CitiScapes Magazine

10/03/2025

As warm days transition into crisp evenings and the leaves begin to fall, turn to Walton Arts Center for cozy, intimate performances in its Starr Theater all month long. 🍁🤎

This space transforms to fit the performance, making it a special experience every time.

Read more about these comforting productions at www.citiscapes.com/arts-culture-wac! 🕯️

By Kaydith Maddox | Photos courtesy of Walton Arts Center

Warm Up with Cozy, Intimate Performances in Starr Theater

10/03/2025

Ovations Presents “Authentic Self”
A Concert Celebrating Trans Rights and Artistic Expression

BENTONVILLE, ARK. – Ovations proudly presents “Authentic Self,” a powerful orchestral concert event on October 11, 2025, featuring the return of internationally acclaimed pianist Sara Davis Buechner. This one-night-only performance celebrates identity, artistic brilliance, and the transformative power of music, with a spotlight on the lived experiences and message of one of the most original concert pianists of our time.

Sara Davis Buechner is an internationally celebrated concert pianist known for her expressive depth, technical brilliance, and fearless individuality. Her performances have earned praise for their emotional range and commanding artistry, captivating audiences around the world. In “Authentic Self,” Buechner shares a deeply personal program that weaves together powerful music and reflections on her journey of transformation and perseverance. As a proud transgender woman, she is also a prominent voice for the LGBTQ+ community, appearing as a speaker and performer at major LGBTQ+ events and contributing to global media outlets about her experience.

Event Details:
WHAT: “Authentic Self” – A Concert Celebrating Trans Rights and Artistic Expression
WHEN: October 11, 2025
WHERE: Thaden School Performing Arts Center (805 S Main St., Bentonville, Ark. 72712)
TICKETS & INFO: https://arphil.org/events/authentic-self

Join Ovations and Sara Davis Buechner for an evening of profound music, reflection, and celebration. All are welcome.

Can you hear it? The Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra (APO) reflects the people, culture and physical landscape of Northwest Arkansas in melody and rhythm. We're here to inspire diverse Arkansas arts audiences to enjoy orchestral music in surprising new ways and to cultivate young minds.

10/03/2025

Art & Wellness Festival Returns to the Crystal Bridges Campus with Series of Lectures
Featuring Actor Goldie Hawn, Architect Moshe Safdie, Soprano Renée Fleming, and More

Three-day festival to celebrate art, nature, architecture, and holistic well-being

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art announced the 2025 Art & Wellness Festival, a three-day festival celebrating art, nature, architecture, and holistic well-being. Taking place November 1 through 3 across the Crystal Bridges Campus, the festival will feature a series of keynote lectures and signature experiences aligning with themes of well-being. The theme of the festival, “Well Being Here,” invites attendees to reflect not only on the idea of well-being, but on what it means to be well – here, in the place, in this moment.

“The Art & Wellness Festival is a celebration of our full campus coming together, where art, nature, architecture, education, and wellness intersect to create transformative experiences,” said Moira Anderson, director of public programs at Crystal Bridges. “We invite the public to explore the many publicly accessible spaces across our campus, including Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, which officially opens to the public on November 3. The festival provides a chance for people to slow down, connect, learn, and explore how creativity and care for ourselves and our environment can enrich both our lives and the collective spirit of our community."

Lectures during the festival will feature architects, authors, musicians, actors, and more. Festivalgoers will be able to experience James Turrell’s SkySpace: The Way of Color in a whole new way with a unique soundscape created from participants’ brainwaves recorded in response to the installation’s shifting light. Guided gallery tours will also feature EEG (electroencephalogram) headsets—lightweight, painless devices that measure the brain’s natural electrical activity. Participants will see their brainwaves displayed live on iPads and, with the help of trained guides, discover how their minds respond to art in real time. Additional free and ticketed offerings include a Community Wellness Fair, drop-in breathwork and mindfulness sessions in the galleries, architecture tours across the campus, hands-on art-making workshops, Tai Chi, sauna and cold plunge experiences, and more.

“At Crystal Bridges, we believe that wellness is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Art and wellness can work together to support our physical, emotional, and social well-being,” said Daedelus Hoffman, director of arts in medicine and wellbeing. “Through the immersive experiences offered at the Art & Wellness Festival, we’re inviting our community to explore the healing potential of art, nature, and connection to rediscover themselves, each other, and the natural world in meaningful ways.”

