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 to David, Tommy and Roger this morning on 103.7 The Buzz, below.
There are always great things to do in the Natural State, and AY has compiled some of the most exciting events in Arkansas this weekend.
Thursday, June 17
What: Tails and Tunes
Where: Little Rock Zoo
When: 5 pm-9 pm
The Tails and Tunes series at the Little Rock Zoo continues again this week, as the Zoo is remaining open late every Thursday this month. Expect live music, food, drinks, and plenty of more ways to have fun after dark.
Thursday, June 17
What: Third Thursday Festival
Where: Downtown Benton
When: 6pm-9pm
Every third Thursday of the month, the city of Benton organizes a night of food, drinks and entertainment in the Downtown square. Local businesses, organizations and vendors all come out to support the community and say hello to friends. Liquid Kitty will be at this month’s Third Thursday event to bring the town some Classic Rock and get people dancing!
Thursday, June 17 – Saturday, June 19
What: 63rd Annual Petit Jean Show 2021
Where: Museum of Automobiles
When: 8am-6pm
Jump into this event quickly because it has been running all week long and wrapping up on Saturday, June 19. A lot to be covered in four days, the event has one car show for original cars, one show for everything else including rat rods, 900 auto related swap meet spaces, 60 arts and crafts spaces and 500 car corral spaces.
Thursday, June 17 – Saturday, June 19
What: Miss Arkansas Pageant and MAROTeen
Where: Robinson Center Performance Hall
When: Schedule of events found here
Who is going to be crowned Miss Arkansas 2021? Since Sunday, June 13, the Miss Arkansas 2021 contestants have been competing for the esteemed title and scholarship prize. There are still three more days of competition, so make sure you’re there!
Thursday, June 17
What: Party on the Patio
Where: Copper Mule Table & Tap (Bryant)
When: 7 pm-9 pm
Every Thursday, Copper Mule Table & Tap hosts a “Party on the Patio,” rotating live music, karaoke, trivia and open mic nights.
Friday, June 18
What: SoMa Outdoor Dining Weekend Live Music Fridays
Where: SoMa Outdoor Dining Room (1301 S. Main St.)
When: 5:30pm-8:30pm
Pop into any of the restaurants around SoMa for some food and drinks and then head on over to the SoMa Outdoor Dining room set up across the street. This Friday, Kenny Mann & the Danger Zone will be the entertainment for the night. Thank goodness it’s Friday!
Friday, June 18
What: Drive-in Theater Tour: An Evening Under the Stars
Where: Grayson Farms Amphitheater (Bald Knob)
When: 7 pm
It’s a night full of live music and fun with this one. The event features musical acts from Zach Williams, Mac Powell, and Cain. Doors open at 5:30 pm, and lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged.
Friday, June 18 – Saturday, June 19
What: 30th Annual John Daly Golf Classic
Where: Lion’s Den Golf Club, Dardanelle
When: Friday Practice Round tee times: 8am-2pm final start, Saturday tee times: 7:30am-1pm final start
For the 30th year, John Daly is hosting the John Daly Golf Classic in support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Arkansas River Valley. The entered teams are warming up their swings Friday the 18th, and the tournament will commence early Saturday morning. The entry deadline may have passed to get in on the action, but there are still ways to join in on the fun. Following the tournament on Saturday, join John Daly, Mister Lucky, Taylor Hicks from American Idol and Chris Cagle at Front Street Grill. Toby Keith has just recently been announced as the headliner for the After Tournament concert at Front Street, and it’s only $30 at the door! Find more information on the schedule here.
Friday, June 18 – Saturday, June 19
What: 63rd Annual Petit Jean Show 2021
Where: 1079 SE 8th St. Bentonville, AR 72712
When: 8am-6pm
This show began on Wednesday, June 16 and is running until Saturday, June 19. A lot to be covered in four days, the event has one car show for original cars and one show for everything else, including rat rods, 900 auto-related swap meet spaces, 60 arts and crafts spaces and 500 car corral spaces.
Friday, June 18 – Saturday, June 19
What: Monster Mash/Rose Bud Summerfest 2021
Where: Rose Bud
When: 11am-10pm
Monster trucks. Autocross cars. Quad racing. Rose Bud. What else do you need?
Friday, June 18 – Sunday, June 20
What: Coolwag Diving Dogs Event: June Jump
Where: 210 Prairie Lane, Bentonville, AR 72712
When: 11 am-3pm; 9 am-3 pm; 10:30 am-3pm
Coolwag, the locally owned doggy daycare and boarding hotel, is hosting a dog diving event with the North America Diving Dogs. Dogs will participate in events including the Air Retrieve, the Hydro Dash, and the Distance Jump. Each dog is encouraged to run the length of the dock and jump as far as they can and land in the water, with the judges measuring either the height or distance of the jump.
Saturday, June 19
What: Arkansas Heart Hospital Wings Over Bryant Airshow
Where: Saline County Regional Airport
When: 10am-3:30pm
Fourteen airshow acts are lined up to take off on June 19. Skydivers, Warbirds, the Pitts Raptor are just a few examples of the air performers in the schedule. For the kiddos, the Midtown Mechanical Services is hosting a Lil’ Aviators Children’s Area with inflatables, an airplane train, a rock-climbing wall and more activities. Food trucks, a beer stand and other vendors will be around the airport for guests to enjoy.
Saturday, June 19
What: MoparMania 6 Car Show
Where: Jacksonville Parks and Recreation
When: 9am-5pm
A show for Mopar owners and Mopar lovers, attendees will be able to enjoy eight full hours of over 75 awards, a charity raffle, bounce houses, food trucks and MoparMania merchandise sold at the show.
