Best Music Festivals in Arkansas: Blues, EDM, Folk & More

Arkansas hosts year-round music festivals spanning blues, EDM, folk and Americana across mountain venues and riverside stages. From Mulberry Mountain's bass-heavy camping weekends to Helena's world-renowned King Biscuit Blues Festival, here's everything you need to plan your festival season.

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Hillberry: The Harvest Moon

When: October
Where: The Farm in Eureka Springs
Genres: Americana, Bluegrass, Funk

Set on 160 acres that back up to a national forest, this five-day fest includes two stages, mountain views and a laid-back jam band atmosphere. Festivalgoers camp under Ozark skies just minutes from Beaver Lake and the White River. Past acts include Railroad Earth and the Infamous Stringdusters.

Need to know: RV and primitive camping available. Food and craft vendors on-site.

Nearby: Beaver Lake, Table Rock Lake, White River (all within 5 miles)

Wakaan Music Festival

When: Fall
Where: Mulberry Mountain, 16 miles north of Ozark on Highway 23
Genres: Electronic, Experimental Bass, EDM

Wakaan transforms a remote mountain landscape into a three-day, multi-sensory EDM and bass experience. Music runs from early afternoon to sunrise, with immersive art, light shows and forested stages. Past performers include Liquid Stranger, Ganja White Night and Mersin.

Need to know: Tent and RV camping available. Multiple stages. Food vendor on-site.
Nearby: Mulberry River float trips, Ozark National Forest trails

King Biscuit Blues Festival

When: Weekend before Columbus Day, October
Where: Downtown Helena
Genres: Blues

One of the most respected blues festivals in the world, this three-day event honors its roots with five stages, street food, and blues legends past and present. It’s named after “King Biscuit Time,” the longest-running daily radio show in America, still broadcast from Helena. Past acts include Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples and Jimmy “Duck” Holmes.

Need to know: General admission and VIP passes available. Family-friendly events include a 5K, barbeque contest and arts and crafts vendors.
Nearby: Mississippi River levee walks, Delta Cultural Center, downtown Helena shops

Peacemaker Festival

When: Summer
Where: Riverfront Amphitheater in downtown Fort Smith
Genres: Country, Rock, Blues, Red Dirt, Americana

With the Arkansas River as its backdrop, Peacemaker blends top touring acts with a community-first mission. The festival has raised nearly $900,000 for local charities. Past performers include Sam Barber, Southall and William Clark Green.

Need to know: No camping on-site. Lawn chairs and blankets welcome. Food trucks and merch vendors available.
Nearby: Fort Smith National Historic Site, U.S. Marshals Museum, outdoor murals, Riverfront Trail

Valley of the Vapors

When: March
Where: Cedar Glades Park in Hot Springs
Genres: Indie, Experimental, Alternative

Scheduled to coincide with SXSW, Valley of the Vapors draws experimental, indie and alternative artists from around the globe. Set in the woods, the weeklong fest is Arkansas' only underground music festival. This intimate alternative to mainstream festivals has cultivated boundary-pushing sounds for more than 15 years.

Need to know: No camping available; numerous lodging options throughout town. Great for fans of emerging artists.
Nearby: Downtown Hot Springs, hiking and mountain biking trails, Hot Springs National Park

Big Steam Blues & Roots Music Festival

When: Fall
Where: Hill Wheatley Plaza and Bridge Street Entertainment District in Hot Springs
Genres: Blues, Roots, Americana

Held in the heart of the walkable downtown, Big Steam is a street festival delivering high-energy sets by national headliners and regional talent. Past acts include Vasti Jackson, Paul Thorn, Keith Johnson, the Big Muddy Band and the Groove Diggers.

Need to know: Free admission with optional VIP tickets for purchase. 

Nearby: Bathhouse Row, downtown shops and restaurants, trails, Hot Springs National Park

Eureka Springs Blues Party

When: Starts the Thursday after Memorial Day
Where: Multiple venues in Eureka Springs
Genres: Blues, Rock, Funk

Four days of blues, rock and funk music take over historic indoor stages and outdoor venues throughout this Victorian mountain town. Catch acts like Ruthie Foster, Anders Osborne and Indigenous everywhere from The Auditorium to brewery patios and restaurant balconies.

