One of the many things I love about living in Northwest Arkansas is the wide variety of fun and interesting activities. One event, in particular, I really enjoy is First Fridays, a themed party every first Friday of the month. This past May’s First Friday party was Pet-a-Palooza.
Pet-A-Palooza is a fun, pet-friendly event with many games and activities centered around pet owners. It also included stalls and shops with cute, pet-themed crafts and merchandise. Many attendees were at the event, including pet groomers, veterinarians, and vendors.
From 11 in the morning until nine at night, Bentonville Square is the place to be for music, food, and fun activities. Join me as I explore this exciting and pet-friendly event!
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Pets, Pets, Pets!
The First Friday Pet-A-Palooza was exactly as advertised. Lots of people brought their pets, especially their pet rabbits. There were also dogs of all sizes, including a Newfoundland that looked like a big black bear. I even saw a little dog wearing an outfit and sunglasses.
If you didn’t have a pet to bring, there were still lots of opportunities to hang out with animals. Little kids could go for pony rides, and other people could enjoy the popular goat yoga.
This First Friday event was sponsored by Best Friends Animal Society, a nonprofit rescue organization and the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the world. If you’re looking to adopt a new family member, Best Friends has adoption centers across the United States, including right here in Bentonville.
For folks who already have pets, this was a great place to shop for a wide variety of pet-related toys, food, and services. Over 50 vendors participated in the event, from food providers and groomers to pet sitters, trainers, and veterinarians.
Pet-Themed Activities
This First Friday lived up to its theme of pets. Visitors had the chance to participate in lots of pet-themed activities, including:
- BYOP (Bring Your Own Pet) beer garden where pets could play while their owners enjoyed a tasty beverage
- Small pet petting zoo and a barnyard buddy petting zoo
- Dog obstacle course and lure track, demonstrating activities like lure chase and agility
- Pony rides for children
- Photo booths for pets and their owners to have their portraits done
- An outdoor and fenced playground for dogs to play catch, tug of war, and more
Health and Safety Tips for Pet Owners
Pet-themed events like this First Friday can be a blast for you and your furry friends. Many pets love any time they can spend with their humans and run and play with other pets. However, crowded and noisy outdoor events can be extremely stressful for some animals. Before you head out for a day of fun and games, consider the following:
Is Your Pet Going To Have a Good Time?
Your nervous, socially awkward, aggressive, or elderly pet might prefer staying home to being at a loud outdoor event with many strange animals and humans. If you’re unsure whether your pets would effectively handle all these stimuli, please leave them home.
Carry All Necessities
Just like a human baby or toddler, you need to bring things to keep your pets comfortable and safe. Don’t leave the house without:
- Food and water
- Collapsible bowls
- Poop bags
- A good harness or collar with a tag including your name, address, and phone number
- A leash (NO retractable leashes)
- Treats
- The phone number of your emergency vet
Also make sure your pet is up to date on all shots and microchipped.
Be Vigilant
Outdoor festivals can be noisy, crowded, and chaotic. It’s important to keep an eye on your pet at all times, especially when other pets and young children are around. You must also be careful not to let your pet eat discarded food like chicken bones. If all the activity stresses your pet, take them home.
Be Respectful
Many people work hard to make the grounds of outdoor events like First Friday look perfect. Don’t allow your pets to eat the flowers, dig up the grass and other plants, or otherwise harm the landscape. In addition, be sure to pick up your pets’ poop and dispose of it properly.
Also, I have a 3-day itinerary that can help you decide what activities to do if you’re overwhelmed by everything Northwest Arkansas has to offer.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a foodie, a sports person, a sightseer, or want to spend quality time with your kids; I have something for you. Check out the link below to learn more:
https://www.allthingsnwa.com/3-day-itinerary-northwest-arkansas
Fun Things for Humans Too
Of course, even with the theme Pet-A-Palooza, this First Friday event had lots of great activities for people too! Families enjoyed the Family Fun Zone, featuring bounce houses, slides, games, and even some cool jumpy swings. I would have loved to try the kiddie jumpy swings, but I was way over the weight limit.
Another great activity was a stroll down Main Street for the Art Walk. Art Walk showcased the beautiful work of many of Bentonville’s local artists and craftspeople.
Do you enjoy mixing business and fun? This event included an Entrepreneur Table, where people could meet and chat with young local entrepreneurs.
This month’s entrepreneur was the shop Slimely & Sanderly, creators of themed art boxes. The makers are spotlighted by the Scott Family Amazeum, a museum of interactive and hands-on exhibits designed to “engage visitors with the land, industries, and people who built the Arkansas culture and sustain it today.”
While casually strolling through the First Friday event, I saw many interesting and cool things. Some seemed like they might be a little dangerous, like the axe-throwing booth, where I saw that throwing an axe is not a talent everyone shares! I saw some Star Wars-inspired stormtroopers out and about — always a good thing to see in the community.
All those fun activities at First Friday mean one thing: you will have to stop and refuel at some point. Luckily, tons of food trucks offered all kinds of mouth-watering treats to try. Hot dogs, waffles, barbeque, seafood, and both salty (gourmet popcorn) and sweet (shaved ice) snacks were all available, to name just a few!
Folks could also get a little jolt of energy at the food truck specializing in coffee.
And that wraps up this quick overview of Pet-a-Palooza. If you’re looking for more fun events around Bentonville, check out my article on Walmart’s Toyland Event. This one is definitely for you if you like toys and action figures.
Conclusion
Bentonville’s First Friday Pet-A-Palooza event had something for everyone and every pet. If you are in Northwest Arkansas on the first Friday of the month, I highly recommend visiting Bentonville Square for a day (and evening) filled with music, food, shopping, and all sorts of fun activities. You and your family will love it!
Want to learn more about the great things going on in Northwest Arkansas? Check out my post on the 5 Big Things Happening In Northwest Arkansas!