First Thursday is a vibrant, free monthly arts & culture festival brought to you by Experience Fayetteville. From May through October of each year, the event features live music, a robust vendor market, community activations, group bike rides, and different activities based around a new theme each month!
Experience
Experience
Surrounded by the scenic Ozark Mountains, Fayetteville is the entertainment capital of Northwest Arkansas. With our thriving arts scene, legendary live music and nightlife, culinary treasures, and events and attractions for all ages, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in Fayetteville! Enjoy nearly anything you can imagine, from Razorback athletic events to winding mountain roads made for motorcycles. We’ve got enough outdoor activities to last a lifetime, and a system of cycling trails befitting of the only Bike City in the United States. When you experience Fayetteville, brimming with historic sites, boutiques, and family-friendly activities, you’ll find enough variety to keep your entire group all smiles.
We invite you to explore our unique corner of Arkansas and immerse yourself in our thriving community. With its small town feel and big time culture, Fayetteville’s full of attractions that just might find you extending your stay!
The Experience Fayetteville Visitors Center, located on the Historic Downtown Square, is the go-to place to learn about the best things to do and events going on while you’re in town! The Visitors Center offers seating areas, a phone charging station, and local art on display, plus videos and wall maps showcasing attractions throughout Fayetteville. As the neon sign says, all are welcome! Be sure to make this your first stop and pick up a free Visitor’s Guide, Fayetteville Ale Trail passport, maps, and brochures to help you get around. Plus, browse a unique assortment of locally made merchandise and one-of-a-kind souvenirs!
Spend an afternoon bonding with the family at Arkadia Retrocade, where parents can relive their arcade days on games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, and kids can ditch the PlayStation for the afternoon to enjoy the timeless strategies of games like Tetris and Asteroids. The classic, stand-up arcade machines are straight out of the ‘80s: vintage, out-of-service machines, fixed up and installed in the Retrocade! $5 - cash only - covers you for all-day game play, no quarters necessary.
You won’t want to miss this museum that flies! In a way, it’s literal -- Fayetteville’s Arkansas Air & Military Museum is an unusual one in that many of the historic aircraft on display can still take flight. Residing in an all-wood hangar listed on the Arkansas Register of Historic Places, this largest aviation museum in Arkansas is a fascinating glimpse into the colorful history of aviation in the state, bursting with original artifacts and aviation memorabilia. Small but mighty, this tucked-away gem is an experience the entire family can enjoy.
Stroll along the iconic Dickson Street in downtown Fayetteville long enough and you’ll stumble upon ArtCourt, a one-of-a-kind destination that celebrates the intersection of art and sports! Amidst a street full of bars and shops, the space suddenly opens up along the sidewalk into a basketball court, transformed by a vibrant and colorful mural that covers every inch of the space. Look closely at the colorful patterns underfoot and you’ll hardly believe that they were painted by hand! ArtCourt is open to the public, and visitors are encouraged to come and play basketball, relax in the shade, or simply admire and explore the vibrant and dynamic art space. Be sure to snap a selfie in this oh-so-Instagrammable space and everyone you know will wish that they’d gone to Fayetteville too!
As if the lush landscaping and vibrant themed gardens (all twelve of them!) of our beloved Botanical Garden of the Ozarks right here in Fayetteville aren’t enough, BGO also boasts the only Butterfly House in the state of Arkansas and over 70,000 visitors annually. In true Fayetteville fashion, BGO is a lovely, whimsical, and must-see destination where you can revel in the peace of the outdoors and connect with nature - and each other! Enjoy a leisurely stroll, join a guided tour, or stop by for an event and enjoy the enchanting beauty of the Garden.
Boulders & Brews is an indoor rock climbing gym and coffee shop located in downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas. The combination indoor bouldering joint and coffee shop is the perfect mix of adrenaline and relaxation, offering a full range of climbing options plus delicious coffee and snacks (all sourced locally!). Inside, you’ll find bouldering walls for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced climbers, including the first Kilter Board in Arkansas and an adjustable spray board. Boulders & Brews specifically caters to new climbers, so it’s a great place to meet new locals and challenge yourself physically! After an exhilarating climb on the gym wall’s slabs, vertical faces, overhangs, and roof, you can unwind in the coffee shop and enjoy a delicious latte or snack in the sunny, airy facility. Boulders & Brews is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for a fun and challenging workout, a brand new experience to bring back home, or a place to gather with friends. Whether you're a seasoned climber or a complete beginner, Boulders & Brews is for you!
Not only did a future United States President and Secretary of State call this now-museum in Fayetteville, Arkansas their first home, they got married right in the middle of the living room!
The Clinton House is a small, unassuming house museum situated just south of the University of Arkansas campus. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the home located at 930 West Clinton Drive holds a special place in American history that reaches far beyond the bounds of Fayetteville.
Admission to the Clinton House Museum is free and includes access to the First Ladies Garden, oodles of campaign memorabilia, and a full-scale replicaa of Hillary's 1975 wedding dress (the orginal was purchased at Dillard's in the Northwest Arkansas Mall).
