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Good morning, Fort Smith! ☀️
Another beautiful September week in our Arkansas River gem, where fall festival prep is ramping up downtown and the State Fair crews are transforming Kay Rodgers Park into Arkansas's biggest annual celebration. Whether you're planning your weekend around carnival rides and live music or navigating the Highway 71B construction updates, we've got your local pulse covered.
What to expect in today’s newsletter:
🎭 Festival Frenzy - State Fair starts Sept 19 with Rogers Ave traffic impacts
🚧 Commuter Alert - Highway 71B improvements approved, construction timeline TBD
💼 Business Boom - Adventure Alley complex shop coming soon
🏛️ Property Watch - City eyes eminent domain for sewer project easements
New this week: We've launched fortsmithweekly.com and updated our newsletter formatting and branding to make your Fort Smith intel even easier to read and share. The website is still being improved weekly, so check it out and let us know what features you'd like to see added.
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—Your Neighbour
📅 This Week in Fort Smith
Must-Attend Events
🎭 Arkansas Oklahoma State Fair | Sept 19–27 | Kay Rodgers Park | Carnival rides, acrobats, concerts, food & ag exhibits – biggest annual fest | Schedule
🎭 Fort Smith Fall Festival & Oktoberfest | Oct 4 | Downtown Fort Smith | Free museums, trolley, history demos, kids’ games, huge turnout | Details
🎭 Peacemaker Music Festival | Oct 10–11 | Riverfront Park | Major live acts: Sam Barber, Southall, William Clark Green & more | Lineup/Tickets
🎭 Wait Until Dark | Sept 25–Oct 4 | Fort Smith Little Theatre | Gritty suspense play with evening/matinee shows | Tickets/Details
🎵 Music & Entertainment
🎭 Peacemaker Music Festival | Oct 10–11 | Riverfront Park | Biggest outdoor music event of the fall | Lineup
🎭 Live Music @ Arkansas Oklahoma State Fair | Sept 19–27 | Kay Rodgers Park | Daily concerts incl. Luke & Adrienne, Chad Martin, Back In Time | Fair Schedule
👪 Family-Friendly
🎭 Fort Smith Fall Festival & Oktoberfest | Oct 4 | Downtown | History, food trucks, crafts, games, free museum entry | Details
🎭 National Night Out | Oct 7 | Central Mall Parking Lot | Law enforcement, activities, free hot dogs, community booths | Info
🎭 Farmers Market | Sat & Wed (Year-round) | Garrison Ave & N 2nd | Local produce, crafts, fun for all ages | Market Info
🎉 National Night Out | October 7 | Central Mall Parking Lot | Safety demos, kids’ activities, free food, police and fire departments | Details
🐾 Bark for the Arc | October 11 | Degen Pavilion | Dog walk, games, music, to support the Arc for the River Valley | Details
🏃 Sports & Fitness
🎭 Haunted 5K, 10K & Half Marathon | Oct 18 | Ben Geren Regional Park | Halloween race, costumes encouraged, medals | Sign Up
🎾 United Way Pickle Ball Open | October 11 | Ben Geren Park | Doubles tournament, all levels, cash prizes | Details
⛳ Girls Inc Golf Tournament | October 13 | Eagle Crest Golf Course, Alma | Charity fundraiser with lunch and prizes | Details
⛳ Charity Golf Tournament (Arkansas Family Alliance) | September 25 | Ben Geren Golf Course | Team entries and flight donations for local causes | Details
🎨 Arts & Culture
🎭 Wait Until Dark | Sept 25–Oct 4 | Fort Smith Little Theatre | Blind heroine, classic thriller stage play | Show Info
🎭 Evermore: The Poe Experience | Oct 24–Nov 1 | Skokos Center, Alma | Immersive Edgar Allan Poe story & performances | Details
🎓 Education & Business
🎭 United Way Campaign Kick-Off: Pop & Purpose | Sept 18 | TBA | Community event, Dirty Soda Bar, campaign launch | United Way Events
🎭 Annual Meeting: Chamber of Commerce | Oct 22 | TBA | Connect with business leaders, annual updates | Details
🥤 United Way Pop & Purpose Campaign Kick-Off | September 18 | Dirty Soda Bar, Fort Smith | Free refreshments, community intro to campaign | Details
🏞️ Outdoor & Recreation
🎭 Arkansas & Missouri Railroad Excursions | Weekly | Van Buren Depot | Scenic train rides, Winslow Tunnel, fall leaves | Excursion Info
🎭 Chaffee Crossing Food & Artisan Market | Sept 20 & Oct 18 | Chaffee Historic District | Outdoor market with local foods/art | Market Info
⌚️ Recurring Events
🎭 Fort Smith Farmers Market | Every Sat & Wed | Garrison Ave & N 2nd | Local farmers, crafts, morning shopping | Market Info
