Holiday Happenings
Editor's Note: This article is from 2017. But you can find current events taking place on our Events page!
The holidays are upon us! Below are some festive events taking place across the region to keep on the radar to help celebrate the season.
The Arlington Hotel’s annual Gingerbread House Celebration takes place December 1 in the lobby of the hotel from 4:30-5:30 p.m in Hot Springs. The house, which will be on display until the end of year, is made up of 300 pounds of gingerbread, 350 pounds of candy and 250 pounds of frosting. If you plan to head there, there will be caroling, an official lighting of the tree, and Santa will be on hand to join the festivities too.
Fine art galleries and studios in Hot Springs are having a special Gallery Walk that includes a weekend of art demos, exhibits, and events December 1-3. The event is part of the second annual “It’s a Wonderful Life in Hot Springs” holiday celebration.
You can head to Historic Washington State Park on December 2 or 9 to catch the park’s annual Christmas and Candlelight event. There will be candlelit streets through the historic village and visitors can see homes adorned with historic period decorations such as pine cones, magnolia, and evergreens. Daylight tours are from 1-5 p.m. and candlelight tours begin at 5 p.m. when thousands of luminaries will be lit. These tours continue until 8 p.m.
Hot Springs is also hosting a Christmastime in Arkansas concert on December 15 at 7 p.m. at the Hot Springs Convention Center. The event features country singer Joe Diffie, The Ned Perme Band, Ryan Couron, and Bonnie Montgomery.Tickets are $25 per person and you can get them via Ticketmaster.
For more holiday music, on December 16 the South Arkansas Symphony’s Christmas Holiday Pops is taking place in El Dorado at the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium at 100 W. Eighth Street. The concert features soprano Haley Greer, baritone Greg Pearson and more than 120 singers from high school choirs across the region, mixing new seasonal traditions with familiar selections.
You can also load up the car and experience a drive-in movie at the Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport on December 23 at 6 p.m. This event features a free screening of The Polar Express. The movie, which stars Tom Hanks, is about a young boy who embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express. During the adventure he learns about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.
