Around the River Valley, the month is filled with longtime traditions, hometown festivals, family outings and plenty of Halloween fun. We’ve gathered some of our favorites, added a few destinations worth a drive and saved the spooky stuff for last. Grab the calendar. Fall is calling.
CLOSE TO HOME
SAINT BONIFACE 138TH ANNUAL LAWN SOCIAL
October 3 | Fort Smith | 5p.m. – 11p.m.
Saint Boniface celebrates its 138th Annual Lawn Social this October, continuing a community gathering that has quite literally spanned generations. Held on the church field, the Lawn Social features a silent auction, games, food, music, and fellowship for all.
47TH ANNUAL FRONTIER DAY FESTIVAL
October 3 | Historic Downtown Paris | 9 a.m. | Free
Head east to Paris for a hometown celebration nearly five decades strong. The 47th Annual Frontier Day Festival fills the historic downtown square with the Arkansas’ Best Biscuits & Gravy Competition, a classic car show, parade and community pageants, plus buggy rides and inflatables for the kids. Come hungry, stay for the festivities and snap a photo at the Eiffel Tower while you’re there.
OLD TOWN VAN BUREN FALL FESTIVAL
October 10–11 | Historic Downtown Van Buren | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. & 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Old Town Van Buren’s annual Fall Festival turns the Victorian streetscape into a weekend gathering filled with local merchants, handmade crafts, collectibles, food and plenty of reasons to wander. Throw in a barbecue rib competition, pumpkin patch and pumpkin painting, and you’ve got all the makings of a perfect fall day right here in the River Valley.
OCTOBER DAZE + ARKANSAS MARATHON
October 10 | Downtown Booneville | Race begins 7 a.m. | Festival 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
You don’t have to run 26.2 miles to enjoy this one. The Arkansas Marathon brings runners to Booneville for one of the state’s longstanding road races while October Daze turns downtown into an all-day celebration. Arts and crafts, concessions, live music, family activities and a car show give spectators plenty to do while the runners handle the hard part.
7TH ANNUAL FORT SMITH FALL FESTIVAL
October 24 | Downtown Fort Smith | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Free
History takes over downtown during one of Fort Smith’s biggest fall celebrations. More than 80 living-history reenactors bring the city’s frontier days to life with infantry, cavalry and artillery demonstrations, while historic court proceedings—including the always-popular Belle Starr trial—return to the courtroom at Fort Smith National Historic Site. The celebration extends throughout downtown, with participating museums and historic attractions joining the fun, along with artisan and retail vendors, food and family activities. Free transportation between participating sites makes it easy to park, explore and spend the day rediscovering some of Fort Smith’s most interesting places.
GREENWOOD FALL FEST
October 24 | Bell Park, Greenwood | 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Bell Park provides the backdrop for a full day of fall fun in Greenwood. Browse nearly 100 craft vendors, grab something from the food trucks and let the kids play for hours amid the hayrides, inflatables, face-painting, and other family activities. Whether you’re starting a new family tradition or continuing an old one, Fall Fest is the perfect way to welcome the season in Greenwood.
FALL FESTIVAL AT THE ARKANSAS CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS
October 30 | Fort Smith | 5–8 p.m. | Free
The Arkansas Center for the Creative Arts hosts a family-friendly Fall Festival with local vendors, games, seasonal fun and a haunted house. Admission is free, making this an easy Friday night outing before Halloween officially arrives.
PICK OF THE PATCH
You don’t need a festival to make a fall day of it. Sometimes all you need is a pumpkin, a few mums and somebody willing to take approximately 47 photos before everyone looks at the camera at the same time! Whether you’re staying close to home or ready for a fall road trip, these spots make it easy to get into the spirit of the season.
WORTH THE DRIVE
RIVERCREST ORCHARD
Fayetteville | Thru November 1 | RIVERCRESTORCHARD.COM
If you’re heading north, make a day of it at Rivercrest Orchard. Its annual Fall Festival turns the orchard into an all-out autumn destination with pumpkin picking, apple picking while available, sunflower and zinnia fields, U-pick flowers, seasonal treats and plenty of places to snap that annual fall photo. With enough to do to fill an afternoon, Rivercrest is less of a pumpkin stop and more of a fall road trip—exactly why it earns our Worth the Drive designation.
FARMLAND ADVENTURES
Springdale | September 11–November 1 | FARMLANDADVENTURES.COM
Getting lost is part of the fun at Farmland Adventures, where a giant corn maze anchors a full day of fall activities. Pick out a pumpkin, meet the animals, hop aboard a wagon ride or race around on pedal karts before catching one of the farm’s crowd-favorite pig races. There are corn pits, hay pyramids and plenty more to keep kids busy, making this an easy choice for families who like a little action with their autumn.
MOTLEY FAMILY FARM
Little Rock | Thru November 1 | MOTLEYSPUMPKINPATCH.COM
If you’re heading toward Little Rock, make a fall day of it at Motley’s Pumpkin Patch. Pick your own pumpkin, wander the flower fields, hop aboard a tractor-drawn hayride and stick around for the live pig races. Kids can visit the farm animals, tackle the corn maze and play area, or burn off some energy on the jumping pillows, cow train and new 250-foot mega slide. And with plenty of photo spots, favorite’s from Mike’s Grill, and homemade fudge, there’s enough here to turn a pumpkin run into a full afternoon on the farm.
AFTER DARK
When the sun goes down, October shows its other side. For some of us, pumpkins are for porches. For others, they’re a warning that it’s finally socially acceptable to pay someone to scare the daylights out of us. Whether your Halloween speed is haunted trails, creepy corridors or candy with the kids, there’s something waiting after dark.
SHADY SLAUGHTERS
Fort Smith | Fridays & Saturdays, 6 p.m. – midnight, to November 7 | SHADYSLAUGHTERS.COM
One haunted house wasn’t enough. This Halloween, Shady Slaughters Productions brings three distinctly different experiences to one Fort Smith location. Asylum X delivers the madness of a traditional haunted house, while XENO drops guests inside a military outpost where something has gone terribly wrong. Then there’s The Crawford Museum, a collection of paranormal artifacts, oddities and curious things you wouldn’t expect to find in a haunted attraction. Choose your scare—or make a night of all three.
RIVER VALLEY NIGHTMARE
Fort Smith | Fridays and Saturdays in October, 8 p.m. to midnight | RIVERVALLEYNIGHTMARE.COM
The scares move outdoors at River Valley Nightmare, where a half-mile haunted trail winds through 20 acres at the Knights of Columbus property. Live entertainment, food and gathering areas round out the experience before—or after—you willingly head into the deep, dark woods.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dates, times, admission and activities are subject to change. Confirm event details with organizers before making plans.
