DESTINATION DOWNTOWN

DESTINATON DOWNTOWN

Downtown Bentonville is the pulse of the city – a vibrant destination where travel-worthy art, award-winning culinary and world-class mountain bike trails are redefining this "New American Town" into a leading cultural hot spot. Downtown Bentonville is where history meets urban sophistication. Where visitors can experience a bygone era at The Walmart Museum on one end of the square and indulge in contemporary art at 21c Museum Hotel on the other.

The historic downtown square is home to the Bentonville Farmers Market, First Friday celebrations, and the entertainment industry's diversity champion, the Bentonville Film Festival. Just north of the square is Compton Gardens & Arboretum, which connects by trail to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. As an international mountain biking destination, Bentonville has 130 miles of premier off-road bike trail connecting to downtown, and access to 250 more miles across the region. With options like Slaughter Pen Mountain Bike Park and Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, cyclists can hop on a trail downtown and be immersed in nature in mere minutes.

DOWNTOWN ATTRACTIONS

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has welcomed more than five million visitors with free general admission since it opened in 2011. Philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton brought to life her vision to provide access to a diverse collection of masterworks from early American to contemporary times, and a revolving roster of traveling exhibitions.

Connected to the downtown square by the Art Trail, the museum is named for the nearby Crystal Spring and the bridge-based construction of the building, designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. Five miles of trails wind through the museum grounds, providing access to creek-fed ponds, sculpture gardens, outdoor art installations and the Bachman-Wilson House – a rare Frank Lloyd Wright designed home.

Nestled in a wooded valley, the stunning architectural structure that is the museum itself houses Eleven, a gourmet restaurant, the museum store, and a permanent collection of American art that includes iconic works such as Rosie the Riveter by Norman Rockwell, Our Town by Kerry James Marshall, Dolly Parton by Andy Warhol and Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand. Major temporary exhibitions for 2022 include: The Dirty South: Contemporary Art, Material Culture, and the Sonic Impulse, March 12 – July 25; Architecture at Home, May 7 – Nov. 7; and Fashioning America: Grit to Glamour, Sept. 10 – Jan. 30, 2023.

Trails throughout the museum’s 120-acre setting take guests past Ozark landscapes, natural springs and art installations such as James Turrell’s Skyspace: The Way of Color, a domed-ceiling structure that gives color-and-light enhanced sky views at sunrise and sunset. Crystal Bridges’ satellite contemporary art space, the Momentary, opened in 2020 featuring visual, performance and culinary art, artist-in-residence programs, music festivals and more. See more on page 20.

James Turrell’s Skyspace The Way of Color

In 2022, Crystal Bridges will begin a major expansion adding nearly 100,000 square feet to the 200,000-square-foot facility, allowing the museum to showcase its growing collection and welcome more visitors to experience the power of art, in an inclusive environment. Ten years after completing the original design for the museum, Safdie Architects has returned to create a seamlessly integrated expansion that resonates with the existing pavilions and outdoor spaces.

Contemporary Art Gallery at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Scott Family Amazeum

There’s something amazing at the corner of J Street and Museum Way in Bentonville. The Scott Family Amazeum ignites imagination and curiosity in children, families and the community through interactive STEAM experiences. The Amazeum’s 50,000 square feet of interactive exhibits are inspired by the landscape, culture and innovative spirit of the region. Members are welcomed with exclusive hours and discounts on educational programs and purchases at Curiosity Corner. The Amazeum has an acre of land with a SpaceNet Climber and ample open space for free-range kids. Makers, artists, tinkerers and creatives of all ages also gather at the Amazeum each year at a variety of special events.

The Amazeum offers Priceless Nights on most Wednesdays from 4:30 to 7 p.m., a pay-as-you-wish opportunity sponsored by the Pat and Willard Walker Foundation.

The Walmart Museum

The Walmart Museum, one of Bentonville’s most popular attractions, is housed inside Sam Walton’s original 5&10 variety store on the downtown square. The family friendly museum has interactive galleries, exhibits and The Spark Café Soda Fountain. Selfguided or virtually, visitors can tour the original 5&10 store, complete with its vintage red-and-green floor tiles and tin ceiling, or take a virtual tour of “Mr. Sam’s” old office and his trusty Ford F-150.

