July will be here in a hot minute, so it’s time to make holiday plans. One of the BEST fireworks shows in Northwest Arkansas happens at the AMP in Rogers on July 4th. This week we’ve got a giveaway that will set you up with free tickets to the July 4th Fireworks Spectacular presented by the Walmart AMP and featuring the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. Two local moms will each win FOUR tickets to the show.

The symphony, under the direction of guest conductor Shih-Hung Young, will play a patriotic concert that ends with an incredible fireworks show, sponsored by the city of Rogers.

Gates to the AMP open at 6:30pm. The concert starts at 7:15pm. and concludes with the fireworks display at 9:15 p.m. This event will celebrate the beauty and grandeur of America and honor our nation’s veterans and those who bravely serve in the nation’s armed forces.

If you don’t want to depend on the luck of the draw to see this great show, you can purchase tickets to the event to save your spot, but get it before it sells out! Click here to get ticket info online or call 479-443-5600.

HOW TO ENTER:

To throw your name in the online hat to win a 4-pack of tickets to the July 4th Spectacular at the AMP, scroll down to the bottom of this post (and past the comments posted by other moms) until you see the words “Leave a Reply.”

Then write a quick comment telling us about one of your favorite Fourth of July memories or traditions. Do you remember a special fireworks display? Do you always eat a certain food that’s your fave on the 4th?

You can also email your answer to us at giveaways@nwaMotherlode.com.

Help us spread the word about this giveaway by emailing your friends and family about the giveaway. We’ll give you an extra chance to win for every person you tell. Just be sure to put giveaways@nwaMotherlode.com on the CC line of your note so we can give you proper credit.

Our newsletter subscribers get access to the good stuff, including exclusive giveaways, information about local events, local mom interviews, recipes and more.

It’s delivered straight to your inbox so you don’t miss anything awesome. CLICK HERE to sign up. We won’t fill your inbox with info, no worries. We only send out newsletters when there’s something in it for you — and we know you’ll be interested in hearing about it.

If you’re new to Northwest Arkansas — or a new mama navigating the neighborhoods for the first time with a baby on the hip — we thought you’d appreciate some local exploring options.

Click on the name of the activity/location if you want to find out more.

If we leave out your favorite things to do in Northwest Arkansas, write a comment below and share them with the rest of us! 

Oodles of Outdoorsy Options:

Devil’s Den State Park – It’s a beautiful park with a built-in pool, picnic tables, great bridge, swimming pool and river and boat rentals. Take a picnic and the Frisbee and football and have a blast! If you’re adventurous, you can also go caving. There are also cabins and camping options.

Withrow Springs State Park. (Near Huntsville) Great camping area, swimming pool, playground, hiking trails, fishing and tennis. Canoes, too!

Lake Fayetteville. There’s a lovely park with a playground and picnic tables as well as volley ball nets. It’s on the south side of the park off of Zion Rd – Veteran’s Memorial Park.  The bike and walking trails are great and, if you have an off road bicycle, you can ride along the Botanical Gardens. The other thing you MUST do there is a round of Frisbee golf!  It’s a blast and takes you by the lake and through the park – although I find I really want to spend some time catching the Frisbee as well as throwing it once we’re done with the 18 baskets.

Speaking of Veteran’s Memorial Park, Northwest Arkansas has an abundance of small, fabulous parks with walking trails, play equipment, and picnic areas. Some of our favorites in Fayetteville are Wilson Park (you’ll love the rock castle, fish pond and beautiful landscaping), Gulley Park and Gordon Long (many trees protect the kids on hot summer days). Lawrence Plaza, just north of the Bentonville Square (at the corner of NE A and Blake streets) features a 7,000 square-foot, multi-use facility that transforms into a splash pad in the summer and an outdoor ice rink in the winter!

Gator Golf on College Avenue offers two courses and a free game if you get a hole in one on the 18th hole. You can see a great sunset from there if you catch it right and the course offers some interesting variations.

Farmers Markets! Fayetteville, Springdale Farmer’s Market at the Jones Center, Downtown Rogers Farmer’s Market, Bentonville. There is something for everyone there including music, lots of amazing produce and flowers.  The farmer’s markets have many annual events for added fun.

