Check out this list of amazing festivals in Arkansas in May!

The month of May is glorious in the natural state. It hasn’t gotten too terribly hot…yet and the sun is typically shining.

Pick out a few of these May festivals in Arkansas to make your spring season even better!

Festivals in Arkansas in May

World Famous Armadillo Festival (Hamburg)

The armadillo festival will have musical performances, art displays, carnival games, food vendors, and activities centered around, well, armadillos!

Cabot Strawberry Fest (Cabot, Arkansas)

The land around the city of Cabot is known for producing some of the best strawberries in Arkansas.

This festival celebrates the strawberry as well as focusing on family fun and helping to promote local business and farmers. There will be live entertainment, carnival rides, a kids area, food trucks, vendors, a 5k race, and of course – strawberries! 

Here is a list of some of the best places to get delicious Arkansas Strawberries!

Closeup of beautifully red ripe whole strawberries in a cardboard box. The Cabot Strawberry Fest is one of the best festivals in Arkansas in May. Pin

Immaculate Conception Spring Festival (Fort Smith)

Fun, games, food, drinks and entertainment in the school parking lot as well as a silent auction and raffle.

Strawberry Jam (Bald Knob)

Enjoy music, food, and community at the Strawberry Jam. This is a full day of rockin’ blues, BBQ, and berries! There will be an unforgettable lineup of blues, rock, and country live performances.

The Steel Horse Rally (Fort Smith)

A charity motorcycle rally helping local charities and honoring all who serve.

Mountain View Iris Fest (Mountain View, Arkansas)

A spring festival in Arkansas to celebrate the beautiful iris. Some of the events include a garden sale, children’s activities, a corvette and hot rod show, musical events, street dance, photo contest, and a quilt show.

Pin

There are some wonderful gardens to visit in the spring in Arkansas!

Arkansas Pottery Festival (Fayetteville, Arkansas)

This festival will include an exhibition and pottery sale at Community Creative Center from more than 50 potters from around the state, alongside pottery demonstrations and lectures by nationally recognized artists.

Toad Suck Daze (Conway, Arkansas)

Toad Suck Daze is one of the most strangely named and largest of all the spring festivals in Arkansas!

There is so much to experience at this family friendly festival including the famous World Championship Toad Races, This is one of the Arkansas festivals that you really won’t want to miss.

Small child holding a frog. The focus is on the hands of the child and the frog. This is from toad suck daze which is one of the premiere festivals in arkansas in may. Pin

Cotter Trout Festival (Cotter – Gassville)

Food, music, and fun for all ages in Big Spring Park along the White River.

501 Festival (Little Rock)

NOTE: We cannot find any information about 501 Festival for 2025. I will update when I know something!

501 Fest is a celebration of the community. Every year near May 1 (501) there is a day of festivities including live music, local vendors, food, and fun for the entire family.

All the great things to do in Little Rock with kids!

Mayhaw Festival (El Dorado, Arkansas)

This is an food festival celebrating the Mayhaw, especially Mayhaw jelly, but it is much more than that. The festival begins with the Mayhawlin’ Race, followed by the breakfast with biscuits and Mayhaw jelly.

There will also be live music, craft and food vendors, children’s activities, a car and bike show, and even a vintage and antique market.

Cinco De Mayo Festival (Springdale)

This is a free event with live music, food, and games.

Steampunk Old Timer’s Day Festival (Van Buren)

This unique festival is located on six blocks of the nationally recognized historic Main Street in Van Buren, Arkansas.

You can immerse yourself in the fantastical realm of steampunk at this one-of-a-kind festival that blends Victorian aesthetics with steam-powered machinery.

Mosquito Fest (McCrory)

A fun community festival with food, a car show, 5K race, parade, vendors, and much more!

Freshgrass Music Festival (Bentonville)

This is a music festival held at the Momentary in Bentonville featuring an excellent line-up of musicians.

Magnolia Blossom Festival and World Championship Steak Cook-Off (Magnolia)

This is one of the elite festivals in Arkansas. It is held in the historic downtown square of the quaint town of Magnolia and in addition to music and events there is a world championship steak cook-off. You don’t want to miss this great festival in Arkansas in May!

Picklefest (Atkins, Arkansas)

A festival that celebrated the history of pickles in Atkins, Arkansas. There will be pickle eating and pickle juice drinking competitions, live music, food vendors, tractor pulls, family activities, and arts and crafts.

We have a list of some of the MUST-TRY foods that Arkansas is known for...including fried pickles!

A plate of fried pickles with a side of some type of sauce. They look crispy and golden. This is from Picklefest which is an excellent festival in Arkansas in May. Pin

Osceola Heritage Music Festival (Osceola)

Weekend of music, food, fun, and activities in beautiful downtown Osceola, Arkansas.

Pioneer Days (Norfork, Arkansas)

Celebrate the historical heritage of Norfork, Arkansas with music, crafts, contests, food, and old-fashioned family fun!

Fayetteville Strawberry Festival (Fayetteville, Arkansas)

This happens to be the first ever Fayetteville Strawberry Festival. It will be held on the historic downtown square with live music, family activities, and culinary celebrations.

Blues and BBQ (Fairfield Bay)

There will be live music, family fun, and vendors at this spring festival in Arkansas. However, the main event is the BBQ competition! Both local and out-of-town barbeque masters are allowed to compete.

Good Ol’ Days Festival and Car Show (Mount Ida)

There will be a car show, 5k, kiddie car show, baggo tournament, food trucks, and vendors galore! The festival is from 9-5 and live music, with Mike Mayberry and the Slow Hands, will begin at 7!

Grab your family and lawn chairs and meet on the courthouse square for a fun filled day!

Old Fort Days Rodeo (Fort Smith, Arkansas)

Since 1933, Fort Smith has been home to one of the south’s most exciting rodeos. Cowboys from all over the world compete for one of the largest prize purses in Arkansas.

Wynne Farmfest (Wynne, Arkansas)

There will be all the traditional festival fun in addition to bingo, neon glow foam, a 5K race, and gospel music.

Eureka Springs Blues Party

Ready for the soulful sounds of Blues, Rock, and Funk to come alive in the heart of Northwest Arkansas? This festival features an impressive array of local and national talent!

River Valley Food Truck Festival (Russellville)

Bigger and better than ever! This festival will feature food trucks of all kinds. Come hungry!

Carpenter’s Country Fest (Ozark, Arkansas)

This is a great celebration of music held at the held at the Franklin County Fairgrounds. There will be an excellent line up of bands, music, food and fun for the whole family.

I hope that you enjoy this list of festivals in Arkansas in May. Let us know if there are any that we have missed!

Here is a list of some more great things to do in Arkansas in the spring!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

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Karen and Emily

Hey y'all! Thanks for stopping by.

We are Karen and Emily, a mother and daughter duo who write this blog together. We are based in Central Arkansas but love to travel all around our beautiful home state and share our discoveries with you!

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