Crystal Bridges members will have early access to ticket bundles and individual lecture and workshop tickets beginning Wednesday, October 1. Public ticket sales will open on Friday, October 3. To learn more about the Art & Wellness Festival and to reserve tickets for the lectures and ticketed workshops, visit the museum’s website.

The Art & Wellness Festival is sponsored by Mercy and Procter & Gamble.

10/02/2025

Enjoy an afternoon of creativity and community during Pottery on the Patio this Saturday. The Wheel Mobile will be open for anyone interested in trying their hand at throwing clay! Artist Shawn Greenwood will be on site sharing the excitement of raku firing with live demos as well. In addition to clay and fire, there will be plenty of hands-on fun for all ages, including outdoor watercolor painting, face painting, and classic treats like ice cream and popcorn to enjoy while you explore the Arts!

10/02/2025

Fayetteville Public Library’s 12th annual True Lit festival scheduled for October 11-17

The annual festival celebrates the literary traditions of Northwest Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE – The 12th annual True Lit festival will run from October 11-17, during which a variety of workshops, author talks, and performances for a variety of ages can be found at Fayetteville Public Library. This year’s featured authors are Laurie Halse Anderson, Max Brallier and Rajiv Mohabir.

Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of “Speak” and “Chains,” will be in the Walker Community Room on October 14 for a moderated discussion; Max Brallier, author of the youth series “The Last Kids on Earth,” will lead a presentation on October 16 aimed at children in kindergarten through 6th grade; and this year’s Walton Visiting Writer in Translation Rajiv Mohabir will be in the Walker Community Room also on October 16 for a reading and discussion. The full True Lit schedule as well as additional festival information is available at faylib.org/TrueLit.

True Lit is in collaboration with the Fayetteville Public Library, Fayetteville Public Schools, Fayetteville Public Education Foundation, and University of Arkansas Program in Creative Writing and Translation.

For more information about Fayetteville Public Library, visit www.faylib.org

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10/01/2025

Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas to Host
Golftoberfest 2025

Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas (SPSFNWA) is excited to announce the return of Golftoberfest, NWA’s original mini-golf tournament, and an exclusive VIP experience at Rogers’ TopGolf. This family-friendly event invites participants to enjoy a fun and competitive experience, all while supporting single parents pursuing higher education in Northwest Arkansas.

Golftoberfest (October 4th - 19th, 2025) —
Golftoberfest will take place over two weeks at two popular mini-golf venues: Gator Golf in Fayetteville and Golf Mountain in Lowell. The flexible format allows participants to choose a time that works best for them to hit the greens and enjoy some fun with friends, family, or coworkers, all in the name of a great cause.
Golftoberfest has always been a fantastic way to engage the community, and this year is no different. Participants can expect fun challenges, great camaraderie, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of SPSFNWA recipients and their families, who are also invited to participate.

What: Golftoberfest – Mini-Golf Tournament
When: October 4th – 19th, 2025
Where: Gator Golf (Fayetteville) and Golf Mountain (Lowell)
Cost: $80 per team of four players
Special Offer: For $160, sponsor a family team in addition to registering your own team of four.

Golftoberfest VIP Experience at TopGolf (October 10th, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM) —
Beyond the mini-golf tournament fun, don’t miss the chance to experience our exciting VIP event at TopGolf in Rogers! Designed for businesses and organizations looking to entertain their teams or clients, the VIP event offers:

Unlimited TopGolf Play for up to 6 players per team
Live Leaderboard to track your team’s progress
Breakfast, Lunch, and Non-Alcoholic Beverages included
A premier golf experience in a fun and social environment
What: Golftoberfest VIP Experience
When: October 10th, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Where: TopGolf, Rogers
Cost: $1,000 per team of six players

This exclusive opportunity is limited in availability, so be sure to secure your spot early! For more information or to register your team, contact Steven R. Hinds, Senior Director of Major Gifts at SPSFNWA, at 479.254.8550 ext. 103 or [email protected].

10/01/2025

Suits & Sneakers Gala Celebrates 5 Years Of Raising Funds For Local Patient Care

“All Coaches – One Cause” Unites Coaches and Community Leaders for Annual American Cancer Society Event

FAYETTEVILLE, OCTOBER 1, 2025 – The American Cancer Society (ACS) of Arkansas is planning to mark a significant milestone with the announcement of its 5th annual Suits & Sneakers Gala on Friday, October 17, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. at the Fayetteville Town Center. Socium Advisors returns as this year’s National Championship Title Sponsor, along with Hershey’s|Salty Snacks|Reese’s, the event’s Presenting Sponsor. Post Consumer Brands, Cherokee Casino of West Siloam Springs, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka have all signed on as Full Court Sponsors.

