NWA to enjoy Chefs in the Garden, Polo in the Ozarks and a ‘Light Night’

In addition to cooler weather and Razorback football, Sept. brings with it some of Northwest Arkansas' most celebrated events including Chefs in the Garden, Weekend with the Finest, Polo in the Ozarks, and more.

Chefs in the Garden
Botanical Garden of the Ozarks will feature the "richness of the harvest season" with its Chefs in the Garden event on Sept. 9.

Guests will enjoy fine dining and drinks, as they watch cooking demonstrations and sample foods prepared by a number of area chefs, including Honorary Chair Chef Steven Brooks.  Wines will be expertly paired with featured dishes to compliment the flavors of each component. Participating eateries will include local favorites Bordino's, Greenhouse Grille, Houlihan's, and more.

"Chefs" will be held at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, located at 4703 N. Crossover Road in Fayetteville from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 and may be purchased online. Proceeds support Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, whose mission "is to provide educational, entertainment, and recreational opportunities for students, residents, and Garden visitors to increase their appreciation of the native and natural ecosystem of the Ozarks."

For more information, call 750-2620.

Weekend with the Finest
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will host a "Weekend with the Finest," featuring golf, fashion, and food Sept. 12-13.

The weekend will kick off with the "Golf this Way" tournament that will be held at the Springdale Country Club on Sept. 12. The day will include two flights of golf, as well as special activities and a BBQ contest. Tee times will be 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Foursome team sponsorships may be purchased for $750.

The "Walk this Way" event on Sept. 13 will be a night filled with the newest fashions for Fall 2014. Held at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers, the party will feature some of NWA's premier clothiers and provide guests with the chance to indulge on delicious foods and sip fine wines while browsing the silent auction and taking in the fashion show.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will also honor its "Finest Young Professionals," a group of 30 NWA young professionals who help fundraise and advocate for the organization.

A special VIP start time for "Walk this Way" will be at 6 p.m., followed by the main event at 7 p.m. Individual tickets are $75 and may be purchased online. For more information, call 501-371-0233.

Polo in the Ozarks
Life Styles Inc. will celebrate the silver anniversary of its signature event, "Polo in the Ozarks" on Sept. 13.

Northwest Arkansas’ longest running charitable event, the 25th annual fundraiser is the area’s only polo match. Festivities include a full day of competitions and children's activities, topping off with a gala dinner and live auction.

Gates will open at 4 p.m., with the start of the silent auction, children's activities, and tailgate parties. The match will begin at 4:30 p.m. Special contests will also be held to determine the best ladies hat and best male bowtie at halftime. The evening gala, which will feature dinner, drinks, and a live auction will be held at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the Polo match are $25 for adults, $10 for children ages 7-12, and free for ages six and under. Individual gala tickets are $100 for adults and $25 for children. Special Eventures VIP Lounge and Gala tickets are also available for $150.

Festivities will be held at Buell Family Farm located at 2232 Bowen Blvd. in Fayetteville. For more information, contact Jennifer Maynard at [email protected].

NWA Charity Challenge of Champions
The 23rd annual Charity Challenge of Champions will kick off a busy weekend of golf, tennis and get-togethers on Sept. 18.

Participants will learn from the best at tennis clinic with celebrity pros at the Pinnacle Hills Country Club on Thursday (Sept. 18) from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The clinic will be followed by a VIP-only reception, hosted at the home of Honorary Co-Chair Matt Kistler at 7 p.m. Friday (Sept. 19) will include a full day of tennis play with the adult tournament, starting at 8 a.m.

A cocktail reception will be held that evening that will include a dinner, a live auction and charity presentations. The party will be held at the Club beginning at 7 p.m.

Exhibition matches and tournament play will continue on Saturday (Sept. 20). The evening will cap off with a Saturday Night Party. Guests will enjoy heavy hors d'oevres, complimentary beverages, live entertainment, and dancing from 7:30 p.m. to midnight.

Two Shot-Gun Scramble Tournaments will be held on Monday, Sept. 22. Tee times will be at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. A breakfast will also be held from 6:30 to 7:45am. Awards will be presented for the morning scramble at a luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A separate awards ceremony for the second round of play will take place at 6 p.m.

All proceeds from the dinner and other challenge activities benefit the Arkansas Crisis Center, which works to "restore hope, empower people and save lives through suicide awareness and crisis intervention services for those experiencing crises in Arkansas."

For more information, call 685-6142.

Light Night Party
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will celebrate the Fall Equinox with a Light Night Party around Leo Villareal’s illuminated sculpture, "Buckyball" on Sept. 20.

The evening adventure will kick off with an illuminated bike ride to the event from downtown Bentonville. Guests can show off their light-art decorated bikes, or come dressed in a lighted costume to be included in the illuminated bike and costume contest, which will be judged by representatives from Phat Tire Bike Shop. Riders will depart Phat Tire for the party at 7:15 p.m.

Guests will have the chance to work on "The Universe is in Us," a collaborative project by local artist Jennifer Gilder and visit with "State of the Art' artist John Douglas Powers at his interactive robotic station.  Moai Broadcast and Horse Thief will also be on-hand performing electronic music.

The party will be held at Crystal Bridges from 8 to 11 p.m. Snacks and beverages, including beer and wine, will be available for purchase. Admission to the party is free and no registration is required. For more information, call 657-2335.