The 12th annual Fayetteville Roots Festival is taking over downtown Fayetteville for a few days next summer with plenty of music and food to go around.

The Fayetteville Roots Festival, dedicated to showcasing the music and food that makes this region of the Ozarks so unique, will take place from August 25-27, 2022 in downtown Fayetteville! The 3-day event will be an intimate, walkable affair in an urban setting, utilizing downtown venues to include the Fayetteville Town Center, Fayetteville Public Library, and Roots HQ. The mainstages will all be easily traversed, spanning a 4-block area of the Downtown Fayetteville Square.

Along with the acclaimed musicians coming to town to perform, Roots will host 24 celebrated and award-winning chefs from across the nation, including Northwest Arkansas, to concoct one-of-a-kind collaborations and exclusive, curated food pairings for a series of pop-up events throughout the festival.

New for 2022, Fayetteville Roots Festival’s culinary programming will expand to include two restaurant takeovers and an open-to-the-public pop-up experience. On Friday and Saturday of the festival, a “dinner break” is built in between the daytime programming and the evening’s main stage performances. The break will allow festival-goers the opportunity to experience multi-course meals with award-winning chefs from across the nation as they cook in the kitchens of some of Fayetteville’s favorite restaurants.

If you’ve never been, know that “Roots” aptly describes both the music and food of the festival! The festival features musical artists rooted (see what we did there?) across several unique styles such as folk, blues, bluegrass, jazz, and country. The festival also supports local farmers, chefs, and restaurants, with a heavy focus on locally grown produce and locally raised meats from the Ozarks. Add a dash of film screenings, live radio broadcasts, workshops, and live art, and it’s easy to understand why festival-goers from over 25 states and countries make their way to Fayetteville for the Fayetteville Roots Festival!

The lineups for both musical acts and featured chefs at the Fayetteville Roots Festival follow: 

Culinary Grand Tasting: Thursday, August 25
Fayetteville Public Library
Featuring live music in the event center and tastings of curated dishes by 20+ guest chefs in an outdoor glade, this year’s edition of the Thursday Night Party promises to be a highlight of the weekend.

Arsaga’s Mill Restaurant Takeover: Friday, August 26, 5:00/8:00pm
Five chefs will produce a five course meal inspired by the water, with dishes prepared from ingredients found in rivers, oceans, lakes, ponds, and gulfs. Headlining Chef Sue Zemanick of Zasu in New Orleans, named 2013 James Beard Best Chef South.

Atlas Restaurant Takeover: Saturday, August 27, 5:00/8:00pm
Six chefs unite to curate an elevated seasonal menu in downtown Fayetteville. Headlining the event is Chef Erick Williams of Virtue in Chicago, named 2022 James Beard Best Chef Great Lakes & 2022 Jean Banchet Chef of the Year.

Roots Culinary Pop-Up: Friday-Saturday, August 26-27
An affordable “only at Roots” menu with items curated from the guest chefs’ own restaurants will be available throughout the daytime programming on Friday and Saturday. The event is curated to be an accessible culinary experience and is open to the public.

Organizers have released an hour-by-hour schedule that can be customized at this link. 

For tickets, frequently asked questions, and more information, visit fayettevilleroots.org.