Best Craft Fairs in Arkansas 2026: Top Shows for Vendors & Shoppers

Arkansas punches well above its weight when it comes to craft fairs. The Natural State has a deep tradition of handmade goods, folk art, and community festivals that goes back generations. From the booming Northwest Arkansas corridor around Bentonville and Fayetteville to the heritage-rich small towns in the Ozarks and Delta, vendors here find loyal customers who genuinely appreciate handcrafted work. Spring and fall are prime season, and the booth fees are some of the most reasonable in the country.

We pulled together the top craft fairs happening across Arkansas in 2026, drawing from our database of 76 Arkansas craft fairs on TheCraftMap. Here are the shows worth putting on your calendar.

Northwest Arkansas: The Booming Corridor

Northwest Arkansas has transformed over the past decade. Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers, and Siloam Springs make up a metro area with serious economic energy, thanks in part to Walmart, Tyson, and J.B. Hunt headquarters nearby. The population has grown fast, and the arts and maker scenes have grown right alongside it. For craft vendors, this region offers some of the best-attended events in the state.

The Bentonville Square is the heart of the city, and this market draws both locals and tourists visiting Crystal Bridges Museum. Running weekly from April through October gives you consistent, recurring income rather than a one-shot weekend. The Saturday market gets the most foot traffic, but the Thursday evening market has its own laid-back vibe. If you make handcrafted goods that complement the farm-fresh produce crowd (think candles, soaps, pottery, cutting boards), this is a natural fit.

Thirty thousand visitors over one weekend in a town of 17,000 people. That ratio tells you everything about the draw of this event. The Dogwood Festival has been running for over fifty years and has a reputation as one of the most vendor-friendly festivals in the region. At $200 for a three-day show with that kind of foot traffic, the math works out well for most vendors. They cap it at around 200 booths, so the mix stays varied without feeling oversaturated. Apply early because returning vendors get first priority.

Vintage Market Days is a national brand, but the Bentonville edition benefits from the Northwest Arkansas crowd that has disposable income and a taste for curated, handmade goods. The "upscale vintage-inspired" positioning means they're selective about vendors, which keeps the quality high and attracts shoppers who are ready to spend. If your products fit the farmhouse, boho, or artisan aesthetic, this is your show.

Central Arkansas: Little Rock and Beyond

Little Rock is the state capital and largest city, and its craft fair scene reflects the diversity of the metro area. You get everything from upscale curated markets to neighborhood pop-ups and large-scale vintage events. Conway, just 30 minutes north, adds another pocket of activity with its college-town energy.

The Little Rock edition of Vintage Market Days runs a few weeks before the Bentonville one, so you can hit both without schedule conflicts. Little Rock draws from the whole central part of the state, and the indoor/outdoor hybrid format means weather rarely shuts things down. If you're a soap maker trying to build your business, tools like Soaply can help you calculate recipes and manage inventory between shows.

Conway is a college town (University of Central Arkansas and Hendrix College) with a surprisingly active market scene. Antique Alley has been running for over a decade, and the $200 booth fee for a three-day show is fair for the region. January timing means less competition from other events, and shoppers are coming off the holiday season looking for unique finds they missed during the gift-giving rush.

Vendor Tips: Working the Arkansas Circuit

Selling at craft fairs in Arkansas has some distinct advantages and quirks worth knowing:

• Booth fees are low compared to most states. You'll see $50 to $200 for most events, with many community festivals under $100. That low barrier makes it possible to test new markets without a big financial commitment.
• Spring festival season is packed. March through May is when most of the big events land. Plan your calendar early and prioritize the juried shows that cap vendor numbers. The Dogwood Festival, folk festivals, and daffodil festivals all cluster in this window.
• Handmade gets respect here. Arkansas shoppers tend to value the handmade story. Take time to share how you make your products and what makes them different. A personal connection goes a long way at these events.
• Sales tax matters. Arkansas has a 6.5% state sales tax, and most cities add local taxes on top. You'll need to collect and remit sales tax. Some show organizers provide temporary permits; others expect you to handle it yourself. Check before show day.
• Weather swings are real. Spring in Arkansas can mean 75 degrees and sunny one day, then thunderstorms the next. Always have a rain plan, secure your tent properly, and bring tarps for your inventory. If you're making candles, keep them out of direct sun. Tools like WickSuite can help you track product costs and figure out which shows are actually profitable.