Also popular is The Spark Café, which proudly serves Yarnell's ice cream, a family brand made in Searcy, Ark. Choose from delicious custom flavors, including Spark Cream, made in Walmart colors blue and yellow.

Lawrence Plaza Ice Rink & Splash Park

Lawrence Plaza, a 7,000-square-foot multiuse facility just north of the downtown square, offers family friendly events year-round. From mid-May through September, the plaza is converted into a summer splash park, which features more than 80 fountain jets and safe water fun for the whole family. From mid-November through January, the plaza is an ice-skating rink that has themed skate nights, hockey games, skating lessons and more. The rink is available for private parties, and hosts free movie nights during the winter holiday season on a giant inflatable outdoor screen.

21c Museum Hotel

Located just off the northeast corner of the downtown square, a short walk from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 21c Museum Hotel is a boutique hotel and contemporary art museum, also home to the awardwinning restaurant The Hive. The 104-room hotel boasts 12,000 square feet of contemporary art space with rotating curated exhibitions, site-specific multimedia installations and other cultural programming. Bentonville's 21c was voted a Top Ten Hotel of the South in 2021 and the #34 Top Hotel in the World by Conde Nast Traveler, and a #1 Hot New Hotel by Tripadvisor. Under the direction of Arkansas native, Executive Chef Matthew McClure, The Hive pays tribute to regional High South cuisine, while the bar and lounge is the perfect place to entertain clients or grab a casual bite with friends.

DOWNTOWN HAPPENINGS

Food, arts, music and culture make vibrant, bustling Downtown Bentonville the place to be. Here’s a look at some of the fun, community-minded events and experiences planned for 2022.

Farmers Market Pickup

Bentonville Farmers Market

Shop Year-Round with App

The 2022 Bentonville Farmers Market season is set to kick off on April 9, 2022 as part of a festive, open-air tradition on the downtown square for more than 40 years. The Bentonville Farmers Market supports local farm families and area artisans who take pride in the products they make and grow. Hours are Saturdays, 7:30 a.m.– 1 p.m. and Thursdays 4-6 p.m. The farmers market provides an exceptional selection of locally sourced/grown vegetables, fruits, eggs, cheese, meats, breads, honey, jams and jellies, along with flowers, plants, soaps, textiles and other handmade goods. Community gatherings, demonstrations, live music and kids’ activities are typically part of the experience.

Downtown Bentonville Inc. (DBI) offers the farmers market app for year-round ordering and curbside pickup.

Find and download the farmers market app in the App Store and on Google Play.

Download the Downtown Bentonville Inc. app for updates on all happenings downtown, digital content about members in the community, and a searchable list of shops, art, food trucks, restaurants and other businesses downtown. The DBI app is available in the App Store and on Google Play.

First Fridays

The Downtown Bentonville square is transformed into a community block party the first Friday of the month from April through November. Locals and visitors alike attend DBI’s popular First Friday series, featuring live music, delicious food and familyfriendly activities.

First Friday

This year, DBI is planning a series of specially curated, welcoming First Friday experiences. Themes for 2022 include: Run Bentonville in April, PetA-Palooza in May, The Great Outdoors in June, American Spirit in July, Back to School in August, Art & Culinary in September, Oktoberfest in October, and Toyland in November.

Watch for First Friday announcements for other details at downtownbentonville.org and on Facebook and Instagram.

STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE DBI APP

BIKES, ART & CULINARY SHAPE DOWNTOWN

Bentonville has woven bikes, art, culinary and community into its diverse downtown experience.

With the Arts and Market Districts in place and growing, bike-friendly development, nationally recognized culinary and a growing public art scene have joined to become central to downtown's appeal.

Bentonville has hundreds of works of art to explore across the city. From outdoor installations at the Momentary to neon signs downtown, the public art scene is robust, including sculpture along the trails at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and art in nature at Osage Park and at Compton Gardens & Arboretum. OZ Art NWA hosts a curated collection of public art in Downtown Bentonville featuring work by global artists, muralists and illustrators at venues including Blake Street House, Pressroom, the Preacher’s Son restaurant, 8th Street Market and Osage Park, among others. For more info, visit ozartnwa.com.