🎭 Arts On Main: Open Studio | Ongoing | Arts On Main, Downtown | Weekly painting, pottery, banners, family art | Calendar
🌾 Chaffee Crossing Food & Artisan Market | September 20, October 18 | 8:00 AM-1:00 PM | Chaffee Crossing Historic District | Local vendors, food trucks, artisan crafts | Details
Quick Hits
Murder & Mayhem Haunted Tours – Chilling trolley through haunted history – Oct 17, 18, 25, 31
Candlelight: Halloween Classics – Live spooky music at Marshals Museum – Oct 24, 7 PM
Hotel of Horrors Halloween Party – DJ, costumes, downtown hotel bash – Oct 31, evening
Girls Inc Fest of Ale – Craft beer fundraiser @ Uncorked – Sept 25, 6 PM
Each event listing is direct and actionable; all links provided contain more details about times, tickets, or registration
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📰 Fort Smith News You Can Use
TRANSPORTATION
Highway 71B improvements get green light from state
What this means: Better drainage and safer pedestrian crossings along your daily commute route
ARDOT found no significant environmental impact for the 3.8-mile improvement project between Highway 271 and Highway 64, clearing the way for construction to begin. The project will add sidewalks, crosswalks, and upgrade storm drains.
Here's what to know:
Construction timeline and traffic impacts still being finalized
Focus on pedestrian safety and flood prevention
Project covers the busiest commercial corridor in Fort Smith
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
City considers eminent domain for sewer project easements
What this means: Property owners may face forced temporary easements if negotiations fail
City directors meet Tuesday to authorize eminent domain for temporary construction easements needed for federally-mandated sewer improvements. This affects properties where landowners haven't accepted the city's payment offers.
Here's what to know:
Only applies to temporary construction access, not permanent takings
Part of consent decree requirements with federal oversight
Affects specific properties along sewer improvement routes
PUBLIC SAFETY
Northside High School evacuated over bomb threat Monday
What this means: Schools remain vigilant but protocols worked as designed
Students and staff were safely evacuated Monday morning after a bomb threat was reported. The building was cleared by police and classes resumed by noon with no danger found.
Here's what to know:
All safety protocols followed successfully
Fort Smith and FSPS police responded quickly
Normal operations resumed same day
Quick updates
Cross-deputization agreement - Choctaw Nation police can now enforce laws on tribal land within Arkansas - Read more
Gas price update - Local fuel costs tracking with regional trends, data current as of September 12 - Read more
Cross-deputization agreement - Choctaw Nation police can now enforce laws on tribal land within Arkansas - Read more
Gas price update - Local fuel costs tracking with regional trends, data current as of September 12 - Read more
Riverfront development focus - City Board identifies riverfront improvement as strategic priority in recent planning session - Read more
Trane Technologies expansion - Manufacturing plant adding 60+ jobs with $6 million investment in Fort Smith facility - Read more
UAFS rankings rise - University of Arkansas Fort Smith climbs to #6 in US News Regional South college rankings - Read more
Foreign Military Training Center - Fort Smith selected for Department of Air Force pilot training facility at Ebbing Air National Guard Base - Read more
We're constantly improving Fort Smith Weekly based on your feedback—and it's completely free. If you've found value here, would you forward this to one neighbor who'd appreciate local intel?
🏠 Property Watch
🏢 BUSINESS BEAT
Your neighborhood commerce intel
New This Week
Tu Tea Boba and Coffee Opens on Ellsworth Road
What they do: Premium bubble tea, Vietnamese coffee, and matcha specialties
Fort Smith's bubble tea scene just got more competitive with Tu Tea Boba and Coffee opening at 5400 Ellsworth Road. This isn't just another boba shop—their menu reads like a love letter to Asian beverage culture, featuring everything from Vietnamese drip coffee with boba to matcha lattes and an impressive kids' menu.
