August is heating up with unforgettable music performances on Arkansas PBS, as we roll out a star-studded lineup of concert specials that span generations and genres. From the iconic Neil Diamond lighting up Madison Square Garden to the soulful sounds of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and the legendary Joe Bonamassa taking the stage with a full orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl, music lovers are in for a treat. With performances by Johnny Cash’s famous friends, golden oldies legends and folk icons Peter, Paul and Mary, this month’s programming hits every note.

“Arkansas’s historic bridges speak to us in different ways,” Tommy Sanders narrates at the beginning of the film. “To some, they sing. To some, they bang. To some, they whir. They stand as a testament to a time when practicality was a union of strength and beauty. To an artist, the bridges connect the present to the past and people to a community and a sense of place.

The summer tour guide doesn’t stop in August! If you’re looking for those last-minute trips around the state, we’ll help you plan with some of Chuck Dovish’s favorite swimming holes around the state; magnificent waterways and popular scenic byways from a birds-eye view; a visit the Delta to learn its history; and high flying adventure with an aviation family from Northwest Arkansas.

Tune in or stream each Thursday at 7 p.m.

Ally Loter graduated from UCA in May 2025 with a major in innovation and entrepreneurship. She loves photography, videography, and graphic design, and she is forever a PBS kid at heart!

A Day in the Life of a PBS KID

Earlier this month, we celebrated the U.S.’s 249th birthday. You can continue the celebration all month long on Arkansas PBS Passport with programming that showcases the historical figures, culture, outdoors, iconic symbols and travel that make up our nation. As we head into the year of our semi-sesquicentennial next July, be on the lookout for events, programming and more from Arkansas PBS.  

It’s the middle of summer, and temperatures aren't expected to drop anytime soon. You can still get out and have those picnics, though. We’ve brought four recipes from the Arkansas PBS original production “Cooking on the Wild Side” to the blanket that you’ll have to prepare in advance, but we promise they’re worth it!

Each Saturday at 2:30 p.m., “Cooking on the Wild Side” brings back Phyllis Speer and John Philpot with mouth-watering recipes and endearing banter from the original “Arkansas Outdoors” series.

If you are still deciding where to explore this summer, may we entice you with programming featuring historic figures and places in Arkansas? Don’t miss these three Arkansas PBS-produced documentaries! In July’s summer programming tour guide, you’ll learn about the life and legacies of two iconic Arkansans; how dairy bars thrived when the world shut down; and the stories behind the historic bridges of Arkansas.

T. Glenn Pait, M.D., FACS, FAANS
Professor of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedics Surgery
Director of the Jackson T. Stephens Spine and Neurosciences Institute, UAMS

Juneteenth marks a powerful turning point in American history – the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas finally learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Since the late 1800s, African American communities have honored June 19 as a celebration of liberation, perseverance and cultural heritage. This month, Arkansas PBS invites you to join in that celebration with compelling programming that honors the stories, struggles and triumphs of Black Americans – past and present.

HOW TO WATCH

Dig into local flavor with the first episode of “To Dine For With Kate Sullivan’s: Season 7” featuring Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art founder Alice Walton. The episode will premiere on Arkansas PBS and stream at myarpbs.org/live Saturday, June 21, at 2 p.m.