SOAR NWA Brought to You by Sam’s Furniture
Open Avenues will host its 3rd annual SOAR NWA event on Fri Aug 26 and Sat Aug 27, 2022 at Drake Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This outdoor, open-air event, brought to you by Sam’s Furniture is a family-friendly festival with something for everyone.
With a little something for everyone, the event offers a variety of hot air balloon activities (weather permitting), a kid's zone, beer garden, live music, car exhibit, and various aeronautics activities.
Taking place at Drake Field Airport in south Fayetteville on Friday, August 26 and Saturday, August 27, SOAR NWA has a full lineup of activities planned for participants of all ages. On Friday, events begin at 5:00pm, and on Saturday, the fun begins at 7:00am and continues throughout the day.
This year the event is over the course of 2 days, to allow more time for balloon viewing!
Friday, Aug 26:
4 - 7 PM: Skydiving (sold out but watch the sky for jumpers)
5 PM: Gates open for Walmart Kid Zone, Unilever Beer Garden, Shurtape Vendor Village, Reynolds Consumer Products Photo booth, Discovery Flights (Additional Cost: $45 per adult/$35 per child, reservation recommended (pay at event), Helicopter Rides (Additional Cost: $40/passenger for 4-minute rides or $80/passenger for 8-minute rides), and Axe Throwing
6 - 9 PM: Roaming Circus Performers sponsored by Summit Community Care
5 - 6 PM: Jenna & the Soulshakers on the Unify FCU Stage
6:30 - 7:30 PM: Mister Lucky Band on the Unify FCU Stage
6:30 - 7:30 PM: Meet & Greet with Megan Crozier, Sam’s Club EVP & Chief Merchandising Officer in the Samsung VIP room (VIP credentials required)
6:45-9:30 PM Tethered Balloon Rides* sponsored by McLarty Daniel (Additional Cost: $25 per rider, CASH ONLY)
7 - 7:30 PM: Balloon Pilot Meet & Greet
7:30 PM: Skydiving Show by Skydive Fayetteville
8 - 8:30 PM: Balloon Glow*
8:30 PM: Sammy Kershaw performs on Unify FCU Stage sponsored by Sam’s Furniture
9:30 PM: Last call at Unilever Beer Garden
10 PM: Gates Close, see you tomorrow!
Saturday, Aug 27:
7 AM: Gates open for Walmart Kid Zone, Unilever Beer Garden, Shurtape Vendor Village, Reynolds Consumer Products Photo booth, Helicopter Rides (additional Cost: $40/passenger for 4-minute rides or $80/passenger for 8-minute rides), and Axe Throwing
7 -8 AM: Mass Balloon Ascension*
7 -10 AM: Tethered Balloon Rides* sponsored by McLarty Daniel (additional Cost: $25 per rider, CASH ONLY)
8 - 10 AM: Pancake Breakfast @ Arkansas Air & Military Museum (additional Cost: $10 per person, free for kids 10 & under)
8 AM: Discovery Flights (Additional Cost: $45 per adult/$35 per child, reservation recommended (pay at event)
8 AM - 1 PM: Skydiving (sold out - but watch the sky for jumpers)
9 AM: Car Exhibit Opens
9 AM & 11 AM: Trike Theatre performance
10 AM: Magician George Reader performance on Unify FCU Stage
11 AM - 1 PM: Bluegrass/Americana Music by Daniel Bennett
12:30 PM: Last call at Unilever Beer Garden
1 PM: Gates Close, see you next year!
Please note: all hot air balloon activities are weather permitting.
“We’re so excited to be able to bring this unique event back to Northwest Arkansas,” said Kelly Sampson, Development Director at Open Avenues. “In addition to the amazing fun it brings for attendees, it’s an important fundraiser for Open Avenues, raising money to allow us to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities.”
TWO-DAY TICKETS are $22 for adults, $8 for kids ages 3-10, and free for 2 & under. *ADMISSION FOR BOTH FRIDAY & SATURDAY. TWO-DAY ADMISSION TICKETS WILL NOT BE SOLD AT GATE.
ONE-DAY TICKETS* are $15 for adults in advance, $25 at the gate, $5 in advance, $10 at the gate for kids ages 3-10, free for ages 2 & unde
Hot air balloon and aeronautics rides, as well as various other activities, have additional costs. Learn more, buy tickets and register to volunteer at soarnwa.com. Open Avenues provides life and job skills training, on-site employment, job placement and coaching services, as well as transportation. Through the dignity of work, program participants gain a sense of belonging and purpose as they develop their skills and earn a paycheck. Learn more about Open Avenues at openavenues.org.
