|
Hi Fayetteville, we made it to Thursday! In today’s edition: Arkansas’s first accredited bariatric surgery center, Concerts by Candlelight, the 8th Annual Wedding Fair, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
|
📰 In the news
Stages boosting regional economy: Walton Arts Center and Walmart AMP released their 2025 impact report, citing 432,016 tickets sold, 252 performances, and $68.1 million in spending, supporting 1,000-plus jobs across Northwest Arkansas — see the community impact details.
What patients can expect: Fayetteville’s Roller Weight Loss & Advanced Surgery has opened Arkansas’s first accredited bariatric ambulatory surgical center. A new state law requires private insurers to cover bariatric surgery and care — see the facility and coverage details.
Inside City Hall’s legal team: Fayetteville’s city attorney announced his retirement on Jan. 7 after 25 years of service. He will serve through 2026. Voters here choose a successor on Nov. 3 — get all the details.
Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.
Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had its best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
|
🫶 We got your back
Climate plan in action: Sign ups are open for Fayetteville’s Residential Food Waste Collection Program, launching in March. The 2025 pilot served 697 households and kept more than 53,000 pounds out of the landfill. Participants receive a 5 gallon bucket with pickups every two weeks. Get all the details.
Old-school cut, new you: If your hair is drifting into hat-required territory, The Lion’s Mane Barber Shop is a veteran-owned, old-fashioned spot for sharp cuts, classic shaves, and relaxing facial treatments. You’ll leave looking tidy, like you meant to keep up all along.
Your winter nature fix: Trade traffic for tallgrass at Wilson Springs Preserve, a 121-acre wet prairie with easy trails, nearly 200 bird species, and a few surprise art installations. Leave the pups at home, bring a friend, and enjoy Fayetteville’s rare stretch of wide-open calm.
A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).
|
📆 Around town this weekend
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🧘 Future You Night: Sound Bath Meditation & Vision Board Activation @ NWA Healing Hub | Friday (1/16) at 7:00 PM – Give your nervous system a night off with a 90-minute blend of sound bath, future-self visualization, and guided vision board creation. It is calm, intention-packed, and pleasantly woo without the glitter. Leave clearer, lighter, and a little more on speaking terms with Future You.
🕯 Concerts by Candlelight @ TheatreSquared | Friday (1/16) at 7:00 PM – Fayetteville’s going soft lighting and good acoustics with candlelit concerts in historic venues, the kind where you can actually hear the music and your knees don’t hate you. Intimate, warm, and a little romantic, perfect for date night, old friends, or treating yourself.
🎭 Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man @ Walton Arts Center | Friday (1/16) at 7:30 PM – Take a nostalgic detour to River City, where a charming con man sells band uniforms, and somehow you root for him. Expect 76 trombones, barbershop harmonies, and unapologetic Midwestern schmaltz. You know the words, admit it, and yes, tickets are on sale now.
📷 104. Digital Photography II @ Bedford Camera & Video | Saturday (1/17) at 9:00 AM – Bring that fancy camera and get out of Auto at a hands-on photography class in Fayetteville. Learn light, exposure, shutter, aperture, ISO, and histograms, with demos, assignments, and small class vibes, so those Ozark sunsets finally look intentional. Prereq required, flexible sessions, $125.
🌿 Wreath Retirement @ Fayetteville National Cemetery | Saturday (1/17) at 9:00 AM – Help the NWA crew retire the wreaths with a little respectful hustle. Bring a long-handled pole, a broomstick works, and a truck with an open trailer if you’ve got one. No signup, just show up, and feel good about doing right by our veterans.
💍 8th Annual Wedding Fair @ The Apollo on Emma | Sunday (1/18) at 12:00 PM – Got a wedding on the horizon, or an opinion about one? The 8th Annual Wedding Fair brings Northwest Arkansas’s best vendors, fresh trends for 2026 and 2027, and plenty of taste-testing that counts as research. RSVP on Eventbrite, bring your fiancé, or your opinionated aunt.
📚 UA Press Author Spotlight: Karen Van Horn & Becky Bull @ Fayetteville Public Library | Sunday (1/18) at 2:00 PM – Nothing beats swapping stories with Razorback folks while talking food, right? Co-editors Karen Van Horn and Becky Bull unpack Eat Like the Hogs, a cookbook stuffed with 250-plus favorites from Razorback greats, perfect for tailgates, Sunday suppers, and that well-seasoned cast-iron. Expect recipes you’ll make.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
|
📣 Own or manage a local business?
Meet BaseLocal Business — a free and easy way to get your business happenings in front of our readers.
How it works:
- Sign up (it takes less than 5 minutes)
- We’ll manually verify your business is legit
- Once verified, you’ll be able to share events, news, and special deals with us any time
Everything you share is reviewed, and approved submissions are automatically considered for future newsletters. AKA… your business has a much higher chance of being featured in front of thousands of Fayetteville locals who live, shop, eat, and share good things with their friends.
We also regularly spotlight verified businesses just because we think they’re great.
Click here to get started (it’s free) →
|
📻 Fayetteville report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 47°F – Low: 33°F – Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 47. Southwest wind 0 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
—
Tomorrow – High: 48°F – Low: 23°F – Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Northwest wind 5 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
This house is wild
The final residential design by renowned solar architect James Lambeth surveys Lake Lucille from a peaceful half acre in downtown Fayetteville. A 17-foot wall of windows frames the water, a travertine fireplace anchors the living room, and a chef-ready kitchen centers on a modern bar. A spiral stair and second-story deck add flair.
Four bedrooms and two and a half baths include a primary suite with a marble bath, freestanding tub, and double shower. A spacious family room links to a flexible media room, climate controlled as a garage with a built-in entertainment center. A three-story elevator, new roof and windows, soft-water filtration, underground pet fence, and a laundry chute round out the perks.
Take a peek inside →
|
 |
Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
|
|
|
|
