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What to Expect: October First Friday - Haunted Holler

1. OCTOBER’S THEME: HAUNTED HOLLER

We are thrilled to have Walmart back as our presenting sponsor for the 2025 season. We also want to give a big THANK YOU to our incredible community partners, including the City of Bentonville, Visit Bentonville, and the Walton Family Foundation.

On October 3rd, it’s First Friday | Haunted Holler! The Bentonville Square transforms into a spooky-good time with live music, themed vendors, a pumpkin carving contest, trick-or-treat fun, and all the haunted vibes. Grab your costume and celebrate fall with us—it’s the spookiest First Friday of the year!

2. First Friday Schedule

11:00 - 9:00 PM Food Trucks on the Square

• Carsten Concessions
• Rolling Taco
• Downtown Dawgs
• Kona Ice of Bentonville & Fayetteville
• Holey Moley Mini Donuts
• Takashimura Hibachi / Hillbachi Japanese Grill
• Chelle’s Burger Joint

12:00 - 1:00 PM: Yoga on the Square 

Start your Haunted Holler morning with a stretch! Roll out your mat beneath the Great Pumpkin on the Square and flow through a fun, all-levels yoga class with Yoga Story!  

3:00 - 9:00 PM: First Friday booths officially open! (Giveaways and samples begin at 5:00 PM)

Mainstage Schedule:

4:30 - 4:45 PM Perry Ryan Theater

5:00 - 5:45 PM Abby Pierce

5:45 - 6:00 PM Razorback Spirit Squad & Big Red

6:00 - 7:15 PM Jukebox Confession

7:20 PM Pumpkin Carving Contest Winner Reveal

7:20 - 7:30 PM Monster March: Halloween Costume parade

7:30 - 9:00 PM Po Ramblin Boys

3. FIRST FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS: 

Glow Row - Pumpkin Carving Contest - Calling all pumpkin pros! We’re lining the Square with your spooktacular (or totally goofy!) carved creations, and we want YOU to join in the fun. Bring your best pumpkin masterpiece and let the crowd decide whose carving reigns supreme!

Guests will cast their votes throughout the night, and the champion pumpkin carver will score a gift card. Please, no real flames—faux candles only! Voting tickets are available at the DBI tent, just to the left of the Mainstage.

Carve it. Bring it. Show it off. Think you’re up for the challenge? Please bring your pumpkin to the square between 12:00 and 4:00 pm on Friday to enter!

Winner will be announced on stage at 7:20 PM.

Fright & Delight Stage 5:00 - 8:00 PM - The Fright and Delight Stage on Second. Howl- Off- Contest, Halloween Trivia, and more spooky fun!

Monster March: A Halloween Costume Parade - Kids, pets, and all are welcome to join the Halloween Costume parade around the square. Meet us at the DBI booth by the stage at 7:20 for a spooky march around the square. 

Haunted Holler Photo-Ops - The Razorback Spirit Squad is coming to First Friday and you won’t want to miss it! Come out and be a part of the Razorback energy as they bring the Hog Call and that unbeatable Hog spirit to the heart of Bentonville! Whether you're a lifelong fan or just love a good time, this is the perfect way to kick off your weekend!

Thrill Yard - Think you can conquer a bull and handle the Haunted Holler Thrills? Meet us on Main Street! If there’s something strange in the neighborhood…it’s probably our awesome First Friday guests. The Ghostbusters are rolling in with proton packs, traps and the perfect photo-op.

Your future looks bright - Guests will have the opportunity to have their palms read and faces painted!

Visit the DBI booth for your final Passport to Adventure sticker for October and grab a ballot to vote for your favorite pumpkin!

Besides the Haunted Holler fun, keep an eye out for other spooky surprises, and mysterious haunts rolling into First Friday… you never know what creepy characters or eerie haulers might pop up! 

4. 2025 First Friday Neighborhoods

Divided into two distinct zones: Venture Village, sponsored by Deep Roots Health Center, and Travelers Trail, sponsored by McLarty Daniel. Each zone will be packed with fun vendors and activity booths for you to explore. Tune into your sense of adventure and community, and get ready for a stellar time!

5. Sensory Alley at October First Friday!

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

This month, our friends with BlueSprig Pediatrics are taking over Sensory Alley with sensory activities and helping us create a calming environment.

BlueSprig Bentonville is on a mission to change the lives of children with autism. As a nationwide leader in providing applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, their team of highly skilled board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) and registered behavior technicians are dedicated to providing compassionate, individualized care. This includes social skills training and guidance sessions for parents and family.

6. 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!

7. October’s Non-Profit Partner

This season at First Friday, we will have a new non-profit partner each month. September’s non-profit partner is the Special Olympics of Arkansas. While you're exploring First Friday, be sure to stop by their booth to learn more and show your support. The mission of Special Olympics Arkansas is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.

8. All things 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 our NEW, interactive parking map. https://downtownbentonville.org/explore/parking