As the Downtown Square's trees turn shades of crimson, amber, and gold, Bentonville comes alive. This season, experience the warmth of a walkable downtown, the crunch of leaves under your boots, and plenty of outdoor adventure.
Fall brings cycling events and events that make it easy to spend more time outside. It's no surprise Bentonville has earned national recognition as one of America's top mountain biking destinations, with Outside Magazine ranking it among the country's best bike towns.
Use this guide to plan your perfect fall visit!
Things to Do
Enjoy the outdoors
Savor the fall temps and seasonal color on our miles of mountain biking trails or in our acres of parks. Here are just a few options:
- Enjoy the peaceful wetlands of Osage Park and Lake Bentonville, and while you’re there, check out The Quiver Archery Range, where you can learn the sport of archery!
- Make Bentonville your home base and explore these Four Epic Day Trips.
- Reserve a campsite and spend a morning basking in the beauty of Coler MTB Preserve, strolling their main path to the Rise, or biking their 19 miles of trails. Bonus: Airship at Coler is tucked along the trail, and makes for a great stop to refuel and refresh.
- Rather let someone else take the wheel? Check out the Big On Bentonville golf-cart tours.
Courtesy of Chyanne Fogg Photography
The Benton County Fairgrounds is home to many popular outdoor events throughout the fall season. With rides, games, live music and performances, a large expo center—it's the perfect destination for families!
- September 25—October 3: The Benton County Fair is a family favorite. Take the Ferris wheel into the sky, pet cute animals at the petting zoo, watch kids compete in animal shows, and more. This long-standing tradition brings together the best of Benton County for a week of fun, community, and celebration.
- October 9—11: Vintage Market Days of Northwest Arkansas | Get ready to shop for all your Holiday gifts! They’ve got it all—amazing Fall finds, spooky Halloween items, and festive Christmas decor to get you in the spirit!
- October 19—22: It's Fall Y'all Craft Fair brings over 100 makers, artists, crafters, and foodies to this annual craft fair. Grab yourself a handmade piece of seasonal decor and enjoy a day of shopping with local vendors.
Visit a Museum
- Keith Haring in 3D—This is the first exhibition to highlight Keith Haring's work in three dimensions. A one of a kind, first of it's kind experience!
- Yayoi Kusama Flowers—These larger-than-life sculptures burst with bold colors and Kusama’s signature polka dots, captivating visitors with their whimsical style. You’ll find them along the Orchard Trail at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, where guests are encouraged to explore both nature and art.
- Grandma Moses: A Good Day's Work—A multidimensional force in American Art, Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma" Moses painted recollections of rural life, earning her a distinctive place in post-World War II cultural imagination.
Heartland Whole Health Institute, the newest addition to the Crystal Bridge Campus, HWHI aims to transform health care by improving quality, reducing costs, and expanding access to healthcare through research, advocacy, and education. It also welcomes the community to explore its Marlon Blackwell-designed architecture, view the ground-floor gallery, or enjoy a drink from the on-site café.
- Where Architecture Meets Wellness: Experience the Heartland Whole Health Institute—This blog explores the Marlon Blackwell Architects through the architect himself. Learn about the space before you experience it.
- The Art of Whole Health—The inaugural exhibitions at HWHI feature works that reflect the Institute's value of connection and wholeness.
The Momentary is designed as a platform for today’s art, food, and music. Inside a decommissioned cheese factory-turned-creative-hub, this extension of Crystal Bridges focuses on connecting communities—and you—to great experiences. There are currently two free exhibitions on view now through October 12th:
- Chuck Ramirez: Ordinary Wonders—Ramirez’s photographs will prompt viewers to consider that the goods people buy, consume, discard, or treasure are more than just things; they are evidence of life. In the photographs, the artist positioned material culture as a reflection of humanity, community, memory, and loss.
- Lucy Sparrow: The Beginning of Convenience—British artist Lucy Sparrow is internationally renowned for her unique and immersive installations filled with thousands of items, all meticulously handcrafted from felt. Through her work, Sparrow transforms everyday retail environments into playful, nostalgic, and tactile worlds that are both familiar and entirely new. Lucy Sparrow: The Beginning of Convenience, Sparrow’s first museum exhibition in the United States, will take visitors back in time through an immersive “time capsule” installation of a 1980s-90s Walmart-inspired supermarket.
21c Museum Hotel Bentonville has more than 12,000 square feet of exhibition space seamlessly integrated into all areas of the property; there are opportunities to discover art around every corner. Galleries are open 24/7 and free to the public.
- Super Natural 2.0—The exhibition, which remains on view through December 2026 throughout the 21c Bentonville gallery spaces, presents a thematic group exhibition of 90 multi-media artworks by 43 artists from across the globe exploring how the natural world is now experienced and understood as both organic and artificial.
Art-lover in your group? We’ve got a special public art map just for you!
Attend a festival or concert
The Momentary in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Cozy up at a Coffee Shop
ONYX in Downtown Bentonville. Photo by Karlene Miller
Check out our events calendar!
Explore Public Art
Where to Eat
The Preacher's Son in Bentonville, Arkansas. Photo by Drager Creative
Dining on the Square
Dining at the Market District
Dining on Walton Blvd.
Our main drag is nothing to sneeze at either! Delicious restaurants can be found the whole way down. Check out Meld, Crisp & Green, Pho Thanh, and Table at Hickory Inn.
Join Big on Bentonville's Walking Food Tour
Big on Bentonville: A New Walking Food Tour
Taste Bentonville One Bite at a Time Looking for a delicious way to explore Bentonville? Starting September 8, 2026, Big on Bentonville is adding a new food tour to its lineup, giving visitors the chance…
Places to Stay
Image courtesy @thirstypigs
Hotels and vacation rentals alike abound around Bentonville. Trying to decide where to stay? Here are some tips:
-
If you’re looking to fly into town and then walk or bike, we recommend our boutique hotels located right on our city square, or vacation rentals in the Downtown and Market area, as you see here.
-
Driving in? Great! Take your pick of hotels throughout Bentonville, and simply park downtown. Here's our roundup of budget friendly hotels around town.
See more places to stay here.
Plan Your Visit
Photo by Drager Creative
