Courtesy Downtown Bentonville Inc.
For more than two decades, Downtown Bentonville Inc. (DBI) has been providing experiences to promote and stimulate the economy in the heart of the city. This summer, the local nonprofit is bringing back some old favorites while rolling out new programming.
This week is full of activities as part of the Festival of Nations (formerly called Bentonville Together), a three-day event celebrating the city’s diverse cultural heritage:
DBI is hosting a free, family-friendly movie night on the square Thursday, June 5, showcasing “Encanto Sing-Along” complete with popcorn and drinks.
On Friday, June 6, a special edition of DBI’s signature First Friday event will highlight communities from around the world through food, performances, a marketplace and interactive experiences.
Integrating with the weekly Farmers Market on Saturday, June 7, the final day of the Festival of Nations will highlight diverse cuisines, live cooking demonstrations, handmade crafts and live dance performances.
“We understand that Bentonville is kind of a melting pot of cultures and communities,” said Aaron Nolan, communications director for DBI. “It truly is going to be a festival of multiple different nations from across the world.”
New This Year
In addition to its first movie night on Thursday and additional movie nights in the fall, DBI created a new Chess Club series hosted every Wednesday on the square through Oct. 29. The event has been so popular, DBI had to acquire additional tables and chess boards to accommodate the crowd.
“It is a very amazing event to see people come out, whether they're learning chess for the first time or they're waiting in line to play somebody who knows the game very well,” Nolan said. “Chess night is, it’s safe to say, booming in downtown Bentonville.”
Additionally, DBI is planning a kids’ rave at Lawrence Plaza on July 19 and a back-to-school breakfast on the square Aug. 17.
“We're going to welcome all the kiddos down here just to have breakfast together as a community,” Nolan said. “And these events will continue to roll out throughout the season.”
City Funding for Additional Events
In February, Bentonville City Council approved a $50,000 contract with DBI to produce community events downtown this year. This is an increase from previous yearly contracts of $30,000 to $35,000.
With the new A Street Promenade — a pedestrian-only corridor expected to be complete later this year — the city requested DBI to expand its summer lineup of events and festivals. According to a memo from the Parks & Recreation Department, the increased funding is to “help maximize this major public investment to create the unique sense of space we desire and produce as much economic development as possible.”
In addition, the city requires DBI to raise additional funds outside of city funds for events.
DBI was created around 20 years ago as a way to stimulate business downtown. In 2024, the Bentonville Farmers Market generated $2.9 million in sales, 24,000 people attended the Christmas Parade and 20,000 came out for the Lighting of the Square.
Nolan said the organization has continued with its mission of focusing on local businesses while being an entry point for people to experience Bentonville’s downtown.
“It's an exciting time as we look at new ways to produce events, to bring community to downtown Bentonville, no doubt, but an exciting time to watch this growth continue to evolve with the city,” he said.
