Top Weekend Events in Arkansas: July 9-11

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.

Each Friday, AY President and Publisher Heather Baker sits down with the guys at 103.7 The Buzz to share some of the hottest events going on over the weekend in Arkansas. With so many fun things going on, you shouldn’t be limited to just a few events, though!

Listen to Heather Baker talk this morning on 103.7 The Buzz, below.

103.7 The Buzz · SWNN Hour 3 7 – 9-21

Thursday, July 8

What: Party on the Patio

Where: Copper Mule Table & Tap (Bryant)

When: 7 pm-9 pm

Copper Mule is mixing it up this week at Party on the Patio with reservations for their first Comedy Competition. Direct Message Copper Mule on their Facebook page to reserve seats for the L.G. Grey Comedy Tours Party on the Patio Comedy Competition. The winner of the competition will receive a $50 prize, so get your name in there and be funny! Sign-up for the competition at 6:30 pm; the show will begin at 7 pm.

Thursday, July 8

What: Live Music at Valhalla Restaurant & Axe Throwing

Where: Valhalla Restaurant & Axe Throwing (Benton)

When: 7 pm-9 pm

Take a break from showing off your excellent axe-throwing skills and enjoy some live music at Valhalla. Cory Fontenot is lined up to bring some extra fun to this Thursday night. Order your favorite pizza, book a lane and enjoy the music.

Thursday, July 8

What: Gulley Park Summer Concert Series

Where: Gulley Park Gazebo (Fayetteville)

When: 7 pm-9 pm

Pack your kids, pack your chairs and head out to Gulley Park for another Thursday concert. This week’s fun will be provided by Dial-Up

Friday, July 9

What: Bear Foot Amber Launch Day

Where: Diamond Bear Brewing Company (North Little Rock)

When: 11 am

Diamond Bear is introducing their new Caribbean style Bear Foot Amber Lager at their taproom. 103.7 The Buzz will be doing a live broadcast from the taproom from 10 am to 1 pm. This is the first new beer introduced by Diamond Bear since Covid, and they are ready to party. Diamond Bear will have a Jamaican Jerk Chicken special available from 11 am-1 pm and 5-8 pm. Free stuff is always fun, so go to Diamond Bear for swag giveaways every hour. Live music will be provided by the reggae musician Darril Harp Edwards, so get out there and don’t miss out on special tasting opportunities!

Friday, July 9

What: 2nd Friday Art Night

Where: Historic Arkansas Museum (Little Rock)

When: 5 pm-8 pm

The 2nd Friday Art Night happens every month. This week’s exhibit will feature the work of Rett Peek with his project: Arkansas Made. Patriotic mocktails will be served throughout the night while guests have the opportunity to speak with Peek and enjoy his work.

Friday, July 9

What: SoMa Outdoor Dining Room: Sad Daddy

Where: SoMa Outdoor Dining Room (Little Rock)

When: 5:30 pm-8:30 pm

Thank goodness it’s Friday, especially in the SoMa District. Sad Daddy is coming to the Outdoor Dining Room Friday night for music, fun and of course food from restaurants in SoMa.

Friday, July 9

What: Fearless Fans & Fireworks

Where: Dickey-Stephens Park (North Little Rock)

When: 7:10 pm

Join Arkansas Blue Cross at Dickey-Stephens Park for a night of baseball, food and fireworks. The game starts at 7:10 pm, and be sure to show your Arkansas Blue Cross insurance card at the gate for $3 off your ticket. Purchase tickets for the game here.

Friday, July 9

What: Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Presents: Docs on the Dock

Where: Futrell Marine (Hot Springs)

When: 7:30 pm

The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival is presenting Docs on the Dock with a performance by Various Blonde from Kansas City followed by a waterfront screening of “Playing with Sharks.” Watch the screening by boat or on land for free!

Friday, July 9

What: Dreams – A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Where: The Legendary Vapors (Hot Springs)

When: 7:30 pm-9:30 pm

Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac fans cannot miss this tribute concert at the Vapors. A cover band taking us back to Fleetwood Mac’s prime, doors for the show open at 6:30 pm and the show begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets for this memorable show are $45 and can be purchased here.

Saturday, July 10

What: Breakfast with a Twist (Tigers)

Where: Little Rock Zoo

When: 7:45 am

The Little Rock Zoo has a special series going for guests to get to know the critters. This weekend’s breakfast will be on the topic of tigers. Guests will receive a boxed breakfast to enjoy while listening to a keeper talk about the big cats. Breakfast will be followed by a painting session with Painting with a Twist to create a custom animal painting. Reservations are required and are between $50-$56. Everything you need – breakfast, canvas, paint and the chance to walk around the zoo – is included in the price. Make your reservation here!

Saturday, July 10

What: Firefly Fling Festival

Where: Botanical Garden of the Ozarks (Fayetteville)

When: 9 am-10 pm, 7 pm-10 pm

This is your chance to dress up as your favorite fairy or woodland creature for one of Northwest Arkansas’ mid-summer events. Butterfly stilt walkers from Arkansas Circus Arts and garden fairies will be fluttering around the event. The morning event will feature Drum Safari, and the evening will have performances from She Rules and Rochelle Bradshaw & Hypnotion. Giant bubbles, an obstacle course, fairy house building, crafts and a petting zoo with a unicorn. (Pony rides will be available for $5) Picnics are welcome to be brought in, but guests are also encouraged to hit up the available food trucks. The Firefly Fling Shoppe will be back selling wands, wings and anything else your fairy needs. Tickets may be purchased beforehand: $13 for adults and $4 for children 0-13; or at the door: $15 for adults and $5 for children 0-13. Online ticket sales close at noon on Friday, July 9.