Saturday, June 19
What: Donna Terrell’s Yoga Warriors Fighting Colon Cancer
Where: MacArthur Park in Downtown Little Rock
When: 10am-11:30am
In 2011, Donna’s daughter, Queah, passed away from colon cancer. Donna started Yoga Warriors in memory of Queah and has held this event for the past seven years. Stacey Reynolds of Blue Yoga Nyla in North Little Rock and Sarah Thomas Pilcher of Arkansas Yoga Collective in Little Rock are the instructors of this year’s event. On top of some deep relaxation with yoga, there will be raffle drawings, door prizes, and yoga mats and accessories for sale.
Saturday, June 19
What: Iron Pig Festival
Where: Fayetteville Executive Airport
When: 7am-11:30am
A bike race not for the faint of heart, the Iron Pig is a 17-mile cycle on Hwy 71 to Woolsey Road in Fayetteville. Open to cyclists 12 and older, the Iron Pig is a great opportunity for young cyclists to get out there and gain experience in racing. Registration is still open, and spectators are always welcome to cheer on the cyclists.
Saturday, June 19
What: Vanilla Ice Concert
Where: Magic Springs Theme and Water Park
When: 7pm
After the temperatures from this past week, we all need to cool down with Vanilla Ice. He will be performing at Magic Springs Saturday night with opening act deFrance. Magic Springs recommends bringing blankets, towels or chairs to sit back and enjoy the show.
Saturday, June 19
What: Forest Concert Series – The Sounds of Freedom
Where: Crystal Bridges
When: 7pm-9:30pm
Featuring DeeDee Jones and Spud Howard, this Juneteenth celebration will explore the genre of Black protest music from the 1970s to modern-day. Both DeeDee Jones and Spud Howard will perform soulful tributes to Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Arethra Franklin and more influential Black artists.
Saturday, June 19
What: 2021 Fouke Monster Festival
Where: Historic Fouke Arkansas
When: 9am-end of day
Fans of “Fouke”-lore should drive out to the home of the Fouke Monster this Saturday for a full day of monster talk. Big Foot presentations, appearances by movie actors, track casting and a screening of The Legend of Boggy Creek are in store for guests.
Saturday, June 19
What: Argenta Plaza Summer Music Series: A Year and a Day
Where: Argenta Plaza
When: 5 pm
Starting this month, the North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau will host a free Summer Music series on the third Saturdays of June, July and August. This Saturday, Josh Stewart and A Year & A Day will be performing. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs and hit up Argenta restaurants for food and drinks to enjoy while listening to the performances.
Saturday, June 19
What: East Village Street Party
Where: 6th and Shall
When: 5pm-8pm
Head on out to the 6th and Shall intersection in East Village for a night of live music, good food and cold drinks. Swamp Donkey and Mayday by Midnight are the performances of the night. An after-party will continue the fun over at The Railyard.
Saturday, June 19
What: Arkansas Pint Day
Where: Brewers all across the state
When: All day
Breweries all over the state have come together for Arkansas Pint Day. Buy the pint, keep the glass, and $1 from the sale of each glass will be donated for the mission of the Arkansas Brewers Guild. A list of participating breweries and taprooms will be available on AY’s Top Weekend Events list online.
Sunday, June 20
What: Father’s Day at Little Rock Zoo
Where: Little Rock Zoo
When: All Day
Celebrating all Fathers on this special day, the zoo is excited for guests to bring their human dads to meet the zoo’s animal dads. Animal dads include: Kivu the gorilla, Bhandar the orangutan, Liku the tiger and the newest dad with a baby on the way, Johari the rhino. More specials and fun events are in store for the day.
Sunday, June 20
What: Gravel Yard “Zoo” Grass Band
Where: Little Rock Zoo
When: 11am-2pm
A part of the Little Rock Zoo’s Father’s Day celebration, The Gravel Yard will be playing “Zoo” grass music all morning. The concert is free to attend once you are inside the zoo.
All Weekend
What: Bentonville Bicycle Festival
Where: Bentonville, AR
When: Friday, June 18-Sunday, June 20
The annual festival is chock-full of shows, rides, entertainment, workshops and opportunities for the biking community to spend time enjoying the trails. This three-day event is open to all ages with a passion for cycling. The full schedule for the weekend-long festival can be found here.
Trivia Bites:
On June 18, 1964, The Beatles performed at Sydney Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
On June 18, 1967, the Jimi Hendrix Experience made its debut at the Monterey Pop Festival in California. After a dispute with the Who as to which act would close the festival, Hendrix played a set in which he lit his guitar on fire.
On June 18, 1977, Rumors by Fleetwood Mac was No. 1.
On June 18, 1984, The movie Rhinestone starring Dolly Parton premiered at the Roy Acuff Theatre in Nashville, Tennessee.
On June 18, 2010, John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics to “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles was sold for $1.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction in NYC.
Paul McCartney was born on June 18 in 1942 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.
Dizzy Reed, keyboardist for Guns N’ Roses, was born on June 18, 1963 in Hinsdale, Illinois.
Holidays:
June 19: Juneteenth celebrating the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all the remaining slaves in Texas in 1865. This day celebrates freedom and was made a national holiday this past week.
National Go Fishing Day
International Picnic Day
National Splurge Day
National Flip Flop Day
READ MORE: Arkansas’ First Dark-Sky Festival Coming to Buffalo River in October