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Annual Festivals & Events

Little Rock is Arkansas’s epicenter for fun. With year-round events and awesome festivals, there is always something new to experience. From music to marathons and food to fairs.

Get out and enjoy Little Rock – Arkansas’s epicenter for fun. With year-round events and awesome local festivals, there's always something new to experience. From music to marathons and food to fairs, you'll find plenty of things to do no matter the season. See why amazing events are better with a Southern accent!

2FAN-streetcar and sandwich board
Downtown Little Rock is fortunate to be the home of an incredible breadth of art, culture, and history. From established museums and institutions to individual galleries, every day residents and visitors are treated to a creative environment that expands the mind and warms the soul.
Little Rock Marathon 2016
The Little Rock Marathon is nationally touted as the race with the “World’s Largest Finishers Medal.” It takes place in early March with a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K fun run/walk, and the Little Rockers youth marathon. More than 10,000 enthusiasts participate annually.

SoMa Mardi Gras-having a ball parade float
Little Rock's South Main Street, or SoMa to the locals, is defined by its funky, quirky and care-free vibes.  An attitude that is reflected every February by the neighborhood's annual Mardi Gras parade.  After the parade, stick around for The Root Cafe's annual Beard Contest judging at the Bernice Garden.
Wildwood Park-lanterns-fire dancer

Wildwood’s annual deep-winter festival LANTERNS! celebrates the first full moon of the lunar new year. Held over three magical evenings, guests are transported to faraway lands and times as they stroll through the beautifully lit pathways of Wildwood’s gardens. Cultural vistas feature live entertainment, food, drink, games and more throughout the Park’s Butler Arboretum and inside the Lucy Lockett Cabe Festival Theatre.

 

 

Little Rock's Barkus on Main Pooch Parade, a dog wearing a lion costume

 

Hosted by the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, Barkus on Main is a Mardi Gras-themed parade of pooches.  It's way more than a typical dog walk, each year features a beer garden, crawfish boil, beads, beads and more beads, and an after-party of course.  Prizes are awarded for Best Pet/Owner Look-a-Like costumes, Most Original, Best Large Breed, Best Float and Judge's Choice.  Get more details on the DLRP's website.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is put on by the Irish Cultural Society of Arkansas in an effort to reconnect Arkansans with their Irish heritage. The parade starts at the corner of Third & Rock Street in front of Dugan’s Pub in downtown Little Rock and ends at Sixth & Main Street in North Little Rock.

Arkansas Literary Festival Logo

The Six Bridges Book Festival is an annual celebration of literacy, language, and the written word. Sponsored by the Central Arkansas Library System, the festival takes place the third weekend of April with activities for readers and writers of all ages, abilities, and interests.

Jewish Food Festival

The Jewish Food and Cultural Festival brings together Jews from throughout the state of Arkansas who take pride in sharing their traditions with the broader community. This free festival includes traditional Jewish foods, entertainment and art created by local Jewish artists. Bring the kids and immerse yourself in Little Rock's Jewish culture.

The International Greek Food Festival

The International Greek Food Festival is the largest ethnic food festival in Arkansas. More than 10,000 Sourota and 17,000 pieces of Baklava are served during for the three-day annual event. There's an incredible Old World Market featuring unique items from around the world, a full entertainment lineup, kid’s area and church tours.

Mosaic Templars Cultural Center has been a leader in Arkansas Juneteenth festivities since 2009. Now, with Juneteenth recognized as a federal holiday, MTCC continues to serve as the home of central Arkansas’ largest Juneteenth event. Juneteenth is a chance for the city to engage in cultural and educational opportunities that will help future generations understand the importance of this date to the African American community.

Pops on the River

Pops on the River is an annual event at the First Security Amphitheater each Fourth of July. It is a free event, with a wonderful fireworks display accompanied by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

Main Street Food Truck Festival

Main Street Food Truck Festival is a popular annual festival on Main Street in downtown Little Rock that draws more than 60 food trucks, musicians and vendors for a full day of family fun. The food truck cuisine varies from international fare to down home southern cooking. You are sure to find something to tingle the taste buds!

Big Dam Bridge 100

The Big Dam Bridge 100 is Arkansas's largest annual cycling tour offering 100, 68, 50, 32 and 10-mile routes through Central Arkansas and across the Big Dam Bridge. The 4226-foot bridge is one of the longest bridges built for pedestrian and bicycle traffic in North America and connects over 15 miles of scenic riverside trails between Little Rock and North Little Rock. It also serves as the thoroughfare for connecting over 70,000 acres of various city, county, state & federal parks.

World Cheese Dip Championship

World Cheese Dip Championship has been recognized both locally and nationally as one of the best food festivals for its family-friendly atmosphere and the delicious cheese dips that are entered into the competition. People enjoy samples of exciting dips and are able to cast their vote to crown the World Cheese Dip Champions. Amateurs and professionals from around the country compete to impress your taste buds!

Arkansas State Fair

The Arkansas State Fair attracts more than 400,000 patrons each year. The fair features a livestock show, rodeo, carnival midway and many live musical acts each October. The 10-day event is filled with fun for the whole family.

Big Booseum Bash

Big Booseum Bash is an event where families can enjoy a fun and safe Halloween at many area museums that offer trick-or-treating, games, and much more! Pick up a game card at any participating location and collect stamps for visiting each museum, or cultural attraction, to be entered into a grand prize drawing!

Susan G Komen Race for the Cure
The Susan G. Komen More than Pink Walk in Little Rock is one of the largest Komen events in the country, with over 40,000 registered each year.

Indiafest

IndiaFest is an event that bridges cultures, generations and communities through one-day of togetherness.

Arkansas Italian Food and Culture Festival

The Arkansas Italian Food and Culture Festival celebrates the impact of Italian immigrants on Arkansas history and the influence of Italian culture in Arkansas. Attendees can expect Italian staples such as wine, pasta and cheese as well as live music, craft vendors and a children’s area.
Arkansas Italian Food and Culture Festival

Hosted by Central Arkansas Pride, Little Rock Pride Fest is held each October in conjunction with National LGBTQ History month. Vendors, musicians, and performers abound at this annual festival anchored by a parade through downtown Little Rock.
Filmland

The Arkansas Cinema Society’s Filmland is a curated annual celebration of cinema with a mission to nurture and inspire filmmakers in Arkansas by exposing Arkansans to filmmakers and their art.