December Events Taking Place in Central Arkansas

Kerry Kraus, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

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Note to the Print and Broadcast Media:

In order to better serve your needs and to keep you from getting extremely long documents from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, we have decided to break down our Travelin’ Arkansas release into regions organized by date. This way you will be able to look only at the areas you are interested in covering. The territories covered in Travelin' Arkansas adhere to the six geographical regions found in the Arkansas Tour Guide. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions: communications@arkansas.com or 501-682-7606.

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A holiday tradition in Little Rock for 35 years, the annual CARTI Auxiliary Festival of Trees will be held Dec. 1-3. Even the Scroogiest of people will be in the spirit after attending any of the numerous activities scheduled.

Take a "Stroll Through the Forest" and admire more than 20 incredibly designed and decorated Christmas trees. Shopping will be available at the Deck the Halls gift shop. Hours are 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Thursday, 1:30 p.m.-4 p.m. on Friday, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 ages 12 and younger. Senior Citizen Day is Dec. 1 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Those ages 55 and older are admitted free. Dr. David Lipschitz leads a lively discussion at 10:30 a.m. on health care issues and ways to live longer, healthier and happier. Light refreshments served.

Every little girl is a princess at The Sugar Plum Ball on Dec. 1 at the Statehouse Convention Center Ballroom. Admission to this daddy-daughter date night is $40 and includes dining, dancing and entertainment. Each little girl gets her own tiara.

The Festival of Fashion is Friday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m.–noon and features offerings from some of the trendiest stores and boutiques in Central Arkansas. See the latest in holiday fashions runway style while sipping champagne and sampling hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $50 each. Participating clothiers include Soiree, Barbara Jean, B. Barnett, Companions, Evolve, Faux Pas, Proposals, Roberson's Fine Jewelry, Scarlet, Solemates, Tulips and Vesta’s.

Friday night brings the Festival After Dark, a casual holiday mixer held amongst the many gorgeous decorated trees. Sophisticated singles and cosmopolitan couples will sample tasty tidbits from some of Central Arkansas’s most well-known restaurants. Live entertainment provided by Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster. Admission is $50.

Breakfast with Santa kicks off Saturday’s events at 9 a.m. in the Statehouse Convention Center Ballroom. Join Jolly Old St. Nick for a pancake breakfast, complete with games and live entertainment by children’s recording artist Brian Kinder. Tickets are $15 each.

Saturday’s grand finale is the annual Tux 'n Trees gala, beginning at 6 p.m. This black tie affair offers an evening of dining, dancing, and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $200 each. Proceeds from all events benefit CARTI and the cancer patients of Arkansas. Visit the CARTI website -- www.carti.com/ -- to purchase tickets. Additional information is available by calling 501-660-7634.

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Take Charles Dickens’ holiday classic “The Christmas Carol,” add some spritely tunes by Leslie Bricusse, and you have "Scrooge" the Musical. This melodious production is being presented by Benton’s The Royal Players, Dec.1-4 and Dec. 8-11. Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. The score and book are closely adapted from the music and screenplay of the 1970 musical film starring Albert Finney. Bricusse was nominated for an Academy Award for the film score. The Royal Theatre is located at 111 South Market Street in downtown Benton. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $5 for students. Visit www.theroyalplayers.com/ or phone 501-315-5483 for more information.

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Gas up the family vehicle and charge the camera battery…it’s time for North Little Rock’s 6th annual Holiday Lights in Burns Park. More than 40 displays will be set-up throughout the park, beginning at the Softball Complex and continuing along Funland Drive to the end at Military Drive. The lights are on from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. nightly from Dec. 1-31 except for Christmas Day. Admission is $5 per car, $10 per multi-passenger van, and $20 per motorcoach. Visit www.NorthLittleRock.travel or phone 501-753-7307 for more details.

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More than 80 members and guests of the Arkansas Craft Guild display and sell their works during their 33rd annual Christmas Showcase, Dec. 3-4 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. The best of traditional and contemporary fine art and crafts including handcrafted jewelry, glass vases, art photography, wood work, purses, decorative and functional pottery, handwoven clothing and accessories, furniture, candles, metal sculpture, paintings, and bath and spa products will be featured. Music will be by Charlie Mink, a dulcimer player with a unique finger picking style. Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday with a new early bird shopper special with free admission from 8-10 a.m.; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 per person. Visit www.arkansascraftguild.org or phone 870-269-4120 for more information.

