Gaining national attention yesterday, Bentonville announced it will have its own Woodstock style festival this September.

• The rundown: The new music, art, and technology event is called Format Festival, and will debut Sept. 23-25 on 250 acres of private land surrounding the Sugar Creek Airstrip in Bentonville. Tickets go on sale later this month.
• Big vision: Inspired by Austin City Limits the event will have over 50 artist and it will be a mash up of music, visual art, and technology. C3 Presents will organize the festival who also does shows like Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza in Chicago and Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.

Read more about the festival HERE.

Mount Sequoyah in Fayetteville is kicking off Earth Day weekend on Thursday with a three-part wine and food pairing event in the new Mount Sequoyah Dining Room and new patio area. 

• Celebrate in style: During the event, there will be three stations of different foods and wines — light bites from Noble Graze and wine pairings by sommelier Erin Vonfeldt. In honor of Earth Day weekend, the venue will be utilizing reusable items, generating as little waste as possible. 
• Get your spot: Tickets are $35 and are limited, so purchase yours soon! Attendees can drop in any time between 5-7p. Abby Howard will be playing live music as well to bring you a well-rounded evening. 

Learn more and get your tickets HERE.

The Downtown Springdale Alliance is hosting its 6th annual Street Dinner and tickets are now on sale.

• Family style: The Street Dinner will quite literally be on Emma Avenue between Spring Street and Main Street — right in the heart of downtown Springdale. On June 11, Street Dinner guests will experience a three-course meal served at 7p after cocktails. 
• Music: A local four-piece Americana band will perform during the dinner and there will be more live music at an after-party at 9p. The event will serve as downtown Springdale’s biggest fundraiser of the year, supporting its work and programming. 

For more information and tickets, click HERE. 

A new state-of-the-art Automation & Robotics facility recently opened for business in Fayetteville, positioning itself as a global leader in the growing automation market. 

• What it's bringing: JMP Solutions is a Canada-based automation systems integrator, and its new facility is a 20K sq. ft manufacturing and integration space that will provide world-class automation and robotics solutions. It will also bring a projected 140 jobs in the next five years. 
• Services: The automation systems integrator will provide U.S. customers greater access to intelligent automation services such as material handling and automated guided vehicles. The new facility will be a key player in maintaining high-quality talent in the area through unique, ongoing skills development and technology training.

Read the full story HERE. 

The City of Bentonville will soon have the state’s first regulation-size cricket pitch and it needs artwork to bring together experience and culture of the sport.

• Request: The Public Art Advisory Committee is seeking proposals for permanent artwork to be installed next to the new cricket pitch, which is a part of the new 25-acre Creekside Park in Bentonville on SW 28th St. 
• Making a symbol: To spotlight cultural diversity in Northwest Arkansas, the region has over 50 cricket teams with 1,000+ athletes. The objective of the new art piece is to become a landmark and physical recognition of the establishment of cricket in the area. The deadline for the art proposals is July 6.

For more information, click HERE.