F&B Marketing Essentials with Experience Fayetteville
May
5
9:00 AM09:00

F&B Marketing Essentials with Experience Fayetteville

Experience Fayetteville will host free, in-person F&B Marketing Essentials workshops designed to provide practical, easy-to-implement marketing strategies for local restaurant operators. Topics will include current marketing trends, simple social media strategies, and ways to make the most of Fayetteville Restaurant Week and other high-traffic moments throughout the year. Two sessions will be offered at 9:00–10:30 a.m. and 1:00–2:30 p.m. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

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F&B Marketing Essentials with Experience Fayetteville
May
5
1:00 PM13:00

F&B Marketing Essentials with Experience Fayetteville

Experience Fayetteville will host free, in-person F&B Marketing Essentials workshops designed to provide practical, easy-to-implement marketing strategies for local restaurant operators. Topics will include current marketing trends, simple social media strategies, and ways to make the most of Fayetteville Restaurant Week and other high-traffic moments throughout the year. Two sessions will be offered at 9:00–10:30 a.m. and 1:00–2:30 p.m. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

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Australian Legend Wines Workshop with Brightwater
May
6
1:30 PM13:30

Australian Legend Wines Workshop with Brightwater

  • Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Join the Brightwater team in a structured, sommelier-led exploration of modern Australian wine, presented in partnership with Legend Wine Imports and led by Master Sommelier Jonathan Ross. The focus of this workshop is to deliver a high-level but approachable educational experience that connects theory to real-world application in this industry-only session for both culinary students and industry professionals alike. 

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Find us at Downtown Fayetteville's Strawberry Festival!
May
17
12:00 PM12:00

Find us at Downtown Fayetteville's Strawberry Festival!

If you’re looking for one of the best spring festivals in Fayetteville, the annual Fayetteville Strawberry Festival is a can’t-miss event. Hosted by the Downtown Fayetteville Coalition, this beloved community celebration returns to the Historic Downtown Square for a weekend filled with local flavor, live music, and family-friendly fun.

Now in its third year, the festival serves as a free, vibrant kickoff to summer in Northwest Arkansas—bringing together visitors and locals alike to experience the region’s food, culture, and creativity.

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NWA Harm Reduction x FIRA at Sidecar Cocktail Lounge
May
24
4:00 PM16:00

NWA Harm Reduction x FIRA at Sidecar Cocktail Lounge

Join us in connecting with our local hospitality community for a FIRA x NWA Harm Reduction training opportunity!

FIRA will be set up with an info booth and NWA Harm Reduction will be set up with a training booth. Come learn more about both of these non-profits and receive life-saving training on how to administer Narcan, utilize fentanyl test strips, and more.

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Industry Wine Group at Hotvine
May
4
2:00 PM14:00

Industry Wine Group at Hotvine

Level up your wine knowledge with FIRA member business, Hotvine Wine Shop!

This recurring meetup is a communal tasting focused on better understanding how to taste new wines, enjoy your favorites, and help the customer find what they’re really looking for.

Each meetup will focus on a specific theme, (varietal, region, etc), and we’ll taste and discuss 5 wines related to the theme in a relaxed, expectation-free environment.

Bring your experience (whether beginner or expert), your palette, and a notebook.

Registration is required, and tickets are $15 + tax (due the day of). 👇👇👇

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First-Time Home Buying for Hospitality Pros
May
3
4:30 PM16:30

First-Time Home Buying for Hospitality Pros

Ready to stop renting but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you.

Join us at Sidecar for a laid-back, interactive evening with the Prosper team—here to break down the path to homeownership in a way that actually makes sense. Whether you’re thinking 6 months or 5 years out, they’ll walk you through realistic steps, timelines, and what it takes to get there.

Expect helpful handouts, real talk, and a lender on-site to answer your money questions without the pressure.

No sales pitch. No weird vibes. Just good info, good drinks, and a plan for your future. 🏡🍸

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NWA Gives Day!
Apr
9
8:00 AM08:00

NWA Gives Day!

  • Fayetteville Independent Restaurant Alliance (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

NWA Gives is a 12-hour online giving campaign. This regional day of giving sees over 160+ nonprofit participants each year from across Benton and Washington County. This event provides additional opportunities for smaller non-profits (like us!) to get more visibility and opportunities for donations! NWA Gives takes place from 8a-8p on April 9, 2026 - but any contributions between 3/26-4/9 will count towards our 2026 NWA Gives goal of $25,000. 

