This month’s First Friday is Back To School themed. That's right, kids. Summer break is just about over, but the party in Downtown Bentonville this Friday ought to cheer you up!

• Get schooled: To help ease the pain of heading back to school, vendors will be hosting back-to-school giveaways and games. Bentonville Schools will also be present with over 15 booths including fun crafts, science experiments, and more! 
• The hostess with the mostess: Entertainment will include appearances by the Bentonville Schools Marching Band, School of Rock, Jenna & the Soul Shakers, and the Juice. But if you ask us, we're most excited for the Twinkie eating contest being put on by this month's sponsor, Hostess Brands.

See what to expect this Friday HERE. 

It's that time of year again - back to school - and that means Arkansas's annual tax-free weekend is here to help you get stocked up on all the essentials.

• On the list: You can check out the list of tax-free items on Arkansas's Department of Finance website. The list covers categories such as clothing, electronics, and school supplies. It also lists what is not tax-free this weekend.
• Local deals: When you get done with your back to school shopping, you can check out Downtown Springdale's Tax Free Weekend event. Several businesses downtown will be participating, and you'll be able to find tax-free items that are fun for both you and the family.

Read more about Arkansas's tax-free weekend HERE.

It Came from Outer Space, a sci-fi musical about an astronomer who encounters a spaceship in the desert outside a small town, is on stage at TheatreSquared from Aug 24 - Sep 18. 

• A cult-classic: Based on the 1953 cult-classic film, this musical adaptation by award-winning co-creators Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair is sure to be an out-of-this-world experience. 
• A can't miss: Tickets are priced from $20-$54 and can be purchased over the phone or online. There will be in-person shows and digital streaming options. 

Find show dates and purchase tickets HERE. 

Residential building permit activity in the first half of the year in Northwest Arkansas is down 15% compared to activity in the first six months of last year.

• Counts down: Permit counts are down 30% in Fayetteville, down 47% in Bentonville, down 54% in Rogers, down just 1% in Springdale, and down 2% in Bella Vista.
• Values up: While the total number of permits is down across the region, the combined value of these permits is up across the board - 26% overall.

You can dig deeper into NWA's building activity HERE.

Ever wondered if you have what it takes to begin a startup company? Startup Junkie and The Venture Center want to help you take your first step during Techstars Startup Weekend NWA. 

• Teamwork: Over the weekend of August 26-28, participants will be surrounded by like-minded entrepreneurs and learn from experienced mentors, investors, co-founders, and sponsors to gain insights on starting a business. 
• Makes the dream work: Teams will form around chosen ideas in the focus areas of Outdoor Recreation, Web3, and General to create a working prototype, demo, and pitch a presentation for a chance to win $5,000. 

Learn more and register HERE.