It appears that you're using a severely outdated version of Safari on Windows. Many features won't work correctly, and functionality can't be guaranteed. Please try viewing this website in Edge, Mozilla, Chrome, or another modern browser. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused!
Summer weekends in Arkansas are the best and the best way to cool off is with a sweet watermelon. Folks have been long awaiting the annual arrival of the Cave City Watermelons. The wait is over, my friends, so grab your family and head to the Cave City Watermelon Festival. If you can’t make it to Cave City there are plenty of other fun activities this weekend – cardboard boat races, live music, shopping, bike festivals, and car shows. Enjoy!
32nd Annual World Championship Cardboard Boat Races (Heber Springs)
The World Championship Cardboard Boat Races is a must-see event! Racers design boats made entirely of cardboard and then race them. Along with boat races, there is plenty of additional fun planned for the day, with a treasure dig, watermelon-eating contest, and a volleyball tournament all on the agenda.
Venue: Sandy Beach Park Date: July 28 Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Admission: Free Contact: 870-834-1437
39th Annual Cave City Watermelon Festival
The Cave City Watermelon Festival is one of the most anticipated events of the summer. The festival includes a variety of musicians, entertainment, events and activities such as a car show/burn out, a Melon Dash 5K, a pancake breakfast, a tractor show, a WetZone for kids, watermelon games, great craft and food vendors and a free watermelon feast on Saturday afternoon featuring the world’s sweetest watermelons. This makes for a perfect Arkansas summer weekend activity! (If you missed it, check out the fun Waitin’ on a Melon video at the top of the page!)
Venue: Cave City Park Date: July 26- July 28 Time: Varies Admission: Free Contact: Click Here
Photo Credit: Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
4th Annual Rogers Cycling Festival
The bike festival consists of several road cycling and mountain bike events. Each year this festival brings hundreds of cycling enthusiasts from across the United States and has something for everyone, from highly skilled and competitive races to family-friendly rides. Proceeds from the festival benefit several nonprofit cycling causes in Northwest Arkansas.
Venue: The Railyard Bike Park Date: July 27- July 29 Time: Varies Admission: Varies Contact: Click Here
Photo Credit: Thinkwell Group
U.S. Marshals Museum Happy Hour: Meet The Experience (Fort Smith)
Meet the team from The Thinkwell Group who is currently creating the guest experience for the United States Marshals Museum at 21 West End in historic downtown Fort Smith. Appetizers, a signature drink and drink specials will be available from 5:30-7:00 p.m. While there, ask the team questions and speak with the Museum staff about next steps.
Venue: 21 West End Date: July 26 Time: 5:30 p.m. Admission: Free Contact: Click Here
Turnbow Tunes – ROUTE 358 (Springdale)
Head to Springdale for a free, family-friendly live music event at the newly completed Turnbow Park along the Razorback Greenway and Spring Creek downtown. Route 358 will be performing for this week.
Venue: Walter Turnbow Park Date: July 26 Time: 7 p.m. Admission: Free Contact: Click Here
Two Sisters Market
This event is a celebration of the best antiques & vintage items Arkansas has to offer. There are nearly 100 vendors with vintage furniture, antiques, re-purposed, shabby chic, and handmade vintage inspired items. There will also be food trucks, live music & giveaways.
Venue: Arkansas State Fairgrounds Date: July 27- July 29 Time: Early buying on July 27 from 4-8 p.m. is $8; regular admission July 28-29 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. is $5. Admission: Early Buying $8, Regular Admission $5 Contact: Click Here
6th Annual Vintage Military Vehicle Show (Little Rock)
Head to MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History for the annual vintage military vehicle show on the museum’s front lawn, featuring jeeps and other vehicles from members of the Arkansas Military Vehicle Preservation Association and the West Tennessee Military Vehicle Collectors Club.
1st Annual Vintage Legends Motorcycle Show (Eureka Springs)
Eureka Springs Harley Davidson has joined with the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce to sponsor Eureka’s first ever Vintage Legends Motorcycle Show! This one-of-a-kind juried event will fill Pine Mountain Village with all sorts of vintage motorcycles and excited spectators, everyone anxious to see which antique bike is voted the best. Aside from the abundance of cool vintage bikes, plenty of vendors will be there, bringing with them unique and interesting motorcycle-related items, delicious food and even a beer garden! This event will benefit Samaritans Feet, a great organization which provides shoes to underprivileged children.
Venue: Pig Trail Harley Davidson Date: July 28 Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission: $30 Contact: Click Here
Rhea Lana’s Fall and Back-to-School Events
Rhea Lana’s sales aim to add value to families lives by providing upscale, well-run and friendly consignment sales for children’s clothing, toys and furniture. Fall and back-to-school sales are popping up around the state this week. Plan to head out and shop these events. You can stop by the Rhea Lana’s website for information about consigning at future events.
Conway
Venue: Conway Expo Center, 2501 E Oak St, Conway, Arkansas 72032
Dates: July 29-August 4
For times and other important information visit the Conway Rhea Lana’s Facebook page.
Searcy
Venue: White County Fairgrounds, 802 Davis Dr., Searcy, Arkansas 72143
Dates: July 30-August 4
For times and other important information visit the Searcy Rhea Lana’s Facebook page.
Mountain Home
Venue: Baxter County Fairgrounds, 1507 Fairgrounds Dr., Mountain Home, AR 72653-5433
Dates: July 29-August 4
For times and other important information visit the Mountain Home Rhea Lana’s Facebook page.
There's a lot to celebrate in Arkansas. It's unique. Southern. Delightfully eccentric. Which is why we love every nook, cranny, cave and corner. In fact, some of our favorite things can't be found anywhere else. They're only in Arkansas. So we love them even more. The attractions we visit, the food we crave, the festivals we attend, the mountains we hike, the rivers we float, the stories we tell and the company we keep – it all adds up to one incredible state. And that familiar, meandering silhouette? Looks like home to us.
Like this story? Read more from Only in Arkansas
This Black History Month, we continue to pay tribute to the innumerable...
Harding University President David Burks has announced that the...
There is so much to do in Arkansas over the next few days! For hunting...
Join the Conversation
Leave a Comment