The Ozarks: Folk Festivals and Heritage Events

The Ozark region is where Arkansas shows its roots. Mountain View calls itself the "Folk Music Capital of the World," and the whole area has a deep appreciation for traditional crafts, folk art, and handmade goods. Events here tend to be more intimate, and the customers are knowledgeable about what goes into handcrafted work.

This is the real deal. The Arkansas Folk Festival draws thousands of visitors to Mountain View every April, timed perfectly with the dogwood bloom. The Artisans Market runs alongside the festival, so you get foot traffic from music lovers and nature tourists without having to compete for their attention. At $100 for a two-day juried show during one of the region's biggest events, this is a steal. If you make traditional crafts like pottery, woodworking, woven goods, or folk art, this is your audience.

Eureka Springs is one of the most charming small towns in the entire South, and their Mardi Gras celebration stretches over a full month. The historic downtown is walkable and packed with galleries, boutiques, and restaurants, which means the foot traffic is already built in. Winter timing fills a gap when most other Arkansas events are dormant. Eureka Springs attracts tourists year-round, so even a winter event pulls a solid crowd.

Horseshoe Bend is a small Ozark community, and this one-day festival is the kind of event where you get to know your customers by name. Lower overhead, relaxed atmosphere, and a crowd that comes specifically for the handmade goods. Small-town festivals like this are where many Arkansas vendors build their most loyal customer base.

Southern Arkansas and the Delta

The southern half of the state has its own character. Heritage festivals, daffodil celebrations, and community events anchor the calendar. These towns might be smaller, but the events are deeply rooted in local tradition and draw visitors from surrounding counties.

At $50, the Camden Daffodil Festival is one of the most affordable shows on this list. The quilt show and art sale create a context where shoppers are already in the mindset of appreciating handmade work. Camden is a small city in south-central Arkansas, and this festival is the community's big spring celebration. If you're looking to test the southern Arkansas market without a big investment, start here.

Monthly markets are gold for building a repeat customer base. The First Friday Market in Camden runs year-round on the first Friday of each month, so you can build momentum over time. The 6-9 PM evening window means it works well as a side gig even if you have a day job. The handmade-only focus keeps the quality bar high and attracts shoppers who are looking for something beyond mass-produced goods.

A week-long festival gives you options. Some vendors set up for the full run; others pick the peak weekend days. Fordyce is a small Dallas County town that takes its heritage seriously, and this festival is the biggest thing on the local calendar. The community support is strong, and the extended timeline means foot traffic spreads out rather than cramming into a single overwhelming day.

More Spring Festivals Worth Your Time

The Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival is one of Arkansas's most beloved spring traditions. Seven acres of daffodils in bloom create a backdrop that draws visitors from across the state. Free admission means a low barrier for shoppers, and the multi-day run (over a week) gives you flexibility on when to set up. The natural beauty of the setting puts people in a good mood, which never hurts sales.

Fifty-six years running. That kind of longevity means this festival has a built-in audience that returns every spring. Historic Washington State Park is a beautiful setting, and the combination of indoor and outdoor vendor spaces means you have options regardless of weather. At $100 for a two-day show at a well-established event, this is solid value.

Northeast Arkansas doesn't get as much attention as the northwest corridor, but the Pine Log Vintage Market is building a strong reputation. As the "premier" outdoor market in that part of the state, it fills a gap for vendors and shoppers who don't want to drive three hours to Bentonville. The three-day format over a spring weekend gives you a full run at the crowd.

Planning Your Arkansas Craft Fair Season

The Arkansas craft fair calendar follows a clear rhythm. January and February are quiet, with a few indoor shows and Eureka Springs' Mardi Gras keeping things moving. March brings the daffodil and jonquil festivals as everything blooms. April is the peak, with the folk festivals, dogwood celebrations, and vintage markets all competing for your weekends. Summer slows down due to heat, then fall picks up again from September through November with harvest festivals and holiday markets.

For vendors building an Arkansas circuit, the sweet spot is to anchor around two or three big events (like the Siloam Springs Dogwood Festival and the Mountain View Folk Fest) and fill the gaps with monthly markets like Camden's First Friday. The low booth fees across the state make it realistic to test multiple events without overextending your budget.

One thing that makes Arkansas stand out: the community feel. This isn't a state where you show up, sell, and leave. Vendors who invest in relationships with other makers, event organizers, and repeat customers build something that compounds over time. The craft fair scene here rewards consistency.

Browse all 76 Arkansas craft fairs on TheCraftMap to find shows that fit your schedule and budget. New events are added regularly as we discover and verify listings across the state.

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