Phantoms of the Deep Turns Bentonville into a Living Fantasy World

Bentonville is hosting its first immersive fantasy weekend. Across two nights, you’ll choose a faction, move through a living story, and figure out which characters are actually on your side.

THE DEETS

Pick Your Side

Phantoms of the Deep is the third immersive event from Astraea Fantasy Events, which bills itself as the first bookish fantasy ball company in the Ozarks.

When you arrive, you choose your faction: Pirate, Mermaid (or Siren), or Fae. Pirates have two paths. Some run on loyalty and honor, others on ambition and chaos, and that choice is yours to make. Mermaids offer guidance, temptation, or outright misdirection. The fae play by rules that nobody fully understands, and they reward cleverness.

Every character you encounter may help you or deceive you. Alliances shift. Clues lead somewhere, but not always where you think.

How the Weekend Unfolds

Friday night eases you in at the local beach bar inside Hemlock Harbour. You’ll meet the harbor’s residents, swap stories, and get your footing in the world before the real stakes arrive.

Saturday night is where it builds. Expect an immersive evening of games, a plated dinner, and the possibility of a sword fight under the stars.

All weekend, a marketplace runs through the harbor where you can trade trinkets, explore unique wares, and lean further into your character.

What You’ll Actually Do

You move through the space, interact with characters, solve mysteries, and make choices that shape how your night plays out. The experience keeps you moving the entire time.

Take part in interactive quests, form alliances, uncover hidden truths, and piece together the mystery of Hemlock Harbour. Every interaction could shift the story.

Choose Your Level of Immersion

Tickets come in three tiers, each with a different depth of access.

Fabled — $275 gets you entry to the fantasy ball, a plated Surf & Turf dinner, reserved seating, all professional event photos, a photo op with your faction cast, and one drink ticket. You can also add on Combat Training or a Mystic Flow Session.

Legendary — $425 includes everything in Fabled, plus an exclusive Friday cocktail party, early entry into the ball and immersive spaces, an enhanced photo op, and the first clue to the mystery of Hemlock Harbour.

Mythical — $525 includes everything in Legendary, plus early entry into the marketplace, a VIP experience with cosplayers, and first access to tattoo appointments.

Tickets are limited to maintain the immersive experience, and some tiers may sell out before the event.

Get Your Costume Ready

Fantasy-inspired attire is strongly encouraged. Lean into your faction or build your own look entirely. There’s room to develop a character arc across the full weekend or try a different look each night.