Top Weekend Events in Arkansas: July 29 – August 1

 

There are always great things to do in the Natural State, and AY About You has compiled some of the most exciting events in Arkansas this weekend.

 

Thursday, July 29

What: Main Street Food Truck Festival Preview: Food Truck Thursdays

Where: Centennial Bank Commerce Center (Little Rock)

When: 11 am-2 pm

Counting down to the 10th Annual Main Street Food Truck Festival in October, there will be food trucks at the Centennial Bank Commerce Center on the last Thursday of July, August and September. These special food truck days will act as previews for the big festival everyone has been waiting for.

 

Thursday, July 29

What: Block Party: Closing “The Green Book”

Where: Mosaic Templars Cultural Center (Little Rock)

When: 5 pm-8 pm

In honor of the final days for “The Negro Motorist Green Book” exhibit, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center is hosting a block party. Food trucks, a live DJ and cars are in store for the community to enjoy and celebrate the enriching exhibit. Enjoy the festivities outside and head into the museum for a last look at “The Green Book” before the exhibit moves to Baton Rouge. The last day to tour the exhibition is Saturday, July 31.

 

Thursday, July 29

What: Rock Town Distillery Tour & Tasting

Where: Rock Town Distillery (Little Rock)

When: 5 pm

Rock Town is mixing up their Happy Hour with tours of the distillery and eight samples of their award-winning brews. Private tours of the distillery normally cost around $20 per person, but CLR members and LITR participants’ tickets will only be $10 today. Registration and payments must be done in advance as there are limited spots available, so get your tickets booked now!

 

Thursday, July 29

What: Music in the Park: Ridgewalkers

Where: Bishop Park (Bryant)

When: 6 pm

Get to Bishop Park in Bryant for a free summer concert with local band Ridgewalks. Bring your own chair or blanket and play some yard games with the community while listening to great music. You might even consider bringing a portable fan to stay cool!

 

Thursday, July 29

What: Brian Ramsay Live

Where: The Oyster Bar (Little Rock)

When: 6:30 pm-9:30 pm

Brian Ramsey is here and he is bringing his own country, pop and R&B originals along with some mashups of hits. Get to the Oyster Bar at 6:30 pm because you don’t want to miss this!

 

Thursday, July 29

What: New Girl Trivia

Where: Nexus Coffee & Creative (Little Rock)

When: 7 pm-9 pm

Have you watched the entire New Girl series over 10 times? Do you consider yourself to be a Jessica Day or a Schmidt? Well you’re in luck, because all the knowledge you have stored about the show can be put to use at Nexus Coffee & Creative’s New Girl Trivia night. Free to enter, bring your fellow binge-watchers to win, laugh and have some good drinks.

 

Thursday, July 29

What: Gulley Park Summer Concert Series

Where: Gulley Park Gazebo (Fayetteville)

When: 7 pm – 9 pm

Sadly, the summer is coming to a close as is the 25th Annual Gulley Park Summer Concert Series. Tonight’s final performance is provided by Dandelion Heart, and you definitely do not want to skip out on this last concert. Grab your chairs and blankets one more time for a night of fun, laughter and good music. 

 

Thursday, July 29

What: Afroman Live

Where: The Rev Room (Little Rock)

When: 8:30 pm

Roll, roll the ‘83 Cadillac Coupe Deville to the Rev Room for none other than Afroman himself. Doors to the concert open at 7:30 pm and the show starts at 8:30 pm. For only $20, you can relive some of Afroman’s greatest hits with him. Hurry and get those tickets here!

 

Friday, July 30

What: Moonlight Madness

Where: Historic Downtown Conway

When: 10 am-7 pm

The Moonlight Madness annual shopping event is back to bring shoppers extended hours, restaurant specials and the best shopping specials of the year. Merchants are providing access to end-of-season and holiday items at insane clearance prices, and shopping hours will be extended until 7pm. Explore the Downtown Conway area and the unique restaurants they have to offer.

 

Friday, July 30

What: Mix and Mingle

Where: Valhalla Restaurant & Axe Throwing (Benton)

When: 6:30pm

Valhalla is hosting a summer party unlike any other. The restaurant’s master mixers will show guests how to make some favorite summer drinks, and baggo tournaments will be going on all evening (with axe throwing inside, of course). Enjoy the downtown air and meet some new faces.

 

Friday, July 30 – Saturday, July 31

What: Peacemaker Festival 2021

Where: Riverfront Park (Fort Smith)

When: Times vary

Fort Smith’s annual festival has a weekend full of music line-ups. Friday lineup: Tanner Usrey, Giovannie & The Hired Guns, Muscadine Bloodline, Lucero and Paul Cauthen. Saturday lineup: Kylie Frey, Cody Hibbard, The Band of Heathens, Koby Cooper and Cody Johnson. Free parties will be hosted by Majestic-Fort Smith for ages 18 and older at first come first serve to get in. Tickets for the festival range from $50 to $249 depending on which option you choose. Hurry up and get those tickets!

