The Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville is a great place to visit if you’re into arts or if you enjoy music and theater. There are plenty of activities held in this performance space every season, so you should not miss the chance to see or even partake in some of them. In this part, I would like to focus more on the plays and concerts that are held every year.
The Walton Center in Fayetteville is considered a cultural center of Northwest Arkansas and for good reason; it is a massive space that organizes all sorts of events, from Broadway plays to concerts and art shows. You can also participate in workshops and rent the space for your own events.
If you want to know more about the Walton Art Center in Fayetteville, stick around! I will explain briefly what this center is about and then delve into details about the Broadway plays and other concerts that you can see throughout the year. Let’s get started!
Video:
What Is the Walton Art Center in Fayetteville?
As its name suggests, the Walton Art Center is a space that is dedicated to different forms of art. It was founded in 1992 and expanded in 2011 to create more space for all kinds of performances. Nowadays, it includes one of the largest and best amphitheaters in the country.
This center hosts different types of art shows, performances, plays, and concerts every year. Additionally, you can find different art workshops and seminars where you can participate if you want to learn more about different art disciplines like painting, dancing, theater, and more.
Even if you’re not into arts, you can still enjoy different performances and events, like wine festivals, where you get to learn about winemaking and taste a variety of local and international wines. The Walton Art Center is one of my favorite places to visit in Fayetteville because it offers so many different activities.
Every year, this center offers space for all kinds of festivals, concerts, and other events for all the family. Additionally, the center allows you to rent some spaces for your events, performances, or conferences. There’s so much to see and do at this particular center, so you shouldn’t miss the chance to visit it if you’re in Fayetteville.
Plays and Concerts at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville
I’ve talked before about the award-winning architecture of the Walton Art Center as well as the outdoor Winter Wonderland space they created last year, an amazing place to hang out and have drinks with your friends. I recommend visiting this center during wintertime because there is so much to see.
However, I would also like to focus on the plays and other kinds of performances that you can see in this center. Every year, you can catch several different Broadway shows, concerts, symphonies, and ballet performances. It’s such an exciting feeling to be able to watch award-winning plays and concerts in your own city. This is an experience that you can enjoy with your entire family.
There are two main theaters inside the center: the Baum Walker Hall, which is larger and seats around 1200 people, and the Starr Theater, a smaller space that fits around 200 people. Generally, the most successful plays and concerts are held in the larger hall, so that they can be enjoyed by as many people as possible.
I just attended the Christmas concert a while ago, a wonderful event that included heavenly symphonies, masterfully performed by some of the best artists in the country. I really recommend catching this concert if you’re in Fayetteville during Christmas time. If you want to learn about more things to do in Fayetteville during Christmas, check out my other article.
However, even if you visit Fayetteville during fall or spring, you will still be able to see so many different concerts, plays, and other performances in the Walton Arts center. This cultural hub of Arkansas is well-known for its rich and high-quality programming throughout the year. There are several programs during summer as well, although it’s probably a relatively quiet season compared to the rest.
The program of the whole year comes out in advance to help you decide what you want to watch and plan accordingly. Every year, there are at least five or six acclaimed Broadway plays and musicals. For instance, this year, people in Fayetteville will have the chance to see Company, Aladdin, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, and many other wonderful performances.
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
How To Get Tickets for Events at the Walton Arts Center
Most of the time, you need to buy a ticket to enter the theaters and see different plays, musicals, or concerts. However, at other times, you may be able to enter art shows or watch performances for free.
To buy a ticket, you can enter the official website of the arts center online or call them. You can buy an individual ticket for each play if you’re not planning on visiting this art center frequently. However, if you’re interested in several plays and concerts, you should become a subscriber, paying a fixed fee every year at a great discount, so that you will be able to watch whatever you want.
Just make sure you book your tickets in advance, because they may be sold out if you only remember to purchase them in the last few days before the show. The Walton Arts Center always invites well-known and sought-after artists and performers, so it’s only natural that people from all over the state and beyond will come and try to see these performances.
Workshops and other interactive experiences typically also require you to pay a fee, but the money is well worth the experience. You generally need to buy a pass, so that you can participate in different workshops and lectures throughout the day. The prices of tickets and passes vary, but they are generally quite affordable.
And that about wraps it up for this one. Btw, this is the second part of a little series I’m doing on the Walton Art Center. You can click on the link to check out part 1.
Conclusion
If you’re in Fayetteville, you should absolutely visit the Walton Arts Center. This center offers different art shows, theater plays, musicals, and many other events throughout the year. If you’re into arts, you should check out the program at the official website of the center and see the rich program that it offers.
You can purchase individual tickets or become a subscriber, which will allow you to watch multiple plays and shows at a much better price and also select your seats. The Walton Art center also offers art workshops for those who are interested in more interactive experiences.
Sources
- Walton Arts Center: About
- Walton Arts Center: Series
- Broadway.org: Walton Arts Center – Fayetteville
- Walton Arts Center: Venue Rentals
- AIAAR: Walton Arts Center Expansion & Renovation
- Walton Arts Center: Broadway Subscription 2023-24
- Walton Arts Center: Baum Walker Hall
- Walton Arts Center: Starr Theater
- Walton Arts Center: Calendar
- Everything NWA: So Much To Do This Christmas in Northwest Arkansas (Bentonville and Fayetteville)