I’m excited to start a new blog series called Local Love. I wanted a little spot to dedicate to my love of our city. Whether you live in Northwest Arkansas or perhaps have never heard of it, I’m happy to show you around through the eyes of myself and my little family.

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I’ll never forget my very first time experiencing the holiday magic on the town square. I had just moved to Fayetteville with Todd from my hometown of Memphis a few months earlier. He had tried to tell me about how the square was always coated with lights around Christmas, but there was no way to grasp how remarkable it really is without experiencing it for yourself.

We bundled up and ventured downtown for the annual lighting of the square. The town mayor, along with the crowd, counted down and then every tree and building glowed with the flip of a switch. I looked around and made the comment that it looked like a scene out of Gilmore Girls. Fast-forward ten years and the square around the holidays is still one of my most favorite things about Fayetteville. Instead of feeling like Stars Hollow, I’m now fortunate enough to say that it just feels like home.

Over our time here the square has just gotten better. With lots of cute stores, restaurants, coffee/tea shops, and boutique dessert spots to explore, it’s always my first stop when I need to pick out a gift or just want to grab a local beer. I love that the square evolves with the seasons. In spring, the town collectively counts down to the Farmers Market, in summer it’s all about First Thursday, and in fall the square is picture perfect for a stroll on Razorback game days. But now you can see for yourself why winter is when I love it most of all.

Have any local spots you think we should explore? Email me at sarahfortunegill@gmail.com.