 

Friday, July 30

What: Mid-South Drag Revue Starring Pandora Boxx from RuPaul’s Drag Race

Where: Central Theatre (Hot Springs)

When: 8 pm-11:45 pm

The first-ever monthly Drag Revue is kicking off this weekend with an unforgettable show. Pandora Boxx from RuPaul’s Drag Race is the feature, but many more faces will be in attendance: Karma Coutures Birthday, PollyEster Foxx, James2Fine Brown, the Fabulous Lola Colucci and Mendigan Starr. There will be a special announcement for August, so you don’t want to miss! VIP sofas are sadly sold out, but you can still purchase general admission and catwalk tickets for $15 to $30. Shantay, you stay!

 

Friday, July 30

What: Dive-In Movie: Trolls World Tour

Where: Magic Springs Theme and Water Park (Hot Springs)

When: 8:15 pm

Head out to the wave pool at Magic Springs for a movie night on the water. You’ve sat at home to watch movies and you may have watched movies outside, but this is your chance to float in the water for the most unique cinematic experience. Day or season passes to the park are your tickets in.

 

Friday, July 30 – Saturday, July 31

What: Ice Cream Social

Where: Historic Berryville Square (Berryville)
When: Times vary

The 35th annual Berryville Ice Cream Social is finally here! As always, there will be food, entertainment, vendors and special prizes for some lucky guests. This event is free to attend, so get out there!

 

Friday, July 30 – Saturday, July 31

What: 2021 ACA Annual Convention & Trade Show

Where: Hot Springs Convention Center (Hot Springs)

When: Times vary

The Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association is hosting their 63rd Annual Convention and Trade Show.  Cattle producers all over the state are invited to attend the event for educational cattlemen college presentations, industry updates, community networking and more than an acre’s worth of trade show. Tickets range from $28 to $147 depending on what guests would like to attend.

 

Saturday, July 31

What: The Preview Jackpot 2021

Where: Arkansas State Fairgrounds

When: 8 am-10 pm

The Preview Jackpot is a livestock show for the youth around Arkansas and surrounding states. Participants are welcome to show their goat, sheep and hog projects for the chance to win in a variety of categories. This year’s show is introducing a new category: Crowd Favorite. The Preview is a non-profit organization that raises scholarship money for students to continue their education. Admission is $25 per animal and $5 per showman.

 

Saturday, July 31

What: 5th Annual Pat Dudeck Memorial Golf Tournament and Reception

Where: Red Apple Inn & Country Club (Heber Springs)

When: 8:30 am

In benefit of the Du Foundation, the Pat Dudeck Memorial Golf Tournament will help raise scholarship funds for seniors at Heber Springs High School. In the past five years, the fundraiser has awarded over $60,000 in scholarships to seniors who “Du Something.” Registration starts at $150 which will include the cart fee, lunch, t-shirt and goody bag. Register here!

 

Saturday, July 31

What: Free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

Where: Evangelist Temple Church (Little Rock)

When: 10 am-1 pm

The Arkansas Heart Hospital is setting up a community event providing free vaccines. No appointment needed, and everyone who is currently unvaccianted is encouraged to protect the health of themselves and their loved ones by getting the shot. Find more information about the vaccine here.

 

Saturday, July 31

What: Kevin Apple All-Star Showcase

Where: Generals Stadium (Pea Ridge)

When: 1 pm

A day of football from NWA Battle and Oklahoma Stars, this event is in memoriam of fallen officer Kevin Apple. Second Hand Smoke BBQ will be at the event to feed attendees, All-Stars and officers. The full schedule of the day can be found here. Admission is $7, and children under the age of eight get in free. All proceeds from the gate fee will go to the family of Officer Kevin Apple.

 

Saturday, July 31

What: Stone’s Throw Block on Rock 2021: Return to Normalcy

Where: Stone’s Throw Brewing (Little Rock)

When: 4 pm-10 pm

Stone’s Throw Brewing is turning eight! The brewery plans to dance in the street with brews, bands, food trucks and local vendors while supporting Preserve Arkansas. Only $5 to party!

 

Saturday, July 31

What: July YITR Community Yoga Class

Where: Two Rivers Bridge & Park (Little Rock)

When: 6 pm

Yoga in the Rock is hosting a yoga series all year long to bring the community together. The July class will be led by Sarah Pilcher of Arkansas Yoga Collective, Yogathon Arkansas and 365 Yoga Dream. All ages and levels are welcome to attend, and YITR has spare mats available for guests that do not have their own equipment. This event is free to attend, but YITR does ask that attendees consider making donations with a $1 minimum. $5 or more donations will receive free stickers. The proceeds go toward the YITR Scholarship fund that helps aspiring teachers of color complete their yoga teacher training.

