Free music by the river, a movie and bike ride at the Bakery, fall markets, lanterns, live music and plenty to do around the River Valley.

The weekend is stacked — especially Saturday. We picked out the things most worth knowing about, plus a few extras if your calendar still has room.

One quick heads-up: it’s going to stay very hot through the weekend, with afternoon highs around 100° through Saturday and upper 90s Sunday. For the outdoor stuff, earlier or later in the day will be your friend.

THURSDAY

FREE MUSIC BY THE RIVER

Levitt AMP Fort Smith is back at Harry E. Kelley Riverfront Park Thursday evening with John Paul Hodge, plus Mark Albertson & the Groove Diggers.

The music starts at 6 p.m., admission is free, and this is one of those easy River Valley nights: grab a chair or blanket, head downtown and catch some live music along the river.

Thursday, Sept. 17 · 6 p.m. · Harry E. Kelley Riverfront Park · Free

BBQ, BREWS & BLUE

The Reynolds Cancer Support House is hosting BBQ, Brews & Blue from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Thursday.

The evening pairs BBQ, craft beer, yard games and family activities with free PSA prostate cancer screenings in partnership with the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation and Mercy Urology.

Thursday, Sept. 17 · 5:30–7:30 p.m. · Reynolds Cancer Support House · Fort Smith

FRIDAY

MOVIE FIRST. BIKE RIDE SECOND.

Here’s one that showed up just in time for the weekend.

The River Valley Film Society is bringing Bikes at the Bakery: Riverfront Roll & Bike Movie Night to The Bakery District Friday evening — and the whole thing is free and open to all ages.

The night starts at 6 p.m. with a screening of Doom & Despair, following cyclist Zach Gass as he attempts one of the country’s toughest bike-packing races through the Arkansas Ozarks.

Then at 6:30 p.m., everybody gets on their bikes.

The community ride heads from The Bakery District toward the riverfront, with three route options built for different kinds of riders — including an easier ride for kids and families and an off-road option for mountain bikers.

You don’t have to be a serious cyclist. This one sounds built just as much for somebody who wants to dust off the family bikes and do something different on a Friday night.

Friday, Sept. 18 · Movie at 6 p.m. · Ride at 6:30 p.m. · The Bakery District · Free

TWO NEW EXHIBITIONS AT RAM

Fort Smith Regional Art Museum is opening two exhibitions Friday night: Aaron Bleidt’s of Wanderlust & Thresholds: Stillness in Motion and David Malcolm Rose: The Lost Highway.

The opening reception runs 5–7 p.m., admission is free and light refreshments will be available.

Friday, Sept. 18 · 5–7 p.m. · Fort Smith Regional Art Museum · Free

HISPANIC HERITAGE NIGHT AT UAFS

UAFS Volleyball plays its first home match of the season Friday night as the Lions take on Central Missouri at the Stubblefield Center.

It’s also Hispanic Heritage Night, giving you another solid Friday-night option if you’d rather spend the evening courtside.

Friday, Sept. 18 · 6 p.m. · Stubblefield Center · Fort Smith

GREENWOOD YARD SALE

If bargain hunting is more your speed, the Greenwood Yard Sale runs Friday and Saturday throughout Greenwood.

The Greenwood Chamber is putting together a map of participating sales, scheduled to go live Thursday at 3 p.m., so you can plot your route before heading out.

Friday & Saturday · Sept. 18–19 · Greenwood

SATURDAY

Saturday is loaded, so instead of throwing everything at you, here are some of the strongest picks.

MORNING AT CHAFFEE

The Chaffee Food & Artisan Market returns Saturday from 8 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Chaffee Crossing Historic District.

Expect local makers, homegrown and handmade goods, vintage finds, food trucks, live music and a kid zone.

If you haven’t made it to one this season, September is a good excuse.

Saturday, Sept. 19 · 8 a.m.–1 p.m. · Chaffee Crossing Historic District

FALL STARTS AT MACKMAZING

MackMazing Acres in nearby Spiro opens its 2026 fall season Saturday.

The family farm packs in the classic fall lineup: pumpkins, a corn maze, petting farm, sunflowers, a 200-foot slide, zipline, obstacle course and more.

And yes — MackMazing is one of the farms included in our River Valley Pumpkin Patch Guide.

Opening Saturday, Sept. 19 · Spiro

LIGHT UP THE WATER

The 2nd Annual Water Lantern Release Fall Festival takes over Carol Ann Cross Park Saturday from noon–10 p.m.

The day includes live music, yoga, guided meditation, spoken word, local artists, vendors and food trucks before the lantern release after dark.

Approved lantern kits are $5, and outside lanterns are not allowed. Bring a lawn chair or blanket if you plan to settle in for the evening.

Saturday, Sept. 19 · Noon–10 p.m. · Carol Ann Cross Park · Fort Smith

BECAUSE WE CARE

The 2nd Annual Because We Care Walk & Car Show runs from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at River Bend Event Center.

The free community event supports children fighting cancer and their families, with the awareness walk, a car show, vendors, food, family activities, contests and raffles.

