_{Was this e-mail shared with you? Sign up here}

Good morning, Fort Smith! ☀️

2025 wraps up this week with downtown's ball drop and fireworks then we hit the trails January 1 at Lake Fort Smith State Park to kick off 2026 right.

Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe here to get your weekly dose of Fort Smith goodness. 

Your Neighbour

Your insider guide to what matters most this week

New Year's Eve Ball Drop & Fireworks | December 31, 2025 | Downtown Fort Smith | Ring in 2026 with Fort Smith's annual downtown celebration featuring a ball drop and fireworks display to welcome the new year. | Event Details

First Day Hike | January 1, 2026 | Lake Fort Smith State Park | Start the new year on the trails with guided hikes through the beautiful Boston Mountain Valley of the Ozarks - western terminus of the 240-mile Ozark Highlands Trail. | Lake Fort Smith State Park

New Year 5K, 10K & Half Marathon | Saturday, January 3, 2026 | Ben Geren Regional Park | Kick off 2026 with a running challenge at one of Fort Smith's premier outdoor venues. Multiple distance options available for all fitness levels. | Race Registration

The Enchanted Pig (Chamber Opera) | February 6-7, 2026 at 7:00 PM | ArcBest Performing Arts Center | UAFS presents Jonathan Dove's enchanting chamber opera based on Romanian folk tales, following Princess Flora's whimsical journey. Perfect for all ages. | UAFS Season of Entertainment

Elvis World Premier Tribute with Kraig Parker | Friday, January 2, 2026 at 8:00 PM | Choctaw Casino Pocola | Experience the King's greatest hits performed by premier tribute artist Kraig Parker. | Choctaw Events

Fort Smith Symphony - Holiday Classics | December 2025 | Fort Smith | The beloved annual holiday concert featuring The Nutcracker, Sleigh Ride, and seasonal favorites with vocalists Emily & Patti Drennan. | Fort Smith Symphony

Rodney Carrington | Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 8:00 PM | Choctaw Grand Theater, Durant | Stand-up comedy and country music from the multi-talented entertainer (1 hour from Fort Smith). | Ticketmaster

Shenandoah | Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 8:00 PM | Choctaw Grand Theater, Durant | Country music legends bring their hits to the Grand Theater stage. | Ticketmaster

That Mexican OT | Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 8:00 PM | Choctaw Casino Pocola | Hip-hop concert at the nearby Pocola venue, just minutes from Fort Smith. | Choctaw Events

Pam Tillis | Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 8:00 PM | Choctaw Casino Pocola | Country music star and Grand Ole Opry member performs her greatest hits. Tickets from $61. | Choctaw Events

Fort Smith Farmers Market - Winter Schedule | Saturdays 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (December-February) | Garrison Ave. & North 2nd St. | Year-round market featuring local produce, baked goods, crafts, and artisan products from 90+ vendors. Perfect for Saturday morning family outings. | Fort Smith Farmers Market

Library Programs | Ongoing | Fort Smith Public Library (Multiple Locations) | Free programs for kids, teens, adults, and families at the Main Library, Dallas Street Branch, and Miller Branch. Check calendar for January specifics. | Library Events Calendar

Lake Fort Smith State Park Programs | Year-round | Lake Fort Smith State Park, Mountainburg | Park interpreters lead nature hikes, guided winter songbird walks, and educational programming for all ages. Visitor Center open daily 8 AM - 5 PM. | Arkansas State Parks

New Year 5K, 10K & Half Marathon | Saturday, January 3, 2026 | Ben Geren Regional Park | Multiple distance options to start your 2026 fitness journey. 7:00 AM start time. | Find a Race

Medal Madness 5K, 10K & Half Marathon | Saturday, January 17, 2026 | Ben Geren Regional Park | Monthly race series continues with multiple distance options for runners of all levels. | Running in the USA

Viking 5K, 10K & Half Marathon | Saturday, February 7, 2026 | Ben Geren Regional Park | Another installment in Fort Smith's popular running series. | Running in the USA

Viking 5K, 10K & Half Marathon | Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Ben Geren Regional Park | Monthly race event at Ben Geren. | Running in the USA

Fort Smith Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Leg Marathon Relay | Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 7:00 AM | Glass Pavilion, 100 N. B Street | Major annual running event with full marathon, half marathon, and relay options through Fort Smith. | Race Sign-Up

