Bentonville, AR -  Downtown Bentonville Incorporated is proud to host the inaugural Festival of Nations in the Spirit of Bentonville Together–A vibrant, three-day event celebrating the city’s diverse cultural heritage. This festival brings together international performances, culinary experiences, art displays, and interactive activities to foster global connections within the community.

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Festival of Nations includes the first-ever Movie Nights On The Square on Thursday, June 5, with the hit film “Encanto - Sing-A-Long” shown.  June 6 is First Friday presented by Walmart: Festival of Nations, where the monthly event will be transformed into a hub of culture, music, dance, and cuisine.  Wrapping up the festival is a special Bentonville Farmers Market on Saturday, June 7, featuring an international atmosphere of music, dance, and cuisine from around the world.  

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For four years, Bentonville Together celebrated the cultures of Bentonville, led by Mayor Stephanie Orman and her team.  This year, in the spirit of Bentonville Together,  DBI is proud to help expand this tradition to a three-day event with “Festival of Nations”.  The event will showcase the flavors, artistry, and traditions of cultures from around the world, with many of them represented in our thriving community.  

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Movie Nights on the Square is FREE with no tickets or registration required.  Just bring a lawn chair or blanket and join us on the Downtown Square as we sing and enjoy an animated classic.  The event begins at 5:00 pm with the movie starting at 6:15 pm.  

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First Friday in June includes a Cultural Marketplace & Artisan Booths, as well as interactive experiences including henna & face painting, language corners, and a storytelling tent.  First Friday begins at 3:00 pm and continues until 9:00 pm, with live entertainment on stage starting at 4:30 pm. Our main stage will be packed with entertainment throughout the evening

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Here is the lineup for this month’s amazing artists:

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4:30-4:45 PM - Perry Ryan Theater

4:50-5:20 PM - M&M Dance Studio

5:20-5:35 PM - Rince Arkansas Academy of Irish Dance

5:35- 6:05 PM - Dhirana Academy of Classical Dance

6:10-6:20 PM - LasyaRasa (school of dance)

6:25-6:35 PM - Blossoms (Indian semi-classical dance group)

6:35-6:45 PM - Beats and Steps

6:50-7:00 PM - Non-Profit Partner: Canopy

7:00-7:30 PM - Mariachi Amistad

7:35-7:40 PM - Hmong Association Inc

7:40-8:10 PM - Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation

8:15-8:20 PM - CA NWA (1st)

8:25-8:40 PM - Sambalpuri Beats - Dance Group

8:45-8:50 PM - CA NWA (2nd)

8:55-9:00 PM - Feisty Brazilians

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The Bentonville Farmers Market wraps up Festival of Nations with a unique spin on our weekly market.  Beginning at 7:30 am on Saturday, June 7th, the Farmers Market will have live cooking demonstrations with Cowboy Catering from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.  Live entertainment with Trio Las Hermanitas from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, and M&M dance from 12:15 pm to 12:45 pm.  Families can also learn more about diverse local ingredients with a Global Food Ingredient Handout that’s free for all.  

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We also encourage festival goers to eat and shop downtown beforehand. Downtown Bentonville has a variety of yummy restaurants, great coffee stops, and, of course, wonderful shops to explore.

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Festival of Nations in the Spirit of Bentonville Together would not be possible without our amazing sponsors.  A big thank you to this month's takeover sponsor, Del Real Foods.  Additional support from Pepsico made this event possible.  

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A new addition to the 2025 season is the Downtown Bentonville Challenge App.  The web-based application does not require a download and is FREE to use.  This app will allow users to check-in to certain events, post pictures, and create memories from your phone.  The app also has an interactive map for users to explore local businesses, restaurants, and cool downtown stops.  

Click here to join the Downtown Bentonville Challenge.

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We also want to give a big THANK YOU to our incredible community partners, including the City of Bentonville, Visit Bentonville, and the Walton Family Foundation.

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ABOUT DOWNTOWN BENTONVILLE INC.

Downtown Bentonville Inc. works to promote community and enhance the Downtown Bentonville experience for everyone.

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