Fayetteville is home to Arkansas’ largest annual Pride celebration
(Photos by Meredith Mashbourn Photography)
STEVEN LINDSEY | Contributing writer
StevenCraigLindsey@GMail.com
Even with gas prices flip-flopping between crazy expensive and outrageously expensive, driving’s still cheaper than flying, paving the way for a road trip kind of summer. You can pack the car and head in nearly any direction for a dramatic change of scenery within a few hours.
But few escapes feel more different from Dallas than Northwest Arkansas, thanks to the gorgeous Mount Sequoyah Woods nestled in the Boston Mountains, the highest range in the Ozarks.
And if you’re looking for an ideal time to visit LGBTQ-friendly Fayetteville, consider a last-minute getaway for Northwest Arkansas Pride (NWA) June 26-28 this year. With more than 40,000 participants expected, NWA represents the largest Pride festival in Arkansas, all in the heart of charming downtown Fayetteville (also lovingly known as Gayetteville, which you can get emblazoned in glittering letters on a hot pink t-shirt via the NWA website).
This year’s festival includes a festival kick-off event with Baby Tate, headliners CC Peniston and RuPaul’s Drag Race Canada host Brook Lynne Hytes, as well as a Hi Tea Dance & Pool Party, a trans march and rally, the 20th anniversary NWA Pride Parade, a family zone and numerous ancillary events at venues throughout the city.
Of course, even though a spur-of-the-moment trip may not be in the cards, Fayetteville is one of the most queer-friendly places in all of Arkansas. You’ll see Pride flags prominently displayed in numerous businesses and public spaces, making it a welcoming vacation destination any time of year.
In between semesters at the University of Arkansas, the city is at its quietest and least crowded. However, when school’s in session, sports fans have plenty to cheer about with frequent athletic diversions. Another perk of being in a college town, you’ll find plenty of wildly affordable food and drink options near campus and innovative chef-driven options around town if you’re seeking something more elevated.
Leverett Lounge offers an intimate space for cleverly named food and cocktails, with standouts including the Mel’s Diner (fried garlic-cheese grits), Radang It, Bobby! (Indonesian curry shrimp), and KFC (Korean fried chicken or cauliflower).
Cafe Rue Orleans offers Cajun flair throughout its menu, including po-boys and Mumbo Gumbo, a daily rotating option created by chef Maudie Schmitt. Show up right when the doors open at teeny-tiny, 22-seat Petra Café to catch a quick Mediterranean lunch of gyros or falafel. And if you’re hitting the numerous hiking and mountain biking trails, pop by Bloom Cheese Collective for some artisan fromage and sandwiches or stay a while with a cheese board and a glass of wine.
While college towns may be famous for cheap beer and swill tequila shots, Fayetteville has an intoxicating cocktail scene. If you love dive bars, few compare to Maxine’s Tap Room, a circa-1950 hole-in-the-wall that has been woman-owned since day one and often hosts Pride events. The popcorn’s addictively good, too. Nearby, Vault offers a robust bourbon collection, many of which find their way into classic and contemporary cocktails.
For a unique wine experience, check out Hotvine Wine, a boutique bottle shop and tasting room where you can get several interesting bottles for under $25, as well as taste a small, curated selection of wines and N/A beverages that rotate regularly.
Fayetteville has a major coffee game, too. Head to Pink House Alchemy for a variety of espresso drinks made with their handcrafted syrups and tonics, each available by the bottle for some tasty souvenirs. Word Coffee serves up some wildly colorful creations that look more like cocktails than coffee, especially their crazy seasonal summer creations like the Watermocassin, made with espresso, watermelon juice and guava soda.
If you’re a true java junkie, trek to highly awarded Onyx Coffee Lab for a pastry and a pourover. Plus, if you fly into Northwest Arkansas National Airport (NXA) instead of driving, you can grab a cup at Bionics By Onyx, a robot barista.
Fayetteville boasts some cool shopping, too. Start at queer-owned Cheap Thrills, an incredible vintage store with apparel and costumes, as well as lots of fun pop-culture gifts to please any queer shopper. On a smaller scale, The Library Vintage (also queer-owned) also gives clothing and accessories a second (or seventh) chance at life. Book lovers can easily get lost for hours in the labyrinth-like Dickson Street Bookshop or the beautiful independent Pearl’s Books, which places an emphasis on local authors among the bestsellers. Block Street Records offers the latest hits, as well as an eclectic vintage vinyl collection that could give you numerous flashbacks as you flip through the stacks.
Book a room at The Moxy, a Marriott Bonvoy property that debuted in September 2025. The rooms are small and minimalist, but very comfortable and cozy. Perks include free morning coffee, a welcome cocktail token at check-in and Moxy’s signature self-serve Stash Closets on guest floors, where you can grab extra towels as well as bath amenities including toothpaste, shaving cream and razors.
With regularly scheduled year-round queer programming, including Drag Queen Bingo, The Moxy’s close to all the action in downtown Fayetteville, and it’s a safe space, too.
So, the next time you’re looking for an idea for a quick weekend escape, you have an LGBTQ+ friendly new option. For about the same drive time as it takes to get to Houston or San Antonio in traffic these days, Fayetteville serves up a completely different vibe, abundant natural beauty and a genuine warmth to visitors from all walks of life.
To learn more about the city, visit ExperienceFayetteville.com; for Northwest Arkansas Pride, visit NWAPride.org