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Industry Wine Group at Hotvine
Apr
6
2:00 PM14:00

Industry Wine Group at Hotvine

Level up your wine knowledge with FIRA member business, Hotvine Wine Shop!

This recurring meetup is a communal tasting focused on better understanding how to taste new wines, enjoy your favorites, and help the customer find what they’re really looking for.

Each meetup will focus on a specific theme, (varietal, region, etc), and we’ll taste and discuss 5 wines related to the theme in a relaxed, expectation-free environment.

Bring your experience (whether beginner or expert), your palette, and a notebook.

Registration is required, and tickets are $15 + tax (due the day of). 👇👇👇

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NWA Gives Non-Profit Rally
Apr
2
12:00 PM12:00

NWA Gives Non-Profit Rally

Mark your calendar! The NWA Gives 2026 Rally will be held at the Osage Park Pavilion on April 2nd from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.! Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided by First Security Bank! This is a great opportunity to show up and cheer and help FIRA win some early prize money. All volunteers, industry workers, member restaurants, or friends of FIRA are welcome to join in.

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NWA Gives: Early Giving Begins
Mar
26
to Apr 9

NWA Gives: Early Giving Begins

  • Fayetteville Independent Restaurant Alliance (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

NWA Gives is a 12-hour online giving campaign. This regional day of giving sees over 160+ nonprofit participants each year from across Benton and Washington County. This event provides additional opportunities for smaller non-profits (like us!) to get more visibility and opportunities for donations! NWA Gives takes place from 8a-8p on April 9, 2026 - but any contributions between 3/26-4/9 will count towards our 2026 NWA Gives goal of $25,000. 

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Industry Wine Group at Hotvine
Mar
9
2:00 PM14:00

Industry Wine Group at Hotvine

Level up your wine knowledge with FIRA member business, Hotvine Wine Shop!

This recurring meetup is a communal tasting focused on better understanding how to taste new wines, enjoy your favorites, and help the customer find what they’re really looking for.

Each meetup will focus on a specific theme, (varietal, region, etc), and we’ll taste and discuss 5 wines related to the theme in a relaxed, expectation-free environment.

Bring your experience (whether beginner or expert), your palette, and a notebook.

Registration is required, and tickets are $15 + tax (due the day of). 👇👇👇

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FIRA Ambassador Training
Mar
3
12:00 PM12:00

FIRA Ambassador Training

Ambassadors are members of our local community who encourage local hospitality businesses to become members, assist in regular member check ins, and help us keep a finger on the pulse of what is happening in our local hospitality scene.

FIRA currently has a grant to provide $25/hour to individuals who work in the industry and would like to help with outreach! For paid opportunities, be sure to include a paystub on the registration form.

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Feb
25
2:00 PM14:00

Hospitality & Friends Career Fair Popup [University of Arkansas]

  • Verizon Ballroom, Arkansas Union, University of Arkansas (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

We’ll be joining our friends in the Hospitality Department at the University of Arkansas to share information about the Fayetteville Independent Restaurant Alliance’s programs!

If you’re a business interested in joining the career fair, registration is free!

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FIRA Ambassador Training
Feb
20
10:00 AM10:00

FIRA Ambassador Training

Ambassadors are members of our local community who encourage local hospitality businesses to become members, assist in regular member check ins, and help us keep a finger on the pulse of what is happening in our local hospitality scene.

FIRA currently has a grant to provide $25/hour to individuals who work in the industry and would like to help with outreach! For paid opportunities, be sure to include a paystub on the registration form.

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NWA Harm Reduction x FIRA at Sidecar Cocktail Lounge
Feb
17
5:00 PM17:00

NWA Harm Reduction x FIRA at Sidecar Cocktail Lounge

Join us in connecting with our local hospitality community for a FIRA x NWA Harm Reduction training opportunity!

FIRA will be set up with an info booth and NWA Harm Reduction will be set up with a training booth. Come learn more about both of these non-profits and receive life-saving training on how to administer Narcan, utilize fentanyl test strips, and more.

View Event →