This self-guided beer tour gives both visitors and locals a glimpse into the unique craft brewery and cidery culture of Northwest Arkansas. The Fayetteville Ale Trail currently features 19 stops, each of which will commemorate your visit with a personalized stamp in your passport! Passports are available for no cost at any Ale Trail brewery/cidery location or at the Experience Fayetteville Visitors Center. Completed passports can be redeemed for a free prize!
Short-term visitors can attempt to conquer the Fayetteville Flight, a mini Fayetteville Ale Trail challenge featuring all the breweries in Fayetteville. See & sip at them all and get an exclusive bonus beer lover's gift from the Visitors Center courtesy of the Fayetteville Ale Trail.
If you're a bookworm, a history buff, or just looking for a unique destination to explore in Fayetteville, give the Fayetteville Public Library a second look! While a public library may not be your typical vacation destination, FPL is truly in a class of its own. This modern, spacious library offers a wide variety of resources and services for visitors of all ages and interests, while the building - including an impressive standalone event center - is architecturally interesting and the programming unique. From its extensive collection of books and multimedia materials to its state-of-the-art technology and community programs, the Fayetteville Public Library is the perfect place to discover something new and exciting. While you’re there, see if you can spot the bees on the rooftop, twirl from swings on the terrace, and discover the airplane hanging from the ceiling! Conveniently located in downtown Fayetteville, the library is also just a short walk away from some of the city's best restaurants, shops, and attractions.
Sometimes known as simply “The Square” to locals, Fayetteville’s Historic Square is a popular walkable, history-filled, family friendly location where you’ll never run out of things to do, places to shop, or food to eat! Two hours of free parking will afford you enough time to stroll the gardens, drop by our Experience Fayetteville Visitors Center, grab a local beer and a bite to eat - with time to spare! Make a day of it and enjoy a classic Fayetteville experience by picking up local produce at the Farmers’ Market, taking in the holiday spectacle that is Lights of the Ozarks, soaking in the local culture at First Thursday, or stopping by the annual Block Street Block Party.
For a unique and exciting way to release some tension in Fayetteville, check out the NWA Smash Lab, located at 1882 N Pluto Dr. Here, you'll find a one-of-a-kind destination to let loose and unleash whatever needs releasing in a safe, controlled and wickedly fun environment! With a wide range of items to destroy, from plates to electronics to furniture, the NWA Smash Lab offers the ultimate stress-relief experience. An afternoon of letting off some steam at the Smash Lab is both an unconventional way to unwind and an unforgettable Fay-cation experience!
A unique experience for groups up to eight people. This house museum was created by two folk musicians who provide a delightful story and song experience along with a quirky collection. Kelly and Donna Mulhollan are accomplished musicians who perform as the duo Still on the Hill. They also host the Ozark Instrument Museum and Exotic Instrument Museum, including dozens of handmade instruments, each with a story more delightful than the last. The museum is free, but donations are welcome. To arrange a visit, call 479-582-2291 or email
Ozark Escape is a thrilling and immersive escape room experience designed and constructed by dedicated puzzle masters in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The escape rooms are designed to challenge your problem-solving skills and critical thinking abilities as you work together as a team to find clues, solve mysteries, and escape before time runs out! Each escape room has a unique theme and storyline, allowing you to step into a different world and become fully immersed in the experience. From solving a ghastly mystery in a haunted house to discovering the secrets of Sasquatch, each room provides a challenge that will ignite your imagination! Ozark Escape makes for a great change of pace from a typical night out with friends and is also a spectacular family adventure for groups with mixed ages. The rooms are designed to be challenging but not impossible, and most importantly fun - including “cheating”, if you ask - making them accessible to anyone who loves a good puzzle. Do you have what it takes to put your skills to the test?
This family-friendly wonderland of art is home to the iconic Bluebird of Happiness and houses a six-acre art park, gallery, art classes and demonstrations. Replete with sculpture gardens, large-scale murals, sparkling glasswork, fantastical creatures, and playful fountains that are loved by visitors of all ages, Terra Studios inspires creativity in all who visit. Even your dog friends are welcome - when accompanied by conscientious owners prepared to clean up after them, of course! Terra Studios is a wildly popular Northwest Arkansas tourist attraction, and the non-profit welcomes you to visit - for free! - all year round.
Nestled in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the Wilson Park Castle is a whimsical and captivating landmark that has been enchanting visitors for decades! Completed in 1981, the charming stone structure boasts intricate details, medieval vibes, and a fantastic sensory experience. The castle and its surrounding structures are built from native stone, with pops of color provided by bits of ceramic tile, colorful rocks, and natural shells. The intricate, imagination-inspiring Castle at Wilson Park is surrounded by detailed gardens and overlooks a spring-fed pond. The unique structural piece is completely interactive and invites kids and adults alike to walk, wonder, play, climb, explore, and peer through its many nooks and notches. It's honestly irresistable!
Things to Do in Northwest Arkansas | What to Do in Fayetteville
Visitor’s Guide
Check out our Fayetteville Visitor’s Guide full of insider tips and guides to hotels, dining, entertainment, the arts, and more
