Beautiful Beginnings Baby Fair brings free family fun and expert support to Benton

Free community event features Q&A with physicians, car seat checks, shaved ice and giveaways

BENTON, Ark. (May 14, 2026) – From postpartum support resources and car seat safety checks to party planning and children’s boutiques, the Beautiful Beginnings Baby Fair will connect growing families with hands-on education, expert guidance and family fun at the Benton Event Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 6.

Hosted by Saline Memorial Hospital, the free community event will bring together health professionals and family-focused businesses and organizations for an afternoon designed to support parents through every stage of maternity and early childhood.

“Preparing for a baby and parenting young children can feel overwhelming at times, and we want families to know they don’t have to navigate it alone,” said Payton Mills, the hospital’s director of Women and Infants services. “Our goal is for families to leave knowing they’re surrounded by a community ready to help them thrive.”

The Women and Infants team from Saline Memorial will provide newborn care tips and hands‑on practice through the Baby Boot Camp, which concludes with an empathy belly obstacle course. The challenger with the best time on the course wins a Chicco Bravo 3-in-1 Quick-Fold Trio Travel System sponsored by Saline Women’s Clinic and Saline Pediatric Associates.

Attendees will also have opportunities to connect with pediatricians and OB/GYNs during live Q&A sessions and learn more about breastfeeding and childbirth. Technicians from Arkansas Children’s Child Passenger Safety Education program will provide car seat safety checks.

“Parenting today comes with a lot of questions, and events like this give families a chance to connect directly with trusted medical professionals and community resources in a relaxed setting,” said Dr. Ajitha Yeluru, pediatrician at Saline Memorial Hospital. “We want parents to feel confident asking questions and learning more about the support available to them.”

Along with educational and safety resources, the baby fair also offers plenty of family‑friendly fun. Families can enjoy complimentary shaved ice from Hobo Joe’s, and Arvest Bank is sponsoring a children’s activity area with soft play for younger children and inflatables for older children. The Saline County Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is also sponsoring free face painting from Sparkle Mi Face Painting.

Build-A-Bear Workshop will be on-site creating special moments for families attending the event, with complimentary bears available for the first 50 children and/or pregnant moms.

In addition to the activities and educational opportunities, the baby fair will feature special giveaways and a variety of local vendors offering resources for families. Key door prizes include a bassinet, 3D ultrasound session from Picture Perfect Ultrasound, along with additional giveaways provided by participating partners throughout the event.

Families can also explore booths from organizations such as Ujima Maternity Network, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Advanced Physical Therapy, Medicaid and ARKids, Baby Bliss Ultrasound, local children’s boutiques, postpartum mental health resources, UAMS Milk Bank and Pop of Sav party décor.

“Events like this reflect what makes Saline County special,” said Char Boulch, CEO of Saline Memorial Hospital. “When local businesses, health professionals and community partners come together to support families, it strengthens the foundation of our entire community. We’re proud to host a day that celebrates parents, connects them to trusted resources and reminds them that Saline Memorial is here for every step of their journey.”

About Saline Memorial Hospital

Saline Health System, a part of Lifepoint Health, is made up of Saline Memorial Hospital, a 177-bed acute care facility, and Saline Clinics, a network of primary care and specialty clinics. Saline Memorial Hospital has been caring for Saline County and its surrounding communities for more than 70 years. Saline Memorial Hospital is proud to be recognized as a Leapfrog Grade “A” Hospital for its commitment to patient safety and with the Platinum Performance Achievement Award from the Chest Pain-MI Registry for delivering the highest quality care for cardiac patients. The hospital is accredited through The Joint Commission for meeting quality and safety standards, the American College of Cardiology as a Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI, the MBSAQIP as a bariatric surgery center, Optum in the Bariatric Centers of Excellence network, CARF as a rehabilitation center and the AASM as a sleep center.

More information about Saline Memorial Hospital is available at 501.776.6000 or online at SalineMemorial.org. More information about Lifepoint Health is available at LifepointHealth.net.