Bikes, Blues & BBQ: A Rally With a Purpose
Bikes, Blues & BBQ is officially underway, kicking off October with one of Northwest Arkansas’ biggest traditions. Running September 30 through October 3 in Downtown Rogers, the rally brings visitors from across the country to NWA for four days of motorcycles, live music, barbecue and plenty happening throughout the city.
But what has made Bikes, Blues & BBQ such a lasting NWA tradition is the purpose behind it. The nonprofit rally was built around giving back to the community, with proceeds benefiting local organizations serving women, children and underserved members of Northwest Arkansas. Over the past two decades, the event has raised millions of dollars for local charities.
And you definitely don’t have to ride a motorcycle to enjoy it. Downtown Rogers is packed with live music, vendors and food throughout the rally, with many attractions free to attend. This year’s schedule also includes Harley-Davidson demo rides, the Frisco Inferno BBQ competition, a custom car and bike show, karaoke finals and live performances throughout the weekend.
For riders, there’s another reason Northwest Arkansas makes such a fitting home for the event: the Ozarks. Rally routes range from easier scenic rides to winding mountain roads, including the famous Pig Trail. For everyone else, it’s a chance to experience Downtown Rogers at its busiest, grab some barbecue, catch live music and be part of an event that brings a whole lot of energy—and a whole lot of good—to NWA.
Bikes, Blues & BBQ | September 30–October 3 | Downtown Rogers
20 Years of the LPGA in Northwest Arkansas
The Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G returned to Pinnacle Country Club in September, celebrating 20 years in Northwest Arkansas and once again bringing some of the best golfers in the world to Rogers. The 2026 field featured 144 players, including 15 of the top 25 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
This year belonged to Yuna Nishimura, who went wire-to-wire to capture her first LPGA Tour victory. Nishimura finished at 21-under par, five strokes ahead of Aki Iwai, Chanettee Wannasaen and In Gee Chun, who tied for second. Her 192 total also tied the tournament’s 54-hole scoring record.
There were plenty of memorable moments beyond the leaderboard, too. Four holes-in-one during the tournament generated an $80,000 donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while events surrounding championship week brought together golf, food, fitness and family activities throughout the community.
After two decades, the championship has become much more than a stop on the LPGA Tour. It’s an opportunity for Northwest Arkansas to welcome visitors, showcase the region on an international stage and bring the community together for a full week of events.
Uptown Real Estate was excited to be part of the action this year, too! Our team spent time at one of the tournament shuttle stops handing out Uptown swag and welcoming fans as they headed to Pinnacle Country Club. We loved getting to be a small part of another great LPGA week in NWA.
Congratulations to Yuna Nishimura—and cheers to 20 years of championship golf in Northwest Arkansas!
See the 2026 NWA Championship results
Market Update: Rising Rates Put Credit in the Spotlight
This month’s market update comes from Bank on Ben, breaking down August’s rate movement, what the Fed Chair shared at Jackson Hole, and a lesser-known loan option that nearly 1 in 10 borrowers are using.
October 2026: Mortgage Update
September Recap: Mortgages saw their most chaotic month in a long time, with rates climbing more than half a percent to multi-year highs. Conventional rates ended the month at a national average of 7.54%, the highest we’ve seen since 2023. The biggest factor affecting mortgage rates is the 10-year Treasury, which had an even rougher month, closing at its highest point since 2001.
Pro Tip — Credit Score Tiers | Lower Your Own Rate:
- You can’t control where the market goes, but you can control your credit score, and that has a direct impact on your rate
- Conventional loans price in 20-point credit tiers (740, 760, 780), so moving up just a few points can land you in a better bracket
- We start with a soft credit pull for your pre-approval, which has no impact on your score. That gives us time to find opportunities to raise it before a hard pull is needed once you’re under contract
- Credit utilization, meaning how much of your available credit you’re using, is one of the biggest factors in your score and the fastest one to change. Paying down card balances can raise your score within a single billing cycle
Key Takeaway: With rates on the rise, get pre-approved early. A little credit planning before you find the house can mean a lower rate when you do.
Reach out to Ben for all of your lending needs! Located in Rogers – Call 303-909-7158
September Events Across Northwest Arkansas
September brings plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy Northwest Arkansas as we head into fall. From major sporting events and live music to local festivals and community favorites, there’s plenty happening across the region to close out summer and welcome a new season.
🌽 Farmland Adventures
📅 Now – November 1
📍 5355 Parsons Rd., Springdale
A Northwest Arkansas fall favorite, Farmland Adventures is back for its 16th season with plenty for the whole family. Make your way through the giant corn maze, pick a pumpkin, visit the farm animals, take a wagon ride, watch the pig races, race pedal karts and more. Open Fridays and Saturdays throughout the season, plus Sundays in October, it’s an easy way to fit a full day of classic fall fun into your weekend.
👻 Nightmares Haunted House
📅 October 2–3, 9–10, 16–17, 23–24 & 29–31
📍 3706 NW Frontage Rd. #2, Bentonville
Ready for something a little scarier? Nightmares Haunted House has been haunting Northwest Arkansas for more than 30 years. Your night starts aboard the Phantom 13 bus before heading into the haunted house itself. With dates throughout October and extra nights leading up to Halloween, this one is for the older kids and adults looking for a real spooky-season scare.
