Nothing says sweet, sweet summertime in Fayetteville, Arkansas like the Gulley Park Summer Concert Series. Gathering a perfect cross-section of the community in one of the city’s most-loved parks, the multi-show lineup provides free live music representing a range of genres. Keeping the fun going until the sun goes down, all concerts are held on Thursday evenings at the Gulley Park gazebo, and feature a food truck rally to help satisfy hungry bellies.

Attendees are encouraged to bring lounge chairs or picnic blankets to add to the patchwork of comfortable spots to enjoy the tunes. Well-behaved, leashed furry friends are welcome, too.

JBGB, a literal playground for adults that happens to serve house-brewed frosty beverages and all manner of tasty bar food, is also fully committed to bringing the people to the party all summer long with an outstanding free concert series. VIP tickets for each show are available for purchase; visit the JBGB website for information about times and pricing at thejbgb.com/fsc.

If you’re wondering where to find the prettiest spots in town, one location that easily lands near or at the very top of anyone’s list is the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. There are countless reasons to make frequent visits to this Fayetteville gem, with its twelve themed gardens and the region’s only butterfly house—but you might not realize one of the best excuses to come to the BGO is for the fun and FREE Terrific Tuesday Nights that take place throughout the summer season.

Open to the public at no charge on Tuesday evenings during the months of June through August, the garden staff welcomes the community to family-friendly programming to celebrate beautiful summer nights. The gate is open from 5 to 8 p.m., and evenings featuring concerts wrap up at or before 9 p.m.

Craft beer culture and the rise of microbreweries in Fayetteville is definitely not a passing phase. Just within the confines of the city itself you’ll find several breweries and their public taprooms with atmospheres exhibiting personalities as distinct and diverse as the beers they produce.

It’s impossible to choose a favorite, so we humbly suggest you try them all. If you do see an exploratory brewery adventure in your future, make sure to check out the Fayetteville Ale Trail, Arkansas’ original craft beer tour of Northwest Arkansas. Get your passport to collect stamps from 15 stops, and you’ll receive a prize. Here are the first six locations to get you started…Salut! Prost! Slaynt! Cheers!