I love Fayetteville, so it’s not very often that I visit another city in Arkansas and find a reason to be jealous of some kind of community gathering or event. Usually, I think, “Fayetteville’s way cooler than this.”
Last summer though, my wife and I spent a weekend in Eureka Springs, and I have to admit I was pretty envious of their Sunday night movies at the Lucky 13 Starlight Cinema.
It’s a big party, and everyone comes out to the downtown area, and watches good movies projected onto the exterior of a historic building after the sun goes down.
Starting in August, Fayetteville is getting their own version of a regular downtown movie night. Add the first Thursday Art Walk that’s already been happening on the same night, some live music, and an awesome movie showing at dusk, and you’ve got yourself a pretty awesome party.
The first of these events is scheduled for August 6th. There will be the Art Walk at ddp gallery and The Fayetteville Underground from 5-8, live music in front of the Town Center by the Marshall Mitchell Band and Guta, and the first movie will be War Eagle, a movie filmed and set in War Eagle, Arkansas, and written by Arkansas Native Graham Gordy.
Other activities in the works are some roving live comedy improv, and rumor has it there will be some fire spinners on hand for the August 6th event as well.
That’s a whole lot of awesome packed into the downtown square in one night.
Wanna hear the best part? It’s free.
The whole thing is being sponsored by some of the merchants on the square in conjunction with the City of Fayetteville, and if the all goes well it could become a regular addition to add to the ever growing event that the First Thursday Art Walk has already started on the square.
If you can’t tell, I’m a little excited about the whole idea of something like this. We’ll have more details on the event over the next few weeks, but for now, give yourself a high-five for living in Fayetteville. This place rules.
Who’s in?
Awesome! I’m totally in. This is really great. It’s great to have such a vibrant and active downtown district who appreciate and give back to the community.
Oh hell yes. Can’t wait for that.
So in!
The thing that sucks about being a host, is I don’t get to go out and enjoy all the activities, sooooooo….if I’m not at the gallery when you stop in, well – its because I was checking everything out.
Yes!! I love my hometown. This is going to be fun! I’ve heard of neighboring towns doing this and wondered when Fayetteville might come around… THANK YOU to everyone involved in making this happen!!
This is a great idea, and I hope that it is built on for some time to come.
Let me know if you guys need any help
@ddp — just put Heidi Ho in charge of the gallery; she practically runs the place already :)
Where is the movie showing (and when for that matter)? Is there a site with this information?
There will be soon, Me! Stay tuned- we’re working hard!
@Me. The movie is showing in front of the Town Center, and will start at dark. Looks like a site is in the works.
The movie will start at dark (approx 7:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.) It will be located on the south side of the Square facing the Town Center Plaza. Bring your lawn chairs. Also, Mountain Street will be closed to traffic from East to Block Streets.
We should also recognize the efforts of the Fayetteville Visitors Bureau – without whom this event would not have come together so brilliantly. The event is the result of a collaboration between the Downtown Business Owners, Fayetteville Visitors Bureau, ArtWalk organizers, Empire Film Group and the City of Fayetteville.
If you have more questions you can contact Brian Bailey at the Fayetteville Visitors Bureau 479-521-5776 or Julie McQuade at the City of Fayetteville 479-575-8302.
[...] This month marks the unofficial one-year anniversary of First Thursday, at least as we know it. The art walk portion of the event has been going on for longer than that, but August 2009 was the first attempt at bringing outside activities to the square. Remember? [...]