Bella Vista Events

Bella Vista hosts a range of seasonal public events that reflect both its recreational culture and civic identity. Many visitors plan their vacation around taking part in the events as a spectator or rider.

Annual gatherings include the Bella Vista Farmers Market, Fourth of July fireworks and parade, and the Gear Garden Oktoberfest. The city also hosts endurance and trail-based events such as the Little Sugar Mountain Bike Race and the Back 40 Trail Run, which draw participants from across the region. Here’s how the year runs.

Spring: the Gear Garden opens

The signature gathering area at Blowing Springs is the Gear Garden, a must-ride stop between springtime and November. The beer garden is a picturesque outdoor venue dotted with picnic tables, nestled in a bluff ridgeline with a small natural spring and babbling brook. The venue features local food trucks and a portable bar that serves a variety of locally brewed craft beer. Check the Gear Garden website for the food truck schedule and for live music events.

Spring is also when the waterfalls run strongest. Tanyard Creek Falls flow is strongest in spring and following periods of sustained rainfall.

May through October: Farmers Market

The Bella Vista Farmers Market runs May through October, Sundays 8 to 1. For visitors stocking a rental kitchen, it’s the Sunday answer to the question of where to shop — and a reminder that Bella Vista Wine and Spirits is closed that day under Arkansas blue laws, so plan the weekend accordingly.

Fourth of July: fireworks and parade

The Fourth of July fireworks and parade are one of the city’s largest civic gatherings. The parade route runs along Allen’s and Sugar Creek.

Weekly, year-round: group rides

Social and group riding is available to share the riding experience with peers at similar riding levels. Bike shops host group rides, and the Women of OZ provide women-specific social and group rides weekly and at a monthly Flagship ride. Find their complete schedule of events on their website.

Fall: Oktoberfest and the Little Sugar MTB Race

The Gear Garden Oktoberfest takes place at Blowing Springs Park. October also brings the Little Sugar Mountain Bike Race, run on the roughly 50 miles of flowy, professionally built trail in the Sugar Creek valley — the Tunnel Vision Loop, the Highway 71 tunnel, and the gravity zones at Huntley and Staggerwing. Many visitors plan their fall trip around it.

November: the Back 40 Trail Run

The Back 40 Trail Run is set for November 7, 2026. The course uses the rocky, technical terrain built into the Ozark limestone outcroppings and bluffs on the east side of the city — creek crossings, bridge crossings, and views of Pinion Falls. For anyone running or spectating, the Back 40’s 21.7-mile outer loop is the backbone.

Winter: trout season and warm greens

From November through April, Lake Brittany is stocked with rainbow trout, offering a seasonal fishing opportunity unique within the lake system. The Tanyard Practice Center keeps eight of its 28 hitting stations covered and heated, making it a year-round practice area regardless of weather. And Bella Vista’s mid-south climate makes riding and hiking a year-round activity — a favorite of northern and Midwest visitors seeking to escape the cold and snow in winter months.

The calendar

Dates and schedules change. Confirm current details with each event before planning a trip around one.