If you live here, are in the area for the Holidays, or plan on passing through on your way to and from Grandma’s house across the country, here are a few ways — or reasons to stay in town for the night — you can spend what’s left of the Holidays and stay joyfully entertained in Fort Smith, Arkansas!
The first thing you might want to do is book a room, or even find a nearby RV/camping site, in which case you can do that from our website at experiencefortsmith.com. You can also check out the local flavors represented in our rich culinary landscape and browse a comprehensive listing of city and area attractions. If you don’t see something on this list that catches your interest, be sure to check out our full calendar of events!
Creekmore Holiday Express
From December 5th through the 22nd, the Creekmore Holiday Express will run from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. every single day with the exception of Sundays.
Take an exciting journey through the hundreds of animated lights that adorn Creekmore Park during the Holiday Season.
Creekmore Park is located across from the Fort Smith Public Library at Rogers & South 31st Street.
Holiday Games at Fort Smith Escape Room
Fort Smith Escape Room is an immersive interactive puzzle game in which teams of four people or more have 60-minutes to use their creative problem-solving skills to solve riddles, unlock mysteries and use gadgets that will set you free. Rooms change periodically to keep things interesting, including seasonal escape rooms. In addition to the normal rooms (Sherlock’s Home, The Dig and The Boathouse) this year’s Holiday-themed rooms include:
ROOM 1 – ELF HQ: Every year, the ELF Toy Technology, Manufacturing and Logistics Association host their annual awards show in the South Pole to recognize Santa’s elves for another successful year of spreading holiday cheer. Meanwhile, back at the North Pole a blizzard caused havoc at Elf HQ! Already on a tight deadline, the Cheif Elf & Director of Logistics needs YOU to step in to keep things moving until the crew can return. Do you have what it takes to do the work of the World’s top workers?
ROOM 2 – Operation Santa’s List: You thought you were good all year, but you recently learned that your name was placed on Santa’s naughty list! HOW COULD THIS BE???
To get the best gift again this year, you must find that guarded list and switch your name to the nice category before Santa starts checking his list to find out who has been naughty or nice! Personalize the game by adding up to 5 player names to be used in the escape game for $10 more.
ROOM 3 – Saving Christmas Vacation: Christmas has always been Clark Dingleberry’s favorite time of the year. This year is going to be extra special, as he’s hosting the Dingleberry Family Christmas.
Somehow, when this family gathers, things doesn’t go as planned, but Clark is determined to make things better! Can you help save the Dingleberry’s Family Christmas??? (The theme is inspired by the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.)
Our friends at Circle L Ranch will once again be offering Christmas Carriage Rides in Historic Downtown Fort Smith this year!
Beginning on December 16th through December 23rd (excluding Dec. 18th), you can meet them at the corner of 5th Street and Garrison Avenue in downtown Fort Smith between the hours of 7p.m.-9 p.m. (weather permitting).
Price: $8.00/person
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the local Salvation Army. No reservations necessary, as carriage rides are first come, first served! Come out and make some special Christmas memories in a One Horse Open Carriage!!! They’ll even provide the blankets!
Painting With A Twist
A little bit of painting. A little bit of whine. A whole lot of FUN! Looking for a fun night out? Unleash your creative side with Painting with a Twist! Their talented team of instructors guide your group step-by-step through the night’s featured painting.
Register now for one or more of this year’s special Holiday-Inspired featured paintings events taking place between December 16-31, 2016. These exciting seasonal classes are open to everyone (18+) and include the following painting options:
Arrive 15-20 minutes early to get uncorked, smocked & in your seat! If you desire more time to unwind, visit with friends & breathe before we get twisted, you can arrive up to 30 minutes prior to start time; it’s your Happy Half Hour! If you’re coming with others, but making reservations separately, give us your group’s name in the Special Request box. We’ll seat you together!
Payment is due at the time of the reservation to guarantee your seat. If you choose not to pay online, please call the studio to make payment by phone at 479.650.1610 or visit the studio in person at 3875 Phoenix Avenue in Fort Smith.
PRICE: $35/person
*** This is a BYOB studio, feel free to bring any beverages, (beer or wine) and anything you would like to eat.
Christmas Honors
Help transform Fort Smith’s National Cemetery as wreaths are placed on headstones to honor soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Each December, thousands of community volunteers from all over the region come together to transform the Fort Smith National Cemetery by placing one wreath on each of the thousands of headstones in honor of every man and woman’s service to our country.
Friday, December 16, 2016: Wreath Workshop/Assembly at Fort Smith Convention Center
from 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Saturday, December 17, 2016: Christmas Honors Ride…The Annual Christmas Honors Ride is a very special tradition that starts at Old Fort Harley-Davidson, 6304 South 36th St., and makes its way to the Fort Smith National Cemetery where wreaths will be placed on the 15,000+ graves. Thunder TV will be riding and filming and invite you to be part of this very special event. Riders will meet at Old Fort Harley- Davidson on Sat., Dec. 17th starting at 9:00 a.m. and we will start lining up at 10:15 a.m. Kickstands go up at 10:30 a.m. and there will be a law enforcement escort.
Saturday, December 17, 2016: Christmas Honors Event – Distribution of the Wreaths
Fort Smith National Cemetery
Saturday, January 14, 2017: Wreath Pick Up and Storage from Fort Smith National Cemetery to Fort Smith Convention Center at 9 a.m.
A Victorian Christmas
The Christmas holiday holds special significance for this city. The soldiers who established Fort Smith arrived on Christmas day 1817, starting the city’s history with this special holiday. During the late 1800s, Mr. and Mrs. Judge Isaac C. Parker hosted an annual open house during the holidays. When a person came to one of their famous open houses, they would be greeted with the site of a fantastic floral arrangement and refreshments. Even prisoners in the federal jail got a chance to share in the Holiday Cheer. One example of a Christmas meal in the jail included turkeys, chickens, cakes, pies, and cranberry sauce.
