Fayetteville Roots Festival returns on August 22–26 in downtown Fayetteville. The musical lineup is stellar featuring Grammy-winner Gillian Welch, Gregory Alan Isakov and the legendary Mavis Staples. Over the last few years, the festival has added many culinary-related events, both ticketed and free, for the community to attend.

Two events will benefit their community outreach programming. The Roots Chefs Dinner takes place at The Hive 21c Museum Hotel in Bentonville at 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 22, and features an “Ozarks in the Summer” five-course dining experience by four fantastic chefs (tickets: $125). Roots at the Record occurs the same night across the Bentonville square. This event features eight chef collaborations and tasting stations in conjunction with local brewery partners and cocktails. Besides the delicious food and beverages, the entertainment will surely impress when Mavis Staples and Booker T. Jones take the stage. Doors open at 6 p.m. and tastings begin, 7 p.m. (tickets: $50).

The Master Class Series will benefit the Brightwater Scholarship Fund. On Friday, August 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., guest chefs including Chef Matthew Bell, Chef William Lyle and Chef Crescent Dragonwagon take to the culinary classrooms of Brightwater: A Center for Food Study to give lectures, demonstrations, workshops, tastings and book signings. The event will also feature a brewery tour and tasting with live music at Bike Rack Brewing Co. and events throughout 8th Street Market and South Market (tickets: $25).

Other can’t miss events include Roots Food & Spirits, which features over six venues and culinary areas hosting numerous unique programs Saturday, August 25 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Pratt Place at Markham Hill in Fayetteville. Events include themed tastings, spirit-based activations, lectures, workshops, guided foraging walks, new brewery tastings, book signings, demonstrations and competitions for both professional chefs and high school culinary students.

The Tri Cyle Farms Jamboree will take place on Sunday, August 26, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the farm in Fayetteville. Afternoon programming includes family friendly activities, kids programming, food and beer tastings, ice cream social, live music, craft beer and cocktails with music by The Wild Rivers and Adam Cox. Proceeds benefit Tri Cycle Farms (tickets: $20 in advance and $25 day of show).

Photo by Meredith Mashburn

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