Need to know: Mix of ticketed and free shows. Many locations are walkable within downtown. Numerous lodging options.
Nearby: Downtown shops, art galleries, hiking and mountain biking trails, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, the Great Passion Play, Beaver Lake, White River

Ozark Mountain Music Festival

When: January
Where: 1905 Basin Park Hotel in downtown Eureka Springs
Genres: American Roots, Modern Folk

Often called “OzMoMu,” this winter indoor music festival kicks off on a Thursday night and runs for four days on multiple stages within the 1905 Basin Park Hotel. On Friday and Saturday nights, late-night jams continue at nearby Chelsea’s Corner Cafe & Bar. Past headliners include Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Ben Miller Band, Tall Tall Trees and Dirtfoot.

Need to know: Whiskey tastings, workshops and themed nights are part of the fun.
Nearby: Downtown shops, art galleries, hiking and mountain biking trails, Thorncrown Chapel, Beaver Lake, White River

Momentous

When: Fall
Where: The Momentary in Bentonville
Genres: EDM

This two-night music and arts festival showcases the global electronic scene with DJ sets, electro-pop spectacles, and sound installations. Held at the Momentary, a contemporary arts space, past headliners have included Grammy-nominated Arca, electronic superstar Tycho and dubstep icon Flux Pavilion.

Need to know: Multiple stages. Includes a vibrant night market and food court. 

Nearby: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, downtown Bentonville, mountain biking trails, Razorback Regional Greenway

MusicFest El Dorado

When: October
Where: Downtown El Dorado
Genres: Rock, Country, Pop

One of the largest music festivals in south Arkansas, MusicFest spans two days with the biggest names in rock, country and pop music belting out hits on three different stages. Ongoing for more than 35 years, the festival’s past headliners include Brad Paisley, Justin Moore, Joan Jett and Boyz II Men. The lineup is matched by community events, including a pageant, a foam party, 5K and 10K races, STEM activities, arts and crafts vendors, petting zoo and community booths.

Need to know: Food truck alley. Beer gardens. Great for families.
Nearby: Murphy Arts District, local eateries, antique shops, downtown El Dorado

Ozark Folk Festival

When: Fall
Where: Multiple venues in Eureka Springs
Genres: Folk

America’s longest, continuously running annual folk festival has celebrated traditional music for more than 75 years. This three-day festival brings in regional and national folk music talent, such as Pokey LaFarge, Hot Club of Cowtown and The Steel Wheels. Other festival activities include a community dance, music workshops, a singer-songwriter contest and a folk fair, featuring Ozark artisans.

Need to know: Some shows are free in Basin Spring Park. Others are ticketed at indoor venues, like The Auditorium.
Nearby: Art galleries, downtown Eureka Springs, Victorian architecture, Throwncrown Chapel, hiking and mountain biking trails.

Arkansas Roots Music Festival

When: Spring
Where: Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home in Dyess
Genres: Roots

Celebrate Johnny Cash's legacy with an afternoon of live music at his childhood home in the Delta. Bring chairs and spread out on the grounds where Cash grew up while enjoying roots music, such as previous artists Rachel Ammons, The Casey Penn Band and The Tina Cossey Band.

Need to know: Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Food and beverage vendors on-site. Live demonstrations by artisans such as blacksmiths and woodcarvers.
Nearby: Southern Tenant Farmers Museum, Hampson Archeological Museum State Park, Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Byrdfest

When: Spring and Fall
Where: Byrd’s Adventure Center in Ozark
Genres: Tribute Bands, Regional Acts

Byrdfest transforms an 800-acre campground on the Mulberry River into a weekend camping and music festival. Music runs from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. on two stages, with plenty of vendors, food trucks and float trip options during the day. Byrdfest has been held more than 30 times over nearly two decades.

Need to know: Byrd’s is a year-round outdoor playground offering camping, swimming, canoeing, rafting, kayaking, biking, hiking, a general store, a restaurant, a shower house, RV sites and more.