I love November in Arkansas! The weather has finally cooled down, fall color is still putting on a show in many parts of the state, and there are some excellent festivals happening throughout the month.
From cornbread and coffee to bluegrass, blacksmithing, art, and duck calling, here are some of the best festivals in Arkansas in November!
Festivals in Arkansas in November
We are not going to include the Christmas markets or the Christmas light displays in this list even though they usually begin late in November.
- However we DO have a list of Christmas light displays that you might want to check out!
- And here is our list of Christmas markets!
Hot Springs Renaissance Faire (Hot Springs)
The Hot Springs Renaissance Faire actually begins on Halloween this year and continues into November.
Head to the Garland County Fairgrounds for a weekend filled with costumes, entertainment, merchants, food, sword fighting, and plenty of Renaissance-style merriment.
- Dates: October 31–November 1
- More Information: Hot Springs Renaissance Faire
Momentous Music & Arts Festival (Bentonville)
If your idea of a festival involves DJs, dancing, art, and great food, this one is for you!
Momentous is a two-day electronic music and arts festival held at The Momentary in Bentonville. The festival takes over both the indoor spaces and outdoor Green with live music, DJs, art, food, and a night market featuring local and regional vendors.
- Dates: November 6–7
- More Information: Momentous Music & Arts Festival
Red Autumn Art Festival (Fort Smith)
Art lovers will want to check out the Red Autumn Art Festival in downtown Fort Smith.
This two-day indoor festival brings together artists working in painting, photography, ceramics, jewelry, fiber art, sculpture, mixed media, and more. There will also be live entertainment, art competitions, and independent film screenings.
- Dates: November 6–7
- More Information: Red Autumn Art Festival
Arkansas Cornbread Festival (Little Rock)
The Arkansas Cornbread Festival is back!
After taking 2025 off, this fun Little Rock festival returns to the SoMa neighborhood with cornbread competitions, live music, local makers, food trucks, and plenty of family fun.
Admission to the festival is free, but you’ll need a tasting ticket if you want to sample the competition cornbread and vote for the People’s Choice Award.
And really, who doesn’t want to spend a November Saturday eating cornbread?
- Date: November 7
- More Information: Arkansas Cornbread Festival
Pioneer Village Fall Open House (Searcy)
Step back in time at the Pioneer Village Fall Open House in Searcy!
Pioneer Village is a collection of historic buildings that gives visitors a glimpse into life in White County during the 1800s. The annual fall open house celebrates local history with old-fashioned activities, demonstrations, music, and more.
It’s a fun way to experience a little Arkansas history while enjoying a fall weekend.
- Dates: November 7–8
- More Information: Pioneer Village
ABANA Blacksmithing Conference & Festival (Bentonville)
Now this is something a little different!
The Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America is bringing its 2026 Blacksmithing Conference & Festival to Bentonville.
The event includes blacksmithing and bladesmithing demonstrations, competitions, craft classes, vendors and suppliers, knife makers, a gallery of ironwork, and even an area for beginners.
If you’ve ever wanted to see talented blacksmiths at work, this should be a fascinating event.
- Dates: November 11–14
- More Information: ABANA Blacksmithing Conference & Festival
GloWILD Lantern Festival (Little Rock)
I know I said I wasn’t going to include Christmas light displays, but I’m making an exception for GloWILD!
This annual event at the Little Rock Zoo transforms the zoo into a glowing wonderland filled with enormous handcrafted silk lanterns inspired by animals, nature, and more.
GloWILD runs on select nights beginning in November and continues into the winter.
- Dates: Select nights in November through January
- More Information: GloWILD Lantern Festival
Mountain View Fall Bluegrass Festival (Mountain View)
Mountain View and bluegrass music just go together!
The Mountain View Fall Bluegrass Festival is held at the Ozark Folk Center and brings some excellent bluegrass musicians to the stage for three days of live music.
The festival also helps support the community and the Music Roots Program, which encourages young people to learn and carry on traditional folk and bluegrass music.
- Dates: November 12–14
- More Information: Mountain View Fall Bluegrass Festival
Brewing HOPE Coffee Festival (Jonesboro)
Coffee lovers, this one is for you!
The Brewing HOPE Coffee Festival gives you the chance to sample coffee from local coffee shops throughout Northeast Arkansas and discover a few new favorites along the way.
There will also be baked goods, food, local vendors, shopping, and more.
Even better, the festival supports Hope Found of Northeast Arkansas and its work fighting human trafficking in the region.
- Date: November 14
- More Information: Brewing HOPE Coffee Festival
World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest & Wings Over the Prairie Festival (Stuttgart)
This is one of the most unique festivals in Arkansas in November!
Stuttgart has hosted the World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest since 1936, and today the contest is part of the huge Wings Over the Prairie Festival held over Thanksgiving weekend.
The festival takes over several blocks of downtown Stuttgart with shopping, food, children’s activities, a carnival and midway, a beer garden, duck calling contests, and more.
- Dates: November 27–28
- More Information: Wings Over the Prairie Festival
November might be a little quieter than October when it comes to festivals in Arkansas, but there are still some great events happening all across the state.
Whether you want to eat cornbread, listen to bluegrass, shop for art, watch blacksmiths at work, sip local coffee, or see some of the best duck callers in the world, there’s something fun to do this November.
Did we miss a great November festival in Arkansas? Let us know!
