Many things are happening around Christmas here in Bentonville and all across Northwest Arkansas, and one of the most unforgettable events is Toyland. It’s a great family event where kids of all ages can play with new toys.
Toyland is an annual event in Bentonville, AR, organized by Downtown Bentonville in partnership with Walmart. It occurs in November, and many brands, such as LEGO and Barbie, display new toys for kids to play with. All the products in Toyland are also available in Walmart.
You must check out Toyland if you’re in Bentonville around Christmas. It’s a fun event for the whole family, especially kids, as it’s filled with new toys and fun games hitting the Walmart shelves. Here’s everything you need to know about Toyland.
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All You Need To Know About Toyland in Bentonville, AR
Everyone already knows that in Bentonville, we love festivals and outdoor activities. And Bentonville has something to offer for everybody. There are events and activities for all ages, including children. That’s where Toyland comes in. So, let me give you an overview of this fantastic event.
What Is Toyland?
I’m so excited that Toyland is back in Bentonville. Unfortunately, we haven’t had this event since 2019, and it’s finally here. We’re not short on events and festivals here in Bentonville and generally in NWA, but Toyland is special.
Downtown Bentonville Inc. (DBI) partnered with Walmart (also headquartered in Bentonville) to create the Toyland event. There are countless “tents” filled with new toys of the season. Toyland is a Walmart event because these toys will be available in all Walmart stores. You can buy everything you see in Toyland once it hits the shelves.
Did I mention it’s free to peruse Toyland? Just show up and enjoy.
Toyland usually kicks off on the first Friday in November. It’s a great introduction to the Christmas season. The last Toyland event started a few days later due to some weather warnings, but it was great to go back there.
Check out other great things you can do and visit around Christmas in Bentonville and Fayetteville here.
Like many things in Bentonville, this event is a fun experience for the whole family. Kids are the main “customers,” but it’s also parents’ favorite. One reason parents love Toyland is that they can see what their kids are interested in.
Toyland has you covered if you still need to find a present for your kids. You can see what they’d like to have as they run from tent to tent and interact with all these toys. It’s like a live commercial where kids can move around and play with toys.
The best part about the toys is that Walmart ensures they’re brand new. You get the highest quality and can see what will come out soon. It’s exciting for kids because the new toys are often connected with new movies or cartoons. Disney also has their toys in Toyland, so new animated characters will definitely be there.
The Location
Like many great festivals and events, Toyland is located in Downtown Bentonville. More specifically, it’s on Bentonville City Square (or the Square), located between NE A St., E Central Ave., N Main St., and NW 2nd St. These streets and avenues become packed with literally all things toys.
The Square is also a massive park with a central fountain, so you can peruse the park and have a seat next to the fountain. And after nightfall, you can enjoy the beautiful lights decorating the trees there.
If you’re going to be around during the Christmas season, you can catch the annual Lighting of the Square. For more information, check out my article on Bentonville’s Christmas lighting ceremony.
If you’re unsure how to get there, just look for Main Street. The parking is free for Toyland, but it gets busy quickly, so come as early as possible if you’re driving. The event started at 11 am last time and lasted until 8 pm.
Because of the massive turnout, be slightly patient with the parking situation. The DBI website states there are around 20,000 people who visit Toyland. So, just be prepared for that.
Bentonville isn’t huge, so you can always walk or use bikes. We love biking in NWA! Read more about weird transportation methods here.
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
Here’s What You Can Expect in Toyland
I assure you, you won’t be disappointed when you visit Toyland. Of course, you can expect toys there — that’s the whole point of the event, but there’s so much more. As you walk down the Square, your kids can interact with countless movie and cartoon costume characters. When I was there, there was Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers.
There are also many Disney characters from upcoming and recent movies. Some of the countless other activities include:
- Playing areas
- Food stalls
- Photo booths
- Demo tables
Since the event is around Christmas, there’s also a Santa Claus ready to write down all the kids’ wishes. There’s usually live music also.
Some brands that take part in Toyland include:
- LEGO
- Barbie
- Disney
- Mattel
- Huffy
- Fisher Price
When I was there, there was “exploding kittens,” a kids’ card game by Mattel. It sounds wild, but it’s a lot of fun.
Toyland Follows New Trends in Toy and Tech Industries
The great thing about Toyland is that it goes with the times. You don’t just have new toys, but also new tech products. This event is a great promotional strategy for many well-known brands. Therefore, they want to participate and offer their best to Toyland visitors.
So, in the last Toyland event, Segway also presented its new products. You could drive their new e-scooters and GoKarts. Apart from that, you could:
- Get a free giveaway
- Find out about the new Segway products
Swagtron also showcased its tech toys, like hoverboards, for a few years.
Final Thoughts
Toyland is a yearly toy-oriented event happening in Bentonville, AR. It happens in November each year and is great to open the Christmas season. Kids can enjoy new toys that’ll be available in Walmart for their parents to buy. It’s a perfect plan if you’re unsure what to buy as Christmas presents. Some of the most famous toy brands present are:
- LEGO
- Barbie
- Mattel
So, if you are in Bentonville around Christmas time, wait for Toyland. The kids will have a great time.
