September kicks off the fall festival season in Arkansas. In fact, some of our favorite Arkansas festivals occur this month.

September is a perfect time for festivals in Arkansas. Not only is the “back to school” rush over, but also everyone is happy to know that we have made through the heat of another Arkansas August.

Although September weather is still hot we are all looking forward to the crisp days that are just around the corner.

Here is a list of some of the wonderful festivals in Arkansas in September. Be sure and let us know if they are any we have missed so that we can add them to the list.

Festivals in Arkansas in September

The list of festivals in Arkansas in September is roughly in order by date. The city where the festival is located is in parenthesis after the name of the festival. 

Obviously weather and other extenuating circumstances can have an impact on the dates and times of these festivals so always check the links below before you make a drive!

We hope that you enjoy these fun Arkansas festivals in the month of September!

Ozark Folk Festival (Eureka Springs)

This is the 77th year of this festival and it is the longest running folk festival in America.

You will find workshops for fingerpicking, flat-picking, uke and mandolin to help you improve your skills. There will also be the Ozark Songwriting Competition which will showcase songwriters from all over the country as well as plenty of wonderful musicians and groups.

On Friday and Saturday you can also enjoy the Folk Fair in Basin Park with Ozark artists and Craftspeople. This is three nights of fun and music!

Here you will find more information about Eureka Springs

South Arkansas Outdoor Expo (El Dorado)

This festival is a celebration of everything outdoors! There is a rib cook-off, an auto show, a 5K, and so much more! Admission is one canned or packaged food.

Fest of Ale (Fort Smith)

This is a beer, wine, and food tasting event benefiting the organization Girl’s Inc.

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Zoo Brew and Cocktails, TOO (Little Rock)

Come out and taste dozens of craft beers and cocktails at the Little Rock Zoo! You can meet some new animal friends and listen to great live music. There will also be some great food trucks serving up local cuisine.

  • Dates: September 12
  • More Information:  Zoo Brew

Maynard Pioneer Days (Maynard)

Celebrate Pioneer Days at the Maynard Pioneer Park and Museum. There will also be live music, great food, and contests.

Eureka Springs Jeep Jam (Eureka Springs)

A festival for all things Jeep, this event provides a great way to meet fellow jeepers from all over. There will also be vendors, contests, scenic pavement tours, a duck crawl, and more.

A row of jeeps in different colors. There aren't any people in the photo just the fronts of the jeeps taken from an angle. This is on a post about the best festivals in Arkansas in September. The jeeps represent a festival called jeep jam. Pin

St. Paul Pioneer Days (St. Paul)

This is the 55th annual St. Paul Pioneer Days celebration. Enjoy perusing the wares of various vendors, listening to live music, and experience the hospitality of a small town.

St. Anne International Food Festival (North Little Rock)

This is an event where the church parishioners sell food from their country or region of origin. There is also entertainment and games including a bounce house, bingo and a raffle for cash at the end of the evening.

Brew Pig Sooie (Fayetteville)

This event allows Razorback fans to enjoy some cold beer before the football home opener. All proceeds will go to the Arkansas Edge NIL collective to support Razorback Student-Athletes. Your entrance fee will provide access to 25+ local breweries as well as a ticket to the Razorback Football game against UAB!

Depot Days Festival (Newport)

Come out to Depot Days and enjoy a great musical lineup from gospel, to rock, blues, and country music! It is all free in downtown Newport, Arkansas. Bring your lawn chair, enjoy the music, shop the vendors and get some great festival food.

Botanical Garden of the Ozarks International Festival (Fayetteville)

This festival is a celebration of all of the cultures that make up the Northwest Arkansas community!

Enjoy cultural and traditional dance and musical performances on the Great Lawn. Be transported around the world through food from various food trucks and vendors. Visit booths throughout the Garden featuring arts and crafts, displays, and cultural items for sale.

Bikes, Blues, and BBQ (Rogers)

Bikes, Blues, and BBQ is a non-profit motorcycle rally that benefits women, children, and the underserved members of the Northwest Arkansas community. Over the last 20 years they have raised over $3 million for local charities. There are mapped rides, vendors, food, and fun.