With the goal of raising funds to support cancer research and provide access to care for all communities as well as patient support services, the 5th Annual American Cancer Society Socium Advisors Suits & Sneakers Gala presented by Hershey’s|Salty Snacks|Reese’s has become the premiere purpose driven event in Northwest Arkansas that no one wants to miss. The event brings the community together in their finest attire, with one notable exception: dress shoes are swapped for stylish sneakers, all to benefit a good cause. Dollars raised the night of the event will stay local to support lodging and transportation grants that benefit patients undergoing treatment across the state of Arkansas.

Serving as this year’s honorary chairperson for the gala is Tasha Tandy. Tasha, a Vice President of Merchandising with Walmart, is passionate about cancer research and access to cancer care. “Having lost loved ones to cancer, watched friends, family and colleagues fight and faced my own diagnosis, I’ve seen firsthand how critical the American Cancer Society’s work is. The research, resources, and support they provide give families like mine hope — not just here in Northwest Arkansas, but across the country and beyond," said Tandy.

For more than 30 years, Coaches vs. Cancer, American Cancer Society in collaboration with the National Association of Basketball Coaches, has united basketball coaches and fans nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs. Since 1993, the program has raised more than $167 million. Launched in 2021, the American Cancer Society Suits & Sneakers Gala is celebrating its fifth year in Northwest Arkansas. It has continued to grow and is now a signature event for the organization, focused on the impact all Razorback sports and coaches can have when working together toward a common goal.

Suits & Sneakers attendees can expect an experience they won’t soon forget, led by radio personality Jon Williams and 40/29 Evening Anchor Allison Wise and beloved former pro-Hog and TV personality, D.J. Williams.

Guests are encouraged to bring their “A” game when selecting their attire for the evening. The annual best sneaker contest comes with year-long bragging rights for the perfect pairing of “kicks and couture.”

To learn more, visit www.suitsandsneakersar.com.

09/30/2025

Scott Family Amazeum Welcomes Guests for Annual Tinkerfest Event Saturday, October 4th, 2025

Bentonville, Arkansas – Join the Scott Family Amazeum for Tinkerfest, a one-day event that brings together tinkerers, makers, DIYers, and creatives of all ages for hands-on activities that celebrate curiosity. We want you to Try, Play, and Make. Tinkerfest features activations to promote tinkering and making created by local tinkerers, the Amazeum team, and regional and national museums and science centers. The event, Saturday, October 4th from 10am- 5pm is included with Amazeum general admission tickets.

This year’s Tinkerfest will feature more than 25 hands-on activities designed to spark creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration for all ages. Guests can test their strength and aim with the Ball Launcher, where the harder you jump, the higher the ball soars. In Metal Manipulation, participants will cut, punch, and shape aluminum into unique hanging creations, while Rangoli Creations invites families to explore the traditional Indian art form of intricate sand and paper mâché designs. At Try-A-Stitch, guests will co-design and stitch a collaborative tapestry on sewing machines, and in Car Take-Apart—the festival’s signature activation—visitors will roll up their sleeves and work together to completely dismantle three real vehicles over the course of the day, exploring the engineering, design, and hidden parts that make cars run. Other experiences include book binding, welding simulators, leatherworking, soldering circuit badges, digital design tools, large-scale collaborative builds, bubble experiments, and much more—making Tinkerfest the ultimate celebration of tinkering, making, and imagination.

The Amazeum is partnering with 19 organizations, including libraries, museums, schools, businesses, and nonprofit organizations, to co-host and lead these activity stations, bringing a diverse range of expertise and creativity to the festival. Tinkering is all about hands-on experiences, learning from failures, and spending unstructured time exploring and inventing. It's an open-ended creative process where the focus is on the journey, not just the destination.

Experience hands-on, open-ended discovery celebrating science, technology, engineering, art, and creativity at this year’s Tinkerfest event on Saturday, October 4th from 10am-5pm at the Amazeum.

Learn more at

We are your hub for fun, creativity, and discovery. 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.

09/26/2025

Schmieding Foundation Invests $75,000 in SPSFNWA’s Building for Success Capital Campaign

Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas (SPSFNWA) is proud to announce a generous $75,000 gift from the Schmieding Foundation in support of the Building for Success Capital Campaign. This contribution will directly fund the creation of the Schmieding Foundation Winding Walking Path, an outdoor space designed to provide scholarship recipients and their families with a welcoming place for reflection, connection, and renewal.

