Northwest Arkansas is brimming with new things, and seeing what’s coming next is always exciting. We have some great things coming that will change many things, so I want to talk about that.
The 5 new things coming to Northwest Arkansas include the True Crime Fest and a $318 million expansion for the children’s hospitals in the area. A brand new opera of the Ozarks is being built near Eureka Springs. Fox Racing and a bike retailer event are also coming soon to the area.
I’m so excited about these new things happening in the area! Stick around and get the details.
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1. True Crime Fest
While I don’t get into True Crime or listen to podcasts or watch Youtube videos about True Crime, I have friends who are into the True Crime genre, and they’ve told me that the True Crime Fest coming to Northwest Arkansas is a huge deal.
If you’re into True Crime and all of what goes with that, Northwest Arkansas is the place to be! More specifically, the Rogers Convention Center near the Pinnacle Hills area.
The True Crime Fest happened on May 20, 2023, and it was held to raise funds for All the Lost Girls, a non-profit organization to provide resources to solve cold cases involving missing girls. This year’s event was dedicated to Melissa Witt, who disappeared on December 1st, 1994.
Her body was found 6 weeks later, but there are still no leads as to who the perpetrator is.
The organization provides money to help with DNA testing and other resources to solve cold cases and bring closure to the victims’ families. They host this yearly, and this year, they included popular True Crime podcast presenters, crime authors, and more.
If you missed it this year, be sure to get tickets for next year from the lost girls’ website.
2. $318 Million Children’s Hospital Expansion
Arkansas is putting $318 million into two children’s hospitals. One is in Little Rock, while the other is in Springdale, which is in Northwest Arkansas. While they’re developing both of these hospitals, my guess is that most of the infrastructure will be put into the Springdale Children’s Hospital.
But that shows you that medical services, especially for children, are a huge deal in Northwest Arkansas. And those with children who move to the area appreciate the top-notch medical care available.
So the children’s hospital expansion includes more beds, rooms, and services that will serve our growing population.
If you’re looking to relocate to an area, you might look for the following criteria:
- What types of hospitals are in the area?
- Are there VA hospitals or services readily available?
- Are there affordable retirement homes that will be available when you need them?
- What other medical services are available?
So the fact that they’re expanding the children’s hospital in Springdale shows you that Northwest Arkansas is invested in providing great medical care to its residents.
And, while I’ll save this point for a future blog post, I wanted to mention that a new medical college is being built near Crystal Bridges.
3. Opera In the Ozarks
The Opera in the Ozarks is getting a new building, which will be located near Eureka Springs. The project will cost around $34 million and create new opportunities for a new generation of musicians and performers to gain valuable career experience.
It makes complete sense that it’s being built in that area, as Eureka Springs is an eclectic area with many unique and fun things happening. Here are some of the reasons why an opera house near Eureka Springs makes sense:
- The entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places.
- The town has more paranormal activity than any other town in the area.
- Eureka Springs encourages art expression.
- The shops are full of hidden treasures.
- They have an overabundance of tourist attractions.
The new building will actually be combined with the existing buildings, and while they’re at it, they will modify the existing buildings.
Northwest Arkansas already attracts a lot of art to the area, including the Walton Art Center in Fayetteville, where they host Broadway plays and other events. We also have the symphony and the Theater Square, so it’s great to have another art form here in the area.
4. Fox Racing
The next thing coming to Northwest Arkansas is Fox Racing. Now, this doesn’t involve the 4-legged furry animals, but rather, the two-wheeled animals. Okay, we’re talking about bikes in a motocross event.
The Fox Racing company is putting a brand new facility in downtown Bentonville.
So if you weren’t already aware, Fox Racing is a big deal with it comes to two-wheeled racing. Large corporations sponsor the event, celebrities endorse and participate, and it’s a big deal. But they don’t have a lot of locations in the US, even though it’s such a big deal.
Their locations include:
- California
- Las Vegas
- Bentonville
- Colorado
Big bike brands are also moving to Bentonville because we’re the biking capital in the US due to the awesome trail system here. So it’s really cool to see Fox Racing building a brand here.
5. Bike Retailer Event
Downtown Bentonville is hosting a bike retailer event, which is the next cool thing happening in Northwest Arkansas. Even though this happens every single year, the fact that it’s happening here this year is very cool.
Of course, Bentonville is the biking capital of the US, and having every retailer and brand coming here is smart for not only the retailers but for the economic development of Northwest Arkansas. The event is going to include trail tours of the “Back 40,” the “Ledger,” and all the bike trails in the downtown section.
Conclusion
Northwest Arkansas is a national competitor in several areas, including economic development. And while you might think that this means it’s going to be like other larger cities such as Chicago, you’re happily mistaken. Even though the area attracts several events and businesses, it’s a great place to relocate your family.