Pea Ridge Battlefield – Walking trails and step back in time. Take the guided tour via CD and hear the battle come to life.

Prairie Grove Battlefield Park – Bring your hand-held GPS, stop by the gift shop for the first set of coordinates and find answers to a sheet of clues they provide. Beautiful walking trails, stroller-ready.

Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks in Fayetteville. Lots of events for both adults and kids.  The firefly festival in summer is a great kid event.  They also have evening events for adults like “Chefs in the Garden” and a Holiday Farmers’ Market. While the farmers’ market continues, we like to just go on Sunday mornings and walk around when admission is free.

Fayetteville bike trails – These are great for a family outing or couples only.

Bentonville bike trails – There are so many new trails in Bentonville, and they’re quickly becoming popular with bikers all over the country! Don’t miss an opportunity to ride these nationally-recognized trails.

Tanyard Creek trail in Bella Vista – Great walking trail with streams, a swinging bridge and a waterfall! It’s an easy trail perfect for beginners and for families.

Terra Studios in Durham – Kids love walking around the gardens and paths to look at all of the strange and unique pottery creatures.  You can also watch pottery and bluebirds of happiness being made.  Before you leave have a snack in the coffee shop and sit in a really cool booth.

Corn mazes, pumpkin patches and u-pick! There are multiple corn maze-focused attractions (they all have lots more than the mazes) in the area, including Ozark Corn Maze in Cave Springs, Farmland Adventures in Springdale, McGarrah Farms in Pea Ridge, Dickey Farms in Springdale, Vanzant Fruit Farms in Lowell, and Exeter Corn Maze in Exeter, Mo.

Attend a Northwest Arkansas Naturals baseball game!

Modern Mission Outdoor Laser Tag is similar to paintball, but without the projectiles. They have indoor and outdoor areas for play, including archery. Off Joyce Avenue in Fayetteville.

The Pinnacle Hills Promenade Mall is an outdoor mall in Rogers. Lots of shopping, restaurants and a movie theatre.

Things to do if it’s cold, hot or rainy outside:

Scott Family Amazeum. The Amazeum features approximately 50,000 square feet of exhibit and learning spaces inside the museum to bring learning to life and enhance family involvement, while evoking a sense of curiosity and discovery through hands-on activities. So much fun!

Ozark Bowling Lanes in Fayetteville might fool you from the outside, but they have redone the inside and it is really a very nice bowling alley.  There are also pool tables if you need a little variety or for your friends who aren’t as fond of bowling as you might be.

Fast Lane Entertainment on N. Dixieland in Lowell is also lots of fun when you’re looking for arcade games, bowling and laser tag. They’ve got ginormous pizzas, a varied menu for adults and glow-in-the-dark bowling.

The Starlight Skatium is a skating rink on College Avenue in Fayetteville. It’s a great place for birthday parties and for taking the parents wayyyy back.

Arkadia Retrocade in Fayetteville (Evelyn Hills Shopping Center) is another place where parents can go way back! These video games are vintage. $5 cash admission at the door for all-day, old-school video game play. Check out the Facebook page for hours.

Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Rogers is a great way to jump your sillies out. In Fayetteville, try Altitude Trampoline Park!

Books! Of course the Fayetteville Public Library is world class! It has two floors of books, materials and movies for the whole family. There is a whole section dedicated to the children and a coffee shop where mom can take a break and relax. There’s are also great libraries in Rogers, Springdale (just outside this library’s windows there’s a wonderful park and duck pond for kids to enjoy!) and Bentonville.

The Jones Center for Families in Springdale is absolutely amazing!  It has a small water park and pool along with other activities like indoor ice skating, and a playground, basketball, volley ball and 9-hole disc golf. Year-round fun.

Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale. Kids can spend hours in this museum.  They love the hands-on exhibits. They also have a great history camp in the summer for kids.

Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville. There are beautiful trails to wander along, art to enjoy, a library and even a cafe. The 120-acre site of the Museum complex is located within walking distance of the Bentonville town square. General admission is free; special exhibits are free on Thursdays.

Northwest Arkansas Mall in Fayetteville.

Arkansas Air & Military Museum. Follow the colorful history of aviation in Arkansas and American military conflicts through numerous displays of original artifacts and aviation memorabilia

Got any fun ideas we missed and you’d like to share? Click on the comment button below and let us know! For other suggestions by NWA mamas, click here to read our 5 Minutes with a Mom feature. The featured moms usually mention their favorite places to play here. Plus you might just meet a new friend!

If you or someone you know might be interested in the opportunity to purchase an existing business that is as mom friendly as it comes, reach out to us! We’d love to tell you more about it.

The main thing to know is that it IS possible to manage and grow a business while working from home. You’ll be the boss, so you’ll set your own hours. And we love the fact that, by running nwaMotherlode, our kids grew up seeing what real entrepreneurship looks like behind the scenes.

If something comes up with the kids and you need to drop everything for a few days, that’s possible with a business like this one because you can plan and prepare most posts weeks or months ahead.

How does nwaMotherlode make money? Glad you asked. From Day 1, we’ve always run this website as a small business. The site makes money by charging fees for the ad space and sponsored posts that we sell monthly to local businesses. Over the years, the site has partnered with trusted local organizations including Walton Arts Center, the Amazeum, the Jones Center, Crystal Bridges, Mercy Hospital, Washington Regional, Arkansas Children’s, Harps Foods, Metro Appliances, and many others.

The great news for any potential new owner is that we’ve already put 18 years of work into building trust and a good reputation with businesses here in Northwest Arkansas. So you won’t have to do the hard work of starting from scratch with no name recognition. Plus, we’ve got years’ worth of information already compiled on the website that you can use as you take it into the future!

We’ll be happy to share more information about the business with serious inquiries and hope to finalize a transition by the end of summer. Email us at gwen@nwaMotherlode.com, and we’ll go from there. Looking forward to meeting the next CEO of nwaMotherlode.com!

Are you moving to Northwest Arkansas? Great! You picked an amazing place to create a new home. Whether you live in Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville (or any of the lovely little cities in between), Northwest Arkansas is a great place to live and raise a family.

We’d like to welcome you to this corner of the state and help you get started. We know that relocating is hard work, so we’ve pulled together some resources and links to help you feel connected in Northwest Arkansas a little faster.

1. There’s always something fun to do in Northwest Arkansas.

NWA is brimming with festivals, fairs, charity events, outdoor activities, and unique events every year. It’s impossible to take advantage of all the good stuff the area has to offer. So at the beginning of each month, we curate a calendar of events that includes the best family-friendly things to do.

We also create fun seasonal guides for your family throughout the year so you’ll have all the holiday events in one handy place.

2. Meet other Northwest Arkansas moms.

We interview local mothers for a feature called 5 Minutes with a Mom and they always share some fun stuff about their favorite places to play in NWA or even the best motherhood advice they’ve ever received. You might just see some of these mamas around town.

If you’d like to connect with local moms in person, we’ve got some fun mom groups in NWA (click on the name of the organization to visit their website):

Central Rogers Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), Central United Methodist Church

MOMS Club of Bella Vista/Bentonville

Mom Meetup of Northwest Arkansas

MOMS Club of Fayetteville

Crunchy Mamas of NWA

Northwest Arkansas Mothers of Multiples Club

NWA Moms RUN this town

3. Rain or shine, there’s a place to play in Northwest Arkansas.

We put together a big list of indoor spots where the kids can play on days when it’s too rainy, cold or hot to enjoy being outside. If you want to get them outside, we have lots of great parks to try. See our big list of park reviews to make the best choice for your family’s needs (or to set up a multi-city park crawl!).

4. Find out where kids eat free (or great mom-tested recipes if you’re eating at home!)

If you want to find some local places to eat that are easy on the wallet, we have a list here: where Kids Eat Free. If you’re eating in, but need a new recipe, we have some great ideas from local mamas in our Mealtime Mama category. Click here to see some great recipes.

5. Having a baby?

Congratulations!  Our early childhood editor, a local mama whose been busy having babies these past few years, shared many great insights, tips and ideas along the way. Here’s a collection of links to some of her most popular pregnancy/baby posts on nwaMotherlode.com.

And for after the baby’s born: Check out this handy guide of activities to do with your baby (or toddler) around town.

6. Summer camps galore!

If you’re wondering what kinds of campus are offered in the summer, we’ve got a good list for you here. There are so many great camp options, whether you need full-day or just a few hours a week. We update this guide every year!

7. Stay in the loop about mom news.

We send out a newsletter about once a week, but only when there’s something in it for you. We usually let moms know about new giveaways, which are always things or experiences we’d like to win ourselves (that’s our test for whether to give it away on nwaMotherlode or not!).Click here to sign up for the newsletter and we’ll send all the mom news straight to your inbox.

If you have a question about any of the info in our Welcome Wagon 2.0 — or if there’s something else you’d like to ask — we’re here for you! Just give Shannon and Gwen (the mamas who run nwaMotherlode) a shout and we’ll be happy to write you back. You can email us at: mamas{at}nwamotherlode{dot}com

Sometimes you just need to get away, right? So we started thinking about trips that can be made in a day, over a weekend, during Spring Break, a short drive in the summer — or a few days off from work here and there.

We love a mini excursion!

Here are a few good ideas for nearby destinations (click on the attraction to learn more):

War Eagle Cavern. This is great for a day trip since it’s on the shores of Beaver Lake. You can go on guided walks, see the caverns and bats hibernating (and waking up), pan for gemstones, go through the Lost in the Woods maze and explain the word stalagmite to your kids. They even have the Smoke Signal Cafe. (Closes in the winter, re-opens in March.)

Nature lovers will also enjoy an hour and a half drive to the Buffalo National River area near Ponca, AR. Bring your camping gear and spend the night at Steel Creek Campground. The river runs right beside this campground. There are beautiful bluffs, and the kids will enjoy looking for unusual rocks and fossils near the water. There are also float trips and zip line canopy tours at the Buffalo Outdoor Center.

The next day, your family can take the access road about 1 mile south of Ponca to the Lost Valley Trail. This a mostly easy, 2.5 mile trek through the forest with wildflowers, a natural bridge, waterfall and cave. Bring your flashlights! If you have time, visit the Elk Education Center in Ponca. There are hands-on activities for the kids, and be sure to ask for the list of nature questions and search for the answers as you make your way through the center. There is a small prize if completed.

Hobbs State Park also has a beautiful visitor’s center and several trails to enjoy. It’s about 35 minutes east of Rogers and is Arkansas’ largest state park in land area.

We love Roaring River State Park in Cassville, Missouri. Some local mamas don’t think summer’s awesome unless they get to take their kids to visit the hatchery and take a few spins on  Beebe’s water slide there. They only accept cash, so be prepared! After, you can go get a HUGE ice cream cone at the Short Stop General Store in Garfield on the way home. Their soft serve ice cream cones are epic.

There are a lots of activities in nearby Tulsa. A favorite is the new(ish) Gathering Place, a free outdoor space with a huge adventure playground and much more. There’s also the Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum, Philbrook Museum of Art, Discoveryland, Tulsa Garden Center and Big Splash water park. Also, in nearby Jenks, there’s the Oklahoma Aquarium. Try Utica Square and the RiverWalk Crossing for shopping, movie theatre, restaurants.

Branson, home of Silver Dollar City, is also a great place to visit. There are outlet malls like Tanger, fun shows like Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, White Water, Grand Country Inn with its indoor water park, and Fritz’s Adventure (over 80,000 square feet indoors for kids to explore). There’s also a fun water park in Branson called Castle Rock Resort & Waterpark.

Eureka Springs. There’s all kinds of shopping downtown (here’s a list!), spa treatments available at many of the hotels, wildlife refuge Turepentine Creek, the Great Passion Play, Promised Land Zoo (10 miles north of Eureka), beds and breakfasts and the historic Crescent Hotel (which has New Moon Spa).

Mount Magazine State Park is a good spot for hiking or just relaxing. The annual butterfly festival is in June at this park near Paris, Ark.

Kansas City is a bit of a trek from here, but offers loads of long weekend fun. KC has Legoland Discovery Center, SEA LIFE Kansas City, a cool zoo, Wonderscope Children’s Museum, Worlds of Fun theme and its water park called Oceans of Fun, Science City at Union Station (free if you’re an Amazeum member), T-Rex Cafe, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead and Great Wolf Lodge with its family of water parks.

In the winter, try snow skiing and snow tubing at the Snow Creek Ski Area outside KC in Weston, Mo. For more ideas for fun things to do in Kansas City, here’s a list of 22 things to do from Sophie at iFamilyKC.

In St. Louis, there’s a cool zoo (home to over 14,000 animals, many of which are endangered, and entry is free every day), and City Museum, an all-ages architectural playground downtown where your family can explore tunnels, caves, slides and rides — inside and out. Union Station is also a hit with kids (and parents). There’s a popular aquarium, ropes course, Ferris wheel, and more.

If we left your favorite weekend getaway destination off the list, please leave a comment and tell us all about it! Happy travels, mamas!

Swim lessons aren’t just about teaching kids how to do swim strokes. They’re about teaching kids to respect that water can be dangerous if you don’t know how to float and swim. According to Water Safety USA, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children ages 1 to 4. Participation in formal swim lessons can reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning deaths by 88 percent. 

In 2019, the American Academy of Pediatrics began recommending that children should begin swim lessons around age 1. Remember that drowning is fast and silent and can happen in as little as 20 to 60 seconds. (This is true for bathtub drowning, too.)

Not sure how to find a local swim teacher? We can help. We’ve rounded up the names of Northwest Arkansas swim lesson businesses, private teachers, and community programs.

Many of the swim instructors in our area offer lessons but don’t advertise their services and are not affiliated with a specific business. If you know of individual certified swim teachers who are accepting new students, please send us an email if the instructor would like to be listed in our directory (at no charge). We’ll keep adding to the list so our readers will always be able to find a swim instructor when they need one.

2026 Swim Teachers in Northwest Arkansas

• Donna Speed, School teacher & swim instructor — private or small group lessons — 479-366-7921
• Goldfish Swim School of Rogers — 479-777-9568 Lessons for kids ages 4 months to 12 years from experienced, professional teachers in a heated pool.
• Shrimply the Best Infant Aquatics – specializing in survival swim lessons for small children (lessons available in English or Spanish) — 479-409-2423
• Morgan Luther, Traveling swim instructor. High school P.E. teacher  and basketball coach who has been teaching private swim lessons for 10 years. (CPR/AED/WSI certified.) Can teach at your pool or facility in Fayetteville only. Private, semi-private lessons. 479-737-5166
• Angie Schuck, swim coach for FHS and Prairie Grove Summer League with 20 years of teaching experience. Can travel for lessons or use Jones Center pool — 916-459-9358 or email aschuck003@gmail.com
• Bentonville Community Center — They have “Parent and Tot” swim lessons plus lessons for preschoolers and older kids.
• Rogers Aquatics Center — 479-936-5482
• Razorback Aquatic Club AquaHawgs — Contact through website at www.aquahawgs.org
• Fayetteville Athletic Club Aquatics Center — 479-587-0500
• The Jones Center for Families, Springdale, offers Water Babies classes for babies 4 months to 2 1/2 years old. Also ask about their Survival Swimmers classes for younger babies. They also have Adults Learn to Swim, which teaches swimming and water safety skills.
• The Joys of Swimming. Specializes in private swim instruction, indoor facility. Bentonville, 919-939-1408
• Little Squirts Aquatics. Fayetteville. Specializes in infants and toddlers.
• Arkansas Swim Academy. Year-round swim school for all ages and abilities, Rogers.
• Survival Swimmers. Private swim instruction for infants, toddlers, as well as children of all ages. They specialize in post-drowning recovery, drowning prevention, fear & trauma associated with the water, and attuned water physicality.

Send us an email if you know of other businesses and/or individuals offering swim lessons from certified instructors. We’ll be sure to add them to the list!

Looking for community pools in Northwest Arkansas? We’ve got a list for that, too. Click HERE for info on swimming pools, splash pads and water parks in NWA.

Book title: Checked Out, by Gwen Rockwood

Author: Gwen Rockwood

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction

What it’s about (without spoilers):

A post-graduation stopover in her small hometown turns into career quicksand. Can love help her climb out?

After college, 23-year-old Kelsey Whitaker expected a dream job—not a one-way ticket back to her small hometown with nothing but a psychology degree her dad predicted would be useless. By day, she scans groceries and silently analyzes the contents of shopping carts. By night, she scours job boards, desperate for her Big Career Break.

Then a customer slips her a receipt with a desperate plea for help scribbled on the back. Soon, Kelsey is running a secret counseling service from her checkout lane—where her “clients” keep multiplying, the risks keep rising, and the guy in produce keeps making her wonder if escape is really what she wants.

When a long-distance dream job finally comes calling, Kelsey must decide: race toward the future she’s always imagined, or hold on to the unexpected purpose—and love—she’s found in the last place she thought she’d belong.

Why readers like it:

Readers love the slow-burn chemistry, the hometown vibes, the grocery store setting, the new adult job angst, and the witty dialogue combined with quick pacing that keeps you turning pages. (Keep an eye out for the horse statue part of the story because the idea behind it originates from a horse right here in Northwest Arkansas!)

What reviewers say:

“Checked Out is first and foremost a romance, but it is also a book about family, friendship, and home. I rarely read past my bedtime because my sleep is sacred, but I couldn’t put it down until I read the last word. I loved it.” ~ Tammy in Fargo, North Dakota

“Fabulous book. I just could not put it down. Can’t wait for the next book!” ~ Lisa from Atlanta, Georgia

“Checked Out is funny and friendly and touched all my emotions! It’s a great read and I can’t recommend it enough.” ~ Alaina in Nashville, Tenn.

About the author:

Gwen Rockwood makes her fiction debut with “Checked Out.” She is also the author of the award-winning newspaper column “The Rockwood Files,” published in newspapers across Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Her first book, “Reporting Live from the Laundry Pile,” is a collection of fan-favorite essays from her column. Gwen is a cheese dip addict, a late-night reader, and a mom to three incredible humans. Born in the Rice Capital of the World and a graduate of the University of Arkansas, she currently lives in Arkansas with her husband Tom and their bossy dog.

Public Pools and splash pads in Northwest Arkansas 2026

One of the best parts of summer is cooling off at one of Northwest Arkansas’ pools or splash pads. Below you’ll find a list (by city) of available pools, splash pads and aquatic centers.

If your kids need swim lessons this summer, we’ve got a list for that, too. Click HERE to find a swim instructor in Northwest Arkansas. 

Fayetteville:

Wilson Park Pool has open swim hours 1-4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 1-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Adult lap swim hours are 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 12-1 p.m. Saturdays through Labor Day weekend. In addition to open swim and lap swimming, the Wilson Park Pool offers a variety of youth and adult swim lessons, youth recreation swim team program, dive-in movies and private pool party reservations. Admission to the pool is $4 for adults and $3 for kids ages 15 and younger. Multiple-visit passes, family passes and season passes are available.

The Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club is an indoor facility with a pool that’s open year-round.

The Walker Park splash pad will be open 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily through Sept. 15. Features include floor geysers, colorful and interactive above-ground spray features and a large dump bucket. The splash pad is free, but there are a few rules.

Springdale:
The Jones Center pools. The Jones Center’s indoor pool is open year-round.

Springdale Aquatic Center.  Admission (per day) is $4 with the exceptions of $3 for children ages 1-4, and free for infants (younger than 1 year). Splash Passes are sold at the Springdale Parks and Rec Center. Splash Passes are $80 and are good for 25 admissions. Kids 9 or younger must be accompanied by a person 15 years or older.

C.L. “Charlie” and Willie George Park splash pad. The splash pad will remain open through mid-September. Open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Shaw Family Park splash pad. The splash pad will remain open through mid-September. Open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Randal Tyson Sports Complex splash pad. The splash pad will remain open through mid-September. Open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Prairie Grove:

Prairie Grove Aquatic Center. This facility has beach entry, several pools and dive-in movies. Monday-Thursday, 12:30-6 p.m., Friday-Saturday 12:30-7 p.m. and Sunday 1-7 p.m. Ages 5 and under & Senior Citizens ages 60+, $3. Ages 6 and up $5.

