Your Backstage Pass to Eureka Springs 

Hey there, music lovers! Mary here—your Eureka Springs insider, local event producer, music enthusiast, yoga guide, and lover of all things that make this quirky little town magical.

Today I’ve got my event producer hat on and we’re diving headfirst into one of my favorite subjects: live music in Eureka Springs.

Now, if you’ve spent even a weekend here, you already know—Eureka Springs doesn’t just have live music. It lives live music. It pulses through our streets, fills our venues, and dances into the night with you. Some say this is the place to catch the best live tunes in the region—and I couldn’t agree more.

From Bartender to Blues Fest

My journey into this scene started behind the bar at the iconic Cathouse Lounge. I spent five electric years there, slinging drinks and dancing my heart out to some of the best bands to ever roll through town. That rhythm never left me—it actually led me to co-create the EurekaPalooza Music Festival out at Lake Leatherwood with some of my favorite local humans. What a ride that was!

Fast forward a decade (and a few dozen epic playlists later), and here I am—still in the mix, now producing the Ozark Mountain Music Festival for 12 years strong and helping revive the beloved Eureka Springs Blues Festival, now entering its third year back in action.

Let’s Talk Blues Fest 2025 

Mark your calendars: May 29–June 1, 2025, downtown Eureka Springs is turning all the way up for the Eureka Springs Blues Festival.

We kick things off Thursday with a FREE Street Party in front of Basin Spring Park—and let me tell you, it’s already shaping up to be my favorite night of the whole weekend. Want my advice? Take off Friday. Book the extra night. You’ll thank me later.

Here’s the plan:
  Earl and Them bring the beat as performers of the past round out the locals blues jam,
  Patrick Sweany closes the night with his signature grit,
  The park comes alive with vendors, fire spinners, dazzling light shows, and that special Eureka energy that’s impossible to explain—but unforgettable once you feel it.

The Weekend Lineup

Friday and Saturday? Oh, we’re just lighting up the Basin Park Hotel’s Barefoot Ballroom and the historic Eureka Springs Auditorium (a.k.a. “The Aud”) with award-winning acts. Saturday’s Center Street Block Party returns with a full-blown beer tasting event, and the night ends with—no big deal—Grammy-winner Ruthie Foster and Anders Osborne bringing the house down at the Aud.

Yeah… just the biggest show I’ve ever booked in my life. No pressure.

And Then Comes the Afterparty…

The good vibes keep going late into the night with local faves:
  Chelsea’s (our divey, lovable music haven) is rolling out music Thursday through Sunday.
  Upstairs at The Grotto, the Official After FUNK Party takes over Saturday night.

Don’t Miss This: Patrick Sweany’s Sunday Set

And if you’ve made it this far into the weekend, you’re in for one final treat: Patrick Sweany’s Sunday Afternoon set at Chelsea’s. It’s become an annual tradition—a moment. And it just keeps getting better every year.

All information can be found at https://eurekaspringsbluesparty.com/ 

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So there you have it, friends. Blues, beer, block parties, and that unmistakable Eureka magic. Whether you’re a long-time local or just passing through, I hope to see your smiling face in the crowd.

See you on the dance floor,
– Mary