The Walton Arts Center’s annual Artosphere festival will return for another installment from May 2-23 in several locations across the region.
The festival combines art, music, and nature, offering a series of performances, activities, and family-friendly events. The event typically features international artists and performers inspired by nature, in an effort to engage the community in discussions about sustainability and environmental conservation.
This year’s festival includes a blend of free and low-cost events, such as outdoor performances, orchestral concerts, and chamber music sessions held in various special locations throughout Northwest Arkansas.
Returning favorites include the Trail Mix series, art workshops, and performances by the Artosphere Festival Orchestra. New additions include the combination of a string quartet with bird watching at Wilson Springs Preserve in Fayetteville, and the “Tunes on the Trail” series which features classical music in outdoor settings like Lake Fayetteville, Kessler Mountain and the grounds around Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
Tickets and reservations for the events are available through the Artosphere website, by phone at 479-443-5600, or in person at the Walton Arts Center’s box office.
Ticketed events
Fayetteville Film Fest: Indie Film Artosphere
Date: Saturday, May 11
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Walton Arts Center
Cost: $15
Dover Quartet
Date: Saturday, May 11
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Cost: $15
Artosphere Festival Orchestra: American Soundscapes
Date: Tuesday, May 14
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Walton Arts Center
Cost: $10
Compagnia TPO’s ERBA – A Forest in the City
Date: Tuesday, May 14 and Wednesday, May 15
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Walton Arts Center
Cost: $10
Dover Quartet
Date: Wednesday, May 15
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Cost: $29
Artosphere Festival Orchestra: Verdi’s Requiem
Date: Sunday, May 18
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Walton Arts Center
Cost: $15-50
360 ALLSTARS
Date: Tuesday, May 21
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Walton Arts Center
Cost: $10
Artosphere Festival Orchestra: Mozart in the Museum
Date: Wednesday, May 22
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Cost: $54
Free events and performances
Taking Flight: Restorative Mindfulness String Quartet & Bird Watching
Date: Saturday, May 4
Time: 10 am & 5 pm
Location: Wilson Springs Preserve, Fayetteville
Cost: Free but ticketed event
Trout Fishing in America
Date: Tuesday, May 7
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Botanic Garden of the Ozarks, Fayetteville
Cost: Free but ticketed event
Trail Mix
Date: Friday, May 10
Time: 5-7 pm
Location: The Lower Ramble and Fayetteville Public Library
Cost: Free
Recycled Bead Flowers Workshop
Date: Saturday, May 11
Time: 2 pm
Location: Fayetteville Public Library Art & Movement Room
Cost: Free
Paper Mums Workshop
Date: Thursday, May 16
Time: 4:30 pm
Location: Fayetteville Public Library Teen Project Room
Cost: Free
Nature Sensory Play
Date: Friday, May 17
Time: 9:30 am
Location: Fayetteville Public Library Youth Craft Room
Cost: Free
The Falconer: Bird Abatement Demos and Walmart AMP Mini Tour
Date: Sunday, May 19
Time: 11 am and 11:30 am
Location: The Walmart AMP, Rogers
Cost: Free but ticketed. Registration opens May 6
Jazz on the Mountain featuring Backbeat Jazz
Date: Thursday, May 23
Time: 6 pm
Location: Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville
Cost: Free but ticketed event
Partner and Artosphere-sponsored events
First Thursday
Date: Thursday, May 2
Time: 5:30-9 pm
Location: Downtown Fayetteville Square
Cost: Free
Arkansas Pottery Festival
Date: May 3-5
Location: Community Creative Center, Fayetteville
Cost: Free
First Friday
Date: Friday, May 3
Time: 3-9 pm
Location: Downtown Bentonville Square
Cost: Free
Railyard Live presents The Cate Brothers & The Nace Brothers
Date: Friday, May 3
Time: 7 pm
Location: Butterfield Stage, Downtown Rogers
Cost: Free-$30 available at railyardlive.com
Square 2 Square Starting Line featuring The Juice
Date: Saturday, May 4
Time: 7-9:30 am
Location: Walker Park, Fayetteville
Cost: $35 for adults 14 and up / $20 for youth 13 and under. Register at Fayetteville-ar.gov
Yoga on the Glade
Date: Monday, May 6
Time: 6 pm
Location: Fayetteville Public Library
Cost: Free
Railyard Live – Gente Privada presents: La Fiesta Con Grupo del 4 & Emmanuel Cortes with Little Yei and DJ Alfaro
Date: Saturday, May 4
Time: 7 pm
Location: Butterfield Stage, Downtown Rogers
Cost: Free-$30 available at railyardlive.com
Victory Theater presents Bruce Cockburn
Date: Monday, May 6
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: The Victory Theater, Rogers
Cost: $29.50-59.50 at thevictorytheater.com
Artosphere presents Mountain Street Stage: Aaron Smith with Still on the Hill and Friends
Date: Sunday, May 12
Time: 2 pm
Location: Fayetteville Public Library
Cost: Free
Artosphere Main Stage at Strawberry Festival
Date: Sunday, May 19
Time: noon-6 pm
Location: Downtown Fayetteville Square
Cost: Free