Together With
Come shop for gifts and sample pasta & sweets, while supporting local small businesses at the first Holiday Taste & Shop pop-up event at The Cellar on B St. this Saturday, Dec 13, from 1-4p.
Events
Weekend Roundup
Happy Friday, Northwest Arkansas! Here's your Weekend Roundup:
🎨 The Upside Down: INVERSE 2025, a four-day performance art festival, will be in Bentonville all weekend long, running today to Sunday, Dec 11-14.
🤫 Shhh, Bid Happens: The Farmington Public Library’s first-ever Silent Auction continues through this week. Stop by to bid on items before the auction officially closes tonight, Dec 12, at 4p.
🐴 Clip Clop Clip Clop: The Star on Spring in Springdale will provide guests at the International Hot Cocoa Crawl with free carriage rides through downtown tonight, Dec 12.
🎊 Festivus For The Rest Of Us: Fayetteville Festivus returns to the Downtown Square tonight, Dec 12, from 5–9p as part of Lights of the Ozarks, bringing free, family-friendly activities to multiple locations.
☕️ World’s Best Cup of Hot Cocoa: Get ready to warm up with friends at the 2025 International Hot Cocoa Crawl in Downtown Springdale tonight, Dec 12, from 5–8p!
🛍️ Shop ‘Til You Drop: Swing by Mano’s on Emma for a pop-up holiday market while at the International Hot Cocoa Crawl in Downtown Springdale tonight, Dec 12, from 4:30-8:30p.
⭐️ Give Like A Star: The Festival of Stars Toy and Donation Drive takes place today, Dec 12, from 7a-7p.
🎤 Sleighing Every Song: The Bentonville High School Choir will perform three holiday-themed concerts this weekend, tonight, Dec 12, through Saturday, Dec 13.
🏍️ Vroom, Vroom: The 20th Annual Pig Trail Harley-Davidson Christmas Toy Run hits the streets on Saturday, Dec 13, at 10a.
🏡 Homes for the Holidays: The Prairie Grove Historical Society will host a Christmas Tour of Homes on Saturday, Dec 13, from 4-6p.
🏃 Run, Run Rudolph: The 479 Run Club will jog under the Christmas lights at the NWA Light Show in Fayetteville on Saturday, Dec 13, from 4:30-5:30p.
🎉 A Holiday Buzz: Puritan Coffee turns eleven years old this weekend and is throwing a big party. Stop by for a Fun Old Fashioned Family Christmas event featuring themed cocktails, Christmas Vacation trivia, ugly sweaters, and more on Saturday, Dec 13, at 6p.
🚗 Whatever Your Floats Your Boat: The Bentonville Christmas Parade will roll through Downtown this Saturday, Dec 13, at 6p.
🐶 Feliz Navi-dog: The Best Friends Animal Society will host the second annual Christmas Posada at the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville on Sunday, Dec 14, from 2-5p.
👏 For The Good: Stop by A Potter’s House Christmas for its 16th year of celebrating all the nonprofit has accomplished in Northwest Arkansas on Sunday, Dec 14.
Find events like these and more on our Events Calendar HERE.
Sponsored By Best Friends Animal Society
Big December Planned For Best Friends Animal Society
The Best Friends Pet Resource Center offers a host of events and activities for the holidays.
Paws & Claus: Events include a book reading of Latke the Lucky Dog with Hanukkah-themed crafts on Wednesday, Dec 17 from 4:30-6p and a PAWliday Party on Saturday, Dec 20, from 4-7p featuring a free screening of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas plus hot cocoa, holiday crafts, and dog treat making and decorating.
The Howl-idays: If you need a break from holiday bustle, come by and enjoy a Holiday Cozy Hour with a live harp performance on Sunday, Dec 21 from 2-4p. Best of all: all pet adoptions are just $10 through the month of December! So come have some holiday fun and maybe meet your new best friend.
More information HERE.
Nonprofit
Light the World Giving Machines Return to Bentonville Square
NWA Daily
The Light the World Giving Machines return to Bentonville Square, staying through Sunday, Dec 28.
Swipe for Good: The vending machines collect donations of items most needed by local and global charities, with purchases ranging from $5 to $150. NWA charity items include nutritious meals, bedding, bikes, and winter coats.
Make Last Year Jealous: The 2024 NWA Giving Machine generated over 2K transactions, purchasing over 5K items for participating charities. Local participating nonprofits include Pedal It Forward, Havenwood, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and many more.
Read the full story from KNWA HERE.
Highlight
Bentonville Leads Growth For New Residents Across The State
Arkansas ranked number one in the U.S. for inbound moves in the 2025 Atlas Van Lines migration study, with 38% of those moves going to Bentonville.
I’m So Moved: The study, covering moves from Nov 2024–Oct 2025, found Arkansas led the nation in attracting new residents, with Bentonville drawing the highest share of inbound moves to any single city. Movers cited job opportunities, proximity to loved ones, and affordability as major factors.
Demand That Moves You: Northwest Arkansas now adds over 40 new residents per day, continuing to elevate demand for housing and rentals, plus signaling long-term opportunities for real estate development in the area.
Read the full report from Front Porch Real Estate HERE.
ICYMI
This Week’s Top Stories
Together with Best Friends Animal Society
Pet Of The Week
Meet Maki a friendly, fun-loving girl who adores everyone she meets! Maki loves spending her days sunbathing, playing outside, and then snuggling up on the couch when it’s time to unwind. Add in her passion for tasty treats, and you’ve got one happy pup who’s ready to make every day brighter.
NWA Daily Picks
In other news
🎄 Gift Local, Y’all: Send a taste of Arkansas this Christmas with a custom gift basket from In Season in Bentonville. From Juanita’s Brittle to Lambrecht Toffee, every treat is made right here in Arkansas. Swing by 309 N Main St or call 479-273-6685 to build your basket!*
🔔 Every Time A Bell Rings: See It's a Wonderful Life live on stage in a beautiful original adaptation. Join George Bailey, Clarence, and the town of Bedford Falls for a heartfelt journey that reminds us what truly makes a life wonderful. Now through Dec 24 at TheatreSquared. Get tickets HERE.*
🦉Give A Hoot: HootOwl, an estate planning firm, will host an Estate Planning Workshop at The Root Co-Working Space in Fayetteville on Tuesday, Dec 16, from 6-7p.*
🍔 Dining Deal$: The 2026 Daily Dine Cards have been printed, and shipping has begun. Want one? Purchase here before the holidays wrap up.
👀 Who Took The Crown? Find out who won the inaugural 2025 For The Love of Community Award from the Bentonville Chamber of Commerce.
🕷️ Bugged Out: Superior Pest Solutions NWA, a local exterminator, notes a significant increase in requests for roach treatments across Northwest Arkansas, especially in cities south of Bentonville.
🏈 Silverfield’s Squad: See which coaches Ryan Silverfield, the new head football coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks, has brought on board so far.
🥶 Brrrrrrrrrr: Winter is here. How low will the wind chill in Northwest Arkansas get this weekend?
🤝 Grow With Us: Get your brand in front of {{ active_subscriber_count }} locals! Advertising with us means growing your business and supporting a feel-good, homegrown newsletter that’s all about building community in Northwest Arkansas. Let’s talk!