Eureka Springs Blues Party

Held annually starting the Thursday after Memorial Day, this four-day blues, rock and funk music festival brings more than 20 acts to one-of-a-kind venues throughout Eureka Springs.

Live Music Venues Around Town

Big-name acts light up historic stages like The Auditorium and Basin Park Ballroom. You’ll also find music spilling out of live music venues and bars, such as Chelsea’s Corner Cafe and Missy’s White Rabbit Lounge. Outdoor sets fill public spaces like Basin Spring Park and Center Street, as well as restaurant balconies, the Gotahold Brewery patio and Frisco Sporting Club.

The Blues Party has welcomed renowned artists, including Grammy winners Ruthie Foster and Marcia Ball, plus Funk Factory, King Cabbage Brass Band and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Each year's lineup balances nationally-recognized talent with regional favorites.

Where to Stay During Blues Party Weekend

At the center of it all is the Basin Park Hotel, the Blues Party host hotel anchoring the walkable downtown entertainment district. Its Barefoot Ballroom has hosted more than a century’s worth of live music, and during Blues Party weekend, it is the place to immerse yourself in blues, rock and funk. 

Festival-goers find lodging to fit any vibe or budget, from lakeshore cabins and bed and breakfast inns to traditional motels, historic hotels and campgrounds. You’ll even find lush treehouses, glamp-ready safari tents and hobbit caves. Some places to stay in Eureka Springs even offer festival packages that bundle rooms and Blues Party tickets, so you can roll into town ready to go.

Beyond the Music: Things to Do in Eureka Springs

Between guitar riffs and brass solos, Eureka Springs has no shortage of ways to fill your time. 

Explore a maze of one-of-a-kind shops, fine art galleries, Victorian architecture, restaurants, spas, springs and the lush Ozark Mountains. The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Eureka Springs as one of its "Dozen Distinctive Destinations," and its entire downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places. A weekend in Eureka Springs wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, Thorncrown Chapel or the Great Passion Play. 

Urban footpaths run through the heart of the city, and numerous hiking and mountain biking trails wind through the hills. Minutes away by car is Black Bass Lake with five miles of hiking trails along a bluff line, lake and historic dam. Lake Leatherwood City Park has more than 25 miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as kayaking, fishing, camping and a playground. The nearby White River below Beaver Dam draws trout anglers, the Kings River calls to paddlers, and Beaver Lake attracts anglers and water sport lovers.

A Festival with Roots: From Blues Fest to Blues Party

The annual Blues Party revives the city's once-celebrated Eureka Springs Blues Festival, which originated in the early 1990s and ran for more than two decades. The town hosted national acts in intimate settings, a very popular trend at the time and a stark contrast to the festivals held in big fields. The city’s largest performance hall, The Auditorium, with 984 seats and near-perfect acoustics, still makes every show feel personal. Today’s Blues Party carries that legacy forward with a modern edge, while keeping the intimate, immersive experience intact for every music lover.