Arkansas Times MargaritaFest (North Little Rock – Argenta)

Enjoy the best margaritas from a variety of local restaurants and vote for your favorite!

a closeup of a margarita in a margarita glass. There is salt around the rim and a piece of lime in the glass. The margarita is a pale lime green and has ice. There are some whole and sliced limes surrounding the glass on a wooden table. The entire background is fairly dark and blurry. Pin

Smoke on the Water BBQ Competition (Pine Bluff)

This is one of America’s premiere barbecue competitions. There are also activities for the entire family, including amateur rib cook-offs, outdoor expos, grilling demonstrations, free product sampling, live entertainment, world champion barbecue vendors and more.

CottonFest (Wilson)

CottonFest is a day filled with authentic Southern hospitality, music, fresh food, and a rich celebration of cotton — the crop that has defined the Wilson legacy. You can enjoy a shrimp boil, take in college football, and soak in the culture with vendors and artists at The Grange in Wilson.

  • Dates: September 21
  • More Information: CottonFest
Cotton in a field on the stalks. The shot is taken from a low angle so all you see is the tops of the cotton plants and a pale blue sky behind. Pin

More interesting information about the town of Wilson

Winfest Music Festival (Winslow)

Since 1983 talented musicians, vendors, and families from all over Northwest Arkansas have congregated in the small town of Winslow to enjoy a full day of food, fun, and entertainment.

Beautiful scenery, fresh mountain air, groovy tunes, and good vibrations provide a wonderful atmosphere for this community event. Proceeds from this festival are used to fund Winslow Community Meals and other valuable community programs.

Siloam Springs Hispanic Heritage Festival (Siloam Springs)

This festival is a way to celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of residents whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

There will be cultural booths to educate festival goers on the various countries that make up Latin America. Vendors will also be selling their artisan crafts and delicious food.

Cane Hill Harvest Festival (Canehill)

Join in this community tradition! The Harvest Festival offers an experience which combines history, Ozark culture, and a natural setting with modern amenities and entertainment. 

There will be a country breakfast, food truck provisions, live music, a market, sorghum pressing demonstrations, craft demonstrations, tours of historic buildings, and a quilt show.

Beatles at the Ridge (Walnut Ridge)

This annual celebration originated from a historic moment in 1964 when the Beatles unexpectedly landed in Walnut Ridge. This created an electrifying atmosphere for the town’s residents who had the opportunity to witness their departure and capture memorable photos.

Today, the festival stands as a vibrant homage to that occasion! This is a free festival with over 80 vendors, more than 15 food trucks, kids’ activities, and a car show. There is also live music throughout the day.

Downtown Food Truck Festival (Little Rock)

This is one of our favorite festivals! It is a big one with tens of thousands of attendees. Many, many food trucks from all over the area come to downtown Little Rock. This is the tastiest festival around.

Six Bridges Book Festival (Little Rock)

This is an excellent literary festival from the Central Arkansas Library System. Some of the many events include spotlights on local authors, featured presenters on a variety of topics, Pulitzer Prize winners, and a fundraiser featuring beloved talents Ann Patchett and Robin Preiss Glasser.

There are also events for families with young children and young readers.

Close up of a books standing on end. The shot is taken from the top to all you see are the tops of the books. This is on a post about the best festivals in Arkansas in September. Pin

Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Fest (Jonesboro)

Check out this great BBQ competition which will also feature live music and other vendors.

Get Down Downtown (Searcy)

This is a festival on the charming town square of Searcy, Arkansas with great free live music, a 5K race, a kid zone that includes a petting zoo, pony rides, kiddie karaoke, carnival games, and inflatables. There will also be food and other vendors.

Hardy Homesteaders Day (Hardy)

This is a fun “step back in time” event in Loberg Park in Hardy, Arkansas. This festival transforms Hardy will be transformed into a scene out of 1883, with open fire cooking, children’s games, music and other activities straight out of pioneer days.

Little Rocktoberfest (Little Rock)

This is an epic beer event in Arkansas. You will be able to sample commercial beers from across the world, taste the latest beers from our local Arkansas Craft Breweries, enjoy a bratwurst dinner, and sample many one of a kind brews from local homebrewers,

We hope that you have enjoyed this list of great festivals in Arkansas in September.

To help you plan the rest of your fall activities we also have a list of the Arkansas festivals in October that you might enjoy!

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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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