August Festivals Worth the Drive
Late summer kicks off festival season in Arkansas. Whether you’re looking for live music, hometown traditions, mountain scenery or family-friendly fun, these August festivals offer plenty of reasons to hit the road!
Tontitown Grape Festival
August 4-8 • Tontitown, Arkansas
Come hungry. Since 1898, the Tontitown Grape Festival has celebrated the community’s Italian roots with homemade spaghetti dinners, grape treats, carnival rides, live music and small-town hospitality. It’s the kind of festival where good food and great traditions keep visitors coming back year after year.
Hope Watermelon Festival
August 6-8 • Hope, Arkansas
Nothing says summer quite like a slice of sweet Arkansas watermelon. Hope celebrates its famous harvest with giant melons, seed-spitting contests, carnival rides, live entertainment, arts and crafts and plenty of hometown charm. It’s a delicious tradition that has become one of the state’s signature festivals.
Mount Nebo Chicken Fry
August 29 • Dardanelle, Arkansas
Some festivals are all about the food. Others are all about the view. At the Mount Nebo Chicken Fry, you’ll enjoy both. Perched atop one of Arkansas’ most scenic state parks, this longtime tradition pairs famous chicken dinners with live music, games and unforgettable mountain scenery.
National Championship Chuckwagon Races
August 29–September 6 • Clinton, Arkansas
Trade traffic for trail dust during one of the nation’s largest chuckwagon racing events. Watch lightning-fast wagon races, explore cowboy camps, enjoy live entertainment and experience a week of Western traditions that draws thousands of visitors to Clinton each year.
Arkansas Renaissance Festival
Begins August 29 • Mount Vernon
Step into a medieval village filled with knights, jousting, artisan vendors, costumed performers and fantasy-inspired entertainment. Held weekends through early October, the festival invites guests of all ages to embrace history, adventure and imagination.
Plan Before You Go
Festival dates and entertainment schedules can change. Visit the festival’s websites before traveling for the latest information.
