Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Sept. 21, 2024 – This Sunday marks the first day of fall in 2024, which means it is festival time again and there is a lot of local fun for everyone in Northeast Arkansas. Here are some of the upcoming events that you can choose from…

September Festivals

Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Fest and Music Festival, hosted by the Jonesboro A&P Commission and Rightfiber, will be Sept. 27 and 28, in Downtown Jonesboro. It will be a weekend of food and music as the free festival hosts the First National Bank, Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned Arkansas State Championship with over $13,000 in prize money as well as numerous local musicians and bands. Each year, the Grand Champion is invited to the American Royal and Jack Daniels World Championship. Saturday’s festival activities include food and craft vendors and music throughout the day. For more information, click here.

Oktoberfest, hosted by Native Brew Works, will be Sept. 27 and 28 at Native Brew Works at 515 S. Gee St., in Jonesboro. The event will feature food specials (available beginning Sept. 24) and stein-holding competitions starting at 11 a.m. on Sept. 28. There will also be costume contests all weekend long, with the winner receiving a $50 Native Gift Card.

Central Baptist Church’s Fall Festival benefitting Local Mpact will be Sept. 28 from 4-7 p.m. at the pavilion at Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro. There will be food, “trunks” with games and candy, face painting, a bounce house, music, and lots more. Tickets are $15 per person and ages two and under are free. All proceeds will go directly to families suffering from infant loss.

October Festivals

4th annual Booktoberfest, hosted by Native Brew Works and the Verb Bookstore, will be Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at both Native Brew Works, 515 S. Gee St., and the Verb Bookstore, 801 S. Gee St., in Jonesboro. This public event is a book fair for all ages. In addition to Verb’s mobile pop-up, it will feature Excuse Me Ma’am Vintage, baked goods by Native Brew Works’ Tonya Howe, local authors, local pottery and more. The Verb Bookstore will be hosting special book talks and flash tattoos at their physical location just two blocks away from Native. Tattoos will be from 12-6 p.m.

44th annual Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Fall Festival will be Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church at 1107 E. Highland Drive in Jonesboro. It will feature a carnival, multi-cultural food tents, inflatables, Tea Room, BBQ sandwiches, an online silent auction, a petting zoo, & live entertainment. Boston Butts will be available through pre-sale only and can be picked from 4-7 p.m. on Friday. Free delivery in Jonesboro for orders of 20 or more. Call Debbie Davidson (870) 688-9282 to schedule your delivery. To pre-order online, click here or check out the online auction here.

Bay Harvest Festival 2024 will begin on Oct. 5, at 9 a.m. on Main Street in Bay. This festival is an annual small-town festival that celebrates the harvest season, end of summer, and their community. It features a parade, booths with various goodies and wares, music, a street dance and more.

Trumann Wild Duck Festival will be Oct. 10-12 at the Trumann Recreational Complex in Trumann. This fun festival features free concerts, car shows, vendors, carnival rides, food, music, and more.

Downtown Jonesboro Alliance Fall Fest 2024 will be Oct. 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Union Park, 407 Union St in Jonesboro. It will be a day of fun as Downtown Jonesboro comes alive with this free outdoor event featuring food, crafts, live music, and plenty for the kids. Entertainment will include artists such as Main Street Jam, Chieftain Lane Revival, Delta Canyon, Lucas Tyler, and Turnup Greens.

Red Wolf Renaissance, by Red Wolf Renaissance Fair and Memphis Armored Fight Club, will be Oct. 12 and 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Craighead Forest Park, Access 6 Rd, in Jonesboro. This public event will give visitors the chance to return to the age of the renaissance with armored combat, carriage rides, food for feasting, live performances, unique merchants, and more. Carryover funding from the fair will be used to support the proposed American Red Wolf Conservation and Research Center at Craighead Forest Park or another Red Wolf-affiliated nonprofit. Admission will be $10 for a two-day wristband and can be purchased at the event or pre-purchased online as well.

2nd annual Brewing Hope Coffee Festival, hosted by Hope Found, will be Oct. 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Gardens at Harmony, 4517 E. Parker Rd. in Jonesboro. Get ready to sample various coffees from local coffee shops throughout NEA and get the chance to vote for your favorite brew in the People’s Choice event. This event will be a fantastic day filled with aromatic brews, delicious treats, and a whole lot of fun with plenty of other vendors as well, including bakeries and other food options, chocolate shops, retailers, and kid-friendly entertainment.

TinkerFaire-SciFest, hosted by the Arkansas State University Museum, will be Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the A-State Museum at 320 University Loop W. in Jonesboro. It is part of A-State’s campus-wide Arkansas Science Festival. This free event enables creative and innovative thinkers to involve themselves in hands-on activities that stimulate further learning and doing, all in a festival atmosphere.