NORTHWEST ARKANSAS · FREE WEEKLY
The NWA Trade Guide
Trusted trade insight, DIY inspiration, and market updates. Built for homeowners and pros across Northwest Arkansas.
Free. One email a week. Unsubscribe anytime.
Free Guides & Local Events
Free passes: Arkansas Home Show
Sept. 26 and 27 at the Rogers Convention Center. Free with online registration (they ask for an email), or $10 at the door. Parking is free.
Washington County Fair, Aug. 25 to 29
2537 N. McConnell Ave., Fayetteville. $5 cash or $7.50 by card at the gate, kids 5 and under free, free parking, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Free Home Depot Kids Workshop
Saturday, Aug. 1, starting at 9 a.m. Home Depot runs a free kids build on the first Saturday of each month, while supplies last. Register ahead so they save you a kit.
Flagger certification comes to NWA
Aug. 17 and 18 in Northwest Arkansas through AGC of Arkansas. Traffic Control Specialist with Flagger Certification runs Aug. 17, and Authorized Flagger runs Aug. 18 from 8 a.m. to noon. Cost and location are on the registration page.
Benton County Fair, Sept. 25 to Oct. 3
Sept. 25 through Oct. 3 at the Benton County Fairgrounds, 7640 SW Regional Airport Blvd. in Bentonville. Carnival rides, livestock shows, exhibits, and local talent. Gate prices and the daily schedule post closer to the date.
Evening HVAC school in Springdale
Arkansas HVACr Academy runs a 31-week evening program (two nights a week, 5:30 to 9:30) starting Aug. 24, with EPA 608 certification included. $1,750 per semester plus a one-time $500 supplies fee, AR529 eligible, payment plans available. Employers: Arkansas Office of Skills Development grants can help cover training.
NWACC fall classes + apprenticeship
NWACC's fall term opens mid-August (register by Aug. 21 for the 16-week session, or catch the second 8-week window Oct. 12). The college's electrical apprenticeship registers year-round, 576 class hours plus on-the-job time toward the Arkansas journeyman exam.
Free maker tools at the library
The Fayetteville Public Library's Center for Innovation gives you free access to a Fab Lab, laser cutters, 3D printers, and recording studios. Orientation is required for most gear, and staff-led classes are paused right now, so check the schedule first.
Build with Habitat NWA
Volunteer on a Habitat for Humanity build in NWA, no experience needed and open to ages 16 and up. Or shop the ReStores in Fayetteville and Bentonville for discounted materials, Mon to Sat, 9 to 6.
XNA expansion is out to bid
XNA's western concourse expansion is in its bidding window now, with construction running Sep. 2026 through Sep. 2028. New gates, hold rooms, and concessions mean two years of commercial work in Benton County for steel, mechanical, electrical, and concrete subs.
Free home weatherization help
Income-qualified homeowners in Washington and Benton counties can get free weatherization (insulation, air sealing, efficiency fixes) through Crawford-Sebastian CDC. A good hedge before heating season and after this summer's high SWEPCO bills.
NWA Farmers Markets
Fresh produce, meat, baked goods, and local makers across the region, spring through October. Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bella Vista, Siloam Springs, and more, each on its own day.
Bikes, Blues & BBQ
Sep. 30 to Oct. 3 in Rogers. One of the region's biggest motorcycle rallies, with music, food, and vendors that benefit local charities. Free to attend.
War Eagle Fair
Oct. 15 to 18 in Hindsville. The anchor of NWA's famous War Eagle weekend: hundreds of juried craft, home decor, and antique vendors. Free admission (parking fee typical).
Ozark Arts & Crafts Fall Fair
Oct. 16 to 17 at the NWA Convention Center in Springdale. A 200-plus booth indoor arts, crafts, home decor, and antiques show timed to War Eagle weekend. Free admission and parking.
$2,500 trades scholarship
SupplyHouse's Track to the Trades program awards $2,500 scholarships to trade-school students, apprentices, and early-career pros, HVAC included. Apply by Nov. 10 on Bold.org.
Get EPA 608 certified online
The ESCO Institute offers EPA 608 exams plus the newer Low-GWP (A2L) refrigerant safety certification fully online, useful as the industry shifts to R-454B.
More From The Trade Guide
Check any Arkansas contractor's license in two minutes
The free state lookups every homeowner should run before signing anything.
The hail playbook: your first 48 hours
What to do, and what not to sign, after a storm rolls through NWA.
Where everything goes: the NWA dump-run guide
Drop-offs, hazardous-waste days, and recycling centers for Washington and Benton counties.
About The NWA Trade Guide
The NWA Trade Guide brings Northwest Arkansas homeowners and trade professionals together through practical DIY guidance, local market updates, supplier events, training opportunities, and useful information from the people doing the work. We're starting ad-free and focused on building a resource worth opening every week.
Stay Ahead of the Next Project
One quick, useful Northwest Arkansas email each week.