On December 17th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m, the Fort Smith National Historic Site and the Friends of the Fort will host a Holiday Open House. The afternoon will be filled with live music and holiday fun from times gone by. Visitors will get to enjoy interacting with living historians portraying people of Fort Smith’s past, hear a person portraying a Victorian era Father Christmas tell a traditional Christmas story, and even take home their own souvenir from the evening by making a Victorian Christmas Card. Programs about the establishment of Fort Smith on Christmas day and Victorian Christmas traditions will be going on throughout the day.
Admission: FREE!
Sunday Night Live
Nothing says Christmas quite like the gift of laughter! Well…besides someone actually saying, “Christmas!” *cue laughter*
We’ll leave the funnies to the real comedians, which is why we’re happy to have Sunday Night Live in Fort Smith! Fort Smith Comedy continues to bring our area the opportunity to experience LIVE stand-up comedy, and on December 18 between 7 p.m.-9 p.m. they will be bringing us a group of comedians all the way from Los Angeles, California.
The show will take place at Wishbone’s Chicken & Music Joint located in Historic Downtown Fort Smith! Performers include Tom Goss, Connor McSpadden and Billy Bazar with host Luke Perkinson!
Tables can be reserved by emailing fortsmithcomedy@gmail.com
Midnight Shopping
It’s Christmas shopping made fun and easy….with the Central Mall Midnight Shopping event! Grab your gift list and head to Central Mall on December 17th for extended hours.
You can shop until midnight and Central Mall stores will be giving away prizes all night long with no purchase necessary!
Winter Solstice Walks
On the long list of Oklahoma’s historical gems, the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center in Spiro has earned its place near the top. Once the seat of power during the Mississippian period (circa 800-1500 AD), the Spiro people ruled over a confederation of more than 60 North American tribes, influencing trade, religion and the political structure of the Southwest United States.
On December 21st, 2017, Archaeologist Dennis Peterson will lead visitors at each of the 6 one-mile, two-hour tours of the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center. He will discuss the people who used and created this Mississippian (A.D. 800 – 1500) Capitol, how and why they created the mounds, as well as why some of the mounds align with the Solstice and Equinox sunsets.
Walk fees are $3 for adults and $2 for children in addition to the regular admission fees of $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $1 for children.
LIVE Entertainment
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Dec 16 | 10 p.m.
Venue: Gilley’s at Choctaw Casino – Pocola
FREE ADMISSION
Woodshed is a high-energy local country band from Fort Smith. Their songs range from country to power ballads, and down-home tunes that get fans up and dancing.
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Dec 16 & 17 | 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m.
Venue: Shooter’s Bar & Grill
21+ No Cover
A Beautiful End will be at Shooter’s Bar in Fort Smith, Arkansas for two nights on December 16-17, 2016. The party full of rock music starts at 9:30 p.m. each night!
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Dec 17 | 10 p.m.
Venue: Gilley’s at Choctaw Casino – Pocola
FREE ADMISSION
West 51 is a highly sought after Oklahoma country band. The band plays some of the top hottest country hits of today and yesterday.
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Dec 17 | 9 p.m.-12 a.m.
Venue: Hero’s
This local area One Man Band Today has recorded two live albums and wrote a song titled Oklahoma Breakdown, which became the #1 song and #1 most played song on the Texas Music Charts!
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Dec 24 & 29 | 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Gilley’s at Choctaw Casino – Pocola
FREE ADMISSION
DJ Midnite from Rogers, Ark., is one of the hottest DJ’s in town! He will get everyone in the holiday mood playing everyone’s favorite dance tunes.
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Mr. Cabbagehead & The Screaming Radishes
Dec 25 | 10 p.m.
Venue: Gilley’s at Choctaw Casino – Pocola
FREE ADMISSION
Mr. Cabbagehead and the Screaming Radishes have been partying on for more than 30 years and have evolved into the mid south’s favorite party band.
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Dec 28 | 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
Venue: Gilley’s at Choctaw Casino – Pocola
FREE ADMISSION
The pop-rock band hailing from Northwest Arkansas has multiple years of experience in the live music scene. The band does not dedicate a show to any particular genre.
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Dec 30 | 10 p.m.
Venue: Gilley’s at Choctaw Casino – Pocola
FREE ADMISSION
It’s the final weekend of the year! Bring your cheap sunglasses and spend it with the best ZZ Top tribute band, Trio Grande.
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Dec 30 | 8 p.m.
Venue: CenterStage at Choctaw Casino – Pocola
TICKETS: $39
You know the saying: if it walks like a Beatle, talks like a Beatle…it must be The Fab Four, the world’s foremost Beatles tribute band.
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Dec 31 | 8 p.m.
Venue: CenterStage at Choctaw Casino – Pocola
TICKETS: $59
Ring in 2017 with a glorious tribute to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Starting at 8 p.m., King Michael will perform the greatest hits known to pop!
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*** SPECIAL NYE OFFER: The Fab Four + King Michael for $89!!! ***
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Dec 31 | 10 p.m.
Venue: Gilley’s at Choctaw Casino – Pocola
FREE ADMISSION
Ring in the New Year with the best George Strait tribute band in the nation. The Troubadour Experience features authentic performances of George Strait’s No. 1 hits.
Experiencing Fort Smith 
What are the dates and times still open for the escape rooms and wild things farm?
The holiday-themed rooms will be offered through the end of the month, but they have other themed rooms that are always offered. Go to fsescaperoom.com and then click on “book now” to see all the rooms and times available for booking. In regards to Wild Things Farm, this is their off-season, so the Christmas event was just a special one night event on the 16th.