Christmas Season Activities in Northwest Arkansas!

Dec 03, 2021

We wanted to pause on our tour through Northwest Arkansas to spread some holiday cheer! If you are looking to find some family-friendly ideas on where to take the kids or if you need a festive date night idea, look no further. We are here to bring you a few of our Christmas season activities no matter where in NWA you call home. These are just a couple of the larger events that are going on in Northwest Arkansas through the season, there are almost nightly experiences that you can check out in every city.

Bentonville Square

Kicking us off is Bentonville, Bentonville has one of the most active Downtown Squares in Northwest Arkansas. The holiday season is no exception. Start your night at the holiday lights in the square, with 35 MILES worth of Christmas lights the square is a sight to behold. Once you take in your fill of the lights, walk just past the 21c Hotel to Lawrence Square where the splash pad has been transformed into a beautiful skating rink that is fun for the whole family! You can skate for just $7 a ticket. While you are there, leave a letter for Santa at the Santa House to make sure your Christmas list makes it to the big man himself. 

If ice skating isn’t your forte, maybe a mesmerizing stroll through the Ozark forest at North Forest Lights is just your thing. Back for their third season, North Forest Lights is an immersive light experience that is supposed to bring the spirit of the forest to life in front of your eyes. With 5 installations this art exhibit is perfect for a date night or night out with your friends. You can even rent a snow globe to keep you warm while you eat a snack or have a drink. 

Many of us here at CBHMF have gone, and unanimously the reviews are incredible!

Fayetteville Lights

Jumping to the most well-lit NWA square, with a whopping 500,000 lights, we move to Fayetteville for Lights of the Ozarks. This is where so many of the iconic photos that you see during the holiday season are taken. It is possibly the most famous light display in NWA and has proudly held that title for several years. The festivities run from 5 pm until 1 am every evening until January 1st. Bring the whole family for winter treats, hot chocolate, and music. Try a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday trip to make sure the little ones can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. 

A date night option in Fayetteville is Holidaze. This is a Christmas-themed pop-up bar that features the infamous snow globes to protect you as the weather gets cooler. Featuring a cocktail menu that is sure to please and the ability to take your drink to-go while you check out the lights, this activity is sure to please.

Silver Dollar City

We wrap up with the extravaganza that is “An Old Time Christmas” at Silver Dollar City. We aren’t sure why 6.5 million Christmas Lights and 30 daily shows say “old-time” but we are certainly grateful for the festivities. Other activities include a sing-along steam train, A Dickens’ Christmas Carol, a light parade, and of course the rides running through the night. There is so much to do that we couldn’t write about it all! This experience is well worth the drive!

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year in NWA and these are just some of the season-long activities that you can participate in. Be sure to check out full lists of activities going on in each town at the local news sites like KNWA, 40/29 news, and of course the town sites. Come back in a couple of weeks to return to our trip through Northwest Arkansas and learn some of the fun things to do in Bentonville.