🎃 Rivercrest Orchard Fall Festival
📅 Now – November 1
📍 2991 Dead Horse Mountain Rd., Fayetteville
Pumpkin picking is only the beginning at Rivercrest Orchard. The annual Fall Festival combines pumpkins, sunflower and zinnia fields, seasonal treats and plenty of photo opportunities with live music and attractions for all ages. The McGarrah family’s farming roots in Northwest Arkansas date all the way back to 1824, making this a fun mix of local tradition and a big fall day out with family or friends.
ROGERS
Rogers Historical Museum Ghost Walks
Date: Select evenings in October 2026
Time: Tours begin at 7:00 PM
Location: Rogers Historical Museum & Downtown Rogers
Take a walk through the darker side of local history with the Rogers Historical Museum’s Ghost Walks. Costumed interpreters share true tales of murder, mischief, and mayhem pulled from local newspaper accounts dating back to the 1800s. Tours last about 45 minutes and are recommended for ages 16 and up.
War Eagle & Regional Craft Fair Weekend
Date: October 15–18, 2026
Location: Rogers & throughout Northwest Arkansas
October means craft fair season in Northwest Arkansas! Head toward War Eagle for a weekend filled with handmade goods, art, seasonal finds, food, and generations of Ozarks craft-fair tradition. Several major craft fairs take place across NWA during the same weekend, making it easy to turn a day of shopping into a full fall outing.
BENTONVILLE
It’s Fall Y’all Craft Fair
Date: October 15–18, 2026
Location: Benton County Fairgrounds
7640 SW Regional Airport Blvd., Bentonville
Shop your way through one of NWA’s big fall craft-fair weekends with more than 100 makers, artists, crafters, and food vendors. From seasonal décor and handmade gifts to local eats, it’s an easy way to spend an October day and get a jump start on holiday shopping.
HallowZING at the Amazeum
Date: October 15, 2026
Location: Scott Family Amazeum
1009 Museum Way, Bentonville
For little ones who prefer their Halloween fun without the big scares, HallowZING offers a sensory-friendly celebration with gentle STEAM activities, quiet spaces, and costumes. Pre-registration is required, making this a thoughtful option for families looking for a calmer spooky-season experience.
Trick Art Treat at Crystal Bridges
Date: October 31, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
600 Museum Way, Bentonville
Spend Halloween surrounded by art and fall color at Crystal Bridges. This free, family-friendly celebration brings trick-or-treat stations, costumed characters, and art together along the museum’s outdoor spaces and North Forest Trail.
SPRINGDALE
Springdale Halloween Fest
Date: October 24, 2026
Time: 4:00–7:00 PM
Location: Luther George Park
300 Park St., Springdale
Bring the costumes and candy buckets! Springdale Halloween Fest fills Luther George Park with free candy, carnival games, a costume contest, touch-a-truck vehicles, vendors, music, and the Springdale Fire Department Pumpkin Drop. Stick around afterward for a free outdoor showing of Hocus Pocus.
FAYETTEVILLE
Falltoberfest
Date: October 4, 2026
Time: 12:00–6:00 PM
Location: Upper Ramble & Dickson Street
Fall takes over Downtown Fayetteville for the fourth annual Falltoberfest! Seven blocks of Dickson Street and the Upper Ramble will be filled with live music, local makers, art, games, family activities, craft beer, fall cocktails, and plenty of seasonal fun. The festival is free, family-friendly, and even welcomes four-legged friends.
Be(A)ware Allergy-Friendly Halloween Extravaganza
Date: October 24, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Fayetteville Public Library
401 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville
Halloween fun gets a more inclusive twist at Fayetteville Public Library with allergy-friendly trick-or-treat stations, bounce houses, characters, and activities for kids from babies through teens. The event is free and gives families another way to celebrate without the traditional candy-centered experience.
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
Date: October 25, 2026
Location: TheatreSquared, Fayetteville
For a spooky-season night out without the haunted house, enjoy Halloween favorites performed by candlelight at TheatreSquared. It’s an atmospheric, grown-up way to get into the Halloween spirit and a fun addition to October date-night plans.
EUREKA SPRINGS
Eureka Springs Zombie Crawl
Date: October 24, 2026
Location: Downtown Eureka Springs
Things get wonderfully weird in Eureka Springs when zombies take over downtown for the annual Zombie Crawl. Costumes, crowds, and plenty of Halloween spirit make this one of the area’s most unique October traditions—and a fun excuse for a fall day trip outside the core NWA cities.
Make the Most of October
October is one of those months when Northwest Arkansas really shows off. Between changing leaves, pumpkin patches, haunted houses, craft fairs, community festivals, and Halloween celebrations for every age, there’s something happening nearly every weekend.
Whether your idea of spooky season is getting scared inside a haunted house, wandering a corn maze with the kids, shopping a fall craft fair, or simply enjoying an afternoon outside in the Ozarks, get out and enjoy everything NWA has to offer this October!
Celebrating Fall in Northwest Arkansas
October is one of the best times to experience Northwest Arkansas. The cooler weather arrives, the Ozarks begin to change color, and calendars fill with longtime traditions, fall festivals, spooky-season favorites, and weekends made for getting out and exploring.
From major events that bring visitors from across the country to the local traditions that bring neighbors together year after year, this season is a great reminder that there’s always something happening in NWA. And as our communities continue to grow, there are even more ways to experience the people, places, and traditions that make this region feel like home.
At Uptown Real Estate, we love keeping you connected to more than just the real estate market. Whether you’re searching for your next home, discovering a new part of NWA, or deciding what to do this weekend, we’re here to help you stay connected to the community we call home.
Enjoy October, get out and explore, and we’ll see you next month with more local news, market insights, community highlights, and everything happening around Northwest Arkansas!