What this means for the area:
Fills a beverage gap in the Ellsworth Road corridor near major shopping
Brings authentic Vietnamese coffee culture (drip sidekicks, coffee tu lac) to Fort Smith
Creates family destination with dedicated kids' menu and customizable options
Extended weekend hours (until 8pm Friday/Saturday) serve the dinner crowd
The details: 📍 5400 Ellsworth Road 🕑 Sun 12pm-7pm | Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri 11am-7pm | Wed CLOSED | Fri-Sat 11am-8pm 📞 (479) 551-3119
Note - I have not yet visited, all information was gathered online
Spotted Tu Tea's soft opening? Reply and tell us what you tried we're planning a full taste test sometime soon.
Coming Soon
Adventure Alley - 2600 N 32nd Street
Opening: TBA (Grand opening date to be announced)
Fort Smith is getting its first full-scale family entertainment complex with Adventure Alley, a multi-activity destination that goes far beyond traditional bowling. The facility will combine classic and modern entertainment under one roof at the former location near the intersection of N 32nd Street.
What to expect:
Full bowling alley with modern lanes and scoring systems
Laser tag arena for competitive team play
Go-kart racing track (indoor/outdoor TBD)
Full arcade with classic and cutting-edge games
Food and beverage service throughout the facility
Party and event hosting capabilities
What this means for Fort Smith families:
Year-round indoor activity option regardless of weather
Major draw for birthday parties, corporate events, and date nights
Announcement - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16wy6DnNxB/
Following Adventure Alley's progress? Reply with what you're most excited to try when they open.
Spotted a new business opening or construction starting? Reply and let us know what you're seeing around town.
🚨 Community Spotlight
What readers are talking about this week
Reader Recommendations
Fig Swap at The Learning Fields
Submitted by Dianne:
Chaffee Crossing "Bring your propagated potted figs to swap with other fig enthusiasts. Meet fig lovers and swap fig stories, techniques and general information for growing and propagating."
What's happening: A unique gardening swap event where fig enthusiasts can trade propagated plants, share growing techniques, and taste different varieties. The event includes door prizes, plant swapping, fig tasting, and guided tours of the Fig Trial gardens.
Why Dianne loves it:
Builds community among local gardeners and fig growers
Free educational opportunity to learn propagation techniques
Chance to diversify your home garden with new fig varieties
Family-friendly with affordable admission ($5 adults, kids free)
The details: 📍 7300 Gardener Avenue, Fort Smith 🕑 Sunday, September 28, 2-4 PM (tours start at 3 PM) 💰 $5 adults, children 13 and under free 📞 RSVP required: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/28HPRTM 🌐 More info
Community Calendar Additions
Events our readers wanted to make sure you know about
Church Women United Meeting - Friday, September 19, 10:00 AM - Mission United Methodist Church (721 N. 10th) - "Refreshments at 9:30, meeting at 10:00" - Submitted by Janie Weber, River Valley Church Women United President
Places and experiences readers think more people should know about
The Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing
"This place is perfect for anyone who grows, or wants to grow, figs - but it's really about building community through gardening" - Dianne, Volunteer
A volunteer-driven educational garden space in Chaffee Crossing that hosts specialized horticultural events and maintains trial gardens for community learning.
Worth checking out because:
Hands-on learning opportunities for specialized gardening techniques
Community-focused events that bring together local gardening enthusiasts
Trial gardens that test what grows best in our Arkansas climate
Your Submissions
Want to share something happening in Fort Smith?
What we're looking for:
Local events you're organizing or excited about
Businesses that deserve more attention
Community activities or groups
Neighborhood happenings
Volunteer opportunities
How to submit: Reply to this email with:
What it is and when/where
Why other Fort Smith residents would care
Your first name and general area (we won't share full details)
This week's featured contributors: [Names of people who submitted content]
This section exists because of you. Keep the submissions coming!
👋 UNTIL NEXT WEEK
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Your Neighbor
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