Fall is in the air, proven by the number of “It’s Fall Y’all!” signs that have recently cropped up in neighborhood front yards. In between leaf-peeping trips, check out a few notable events happening in October and beyond.

The inaugural Big Diamond Comedy Festival starts today and continues throughout the rest of the week with performances by comedians from across the nation. 

The festival runs through Oct. 5 with shows at multiple venues throughout Bentonville. Over 60 comedians will be performing, including headliners Kam Patterson, Heather Shaw, Geoff Asmus, Sean Patton, Shane Mauss, Mary Santora, Libbie Higgins, Tina Dybal, Zahid Dewji and Kyle Kinane.

This festival was created by comedians Sam Tallent and Raj Suresh. Festival passes can be purchased, along with tickets to individual shows.

This week’s Spooktacular-themed First Friday event on Oct. 4 will be Bentonville’s last for the season. 

The event will feature Halloween-themed games, free candy, the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile, Ghostbuster movie props, Frankenstein’s Lab and a beer garden for 21 and up. 

A costume contest will be held in four categories, including Best Solo Costume, Best Couple Costume, Best Group Costume and Best Kids Costume.  

First Friday begins at 3 p.m., but food trucks will open early for lunch. Yoga Story will also offer a free outdoor yoga class at noon in front of the mainstage. Live entertainment begins at 4:30 p.m.

More than 50 artists from around the country will be showcased at Crystal Bridges inaugural Art Fair this weekend. The event kicks off with a special Opening Celebration Friday night, and continues Saturday and Sunday.

Artwork will be on sale from artists specializing in ceramics, textiles, wood, glass, drawings, paintings, jewelry and sculpture along the Crystal Bridges Art Trail. There will also be food trucks, live art demos, culinary experiences and a kids art section.

The Art Fair is free and open to the public, tickets for the Opening Celebration Friday night are $65.

The Momentary announced its inaugural KaniniFest is free to the public. The festival, running Oct. 11–13, features five original plays, a Pacific Island dance workshop, West African drum and dance, youth acting workshops, dance parties, a silent auction, special guests and food trucks.

The festival will feature a number of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) playwrights from all over the nation, including the Wahzhazhe Puppet Theater based in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. 

KaniniFest was created by actors and artists Christopher Alexander Chukwueke and Tenisi Davis, previous artists-in-residence at The Momentary.

A detailed schedule is available online, as well as information on reserving free weekend passes.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will host a sold-out talk with actresses Jane Fonda and Mary Steenburgen on Nov. 12.

Fonda and Steenburgen’s conversation will focus on wellbeing for women, highlighting the actresses’ personal wellness journeys, climate work and advocacy for holistic wellbeing. 

“Jane Fonda and Mary Steenburgen are legends,” said Michelle Moore, public relations manager for Crystal Bridges. “We’re delighted to host them here at Crystal Bridges for a groundbreaking lecture that’s sure to inspire new ways of thinking about art and wellness. This is a unique opportunity for our community members to hear a powerful, informative and insightful conversation up-close and personal.”

While in-person tickets are sold out, Crystal Bridges plans to announce livestream information soon.