 

Saturday, July 31

What: Magic Springs Concert Series: Tauren Wells

Where: Magic Springs Theme & Water Park (Hot Springs)

When: 7 pm

Join Tauren Wells and Crutchfield at Magic Springs. Gates to the amphitheater open at 6pm, Crutchfield goes on at 7 pm and Tauren Wells will start his show at 8pm. Day and season passes to the park are your tickets into the show.

 

Sunday, August 1

What: Arkansas Brewers Guild Tap Takeover

Where: Point Remove Brewing Company (Morrilton)

When: 12 pm-4 pm

Point Remove Brewing in Morrilton is hosting a number of breweries for a tap takeover. Breweries include: Fort Smith Brewing Company, Diamond Bear Beer, Lost 40, Preston Rose Farm, Bentonville Brewing, Gravity Brewworks, Gotahold Brewing, New Province Brewing, Eureka Springs Brewing, StudDuck Beers, Crisis Brewing Co and Three Birds Brewing Co.

Brunch will be provided by the Hungry Nomad food truck, and entertainment will be by none other than Some Guy Named Robb. Free to attend, just buy your drinks and food!

 

Sunday, August 1

What: Jazz off Ninth Street Brunch

Where: Station 801 (Little Rock)

When: 12 pm

Head out to LR Station 801 for live jazz music and food. Tickets are going fast, so book now for $25! Ticket price includes the meal and the concert. Don’t miss this!

 

Sunday, August 1

What: Harlem Globetrotters

Where: Simmons Bank Arena (North Little Rock)

When: 2 pm

If you haven’t seen the Harlem Globetrotters, just go ahead and buy your tickets because this is a must-see show. Whether you’re a basketball fan or not, the Globetrotters can keep anyone entertained with their tricks, skill and comedy. Tickets are $27 to $132 depending on how close you want to be to the players.

 

Friday, July 30 – Sunday, August 1

What: Little Rock Tattoo Arts Convention

Where: Statehouse Convention Center (Little Rock)

When: Times Vary

Little Rock get ready, the Villain Arts Tattoo Convention is here for the first time ever. Special guest tattoo artists include: Oxi Lox, Stephen Monnet, Cody Gower, Derek Dufresne and Steven Bui. Arkansas’ favorite local artists include: Andy Vasquez,Chad Wilburn, Henna by Koushal, Juan Carlos, Lee Dandy, Africana Art, Blacksmith Body Jewelry and many more. Tickets for one day are $20, and tickets for the entire weekend are $40. Children under 12 get in free. Find your tickets and a complete schedule for the weekend here!

 

On this day…

  • On July 29, 1715, 10 Spanish treasure galleons were sunk off the coast of Florida by a hurricane.
  • On July 29, 1899, the first motorcycle race took place in Manhattan Beach, New York.
  • On July 29, 1907, the first helicopter took to the sky in Douai, France.
  • On July 29, 1928, the first test footage of Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie was created.
  • On July 29, 1954, J.R.R. Tolkien’s Fellowship of the Ring was published.
  • On July 29, 2015, part of missing airline MH370 was found on the island of Reunion.
  • On July 29, 2019, The record for longest run at the top of US singles chart was made by country rap single “Old Town Road” Lil Nax X and remixed with Billy Ray Cyrus. The song held No. 1 for 17 weeks.

 

  • On July 30, 1928, George Eastman showed his first amateur color motion pictures to guests at his New York house including Thomas Edison.
  • On July 30, 1930, the first FIFA World Cup Final took place with Uruguay winning against Argentina 4-2.
  • On July 30, 1935, the first Penguin book was published which started the era of paperback.
  • On July 30, 1942, FDR signed a bill creating the women’s Navy auxiliary agency (WAVES).
  • On July 30, 1945, The USS Indianapolis was torpedoed after delivering the atomic bomb across the Pacific. 880 members of the crew died, and many were due to shark attacks inspiring the concept of Jaws.
  • On July 30, 1971, George Harrison released his single “Bangladesh.”
  • On July 30, 1971, US Apollo 15 landed on Mare Imbrium on the moon.
  • On July 30, 2004, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle starring Kal Penn and John Cho was released.
  • On July 30, 2018, the official Malaysian investigation into the disappearance of Flight MH370 announced they are unable to determine what happened to the event that took place in 2014.

