This Little Piggy Went to Market 💰
NWA Daily
Author
Aug 17, 2026
Published
Together With
Thinking about downsizing or helping a parent age in place? Lighthouse Group NWA makes every transition simple, guiding families through planning, moving and selling with confidence. Learn more HERE.
Community
UARK Students Pump +$500M Into NWA Economy
According to a recent study, the University of Arkansas brings more than 30,000 students to Fayetteville each fall, and together, they generate more than $500M in economic impact across Northwest Arkansas every year.
Hogging the Economy: At the time of the study, Northwest Arkansas’s GDP was $40.7B, meaning UA students account for roughly 1.4% of the region’s economy.
Piggy Bank: The top three areas of student economic impact were rent, groceries, and motor vehicle purchases, repairs, and fuel.
See the full study HERE.
Events
Bentonville Cocktail Festival Returns To The Record
The Bentonville Cocktail Festival returns to The Record in Downtown Bentonville on Saturday, Aug 22, from 6-10p.
Shake Things Up: More than 20 drink vendors will be at the festival, alongside food trucks. Each guest will get two drink tickets at each vendor.
Last Call: Only a few general admission tickets are available, so snag one before they sell out.
Get tickets HERE.
Sponsored by Walton Arts Center
Broadway Hit Comes to Walton Arts Center
The Outsiders will take the stage at Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville from Tuesday, Sep 1, through Sunday, Sep 6.
A Tulsa Story: Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1967, this coming-of-age story follows Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade, and their fellow Greasers as they navigate friendship, family, and a world that refuses to accept them.
Worth the Hype: The production won four 2024 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and promises high-energy choreography and a gritty, emotional take on the well-known story.
Get tickets HERE.
Events
The Ozark Bug Crawl Heads To Cane Hill
The 5th Annual Ozark Bug Crawl will take over Cane Hill on Saturday, Aug 22, from 10a-2p.
Raisin’ Cane: Cane Hill sits inside Washington County, located about 25 miles outside of Fayetteville.
A Bug’s Life: Teams and families will search for bugs in Cane Hill. Experts will be on-site to share fun facts and help guests identify the creatures they find. Top teams will win prizes, and the event is free for everyone.
More details HERE.
Travel
XNA May Become First Airport in U.S. To Win Federal Loan
XNA, the busiest airport in Arkansas, may become the first airport in the United States to land a federal infrastructure loan for its terminal expansion.
Lo-an & Behold: The funding would help build a new concourse with seven gates, a project expected to cost $80-$120M.
Taking Off: If XNA wins the loan, it could save the airport $30M. A decision is expected within a month or two.
Read the full story from Arkansas Advocate HERE.
NWA Daily Picks
In other news…
🚶 Step Into Relief: Since 2005, Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center has been Northwest Arkansas's trusted destination for world-class vascular care, helping patients improve circulation, reduce discomfort, and get back to living comfortably. Learn more HERE.*
🤝 Managers Shape Culture Every Day: Employees don't experience leadership through mission statements—they experience it through conversations. Coach-like leaders make those conversations count. Become the kind of manager people are grateful to work with. Join our Manager as Coach™ course.*
🍽️ New Friends: We’re hosting our August Dinner Club in Fayetteville and Bentonville on Thursday, Aug 27, starting at 6:30p. Guests will enjoy a meal with new friends at a cool local restaurant, then meet up with others for a post-dinner drink. Sign up HERE.
🤰 Fertile Ground: A Bentonville couple's own four-state fertility journey led them to build Forma Fertility, a new model pairing local OB-GYNs with the specialists it takes to keep IVF and egg freezing in NWA. Read more HERE.
📚 Book It: The Springdale Public Library will host its annual Friends of the Springdale Public Library book sale from Friday, Aug 21, through Sunday, Aug 23.
☕️ Brew News: Onyx at the Preserve in Bentonville was featured in a well-known coffee publication.
🖌️ Door’s Open: Six Twelve Coffehouse in Fayetteville will host a Doormat Painting Party on Saturday, Aug 22, at 2p.
🧑🍳 Food for Thought: NWACC’s Brightwater launched a new program to train chefs in specialized nutrition.
👰 Aisle Be There: Four Points by Sheraton Bentonville will host the NWA Wedding Show on Sunday, Aug 23, from 12-3p.
🎧 Listen Online: Want to listen to a summarized audio version of NWA Daily? Head to the top of this email and click “Listen Online” to hear more!
*Content is sponsored
Employment
Find Cool Jobs In Northwest Arkansas
Whether you're hiring or job hunting, our NWA Job Board connects the right people at the right time. Upload your resume to get noticed by local businesses, or post your openings to reach hundreds of job seekers every day.
Jumpy Jump Land is seeking a Building Manager.
The Bentonville Bulletin is seeking a Local News Reporter.
Sponsored by Pat Pulliam at Front Porch Real Estate
House Hunch NWA
Can you guess the price of this real estate listing based on just one photo? Here’s a hint: 3 bd, 2 ba, around 1,500 sqft.
Want to feature your listing in House Hunch NWA? Respond to this email for info!
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