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December 2-31 are the dates for the Arkansas Arts Center’s Collectors Show and Sale. This annual tradition, now in its 43rd year, brings a taste of the New York gallery scene to Little Rock. The show encourages local collecting by presenting a variety of works on paper in all media from more than 20 galleries from the Big Apple. “After scouring galleries in New York, a selection of works will be brought to Little Rock for display at the Arts Center--and everything is for sale,” stated Executive Director Dr. Todd Herman. “Given my background in Old Master drawings, look for a few more earlier examples of the draftsman's art in this year's installment as well as contemporary craft and glass works. I hope this exhibition inspires even more people to begin collecting art.” Admission is free. Phone 501-372-4000 to get additional details.

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Experience "A Conway Christmas" on Dec. 3 with the Conway Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Concert. According to sponsors, the “bigger and better than ever” event features The Nutcracker by the Arkansas Festival Ballet, a performance by the Central Arkansas Children’s Choir, and plenty of holiday favorites, old and new. The Reynolds Performance Hall curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $6 to $38. Visit www.conwaysymphony.org or phone 501-269-1066 for more information.

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You know it’s Christmas time in the city when Craig's Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis® rolls around. The 20th annual edition is Saturday, Dec. 3 and begins at the Little Rock River Market Pavilion. Be one of the thousands of runners and walkers who hit the pavements, pathways and parks this winter to fight arthritis, the nation’s most common cause of disability. Wear a holiday-themed costume, tie jingle bells to your shoelaces then run or walk a 5 kilometer route with your team members. Celebrate the season by giving. Visit www.arkansasjinglebellrun.org or phone 501-664-7242 for more information. Entry fee is $25.

After the race, don’t leave downtown Little Rock because the Big Jingle Jubilee Holiday Parade follows at 3 p.m. It begins at 2nd and Broadway, heading south on Broadway to Capitol Avenue. The route then goes west on Capitol, ending in front of the Arkansas State Capitol. Santa and Mrs. Claus are joined by various entries such as marching bands, floats, cars, animals and more.

Rounding out the spirited day is the 73rd annual State Capitol Lighting Ceremony. Craft activities and entertainment begin at 4 p.m. with the lights going on at sundown (approximately 6 p.m.), followed by fireworks. Visit www.holidaysinlittlerock.com for additional information.

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If you’ve never been on a lake during the colder months, then you’re in for a surprise. There’s a whole wonderful world out there that is only visible during this time. Join Pinnacle Mountain State Park for a Winter Discovery Lake Cruise, Saturday, Dec. 3. Come prepared to discover Lake Maumelle as it springs to life...in the middle of winter. The park and its surrounding bodies of water host thousands of animals that have migrated south. A park interpreter guides the way as participants search for these annual drop-in visitors that spend the winter around the lake. Dress in layers for extreme cold and windy lake weather. Advance payment of $10 for adults and $5 for ages 6-12 is required. Phone the park at 501-868-5806 for additional information. Meet at Jolly Roger’s Marina, 11800 Maumelle Harbour Road, just west of Little Rock.

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Laman Library in North Little Rock invites you to a Holiday Tree Trimming Party on Saturday, Dec. 3. You’ll make ornaments for the Children's Department Christmas tree, and take some home as well. This popular family event begins at 2 p.m. All activities take place in the Lecture Hall. Laman is located at 2801 Orange Street. Phone 501-758-1720 for additional information.

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Glorious holiday tunes offered by the Arkansas Chamber Singers will get everyone in the spirit. Two Little Rock concerts are available: Friday, Dec. 9, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1 Covenant Drive, and Sunday, Dec. 11 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, 617 South Louisiana Street.

The Chamber Singers recall “Masters in the Hall” for this holiday concert by highlighting carols of the season and featuring masterworks by Handel, Palestrina and a new work by Stephen Paulus. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and senior citizens ages 60 and over. Saturday’s event is at 7:30 p.m., Sunday’s is at 3 p.m. Visit www.ar-chambersingers.org or call 501-377-1121 for more information or to order tickets.

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What has become a Central Arkansas tradition is an appearance by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra during the holiday season. This year’s performances are 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Dec. 9 at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock. Trans-Siberian Orchestra mesmerizes their audience with a show that is as visually exciting as their music; their unique display includes lights, sound, fire, and lasers keeps the whole family intrigued from start to finish. The group's music is a blend of rock and classical merging together as “Symphonic Rock” that blends seamlessly with intertwined Christmas stories. Tickets are $31, $43, $53 and $63 (includes $1 to charity), with an eight-ticket limit. They are available at the Verizon Arena Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.stonecityattractions.com.

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Join top design experts Tom Chandler and Chris Olsen and visit seven of Little Rock’s finest homes decked out for the season during Wildwood Park’s Holiday Tour of Homes. It takes place on Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door, and can be ordered online at www.wildwoodpark.org. Phone 501-821-7275 for additional information.

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Conway hosts a Holiday Celebration with Pat Boone on Sunday, Dec. 11 at Reynolds Performance Hall on the UCA campus. Boone is the #10 all-time top recording Billboard artist. