Save the date! Festivals and events in the Tri-Peaks Region
Whether you like live entertainment, mouthwatering food, rodeos, parades, car shows or even hot air balloons, the Arkansas River Valley has it all. Check out these can’t-miss events for 2023 and 2024.
Balloons Over Russellville
May 5-7, 2023
Location: Russellville Soccer Complex
Lift off to the 11th Annual Balloons Over Russellville. Experience excitement and wonder as you step into your very own hot air balloon for an hour-long flight over the Arkansas River Valley! Want to have the memories of riding in a balloon but don’t like heights? You’re in luck! Tethered rides are available, too. Then at sunset, witness magic as balloons glow into the night.
Visitors will also be able to take a private helicopter ride over the river and city, strap-in for tandem skydiving and experience powered parachute rides. This one-of-a-kind event features musical performances from musicians from all over the state, a chainsaw carving competition, larger-than-life inflatables, as well as food and craft vendors.
Picklefest
May 19–20, 2023
Location: Atkins
Do you love pickles? If so, then don’t miss the Atkins Pickle Festival. Here, you can experience a pickle-eating and pickle-juice-drinking contest, a parade, rodeo, talent show, food and craft vendors, a petting zoo and more. Fun fact – fried pickles were invented in Atkins, in 1963! Don’t miss out on trying one of Arkansas’s legendary food creations – Picklefest is the only time you can try the original fried pickle recipe!
Petit Jean Auto Show & Swap Meet
June 14–17, 2023
Location: Museum of Automobiles at Petit Jean State Park
Head to Morrilton for an impressive collection of sweet rides and antique auto supplies at the 65th Annual Petit Jean Show. There will be over 900 auto-related swap meet spaces, 60 arts and craft spaces, 275 collectable car corral spaces, 80 RV parking spaces and the popular antique car show. If you are unable to make the June event, no worries! There is also the 26th Annual Petit Jean Fall Swap Meet happening Sept. 21–23, 2023. Don’t miss these two special events on top of Petit Jean Mountain!
Johnson County Peach Festival
July 20–22, 2023
Location: Downtown Clarksville
Arkansas’s longest running outdoor festival is as delicious as ever! The theme for the 81st Annual Peach Festival is “Wild West Peach Fest!” Enjoy a peach cobbler bake-off, peach pie eating contest, peach pit spitting contest, live music, parade, craft booths, fishing derby, bass tournament, cardboard boat regatta, greased pig chase and much, much more.
Broken Sword Triathlon
August 12, 2023
Location: Clarksville
Conquer the 500-meter Swim, 15-mile Bike and 5K Run at the Broken Sword Triathlon. Start at Lake Ludwig for an open water swim. Bike over paved roads with beautiful scenery of the Ozark Mountains. Run the Spadra Creek Nature Trail and then finish downtown with an awesome finish line party! And for any young warriors, a Kids Triathlon will be at the Clarksville Aquatic Center.
Mount Nebo Chicken Fry
August 19, 2023
Location: Mount Nebo State Park
Get ready to say, “Yum,” all day long at the 76th Annual Chicken Fry. Bring your appetite for chicken strips, smoked chicken and all the fixins’ from Tyson’s award-winning cooks and Chamber volunteers. This event will also include a Chicken Fried 10k Run, horseshoe pitching contest, log sawing, cornhole tournament, live music and more.
Frontier Day Festival
October 7, 2023
Location: Downtown Paris
Transport yourself to the old west at the Frontier Day Festival! Watch wild west reenactments, enjoy a parade, shop local craft vendors, see musical performances, walk around a car show, win a costume contest, jump in a bounce house, go to the petting zoo, and as always, have all the food and drinks your heart desires at this family friendly event.
The Arkansas Traveller 100
October 7–8, 2023
Location: Camp Ouachita at Lake Sylvia
Have a true ultra-running experience at one of the oldest 100-mile races out there. This course will challenge you from beginning to end as you pace yourself through the beautiful Ouachita National Forest. So come on out to the mountains and have a good time running at the 32nd Annual Arkansas Traveller 100.
Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival
March 2024
Location: Wye Mountain Methodist Church
What’s more serene than strolling through a field of colorful flowers? Not much! At the 46th Annual Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival in Bigelow, you’ll find thousands of blooming daffodils and jonquils across seven beautiful acres that create the perfect backdrop for photos, picnics or simply relaxing on a sunny spring day. As in past years, there will also be arts, crafts, food vendors and daffodil bulbs for purchase.
RussVegas Half Marathon
April 2024
Location: Downtown Russellville
Run for a cause! The 11th Annual RussVegas Half Marathon benefits charities throughout the Arkansas River Valley. Run 13.1 miles through Historic Downtown Russellville with “Spirit Stations” throughout the course where people cheer and play music at this high-energy event. There will also be a 10k, 5k Glow Run, kids’ mile, music, food and great fun.
Events are subject to change. For the most recent information and 2024 event dates, visit event websites or arvtripeaks.com.