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Summertime is in full swing in Arkansas and the HEAT is on! This is the month to check out a local food festival, such as the Cave City Watermelon Festival or the Johnson County Peach Festival. You can also make plans to enjoy some live music because there is a music festival for everyone. If you have not ever been to the World Championship Cardboard Boat Races, this is the year to put it on your calendar. There is something for everyone to do in the natural state in July. Here are a few ideas:
Cardboard Boat Races (Heber Springs)
Head to Heber Springs the first weekend of July and see the boats that racers have designed made entirely of cardboard. Race participants will stretch the limits of their ingenuity and creativity to design cardboard boats that really work. Not only do these boats, ranging from simple rafts to stunning ships, float, they must also complete four heats around a course on Greers Ferry Lake. This is always a fun day on the lake. And don’t miss the Fireworks Extravaganza at Dam Site Park at 9:30 p.m.
Date: July 2
Location: Greers Ferry
More Information: Click Here
38th Annual Pops on the River (Little Rock)
Pops on the River is the largest Fourth of July event in the state with more than 33,000 attendees. The event has expanded to include more activities, additional hours and a huge firework show. Activities include free children’s activities, a shopping marketplace, food trucks and lots of entertainment.
Date: July 4
Time: 3 p.m.- 11 p.m.
Location: First Security Amphitheater, 400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, Arkansas
More Information: Click Here
Kids Fest comes to Northwest Arkansas at the Rogers Convention Center on Saturday, July 9th, and Sunday, July 10! Kids Fest will have minifigures, bounce houses, obstacle courses, costumed heroes, princesses, community organizations, video games, tabletop games, a nerf battle maze, photo ops, and so much more!
Date: July 9-10
Location: Rogers Convention Center
More Information: Click Here
Bella Rustina Modern Vintage Marker (Conway)
The Bella Rustina Modern Vintage Market will fill the Conway Expo Center in Conway this month with 210+ booths filled with vintage, upcycled/repurposed antiques and vintage-inspired décor, as well as handmade items!
Date: July 15-17
Location: Conway Expo Center
More Information: Click Here
The Johnson County Peach Festival (Clarksville)
The Johnson County Peach Festival is the oldest festival in the state. This festival has peaches, homemade crafts, a terrapin race, a bicycle obstacle course, a peach pit spitting contest, a peach eating contest, a fishing derby, a parade, a horseshoe pitching tournament and more. And we all know that fresh Arkansas peaches are the best! There is something for everyone in the family at this festival.
Date: July 20-23
Location: Clarksville
More Information: Click Here
Arkansas Elvis Festival (Pocahontas)
Calling all Elvis fans! The Elvis Festival is coming to Arkansas for the first time ever! This show is endorsed by Graceland and there will be three days of Elvis-filled fun on the James Ranch in Pocahontas.
Date: July 21-23
Location: James Ranch
More Information: Click Here
Photo courtesy of Arkansas Parks and Tourism.
Collins Big Grass Bluegrass Festival (Paragould)
Constructed in 1925, the Collins Theatre has become a monument of historical significance for the community of Paragould. During its years as the Capitol Theatre, this classic building held a variety of events that included Broadway shows, vaudeville performances, and first-rate movies. This month the Collins Theatre will be hosting a stellar Bluegrass Festival for all to enjoy!
Date: July 21- 23
Location: Collins Theatre (120 2 Emerson Paragould)
More Information: Click Here
Cave City Watermelon Festival
Since 1980, people have been coming together to celebrate the “World’s Sweetest Watermelons” and reconnect with family and friends in Cave City. Now in its 40th year, the watermelon festival is the largest festival in the region and has been voted as one of Arkansas’ best festivals. Be sure to check it out!
Date: July 28-30
Location: Cave City
More Information: Click Here
Peacemaker Music Festival (Fort Smith)
Peacemaker Festival, a music festival by music lovers, for music lovers, is set on the banks of the Arkansas River in downtown Fort Smith at the beautiful Riverfront Amphitheater. There will be a blend of the best country, rock, blues, red dirt and Americana acts touring today. Peacemaker is comprised of a volunteer-led team focused on giving proceeds back to local charities, the arts community and downtown development.
Location: Riverfront Amphitheater (Fort Smith)
Date: July 29-30
More Information: Click Here
Walmart Music Pavilion Cox Concert Series (Rogers)
The Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion has a full lineup of different genres. Which one of these would be your top pick to attend? There are still tickets available for some of these.
July 1: Outlaw Music Festival- (Willie Nelson & Family, Brothers Osborne, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Allison Russel and Particle Kid)
July 4: Fireworks Spectacular with Symphony of Northwest Arkansas
July 12: Santana
July 13: Kingdom Tour- Maverick City Music
July 15: An Evening with James Taylor
July 16: Darius Rucker
July 18: Train with Jewel
July 21: Josh Groban
July 29: Chris Stapleton
July 30: Encanto- The Sing-Along Film Concert
Amanda Farris is homeschooling mom to four. She is a teacher/coach who hung up her coaching whistle after she got promoted to motherhood. She loves running and homeschool and is a certified running coach and has a YouTube channel all about homeschooling. She loves long chats over coffee with her husband and fresh flowers on her table. Her friends would call her a "gatherer of people” and a “doer of projects” ! You can find her on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@Home.School.andLife
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