It’s time for another family festival on the Fayetteville Square.
Of course, we’re talking about First Thursday, the monthly art walk and outdoor festival coming up on Thursday, Aug. 2.
This month’s theme is “Carnival.”
Activities
Activities this month include stage performances by Arkansas Circus Arts, including an aerialist and other street performers. There will also be a portable pottery wheel by Community Creative Center, free yoga (bring your mat), and more. Other kid’s activities are planned from Terra Studios, The New School and Crystal Bridges.
Food and drink
Expect food from Andouille Cajun, Kona Ice, Tooley’s BBQ, Baker’s Roasted Nuts, Tasty Corn Roasters, Burton’s Ice Cream and Local Moh-Tiv. This month’s featured beer garden brewery is JBGB.
Music
Live music is scheduled from 5:30-8:30 p.m. with excepts from the upcoming Theatre Square musical, “Once,” followed by a performance by the band, Picante.
Art
As always, opening exhibitions are planned at the galleries around the square.
Stage Eighteen will host a gallery reception and art exhibition featuring artists from Life Styles. Admission is free; a cash bar will be available for guests during the reception.
Art Ventures Gallery will feature Marsha Scott’s collection of Outsider Art by Mose T, Annie Lucas, Preacherman and many others who define Outsider Art vernacular, along with work by contemporary artists Cheri Bohn, Tom Flynn, Linda Sheets, and Mid-America Arts Alliance grant awardee, Eloa Jane Pereira, and others. The gallery will also host a showing of Art Meripol’s photographs of Fayetteville’s Farmers Market from 1974 (remember these?)
Fenix Fayetteville will debut their new show, prominently featuring guest artist Kevin Arnold, called “Wistful Misgivings,” a “show of playful whimsy with foreshadowing undertones.”
Parking
Free parking is available in the Fayetteville Town Center parking deck (entrance is on East Avenue) and at 207 E. Center St.
The free event is organized by Experience Fayetteville, the city’s tourism bureau. For more information, visit experiencefayetteville.com/first-thursday.
