Yes, plenty is free with little kids in Northwest Arkansas this week: we found nine free outings, including Spooky Stroll (Bentonville Public Library), Costume Parade (Rogers Public Library) and Fun Friday: Halloween Story Time (Fayetteville), plus two library programs. Four free days and events are coming up, each with its date. And four places never charge admission, like Fayetteville Public Library and Bentonville Public Library.
This week
Every free outing on this week’s NW Arkansas list, rebuilt every Thursday. Library programs may need a quick sign-up.
Bentonville Public Library · 405 S. Main St., Bentonville, AR 72712
Trick-or-treating, Halloween activities and drop-in storytimes. Costumes encouraged, and bring a bag for treats.
Rogers Public Library · 711 S. Dixieland Rd., Rogers, AR 72758
Meet in the children’s library in costume and parade through the building, stopping at each service desk to trick-or-treat.
Fayetteville Public Library · 401 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville, AR 72701
A spooky-fun story time for ages 2 to 6 on Halloween Eve.
Fayetteville Public Library · 401 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville, AR 72701
Drop in to see the community ofrenda, learn how sugar skulls are made, and decorate one to take home.
Bentonville Public Library · 405 S. Main St., Bentonville, AR 72712
Kids practice reading aloud to a patient dog. All ages welcome.
Bentonville Public Library · 405 S. Main St., Bentonville, AR 72712
Books, songs and movement for the whole family.
Fayetteville Public Library · 401 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville, AR 72701
Sing and dance to spooky songs with Mr. Troy.
600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR 72712
Free art museum with trails and grounds open sunrise to sunset. Temporary exhibitions are ticketed.
Fayetteville Public Library · 401 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville, AR 72701
View the library’s first community ofrenda for Día de Muertos.
Nothing free on this day yet. Try an always-free place.
Mark the calendar
Museum and zoo free days, free festivals and other one-off free events, soonest first. Some free days are only for residents or cardholders, so each one says who gets in free.
Historic Downtown Square · Historic Downtown Square, Fayetteville, AR
Nightly 5pm–1am. More than 500,000 LED lights on the Fayetteville Square. Light Night, when the lights switch on, is Fri Nov 20 at 6pm.
Historic Downtown Square, Fayetteville · Historic Downtown Square, Fayetteville
6pm. The lights stay on nightly 5pm–1am through Jan 1.
Historic Downtown Square · Historic Downtown Square, Fayetteville, AR
6–8pm. Santa visits during the Lights of the Ozarks season.
Any day
Parks, gardens, nature centers and museums that don’t charge admission.
Every week
Family storytime with books, songs and movement.
Sat Oct 31 at 11:15am this week; see the calendar for more
Every weekly storytime by day and branch: library storytimes in NW Arkansas.
Keep planning
November: things to do in NW ArkansasEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in NW ArkansasEvery dated listing for the month, by weekLibrary storytimes in NW ArkansasBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Thanksgiving weekend in NW ArkansasParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Christmas parades in NW ArkansasParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
The Nutcracker in NW ArkansasBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in NW ArkansasChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursThis week in NW ArkansasDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
This week we found nine free outings for ages 0–6, including Spooky Stroll (Bentonville Public Library), Costume Parade (Rogers Public Library), Fun Friday: Halloween Story Time (Fayetteville) and Halloween Sing-Along with Mr. Troy (Fayetteville). See free this week; the list is rebuilt every Thursday.
Spooky Stroll: Fri Oct 30. Dates come from each venue’s own page; see free days and free events.
Lights of the Ozarks and Visits with Santa on the Downtown Square are free this season. Dates and times are on each card under free days and free events.
Fayetteville Public Library, Bentonville Public Library, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Lights of the Ozarks don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.
Yes. Bentonville Public Library runs free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Times change by branch, so check the calendar linked below.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in NW Arkansas that weekend, free ones flagged.
