The Fort Smith Region
Culture & Outdoors
Culture
Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas’ cultural scene is rich, unique, and diverse. Several prominent museums, performance groups, and art centers call the area home. Highlights include the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, which has welcomed a number of domestic and internationally-renowned exhibits since its inception, and Arts on Main, which recently celebrated the grand opening of its new multi-million-dollar facility in downtown Van Buren.
The area also boasts Arkansas’ oldest symphony. The nearly-century old Fort Smith Symphony is comprised of more than 100 talented musicians from around the country. The Fort Smith Little Theater is another regional gem. The volunteer-led community theater has been delighting audiences since 1947 and provides an eclectic season of entertainment featuring local talent.
One of the most distinctive and deep-rooted traditions of the region involves the viticulture industry. Arkansas is the oldest and largest grape juice and wine producing state in the southern U.S. Vineyards thrive in the Ozark Mountains, with some dating back to the 1800s. Visitors can take part in tastings and tours of the many wineries scattered throughout Altus, Ozark, and Paris, widely-known as Arkansas Wine Country.
Community festivals are celebrated in nearly every town in the FSRA partnership region. Several date back well-over a century, celebrating town histories, popular industries, and music. Many have garnered national accolades and all draw visitors from throughout the country. Favorites include the Poteau Balloon Fest, Altus Grape Fest, and the Riverfront Blues Festival, among others. In recent years, new events have begun drawing large crowds and further promoting the arts, including Fort Smith’s The Peacemaker Festival and The Unexpected Project.
One of the most distinctive and deep-rooted traditions of the region involves the viticulture industry. Arkansas is the oldest and largest grape juice and wine producing state in the southern U.S. Vineyards thrive in the Ozark Mountains, with some dating back to the 1800s. Visitors can take part in tastings and tours of the many wineries scattered throughout Altus, Ozark, and Paris, widely-known as Arkansas Wine Country.
Community festivals are celebrated in nearly every town in the FSRA partnership region. Several date back well-over a century, celebrating town histories, popular industries, and music. Many have garnered national accolades and all draw visitors from throughout the country. Favorites include the Poteau Balloon Fest, Altus Grape Fest, and the Riverfront Blues Festival, among others. In recent years, new events have begun drawing large crowds and further promoting the arts, including Fort Smith’s The Peacemaker Festival and The Unexpected Project.
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Outdoors
Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma is a region well-known for its scenic outdoors and abundance of recreational activities. Local waterways, including rivers, lakes, and streams make for great fishing, boating, and swimming. Hills and mountains create beautiful landscapes across the two states, creating ideal spots for hiking and camping. The region’s many state parks also make for great outdoor getaways.
Learn more about outdoor and recreational activities in Arkansas and Oklahoma below.
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