Saturday, Sept. 19 · 10 a.m.–3 p.m. · River Bend Event Center · Free

A MAN NAMED CASH

Saturday night in Alma, Eric Hofmanis brings A Man Named Cash to the Skokos Performing Arts Center.

Eric Hofmanis was selected for the Johnny Cash estate-backed Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience, and the show also features Megan Houde as June Carter.

Saturday, Sept. 19 · 7:30 p.m. · Skokos Performing Arts Center · Alma

LAST CALL AT THE CRAWFORD COUNTY FAIR

Saturday is also the final day of the Crawford County Fair at Kirksey Park in Mulberry.

After a week of livestock, agriculture, exhibits, fair food, vendors and community traditions, Saturday is your last chance to make it out before the fair wraps up for another year.

Through Saturday, Sept. 19 · Kirksey Park · Mulberry

HONORABLE MENTIONS

There’s too much happening Saturday to squeeze everything into the main list.

Ride the Train from Van Buren departs the Old Frisco Depot from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. for a scenic Arkansas & Missouri Railroad excursion through the Boston Mountains.

RAM Saturdays has a free Fall Fabric Flag make-and-take from noon–3 p.m.

The Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center has a free Canoe/Kayak program at 11:30 a.m. and Archery at 2:30 p.m.

MJ’s Stampede brings its 5K, 10K and timed 5K walk to the riverfront beginning Saturday morning.

And if ’90s alternative rock is more your thing, Everclear plays CenterStage at Choctaw Casino & Resort–Pocola Saturday night at 8 p.m.

SUNDAY

WHO’S HEADED TO MEMPHIS?

Some of the region’s blues musicians will battle it out Sunday at the 2026 Fort Smith Regional Blues Challenge.

The competition runs from 1–5 p.m. in the Collection Room at The Bakery District, with band and solo/duo acts competing for the chance to represent the Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge on Beale Street in Memphis next January.

If you like discovering musicians before everybody else does, this might be the place to spend Sunday afternoon.

Sunday, Sept. 20 · 1–5 p.m. · The Bakery District · Fort Smith

A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT THE CLAYTON HOUSE

For something a little quieter, Clayton Conversation: J. Fred Patton takes place Sunday afternoon at The Clayton House.

Patton’s granddaughter, Christie Dawson, will share stories and memories of her grandfather, continuing the historic home’s series of conversations about the people and stories connected to Fort Smith’s past.

Refreshments begin at 2 p.m., with the program starting at 2:30 p.m.

Admission is free for Fort Smith Heritage Foundation members, with a $10 suggested donation for nonmembers.

Sunday, Sept. 20 · 2 p.m. refreshments · 2:30 p.m. program · The Clayton House

PET PALOOZA

MackMazing Acres keeps opening weekend going Sunday with Pet Palooza from 2–5 p.m.

If Saturday is already booked but you still want to kick off pumpkin-patch season, Sunday gives you another reason to make the short drive over to Spiro.

Sunday, Sept. 20 · 2–5 p.m. · MackMazing Acres · Spiro

WORTH THE DRIVE

TULSA GREEK FESTIVAL

Come hungry.

The 66th Tulsa Greek Festival runs Thursday through Saturday with Greek food, live music, traditional dancing, church tours, shopping and plenty of baklava.

Admission is $5, and kids 12 and under get in free.

Sept. 17–19 · Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church · Tulsa

ARKANSAS COMIC CON

Arkansas Comic Con takes over the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock Friday through Sunday with celebrity guests, cosplay, panels, gaming, vendors, artists and plenty more.

Sept. 18–20 · Statehouse Convention Center · Little Rock

CELTIC HIGHLANDS WEEKEND

The Arkansas Renaissance Festival goes Celtic this weekend.

Expect bagpipes, Highland games, Celtic-themed contests, sword fighting and traditional entertainment alongside the festival’s regular jousts, performers, artisan market and food.

Saturday & Sunday · Sept. 19–20 · 10 a.m.–6 p.m. · Mount Vernon

CIVIC THIS WEEK

ALMA CITY COUNCIL

The Alma City Council holds its regular meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at Alma City Hall.

As of our research cutoff, a detailed September agenda had not yet been posted publicly, you might check their website to see if one has been posted before you go.

Thursday, Sept. 17 · 7 p.m. · Alma City Hall

FORT SMITH PROPERTY APPEALS

The Fort Smith Property Owners Appeal Board holds the second of its two annual September appeal hearings Thursday from 6–9 p.m. at The Blue Lion.

The board hears appeals involving disputed city cleanup-abatement costs. A case-specific agenda packet was not posted as of our research cutoff.

Thursday, Sept. 17 · 6–9 p.m. · The Blue Lion

THAT’S THE WEEKEND

From free music Thursday to bike rides Friday, one absolutely packed Saturday and blues on Sunday, there’s no shortage of reasons to get out around the River Valley.

And remember: what you see here is only part of what’s happening.

Know about something we missed?
Send it our way at hello@sweethomerivervalley.com.

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