In the Arts District, The Ledger — a new bikeable building and neighborhood project — is underway just south of the square. The 230,000-square-foot Ledger building is surrounded by a walkable, bikeable six-story switchback path. The development will offer highly adaptable workspace, on-demand conference rooms and both short-term use and long-term leasing. Each floor will have outdoor access by way of terraces designed for open-air meetings and conversations. The public is invited to bike or walk the Ledger’s vertical neighborhood and experience expansive views from the rooftop terrace. The 8th Street Market, which anchors the Market District, is the downtown culinary hub, home to Bike Rack Brewing, the nationally recognized Brightwater culinary school, and BITE NW Arkansas, one of the largest food festivals in the state. A supporter of local farmers and artisans, the market also includes Cocoon Yoga Lab, Hillfolk textile studio, Juice Palm, Markham & Fitz bean-tochocolate bar, Yeyo's Mexican Grill, plus the South Market & Food Truck Park.

The world-class Momentary contemporary art space, located just to the west of the 8th Street Market, celebrated its two-year anniversary on 2-22-22 in the Arts District as a satellite venue to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. See more on page 20.

With a growing number of local, national and international artists working in Bentonville, affordable art space is also coming to downtown. Projects are planned to create new artist studios and living spaces near the Momentary over the next few years.

Preacher's Son Nina Chanel Abney, “Mull it Over” 2020

8th Street Market

The Momentary: You Belong Here

The Momentary contemporary art space in Downtown Bentonville — hosting visual and performing arts, culinary experiences, music festivals, artists-in-residence and more — celebrated its second anniversary in February 2022.

A satellite to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Momentary is a welcoming, communal space in Northwest Arkansas. Situated along the Razorback Regional Greenway near the 8th Street Market, it is the perfect place to explore indoor galleries or outdoor artworks, catch a performance, or enjoy a savory bite and refreshing drink.

The Momentary galleries are large, open spaces featuring art and exhibitions that change throughout the year. Major visual arts exhibitions for 2022 include: In Some Form or Fashion, on view through March 27; Esteban Cabeza de Baca: Let Earth Breathe, April 23 – Sept. 25; and A Divided Landscape, May 14 – Sept. 25. The Momentary also hosts ongoing performance art events, films and culinary offerings.

The Momentary will also host two major festival events this year. The FreshGrass | Bentonville music festival — a two-day, all-ages event celebrating today’s bluegrass and progressive roots music — will be held May 20-21, featuring such renowned acts as Emmylou Harris & The Red Dirt Boys, Margo Price, Sam Bush, The Jerry Douglas Band and more. The long-awaited inaugural Live in America Festival, June 1-12, will gather more than 300 artists and thinkers from across America to produce a justice-oriented space for enriching communities, uplifting histories and building a shared sense of stewardship. The event is in partnership with Fusebox out of Austin, TX. The Momentary Tower, a 70-foot tall space, has stellar views and multiple mezzanines for visual art and performances. The Tower Bar, the RØDE Bar, Onyx Coffee Lab and the Momentary Food Truck offer unique culinary experiences, including street fare, patio dining, outdoor walk-ups and more. The Momentary Shop carries prints by featured artists, Momentary merch and other unique gifts. Bike, walk or ride to the Momentary where outdoor art installations welcome visitors 24/7. Outdoor art on display includes Yayoi Kusama’s Narcissus Garden, comprised of nearly 900 mirrored spheres, and Tavares Strachan’s monumental neon sculpture, You Belong Here, installed across the outside of the building.

The Momentary is housed in a 63,000-squarefoot decommissioned cheese factory that was transformed as an adaptive reuse design project by Chicago-based Wheeler Kearns Architects.

With a mission to champion contemporary art’s role in everyday life, the Momentary was founded by the Walton family, based on the vision of Tom, Olivia and Steuart Walton.

For more information, including hours and a complete schedule of events and programs, visit themomentary.org.

Walmart’s New Bikeable Headquarters Underway Near Downtown

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is creating a bikeable, walkable campus through the design of its new home office under construction near Downtown Bentonville. Walmart’s new headquarters will bring associates together in the state-of-the-art campus, weaving in the natural health and beauty of the area, accelerating the digital transformation of the world’s largest retailer and attracting the next generation of talent.

