Community Calendar

Perfect for kids aged 4 to 5, Mini Masters is a weeklong day camp led by led by local artist Paige Dirksen. Prekindergarten campers will have the chance to discover the art world through story time and gallery activities.

Then, back in the studio, we’ll explore the artmaking process with painting, collage, and sculpture for some colorful, creative fun!

Tickets are $200 ($160 for members). Reserve your spot online or with Guest Experience at (479) 657-2335 today.

Perfect for kids 11 to 14, this is a weeklong day camp for all children, including those with autism or other disabilities. Partnering with the University of Arkansas Special Education Program, Camp Connect is designed for children with behavior or learning support needs in mind, so they can have fun while connecting with other children.

Please note that camp runs July 29 – August 1 from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. with an optional (but highly recommended) social hour from 12:30pm – 1:30pm. During social hour, campers will spend time with their peers; participate in activities to develop important skills, like working in teams, building relationships, and communicating; and enjoy snacks prior to the start of Camp Connect!

Camp orientation will be Monday, July 28, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Both caregivers and campers are encouraged to attend.

The program is free for all participants, but advanced registration is required. Register online by May 16, 2025, to attend.

Perfect for kids aged 4 to 5, Mini Masters is a weeklong day camp led by led by local artist Paige Dirksen. Prekindergarten campers will have the chance to discover the art world through story time and gallery activities.

Then, back in the studio, we’ll explore the artmaking process with painting, collage, and sculpture for some colorful, creative fun!

Tickets are $200 ($160 for members). Reserve your spot online or with Guest Experience at (479) 657-2335 today.

Perfect for kids 11 to 14, this is a weeklong day camp for all children, including those with autism or other disabilities. Partnering with the University of Arkansas Special Education Program, Camp Connect is designed for children with behavior or learning support needs in mind, so they can have fun while connecting with other children.

Please note that camp runs July 29 – August 1 from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. with an optional (but highly recommended) social hour from 12:30pm – 1:30pm. During social hour, campers will spend time with their peers; participate in activities to develop important skills, like working in teams, building relationships, and communicating; and enjoy snacks prior to the start of Camp Connect!

Camp orientation will be Monday, July 28, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Both caregivers and campers are encouraged to attend.

The program is free for all participants, but advanced registration is required. Register online by May 16, 2025, to attend.

The First Annual Tomato Festival will include live music performances, demonstrations and mini-workshops about gardening, harvesting, and preserving, vendors selling artisan crafts, homemade treats and vegetables, children’s craft activities, chainsaw art sculpture. Tomato Judging will be from 2:00 to 3:00.

Cash and/or prizes will be awarded to winners in three categories: TASTE, CREATIVITY, AND PRESENTATION. Cooks must provide complete ingredient list and enough small samples for 20 judges. So, gather those tomatoes, perfect those recipes, and come join us for a few hours of friendly competition, conversations with nice folks, and culinary creativity in the scenic Arkansas Ozarks!

DEADLINE: Entry forms must be received by Friday, August 1, 2025.

Visit https://www.ozarkfolkways.org/events for the entry form.

Whistle and Warp: Kids Fiber Art and Music Camp

Aug 4 - Aug 8, 9 am - 3 pm Daily

Open to children ages 5 - 16

$200 (financial aid available)

Fiber Camp will be held in Fayetteville at the Folk School of Fayetteville (207 W Center St).

This camp will focus on folk traditions of fiber art and music. Ozark Folkways fiber art instructor Abby Hollis will take students along the fiber journey from sheep to finished product. When students aren’t crafting fibers, they’ll be crafting tunes. Folk School of Fayetteville music instructor Bernice Hembree, along with a handful of special guests, will teach kids folk music traditions. Our hope through Whistle and Warp Camp is to help students connect with the material world and their particular place within it by gaining a better understanding of the ways that humanity has traditionally manipulated materials to spark joy.

Snacks provided but children will bring their own lunches. Showcase event will be held Friday afternoon for friends and family.

Financial aid is available for families who receive SNAP Benefits, and discounts are available for families who plan to enroll multiple children in Fiber Camp. Please reach out to info@ozarkfolkways.org for details.

Sponsored in part by Adventure Subaru

Many individuals contribute to history but never get their due. Women and other marginalized groups traditionally received less ink in history books than the “great men” of history who were mainly white males. This course looks at nine women--three each session--whose achievements are not commonly known. Among the nine women are a scientist, a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, a pioneering pilot, a suffragist, a candidate for the U. S. presidency, an activist for women’s and African-American’s rights, a British anthropologist, and a pioneering politician from the Western U.S

In honor of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday in 2025, we will explore her life, works, and legacy from a fresh perspective. Both seasoned readers and those new to Austen will appreciate experiencing the story of her authorship through images of original documents and artifacts. Austen began writing fiction in her teenage years, warmly supported by her family, especially her clergyman father. Yet she had to wait until she was in her thirties to see her first book in print. In this course, we will discover what happened in between, as well as how a household of creative women made it possible for her to focus on her writing and achieve publication. We will consider how and why her literary reputation grew after her death, and we will take a tour of the contemporary adaptations and retellings that continue to broaden her readership.

Irish Slow Session is for those who would like to learn Irish tunes and songs. The hour before each Irish Session we’ll learn a few new tunes and tips on how to jam in the Irish Sessions.
Every 2nd and 4th Monday of each month. Check the Folk School calendar for more information.

Over half a century after the Stonewall Uprising, the vibrant and complex history of LGBTQ+ life, culture, and movements in the U.S. remains a focal point of rich discussion and political relevance. In this course, we will immerse ourselves in the intricate history of LGBTQ+ Americans, examining their political organizations, cultural contributions, and the profound ways they have helped shape the nation. This course offers a comprehensive overview of key LGBTQ+ figures, events, and cultural shifts beginning in the early 20th century to the present, highlighting the emergence and evolution of LGBTQ+ identities and activism, and the challenges they have historically faced. We will uncover how a marginalized community has become a powerful force for social change, impacting every facet of American life— from grassroots politics and art to society at large. Together we will gain a deeper understanding of LGBTQ+ history and gain a renewed appreciation for the ongoing struggle towards justice, inclusion, and freedom in the US