Rogers:

Rogers Aquatics Center. Monday-Thursday 11 am.- 6 p.m., Friday & Saturday  11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday noon – 6 p.m.

Bentonville:

The Splash Park at Lawrence Plaza. The splash park is open through mid-September with daily hours 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Lawrence Plaza is located a block from the Bentonville Square at 214 NE A Street.

Bentonville Community Center.  This indoor pool is open year-round.

Melvin Ford Aquatics Center.  The center offers options for people of all ages and swimming abilities. The 50-meter competition pool ranges from 3-8 feet deep and is great for recreational and lap swimming. For younger children, a one-foot deep wading pool, featuring a rain drop fountain, is located on deck. For the more adventurous, the Aquatic Center has a diving well 13 feet in depth equipped with two one-meter spring diving boards.

Pea Ridge:

Pea Ridge Splash Pad.

Siloam Springs:

Siloam Springs Kayak Park.  The park is designed for kayakers to enjoy the rapids best between 200cfc and 600 cfs. Weekend afternoons are often busy with tubers and families and can make kayaking and canoeing difficult.

Siloam Springs Family Aquatic Center. Hours are 1-6pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. Open 1-8pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays. Open 2-6pm on Saturdays, Sundays. Fun fact: They have dive-in movies. Open through Sept. 1st.

Fort Smith:

Parrot Island Waterpark. Lots of options for cooling off here with multiple pools for various ages and unique features.

Did we miss your favorite place to cool off? Leave us a note in comments and we’ll add it! If you’re interested in local parks, visit our parks page for detailed reviews.

Happy June (officially 2026 summer), mamas! We’ve rounded up some of the best family-friendly events in Northwest Arkansas for the month just for you.

Click on the name of any of these events for more information.

The Jones Center Summer Kicks Off

Starting June 1, the Jones Center’s summer activities schedule kicks off with more opportunities to swim, ice skate, play pickleball, shoot hoops, and stay active all season long.From public swim and public skate to drop-in basketball, volleyball and more, there’s something happening every day of the week.

Date: June 1 kickoff

Time: See Jones Center hours

Location: The Jones Center, Springdale

Northwest Arkansas Naturals Return for a Full Week of Home Play

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals will return to Arvest Ballpark for a six-game homestand against the Midland RockHounds (Double-A Athletics) on Tuesday, June 2nd. The series against Midland is highlighted by daily food and beverage promotions, a Fireworks Friday and the return of Star Wars Night on Saturday while the series finale on June 7th features Kids Run the Bases on a Family Sunday.

Dates: June 2-7

Time: Varies

Location: Arvest Ballpark, Springdale

Botanical Garden of the Ozarks: Terrific Tuesday Nights

Terrific Tuesday Nights are back June through August. The first event will focus on garden games. Lawn games and sidewalk chalk will be provided. Just bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the evening. Free to the community.

Date: Tuesday, June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Time: 5-7:30 p.m.

Location: Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, Fayetteville

Weekend Starts, Fayetteville Ramble

Weekend Starts is an art-infused series of Friday evening “compact creativity festivals” that will take place in the The Ramble in Fayetteville. Kick off the weekend with a burst of creativity and fun. The WEST series is being held in conjunction with the University of Arkansas Department of Music, The Community Creative Center and Creative Spaces at Mount Sequoyah. Weekend Starts spring season will be held May 2 – June 27, and its fall season will be held Aug. 15 – Oct. 17. The series is free, open to the public and all ages are welcome.  Attendees can expect a lively atmosphere where they can unwind after a busy work week, enjoy strolling through the beautiful natural area and engage with their local arts community. Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs to enjoy the performances and stay awhile.

Dates: June 5 & 12

Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Gulley Park Summer Concert Series

Date: Thursday, June 4, 11, 18, and 25 (plus July 2 and 9)

Time: 7-9 p.m.

