🦃 Holiday Kickoff in Fort Smith!

The holidays are rolling in fast across the River Valley — Thanksgiving plans, early Black Friday sales, Christmas lights starting to pop up, and a ton of new events hitting the calendar.

Over the past week, we’ve added 30+ new local events to MyRiverValleyEvents.com, and even more are coming as neighborhoods, churches, and community groups begin submitting their holiday activities.

Today’s issue has:

• 🍽️ A Thanksgiving Guide from River Valley Fork

• 🎄 Christmas lights starting to appear around town

• 🐾 A sweet Pet of the Week

• 📣 Holiday Sponsor spots now open for small businesses

Lots happening — let’s jump in!

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and now is the ideal week to place your orders for festive meals, desserts, and dine-in reservations in Fort Smith.

River Valley Fork has just launched its 2024 Thanksgiving Dining & Take-Home Guide, highlighting top local options for heat-and-serve dinners, bakery preorders, specialty grocery items, and restaurant reservations.

Local bakeries are already taking pie and dessert preorders, while area restaurants offer convenient heat-and-serve meals and select spots are accepting dine-in bookings for Thanksgiving Day.

The guide is set to be updated again tomorrow, so residents are encouraged to review it early and secure any holiday favorites before slots fill up.

Families hoping for an easy, delicious Thanksgiving experience can find everything they need—plus continued updates—for a stress-free celebration.

The holiday season is arriving early in the River Valley, with festive lights already illuminating neighborhoods and families planning Christmas outings.

A growing number of homes and streets are joining the Holiday Lights Map, making it easier to find brilliant new displays every day.

Locals can capture the spirit by entering the lively Holiday Photo Contest, where eye-catching images—ranging from sparkling decorations and cozy family moments to pets in costume—could be featured in community newsletters and social media.

This week, over 30 new local events have been added to the calendar, from bustling holiday markets and charity drives to concerts and festive pop-ups.

Organizers urge residents to check the online calendar often for updates and invite the community to share their own events, lights, or celebrations for daily inclusion.

The River Valley has officially entered its busiest season, with over 30 new events added to MyRiverValleyEvents.com in just the past week.

Local families and residents can look forward to holiday pop-ups, festive craft markets, live music, family-friendly activities, charity drives, and soon, colorful parades happening throughout Fort Smith and across Sebastian County.

The event calendar continues to grow rapidly, with fresh listings appearing every single day.

To stay in the loop, check the calendar often and don’t miss out on upcoming celebrations or activities.

If you’re organizing a holiday event or community gathering, you’re encouraged to share the details—submissions help keep neighbors informed and the festive spirit alive all season long.

💛 Holiday Sponsor Spots Now Open — Just $49

This is one of the busiest seasons of the year in the River Valley, and we’re opening up $49 Holiday Sponsor spots for local businesses who want to reach thousands of families across:

• 🎄 Holiday Lights Map

• 🎁 Holiday Events Guide

• 📰 All of our local newsletters

• 📱 Community Facebook pages

• 🌐 MyRiverValleyEvents.com

If you own a shop, restaurant, service, nonprofit, or home-based business, this is an easy way to get seen during peak holiday attention.

Become a Holiday Sponsor ($49) →

Knight is an affectionate, six-month-old Labrador Retriever mix looking for a loving home.

This bright-eyed pup weighs just over 53 lbs and delights in attention, making him an ideal companion for active families or those who cherish outdoor adventures.

Friendly and curious, Knight embodies the classic Lab spirit, always eager to please and quick to make friends.

Although he still needs a bit of leash training, his youth and intelligence promise easy learning and a smooth transition into family life.

Knight is currently available for adoption at Fort Smith Animal Haven and is ready to meet those hoping to welcome a loyal new friend.

That’s it for this week’s holiday kickoff!

We’ll be adding even more Christmas parades, neighborhood displays, craft fairs, and family-friendly happenings over the next several days — so check back on MyRiverValleyEvents.com often.

If you know of a local event, business special, or community activity, hit reply or message the page — we’d love to include it.

And if you’d like your business to be featured on our Holiday Lights Map, Holiday Events Guide, and all our newsletters, sponsor spots are open now (just $49 for the entire season!).

Have a great week, Fort Smith! 💛

A few images in this issue were created with AI to help capture the holiday feel. Real images are always used when available.