Fayetteville is the seat of Washington County and just a short drive from the Missouri and Oklahoma borders. The city’s numerous festivals and celebrations attract residents and tourists alike. Downtown Dickson Street is the premier entertainment district in Northwest Arkansas and locals, students and others take advantage of its live music and great restaurants. The city also boasts large scenic parks, the Downtown Square with its gorgeous gardens and boutique shopping, a Farmer’s Market, and the Washington County Fair.

Walton Arts Center is the cultural center of Fayetteville, located on Dickson Street. Its year-round schedule of symphony performances, Broadway shows, concerts and other theatre performances bring citizens and visitors alike to the city’s downtown area, and the Northwest Arkansas Symphony and Orchestra offers a regular schedule of performances.

Annual city-wide events and celebrations include:

• Annual Mardi Gras celebration on Dickson Street (February 24)

• Hogeye Marathon Relays (race begins in Fayetteville and goes to Hogeye, AR, then returns to Fayetteville) during March

• SpringFest occurs during a weekend in April; booths for arts and crafts and vendors are set up on Dickson Street, the city’s main entertainment district. This festival features live music, food, crafts and more.

• Annual Rodeo of the Ozarks in neighboring Springdale. The 2004 rodeo will mark this event’s 60th year.

• Bikes, Blues, and BBQ, held in October, attracts about 50,000 visitors for a weekend celebration featuring live music, barbecue, a parade of motorcycles.

• AutumnFest, which celebrates the colors of fall in the breathtaking Ozarks.

• Annual Chile Pepper Cross Country Run held in October brings in university track teams from all over the United States, who come to compete in a city known for excellence in track and field.

• Lights of the Ozarks in November and December kicks off with a lighted parade, followed by the lighting of the Downtown Square as well as other historical buildings. Families and friends gather in this winter wonderland for carriage rides, children’s pony rides, holiday music and photos under a sky of twinkling Christmas lights.