Location: Gulley Park Gazebo, Fayetteville

The City of Fayetteville is proud to announce the 30th Annual Gulley Park Summer Concert Series, returning this summer with six free Thursday evening concerts at the Gulley Park Gazebo. Lawn chairs spread across the grass. Blankets under the open sky. Food trucks lined up and ready. Dogs on leashes. Neighbors catching up—and often becoming friends somewhere between the first note and the final encore. New dance moves. Familiar faces from our incredible local music scene. This season will celebrate local creativity at the Gulley Park Art Market, held in conjunction with the Gulley Park Concert Series. As a key attraction in Fayetteville, the Art Market showcases an array of artists and makers.

Crystal Bridges Opens New Addition

On June 6 & 7, Crystal Bridges opens 114,000 square feet of new galleries, studios, and spaces filled with extraordinary art and fresh storytelling. Expect a brand-new contemporary gallery, a second, expanded temporary exhibition gallery, studio spaces with exciting artmaking opportunities, and an elevated café overlooking a family-friendly splash pad and even more outdoor art.

Date: June 6 & 7

Time: See Crystal Bridges’ hours

Location: Crystal Bridges, Bentonville

Adult Night at the Amazeum

Adult Night transforms the Amazeum into an adults-only playground filled with fire, ice, experimentation, and immersive STEAM experiences. Explore indoor exhibits and the outdoor playscape as you move through oversized building challenges, collaborative tinkering stations, music, treats, and interactive experiences designed just for grown-ups.

Date: Thursday, June 18

Time: 6-8 pm.

Location: Amazeum, Bentonville

Bentonville Film Festival: The Cat in the Hat

Dr. Seuss’s the Cat in the Hat will be in attendance celebrating the launch of a newly discovered book by Dr. Seuss, SING THE 50 UNITED STATES. Come sing and read along with Geena Davis and friends and get a special picture with the Cat in the Hat.

Date: Saturday, June 20

Time: 11 a.m.

Location: Outdoor Theater at the Momentary

Just to be clear, this is NOT a concert where Taylor Swift herself performs. It’s an “unofficial live tribute band.” But as you can see from the sneak peek video below, there’s a definite vibe in this concert experience that is likely to thrill the fans of her music.

This will be such a fun way to kick off the summer!

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of Taylor Swift like never before. “Taylorville” is your ticket to a night filled with chart-topping hits and cherished deep cuts. This dynamic tribute band, armed with unmatched musical talent, takes you on a journey through Taylor’s iconic career. The stage comes alive with a stunning video wall production, adding a visual spectacle that complements the music perfectly. It’s a tribute that’ll make you sing, dance, and relive the magic of Taylor’s songs. Don’t miss this extraordinary homage to a pop sensation.

Legal notice: Taylorville is fan-sponsored and not endorsed by, directly affiliated with, maintained, authorized, or sponsored by TAS Rights Management, Taylor Swift, or their affiliated entities. All trademarks and copyrighted material pertaining to Taylor Swift’s music, name, likeness, and related intellectual properties are the property of their respective owners. This tribute artist and this profile are independent and intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. We aim to honor and extend appreciation for Taylor Swift’s music, ensuring that our performances and representations respect her artistry and copyright.

HOW TO ENTER:

To throw your name in the online hat to win a package of 4 tickets to see “TAYLORVILLE: An unofficial live tribute band” at 8pm on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the Walmart AMP in Rogers, scroll down to the bottom of this post (and past the comments posted by other moms) until you see the words “Leave a Reply.”

Then, write a quick comment telling us one of your favorite Taylor Swift songs. Can’t pick a favorite? Tell us your top 3. We’ll go first…. it’s SO hard to choose, but we’ll go with “Love Story,” “Style,” and “22.”

We choose winners at random using a random number generator. But if you’d rather not leave it up to the luck of the draw, click here to purchase tickets online. TAYLORVILLE will have only one performance in the state of Arkansas on Saturday, May 30, 2026, so get your tickets quickly. We’ll contact four winners by Monday (May 25th).

Good luck in the online drawing for tickets! We’ll email the winners soon so keep an eye on your inbox.