The Building for Success Capital Campaign is a $7.4 million initiative to construct a new, centrally located campus in Northwest Arkansas. The new facility, complete with study spaces, counseling rooms, collaborative learning areas, and family-friendly amenities will serve as a hub where single parents can access resources, build community, and thrive as they pursue higher education.

“The Schmieding Foundation has a long legacy of strengthening communities, and their investment in the Building for Success campaign reflects a deep commitment to families and education,” said Frankie Rankin, Chief Executive Officer of SPSFNWA. “The Schmieding Foundation Winding Walking Path will be more than a walkway it will symbolize the journeys of resilience, determination, and progress that our recipients take every day.”

With this generous donation, the Schmieding Foundation joins a growing list of community partners helping SPSFNWA create the Pat Walker Center for Success, a campus that will serve single parents in Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington Counties for generations to come.

For more than 40 years, SPSFNWA has empowered single parents to achieve their educational goals, awarding over 21,000 scholarships totaling more than $18.9 million. The Building for Success campaign ensures that this impact will continue to grow, providing a permanent home and lasting foundation for future success.

The Building for Success campaign represents a bold step forward as SPSFNWA works to raise $7.4 million to fund construction and expanded program offerings. The facility will serve as a beacon of hope and a launching pad for generations of single parents seeking to transform their lives through education.


To learn more about the Building for Success Capital Campaign contact:
Stacy Seger, Senior Director of Philanthropic Strategy
[email protected]

Building For Success Single Parent Scholarship Fund of NWA is passionately committed to empowering single parents through the transformative power of education. As we continue to grow, we’re thrilled to unveil our latest campaign—Building for Success! This new campus will be a nurturing and insp...

09/26/2025

Scott Family Amazeum and Northwest Arkansas National Airport Partner to Create Innovative Space for Young Travelers

Benton County, Arkansas – September 25, 2025, The Scott Family Amazeum and Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) are partnering to bring an imaginative, interactive play space to the airport’s new concourse expansion. The collaborative project will transform the site of a former moving walkway into a vibrant environment where children and families can relax, explore, and connect during their travels.

The new activation space reimagines how airports serve families, offering a safe and engaging environment for children ages 0–12 and their caregivers. Inspired by the travel experience at XNA and the Amazeum’s mission to ignite curiosity and creativity, the area features climbers, crawlers, and hands-on exhibits that celebrate the wonder of flight. The space will include an air traffic control tower just for kids, early learning zones for toddlers and crawlers, and interactive science-based experiences designed to spark curiosity at every age.

“The Amazeum believes that curiosity and creativity don’t stop at the museum’s doors,” said Sam Dean, Chief Executive Officer of the Scott Family Amazeum. “We’re excited to collaborate with XNA to bring playful, hands-on experiences into a surprising new setting that reaches families from across the country.”

“XNA is dedicated to improving the travel experience in ways that resonate with our community, and this partnership with the Amazeum brings Northwest Arkansas’s identity into the airport,” said XNA Chief Executive Officer, Aaron Burkes. “It reflects the innovation and sense of place that define our region.”

The project represents a $250,000 investment in the airport’s ongoing expansion and is designed with safety, accessibility, and multigenerational use at its core. Comfortable seating, balanced energy zones, and visibility for caregivers were all central considerations. With over one million travelers passing through XNA each year, the space offers a first-of-its-kind experience that turns wait time into memorable family moments.

09/26/2025

Arkansas Children's Northwest Shares Expansion Details with Top-Tier Surgical Care, Easier Access and Advanced Offerings

SPRINGDALE, AR. – When Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW) finalizes its expansion in late 2026, families in the American heartland will be able to stay closer to home to address more complex pediatric conditions than ever before.

The expansion will create more resources, advanced tools and spaces tailored to children’s specific needs. ACNW’s growth will bridge a gap for families from surrounding states who need higher levels of specialized care and will further reduce the need for Arkansas families to seek care outside the region.

Arkansas Children’s shared details of the $82.7 million expansion and updated renderings on Wednesday, as construction on 50,000 square feet of new finished space and 23,000 square feet of renovated space continues.

Contractor Nabholz Construction is focused on blending the new construction and existing hospital along all floors.

