One of the most anticipated events of the year in Fayetteville is coming up this weekend.
Of course, we’re talking about Block Street Block Party, the annual street festival set to run from noon until dark on Sunday, May 17 along Block Avenue.
This year’s festival includes musical performances by nearly 30 musical acts on five stages, local craft beer from eight Arkansas breweries, belly dancers, performance artists, and more.
Over 100 vendors and attractions will be set up this year, including local artists, crafters, food trucks, community groups, and others offering locally-created products and services.
There will be plenty for the kids to do as well, with a bubble station, bouncy houses, face painters, and pony rides.
There will be a dog adoption area and the festival is generally pet-friendly, but Fayetteville police are urging attendees to clean up after their dogs. Because, duh.
Organizers could still use some volunteers, so pitch in and help a little bit if you can. You can also help spread the word by RSVPing and sharing the official Facebook event.
Here’s our guide to all the fun!
Maxine’s Tap Room Stage
Located in the lot south of Maxine’s Tap Room
12:30 p.m. – Glorious Birds (Dana and Adams)
2 p.m. – Basement Brew
3:15 p.m. – Cutty Rye
4:30 p.m. – Farmer & The Markets
6:15 p.m. – Lampliter
7:45 p.m. – Shawn James
Sponsored by Maxine’s Tap Room
Tables and Ale Stage
Located in front of Tables and Ale
12 p.m. – Scott Elliot
1:30 p.m. – Aisle 24
3:15 p.m. – Leah and the Mojo Doctors
4:45 p.m. – Cutty’s Van (Cutty Rye and Foley’s Van)
6:15 p.m. – Isayah’s All Stars
Sponsored by Budweiser
Lightbulb Club Stage
Located on the street in front of the Lightbulb Club
1 p.m. – The Silvershakers
2 p.m. – Buffalo Hustle
3 p.m. – Teenagers
4 p.m. – Grim Creeper
5 p.m. – Ten High
6 p.m. – Lo-Res
7 p.m. – Swampbird
Sponsored by the Lightbulb Club
Arkansas Brewers Guild Stage
Located at the Corner of Spring Street
12 p.m. – School of Rock Dean’s List
1:30 p.m. – The Good Fear
4 p.m. – Flight Machine
5 p.m. – 1 Oz Jig
8 p.m. – Dumptruck Boyz
Sponsored by the Arkansas Brewers Guild
Good Folk Stage
Located on the south side of the Fayetteville square
11:30 a.m. – Block Street Pickers (Mike Shirkey & Scott Newby)
12:30 p.m. – Bayard Blain & John Davies (and special guests)
2 p.m. – Emily Kaitz & Dennis Collins
3:30 p.m. – Stan D’Aubin & Ed Carr
5 p.m. – Keith Grimwood & Jamey Hall
6:30 p.m. – Mike Sumler, JT Huff, Keith Grimwood & Ezra Idlet
Sponsored by Fayetteville Underground
Beer Gardens
Spending all day at an outdoor street festival is bound to make you thirsty. Luckily, there are five outdoor beer gardens to help with that.
– Near The Arkansas Brewers Guild Stage (corner of Spring Street and Block Avenue) – This garden will feature beers from several state top breweries. Locals Fossil Cove, Core, Ozark, Apple Blossom, and Saddle Bock, as well as central Arkansas brewers Stone’s Throw, Diamond Bear, and Lost Forty will stock the garden.
– Near The Lightbulb Club (19 N. Block Ave.) – The Lightbulb Club will serve a full lineup of cocktails and beer at their on-street bar.
– Near Maxine’s Tap Room (107 N. Block Ave.) – Maxine’s will offer plenty of local beers, and some of their specialty cocktails including “mini-mules” and rum punch at an outdoor garden adjacent to their building.
– Near Tables & Ale (102 N. Block Ave.) – Tables and Ale will set up their beer garden in the lot in front of the bar.
Food
As always, Block Avenue restaurants Little Bread Co. and Hugo’s will be open and serving up delicious food all day.
The organizers have also made an effort to add more food vendors than ever this year, including locals Ozark Natural Foods, Lucky Luke’s BBQ, Mellow Mushroom, Baller Food Truck, The Pie Hole, Nomads Natural Plate, ShakeDown StrEAT, Wicked Woodfired Pizza, Kind Kitchen, Frickin’ Chicken, Mad Dogs, and Berry Natural.
Vendors and community groups
As always, tons of artists, jewelry makers, pottery makers, and more will offer products at vendor booths this year.
Local artist Jason Jones will be on hand with his awesome upcycled thrift store art, along with Henna and body artist Genn John.
Several local businesses will have booths as well. Bank of Fayetteville will host a photo booth near their location on the square to offer folks a free memento from their Block Party experience.
New bike shop The Handlebar will host a bicycle valet near their shop this year for those who need a place to park their bikes.
Plenty of community groups and non-profit organizations will be on hand to participate in the event as well. The Animal League of NWA, for example, will host a doggie adoption center on the first block near Dickson Street.
Kids’ activities
There’s no shortage of activities for kids this year.
Expect to find an inflatable bungee run sponsored by NWA Birth Center, and a nearby giant bouncy house.
Cox Communications will sponsor a bubble booth on the square. There will be pony rides, face painting, a tie-dye booth, and of course, plenty of games.
Other activities
One of the best things about the Block Street Block Party is the sheer amount of things to do during the festival.
In addition to the music, the beer, and the food to enjoy, most all of the vendors along the street will have some sort of activity or game to play.
Little Bread Co. will once again host a waiters race, which is always entertaining. That starts at 3 p.m. right in front of the restaurant.
Also expect to find fortune tellers, face painters, belly dancers, and a million other activities up and down Block Avenue.
It’s gonna rule. See you on Sunday.
Links
» Blockstreetbusinesses.com
» Official Facebook Event
» Twitter
» Instagram