Saturday, July 10

What: Arkansas Honor Ride 4th Annual Car and Bike Show

Where: Hot Springs Mall

When: 9am-3pm

Bring your impressive cars and bikes to the 4th annual Arkansas Honor Ride honoring veterans. A line-up of local law enforcement officials will act as judges for the event, and pre-registration for the event is $20 and $25 to register the day of the show.

Saturday, July 10

What: Tesla Fest

Where: Mid-America Science Museum (Hot Springs)

When: 10 am

The fifth annual Tesla Fest celebrating the birth and inventions of Nikola Tesla is back at Mid-America Museum! There will be Tesla shows, a scavenger hunt and chances to win prizes. Admission to Tesla Fest is included in the general admission: Adults are $10, children 3-12 years old are $8 and seniors 65 and older at $8 – get those tickets here.

Saturday, July 10

What: Second Saturday on Main “Red White & Bluegrass Edition”

Where: Historic Downtown Van Buren

When: 10am-8pm

Historic Downtown Van Buren is keeping the Independence Day celebrations going with their Second Saturday on Main “Red White & Blue Edition.” Arkansas’ very own The Gravel Yard Bluegrass Band will get everyone groovin’ while guests enjoy patriotic photo ops, food trucks, a splash pad, a cornhole tournament and the chance to win a $250 shopping spree.

Saturday, July 10

What: Dig the Ride IPA Launch Party and Bike Ride

Where: Lost Forty Brewing (Little Rock)

When: 3:30 pm

Lost Forty Brewing is bringing back their summer Dig the Ride IPA brew. This refreshing IPA is citrusy with bursts of honey. Lost Forty’s drink is made especially for a busy-body on the trails, floating down any of Arkansas’ rivers and hikers. Rock Town River Outfitters will be leading a group bike from the taproom to the Rockwater Marina. Tickets for the ride are free, but there is a limit of 30 riders so registration is required. Dig the Ride will be available on draft in the taproom and as six-packs to-go.

Saturday, July 10

What: Magic Springs Concert Series: Rend Collective

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

When: 7 pm

The Rend Collective is coming to Magic Springs this weekend with opening act After Grace. Concert venue opens at 6 pm and the show begins at 7 pm. Bring those blankets and chairs and jam all night. Season and day passes are tickets into the concert.

Saturday, July 10

What: Laine Hardy at TempleLive

Where: TempleLive (Fort Smith)

When: 8 pm

Season 17 American Idol winner Laine Hardy is coming to TempleLive for a night of fun. Tickets are $20-$30 – claim your spot fast!

Saturday, July 10

What: Brewery Comedy Tour

Where: Stone’s Throw Brewing (Little Rock)

When: 8 pm

This comedy tour is traveling all over the country with 1,500 breweries down and more to go. The comedians are trying out our local brews and providing entertainment for anyone looking for a good time. The Brewery Comedy Tour features comedians that have performed on TV shows, festivals and major clubs. Admission for the event is $14, and tickets can be purchased here.

Saturday, July 10 – Sunday, July 11

What: North Little Rock Gun & Knife Show

Where: Windsong Event Center (North Little Rock)

When: Saturday, July 10: 9 am-5 pm; Sunday, July 11: 9 am-4 pm

Murphy’s Gun and Knife Show is coming to North Little Rock this weekend. The event will take place on two days, and tickets purchased get you into both. Admission for adults is $10, kids ages 11-15 is $5 and kids 10 and under are free to attend.

Weekend Lineup at George’s Majestic Lounge (Fayetteville)

Friday, July 9:

Earl & Them with Buddy Shute and The Motivators: Doors open at 5 pm, show begins at 6 pm; tickets are $8.
Dirt Monkey: Doors open at 8:30 pm, show begins at 9:30 pm; tickets are $20.

Saturday, July 10:

Space Wizard & Smoakland: Doors open at 7 pm, show begins at 8:30 pm; tickets are $15-$20.

Tickets can be purchased here.

On this day…

On July 9,1956 Dick Clark made his first appearance as host on American Bandstand.
On July 9, 2001, UK’s “The Office” premiered on BBC Two.
On July 9, 1955, Bill Haley & Comets’ “Rock Around the Clock” topped the billboards chart as one of the best-selling singles in history.
On July 10, 2000, Coldplay released their debut album “Parachutes.”
On July 11, 1969, David Bowie released “Space Oddity” nine days before Apollo 11 landed on the moon.

Famous Birthdays

Guru Dutt (Vasanth Padukone) Indian Bollywood actor and regarded as one of the greatest film directors of all time was born on July 9, 1925.
OJ Simpson was born on July 9, 1947.
Tom Hanks was born on July 9, 1956.
Nikola Tesla was born on July 10, 1856.
Jessica Simpson was born on July 10, 1980.
John Quincy Adams was born on July 11, 1767
Giorgio Armani was born on July 11, 1934.
Richie Sambora, guitarist for Bon Jovi, was born on July 11, 1959.