neighborhood.   This neighborhood is where you’ll find family and kid focused vendors, games, and activities including Segway, the NWA Rolling Video Game Truck, and Gel Blaster!  

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Belonging sponsored by Lifewater: Our final neighborhood is the “Belonging” neighborhood which can be found on NW Main St. It will include vendors and booths from groups that make-up our unique Bentonville community. And of course all our pets!

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8. A Downtown Bentonville For Everyone

Come visit the DBI booth located next to the AVAD3 Mainstage and sign your name on our Bentonville Banner! Then catch the banner in the Bentonville Christmas Parade later on this year.

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9.  The Schmieding Foundation Inc. presents Sensory Alley

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.

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.

Sensory Alley is generously funded by The Schmieding Foundation Incorporated.

For the month of September, Inner Circle Autism Network will be providing the activities for our Sensory Alley.

• Discover a world of textures, colors and flavors with Inner Circle Autism Network. String Fruit Loops, Cheerios and Life Savers onto pull-apart Twizzlers in an activity that stimulates the senses and promotes fine motor skill development. Participants are encouraged to snack on their creations!

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10. Yummy Food Trucks

Here’s the full food-truck lineup:

• Downtown Dawgs
• Rolling Taco
• Carsten Concessions
• Kona Ice of Bentonville & Fayetteville
• K'Zolis LLC
• Takashimura hibachi express llc/ hillbachi japanese grill
• Wicked Wood Fired Pizza

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11.  The First Friday Kids Zone hosted by FBC Bentonville.  

Find the fun behind Studio 412 on Main St, FBC hosts a free, fun kids zone. Bouncy house, slides and more!

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12. 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.

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

drop-downFollow this link to a virtual map courtesy of our friends at Visit Bentonville. Once you’re on the map, in the filter drop down menu select parking!

https://wander-app.com/embed?mapId=d7241ed5-cbb9-40c9-a302-3c3ef8b727fe&zoom=16.91&lat=36.3732603&lng=-94.2085091&bearing=0&pitch=40&version_id=05644b26-4923-4a1d-8a7a-8bfadecf75c4

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

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First Friday Bike Valet:

As a part of our "In Motion" theme, our friends at the Bentonville Moves Coalition have teamed up with Pedal It Forward and Trailblazers to bring First Friday goers a FREE bike valet. Thanks to Bentonville Parks and Rec, the Dave Peel Park green will be transformed into a bike valet. Running from 3-9 PM, 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.

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13. NEW Accessible Shuttle Service At First Friday

Please note, this parking and shuttle service is designated for community members with mobility challenges.

Downtown Bentonville Incorporated has secured support from Northwest Medical Center - Bentonville to provide designated parking, and a shuttle service to First Friday and holiday events.

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This shuttle service will run from 4 PM to 8 PM during August First Friday.

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Providing the reserved parking is First Baptist Church Bentonville. The church’s west parking lot will be available for guests with mobility challenges and their passengers. The lot is located at 2nd Street and B Street. Signage will show drivers where to park.  A 16 passenger ADA shuttle will pick up and drop off drivers and their passengers in a safe location at DBI’s event.

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14. So when does it all begin?  And when does it end?

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Food Trucks will roll up to the square and be available starting at 11:00 AM for lunch.

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First Fridays will now start at  3:00 PM and run until 9:00 PM.

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Please be advised and be respectful of downtown street closures during this time.  We’re all in this together!

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15. Share your photos with us & follow along.

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@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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If you attend First Friday, fueled by ZOA Energy, make sure to tag us on Instagram at @downtownbentonville for a chance to be featured on our channel.

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