 

  • On July 31, 30 BC, Mark Antony won a minor victory over Octavian at the Battle of Alexandria. However, most of his army deserted, leading to Octavian’s invasion into Egypt.
  • On July 31, 1864, Ulysses S. Grant is named General of Volunteers.
  • On July 31, 1922, Ralph Samuelson rode the world’s first water skis in Minnesota.
  • On July 31, 1981, the mid-season strike by MLB players ended after 42 days. The strike caused the cancellation of 713 games. Players and owners came to an agreement on free-agent compensation.
  • On July 31, 1991, The Senate voted to allow women to fly combat aircraft.
  • On July 31, 1994, Phil Rizzuto, NY Yankees shortstop, and Steve Carlton, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
  • On July 31, 2012, Michael Phelps made Olympic history after winning his 19th career Olympic medal and 15th overall gold.
  • On July 31, 2020, the Apple wildfire near Beaumont, California started. The fire forced the evacuation of almost 8,000 people over the following days.

 

  • On August 1, 1774, English chemist Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen by isolating it in its gaseous state.
  • On August 1, 1785, Caroline Herschel became the first woman to discover a comet.
  • On August 1, 1834, Britain abolished slave trade throughout the British Empire.
  • On August 1, 1916, the Hawaii National Park formed.
  • On August 1, 1932, the George Washington quarter went into circulation.
  • On August 1, 1941, the first Jeep was produced.
  • On August 1, 1944, the first African-American congressman, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. was elected in New York.
  • On August 1, 1944, Anne Frank made her final diary entry. She and her family were arrested three days later.
  • On August 1, 1960, Aretha Franklin had her first recording session.
  • On August 1, 1981, “Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie was released.
  • On August 1, 1996, George R.R. Martin published the first book A Song of Ice and Fire of his series “A Game of Thrones.”
  • On August 1, 2020, Egypt informed Elon Musk that the pyramids were not built by aliens after Musk tweeted in support of a conspiracy theory that they were.

 

Famous birthdays:

  • Walter Hunt, the American inventor of the safety pin and sewing machine, was born on July 29, 1796.
  • Benito Mussolini, Italian dictator, was born on July 29, 1883.
  • Clara Bow, American silent screen actress, was born on July 29, 1905.
  • Elizabeth Short, victim in the Black Dahlia case, was born on July 29, 1924.
  • Martina McBride, country singer and songwriter, was born on July 29, 1966.
  • Ashley McBryde, country singer and songwriter from Waldron, Arkansas, was born on July 29, 1983.

 

  • Emily Bronte, English novelist, was born on July 30, 1818.
  • Henry Ford, industrialist and automaker, was born on July 30, 1863.
  • Casey Stengel, Baseball Hall of Fame Manager, was born on July 30, 1890.
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger, bodybuilder, actor and former governor of California, was born on July 30, 1947.
  • Laurence Fishburne, actor, was born on July 30, 1961.
  • Lisa Kudrow, actress, was born on July 30, 1963.
  • Terry Crews, NFL linebacker and actor, was born on July 30, 1968.
  • Christopher Nolan, film director, was born on July 30, 1970.

 

  • Arthur Daley, American sportswriter, was born on July 31, 1904.
  • Hank Jones, jazz pianist, arranger and composer, was born on July 31, 1918.
  • Bonnie Brown, country singer from Arkansas, was born on July 31, 1936.
  • Barry Van Dyke, actor, was born on July 31, 1951.
  • Sandra “Sweetness” Hodge, basketball player for Harlem Globetrotters, was born on July 31, 1962.
  • Ahmad Akbarpour, Iranian writer of The Train of That Night, was born on July 31, 1970.
  • Zac Brown, country musician, was born on July 31, 1978.
  • Lil Uzi Vert, rapper and songwriter, was born on July 31, 1994.

 

  • Claudius, Roman Emperor, was born on August 1, 10 BC.
  • William Clark, American explorer, soldier and leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was born on August 1, 1770.
  • Francis Scott Key, American lawyer, poet and composer of the lyrics to the national anthem, was born on August 1, 1779
  • Herman Melville, American author, was born on August 1, 1819.
  • Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, folk singer, was born on August 1, 1931.
  • Yves Saint Laurent, French fashion designer, was born on August 1, 1936.
  • Jerry Garcia, American rock musician (Grateful Dead) was born on August 1, 1942.
  • Coolio (Artis Leon Ivey Jr.), rapper, was born on August 1, 1963.
  • Jason Momoa, actor and heart-throb, was born on August 1, 1979.

 

Holidays

July 29:

National Chicken Wing Day

National Lasagna Day

National Lipstick Day

National Chili Dog Day

 

July 30:

National Cheesecake Day

National Father-in-law Day

National Whistleblower Day

National Talk in an Elevator Day

National System Administrator Appreciation Day

National Get Gnarly Day

 

July 31:

National Mutt Day

National Avocado Day

National Raspberry Cake Day

 

August 1:

National Mahjong Day

National Raspberry Cream Pie Day

National Girlfriends Day

National Minority Donor Awareness Day

Respect for Parents Day

American Family Day

National Friendship Day

Sisters’ Day

 

READ MORE: National Chicken Wing Day: My 10 Favorite Wings