Fort Smith Regional Art Museum - Intermedia Workshop | Thursday-Friday, January 22-23, 2026 | 5:30 - 8:00 PM each day | Fort Smith Regional Art Museum | Two-day workshop for ages 16+ exploring intermedia art forms. $50 per student. | Fort Smith Regional Art Museum

The Enchanted Pig (Chamber Opera) | Friday-Saturday, February 6-7, 2026 at 7:00 PM | ArcBest Performing Arts Center, 55 S. 7th St. | UAFS Season of Entertainment presents Jonathan Dove's chamber opera based on Romanian and Norwegian folk tales. A magical production for the whole family. | UAFS Season of Entertainment

Fort Smith Regional Art Museum Exhibitions | Ongoing | Fort Smith Regional Art Museum | Five galleries featuring world-class artists, traveling exhibitions, and the museum's permanent collection in a modern 16,000-square-foot facility. | Fort Smith Regional Art Museum

First Quarter Business 2 Business Connection Luncheon | Thursday, January 9, 2026 at 7:30 AM | UAFS Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center | Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce networking event for business professionals. | Chamber Events Calendar

JLCA Class - Arts, Hospitality & Tourism | Tuesday, January 14, 2026 | Fort Smith Area | JLCA Class explores career opportunities in Arts, Hospitality, and Tourism sectors. | Fort Smith Chamber

Your site, your ad choices.

Don’t let intrusive ads ruin the experience for the audience you've worked hard to build.

With Google AdSense, you can ensure only the ads you want appear on your site, making it the strongest and most compelling option.

Don’t just take our word for it. DIY Eule, one of Germany’s largest sewing content creators says, “With Google AdSense, I can customize the placement, amount, and layout of ads on my site.”

Google AdSense gives you full control to customize exactly where you want ads—and where you don't. Use the powerful controls to designate ad-free zones, ensuring a positive user experience.

Take control of your ads

First Day Hike | January 1, 2026 | Lake Fort Smith State Park, Mountainburg | Guided New Year's Day hike through the Ozark Highlands. Western terminus of the 240-mile Ozark Highlands Trail. | Arkansas State Parks

Winter Songbird Walks | Ongoing (Winter Season) | Lake Fort Smith State Park | Guided short winter hikes to observe and learn about local bird populations. Easy difficulty level. | Lake Fort Smith State Park

Hiking & Mountain Biking | Year-round | Lake Fort Smith State Park | Multiple trails for all skill levels through the Boston Mountain Valley. Day excursions available. | Lake Fort Smith State Park

Fort Smith Farmers Market | Saturdays 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (December-February); Wednesdays & Saturdays 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM (March-November) | Garrison Ave. & North 2nd St. | Year-round market with 90+ vendors during peak season offering produce, meats, flowers, baked goods, crafts, and artisan products. | Fort Smith Farmers Market

Museum Trivia Night | Recurring | Fort Smith Museum of History | Team trivia competition (2-6 people per team) with prizes for top 3 teams. $10 per person. Reservations: 479-783-7841. | Trivia Night Info

Trivia at The Bakery District | Weekly | Mad Ox Bar at The Bakery District, 810 Garrison Ave. | Regular trivia nights at Fort Smith's community hub. Free to play. | The Bakery District

Live Music at Local Venues | Weekly | Various Venues | Check TempleLive Fort Smith, The Majestic, Harry's Downtown, and Old Town Grain & Feed for ongoing live music schedules. | Fort Smith Live Entertainment

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

What this means: Residents shape plans for flood mitigation park with trails and recreation on $2.3M property input deadline is three weeks from December 16

City officials opened public engagement for the "Reimagine ACME" master plan covering 111 acres south of Kelley Park Ballfields purchased in October 2023 for $2.288 million.

Here's what to know:

Read the full article

EDUCATION

What this means: Two Fort Smith elementary schools face closure vote in early 2026 district proposing consolidation as enrollment and budget pressures mount

Fort Smith Public School Board scheduled a vote for the new year on whether to close two elementary campuses, marking a significant shift in district operations.

Here's what to know:

Read the full article

Quick updates

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me exploring what's happening in Fort Smith!

If this helped you stay connected to your community:

What's your Fort Smith story? Hit reply and tell us:

Fort Smith is better when we're all informed and connected. Thanks for being part of this community.

See you around town,

📱 Follow the conversation:Instagram | Facebook | Website

💌 Work with us:

Fort Smith Weekly is an independent newsletter dedicated to celebrating our community. Not affiliated with any government entity or organization.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here