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🏙️ FORT SMITH WEEKLY #23

🏙️ FORT SMITH WEEKLY #23

September 11, 2025

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Good morning, Fort Smith! ☀️

Another beautiful week in our Arkansas River gem, where the coffee's strong at Olive, the State Fair wraps up this weekend, and there's always something happening downtown. Whether you're planning your weekend around live music or catching up on community developments, we've got your local pulse covered.

Here's what's making waves this week:

🎭 Entertainment Alert - Major venue closure shakes up the scene while new shows keep the curtain rising
⚖️ Community Watch - Police investigations demand transparency as traffic safety concerns hit close to home
💼 Business Boom - Bass Pro Shops commits to Fort Smith while city leaders eye Broadway-caliber entertainment
🎪 Festival Season - State fair wraps up this weekend with fall festivals already queuing up for October

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—Your Neighbour

📅 THIS WEEK IN FORT SMITH

Must-Attend Events

🎭 Wait Until Dark | September 25-27, October 1-4 | Fort Smith Little Theatre | Thrilling stage play by Frederick Knott | Details

🎡 Arkansas Oklahoma State Fair | September 19-27 | Kay Rodgers Park | 9 days of rides, food, games, live entertainment | Details

🎵 Levitt AMP Music Series | September 25, October 2, 9, 16, 23 | Harry E. Kelley River Park Amphitheater | Free Thursday night concerts | Details

🎃 Fort Smith Fall Festival & Oktoberfest | October 4 | Downtown Fort Smith | Historical reenactments, trolley rides, free museum admission | Details

🎵 Peacemaker Music Festival | October 10-11 | Riverfront Amphitheater | Country, rock, blues festival | Details

👻 Murder & Mayhem Belle Grove Historic District | October 17-18, 25, 31 | Downtown Fort Smith | Haunted tours with progressive dinner | Details

👪 Family-Friendly

🚂 Arkansas & Missouri Railroad Excursions | All month September & October | Van Buren to Winslow | 70-mile scenic train ride through Ozark Mountains | Details

🍂 Greenwood Fall Festival | November 1 | Bell Park | Arts and crafts vendors, entertainment, inflatables, hay rides | Details

📚 Storytime Programs - Multiple Locations | Various days/times | Fort Smith Public Library System:

Main Library Storytime | Thursdays, 10am-11am | Details
Miller Branch Storytime | Fridays, 10am-11am
Windsor Branch Storytime | Mondays, 10am-10:45am
Dallas Branch Storytime & Crafts | Wednesdays, 10am & 11am

👶 Wiggle Worms Storytime | Tuesdays, 10am-11am | Main Library | Ages 0-24 months

🎵 Entertainment & Nightlife

🎵 Clint Black | November 7 | 8:00 PM | ArcBest Corporation Performing Arts Center | Country music

🎨 Arts & Culture

🎨 Framing/Reframing Permanent Collection Exhibition | Monday-Friday ongoing | UAFS Gallery of Art and Design | University art exhibition

🎭 UAFS Music & Theatre Events | Various dates | University of Arkansas Fort Smith:

Jazz Noon Show | September 29 | 12:00 PM | UAFS Campus Center, Reynolds Room
Faculty Showcase Recital | September 30 | 7:00 PM | First Presbyterian Church
Guest Artist Recital: Dr. Patrick Bellah, cello | October 7 | 7:00 PM | First Presbyterian Church
OctubaFest Concert | October 12 | 5:00 PM | UAFS Campus Center, Reynolds Room | Details

🏃 Sports & Fitness

🏞️ Outdoor & Recreation

🕵️ Puzzling Adventures Scavenger Hunt | Daily ongoing | Various downtown locations | Self-guided exploration game

🏛️ Park Ranger Programs | Fridays, 9am-5pm | Fort Smith National Historic Site | Historical interpretation and education

⌚️ Recurring Events

🛒 Fort Smith Downtown Farmers Market | Saturdays year-round | 7am–noon | 201 Garrison Ave | Fresh produce, local vendors

📚 Family History Month Celebration | October 1-31 | Fort Smith Public Library | Genealogy starter kits and activities | Details

🎓 Education & Business

🏢 All Majors Career Fair | October 29 | 11:30 AM-2:30 PM | UAFS Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center | Student career opportunities

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🔍 LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: OLIVE COFFEE

Why We Love It: Great spot to work from, a lot of seating, nice aesthetic and clean space. Convenient if you live in the Chaffee area and a lot of parking as well.

My Critique:

Restrictive hours, I personally love working out of a coffee shop later in the day
Limited food items if you plan to be there for long.

Visit Them:

7309 Chad Colley Blvd, Barling, AR 72923 | Mon-Sat 630am-5pm, Sun Closed | Website
10301 State Hwy 45, Fort Smith, AR 72916 | Mon-Sat 630am-5pm, Sun Closed | Website

📰 FORT SMITH NEWS YOU CAN USE

PUBLIC SAFETY

Arkansas State Police investigating death in police custody

What this means: Transparency questions surrounding local law enforcement practices

State investigators are examining the death of Christopher Cody Burns, 41, who died while in Fort Smith Police custody. The investigation raises accountability questions as our community demands clear answers about police procedures and oversight protocols.

Read the full article

Hit-and-run leaves local man injured on Fort Smith streets

What this means: Traffic safety concerns continue in our neighborhoods

Fort Smith police are actively investigating a hit-and-run incident that seriously injured a pedestrian. This latest traffic violence highlights ongoing safety gaps in our street design and enforcement that directly affect your family's daily commute.

Read the full article

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Bass Pro Shops confirms new Outpost location coming to Fort Smith

What this means: Major retailer investment signals confidence in our local economy

The outdoor retail giant announced plans for a new Fort Smith location, bringing jobs and sales tax revenue to our community. This expansion reflects growing business confidence in our market's potential and consumer spending power.

Read the full article

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

City board to discuss bringing Broadway shows to Fort Smith

What this means: Cultural investment could boost tourism and property values downtown

Board of Directors will review a proposal to attract major theatrical productions to Fort Smith, potentially transforming our entertainment landscape. Smart cultural investments like this typically increase property values and attract young professionals to the area.

Read the full article

Quick updates

TempleLive Fort Smith venue suddenly closes - All shows canceled at the downtown entertainment venue with no clear reopening timeline - Read more
Fort Smith Fall Festival returns this weekend - Free museum admissions and family events scheduled throughout downtown area - Read more
UAFS ROTC honors 9/11 victims with stair climb - Military cadets will commemorate September 11th with memorial climbing event beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday - Read more
Murder suspect arrested in Friday homicide - 25-year-old Hunter Harrell of Eureka Springs charged with first-degree murder in Fort Smith killing - Read more
Fort Smith Public Schools mourns teacher's death - Northside High School English teacher who recently joined the district has passed away - Read more

👋 UNTIL NEXT WEEK

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me exploring the best of Fort Smith! If you enjoyed this week's edition, I'd love for you to:

Forward to a neighbor who might enjoy it
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Share your own Fort Smith discoveries

Coming next week: Summer festival preview, a spotlight on Fort Smith's historic theaters, and seasonal gardening tips from local experts.

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See you around town,

Your Neighbor

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