The 350-acre campus is bordered by Central Avenue on the north, 14th Street on the south, J Street on the west and Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway on the east, with 8th Street running through the middle. With 2022 being the “year of bricks and sticks,” vertical construction of the first office buildings and amenity buildings is underway, with a goal of opening in phases through 2025. The home office campus will have four quadrants, or neighborhoods, that are interconnected by the Razorback Regional Greenway, shaded walking paths, sidewalks and pedestrian crossings. and changing rooms. Campus bikes will be available for associates to ride between buildings or to and from their vehicles.

The high-efficiency campus will create a winning work environment that drives efficiency and productivity through connected buildings and teams, and fosters creativity, speed and transparency. Smart building design with energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems will incorporate high performance and regionally sourced materials, including mass timber construction. Solar panels will be affixed to select buildings and parking decks.

A food hall in the heart of campus will offer flexible space for associates to connect with fellow colleagues while enjoying creative, fresh and healthy food options. Plans call for a welcome center, a hotel for company associates visiting from all over the world and a childcare center serving associates.

Bentonville: Mountain Biking Capital of the World

Bentonville has staked its claim as Mountain Biking Capital of the World, an incredible distinction that comes after years of intentional work by city leaders, innovative trail designers and builders, maintenance teams, new and seasoned riders and countless others.

Slaughter Pen Mountain Bike Park

Industry leaders and mountain bicyclists are calling Bentonville a mountain bike “mecca” and “Disneyland,” where only a block from downtown is access to 40+ miles of urban trails and hundreds more of an unrivaled regional trail network. Bentonville’s expanding hospitality opportunities – bolstered by awardwinning restaurateurs, a vibrant coffee scene and a boom of daring and bold craft brewers – offer local and visiting riders serious options for fun.

“It’s true that Bentonville has become the new Mountain Biking Capital of the World,” Bentonville Mayor Stephanie Orman said. “Over the past decade, we’ve built a reputation among mountain biking enthusiasts and athletes as the premier global destination for the sport. We’re the heart of the trailhead in the Ozarks, and headquarters to the most innovative mountain bike trail designs built anywhere.”

The local economy has embraced Bentonville’s role as a leader in mountain biking tourism, and developed and attracted a number of quality bike shops, rental and retail vendors, bike guides and manufacturers, along with professional riders and outdoor enthusiasts. Everything a rider could want is within a short ride from the trails – whether it’s bike-friendly lodging, restaurants, craft brews or art museums.

“This incredible [Mountain Biking Capital of the World] distinction has come after years of intentional work from Bentonville’s city leaders, trail builders, maintenance teams, new and experienced riders, and countless others in our great community,” said Tom Walton, co-founder of Runway Group, a lifelong patron, and avid mountain biking enthusiast. “From the outset of our shared vision to transform our city as a mountain biking paradise unique from other destinations, the city government and community leaders provided the support and balanced leadership we needed to help make the dream become a reality.”

Coler Mountain Bike Preserve & Osage Park

Thrilling Destinations for Visitors of All Ages

Managed by The Peel Compton Foundation — whose mission is to connect the community through nature, education, recreation and preservation — Coler Mountain Bike Preserve and Osage Park are two of the newest recreational additions to the city.

Coler Mountain Bike Preserve is truly a mountain bicyclist’s paradise located moments from downtown. Completed in 2020, the world-class bike park offers more than 17 miles of purpose-built trail for all skill levels and connects riders to more than 250 miles of natural surface trails across the region.

Coler Mountain trails offer multiple flowy jump lines, challenging technical rocky sections and several huge-gap jumps. On the northeast side is the spectacular “Hub,” a 20-foot-tall, steel-and-wood feature near the top of the mountain that guides riders to the downhill runs. The “Cease and Desist” for expert or enduro riders features “Drop the Hammer” – a double black alternate line with a 12-foot drop into a valley, 10-foot step-up jumps and more large drops. Created in honor of the area’s first settlers, Coler Mountain also offers platform tent camping and other outdoor amenities.

Families can explore nature along the 1.5-mile greenway or visit the open-air coffee bar, Airship at Coler, to connect with friends and fellow campers. Restrooms give campers a chance to peacefully shower off the day before heading to the community fire pit.

Osage Park is the ultimate urban park full of natural experiences and recreational adventures. At Osage, visitors can access the park’s floating boardwalks to explore the 12-acre wetland ecosystem, or try out the unique programming at The Quiver Archery Range. Other highlights and amenities include pickleball courts, a dog park, live music pavilion, outdoor sculpture installations and more.