Arkansas Children’s plans to open the building’s doors to overnight patients in the fall of 2026. It will add new operating rooms, a new procedure room and a new endoscopy procedure suite.

“Every child deserves a healthier tomorrow, and that starts with access to exceptional care, close to home for children in this region,” said Arkansas Children’s President & CEO Marcy Doderer. “This expansion is about more than new buildings. It’s about answering the call when a child needs surgery, chemotherapy, or a second chance at life. We are creating more capacity to care for this region's children.”

Surgery at ACNW with the Pediatric Leader | More ORs, Beds and Clinic Space:

As the leader for pediatric surgery in the region, ACNW already provides families access to some of the nation’s top experts in general surgeries and surgical specialties including orthopedics, cardiology and gastrointestinal care.

The addition, with construction rapidly progressing since early 2024, will transform the campus to meet urgent community needs.

Key enhancements include:

- Redesigning and expanding lab, pharmacy and sterile processing for improved efficiency and future growth.

- Expanding several outpatient specialties, including Neurology, Cardiology and Pulmonary, within the Children’s Center for Health and Wellness through 16,500 new square feet of space.

- Adding an endoscopy suite for GI services, growing infusion spaces and increasing the number of operating rooms.

- Relocating the lab draw area to the main entry for easier access and a better patient experience.

- Adding 22,500 square feet of new shell space for future growth.

“We are building the future together in this next chapter in our story,” Doderer said. “The result will define excellence and deliver a healthier tomorrow for the children of Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding states.”

Since its 2018 opening, ACNW has flourished as a regional pediatric hub, serving over 570,000 patient visits and significantly easing travel burdens for families. The majority of children in Northwest Arkansas receive their specialized care at the Springdale campus, supported by quaternary care resources at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.

Families statewide often must travel 200-plus miles to reach another health system that provides a similar level of pediatric services.

Arkansas Children’s expansion will ensure even more children can experience specialized care close to home, designed specifically with their unique needs in mind, while retaining ACNW's vital community character.

To learn more and see renderings, visit archildrens.org/expansion.

09/24/2025

Bentonville Blasts Off into the Future of Mobility at UP.Summit Community Day

Free Community Event Showcases Breakthroughs in Transportation and Technology

WHAT:
UP.Partners invites media and the public to attend UP.Summit Community Day, an open-to-the-public prelude to the 2025 UP.Summit where the world’s top transportation leaders, innovators, investors, and policymakers will gather to discuss and help shape the future of mobility (cars, trucks, rockets, planes, drones, energy, and more). UP.Summit Community Day is open to the public, inviting families, students, and tech enthusiasts to explore the latest innovations in transportation. From autonomous vehicles to cutting-edge drones and space exploration technologies, over 40 companies will have their latest products and hardware on display. This day is dedicated to bringing all of Northwest Arkansas together to experience and learn about the innovations shaping the future of mobility.

Attendees can:
- Engage with interactive exhibits and hands-on STEM activities
- Meet industry experts and innovators
Explore mobility solutions from land to air, sea and space
- Watch a thrilling airshow featuring historic warbirds and next-generation aircraft
- Take part in a one-of-a-kind helicopter balloon launch — with over 20,000 balloons expected to take flight in unison, helping spark curiosity in aviation and technology
- Visit the Launch Pad, a new kids’ experience zone created in partnership with the Amazeum, offering hands-on learning and discovery for young explorers.

WHEN:
Sunday, September 28, 2025 | 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
11:00 a.m. -- Doors open
2:00 p.m. -- Air show begins

WHO:
Local elected officials, families, and technology enthusiasts from the local community.

HOW:
Tickets to UP.Summit Community Day are complimentary at www.upsummit.day. Attending media must RSVP to [email protected] by Friday, Sept. 26, 2025.

ABOUT:
UP.Summit is an annual, invitation-only gathering of the world’s most innovative minds rethinking the future of transportation. Each year, leading entrepreneurs, investors, corporate executives, defense and government leaders, and researchers convene with a shared goal: to move people and goods cleaner, faster, safer, and at lower cost - on the ground, in the air, on the sea, and in space. Founded in 2017, UP.Summit is jointly organized by UP.Partners, Tom and Steuart Walton, and Ross Perot Jr. Follow .Summit on social media and for the latest updates.

UP.Summit Community Day is open to the public, inviting families, students, and tech enthusiasts to explore the latest innovations in transportation. From autonomous vehicles to cutting-edge drones and space exploration technologies, come and see what the future holds!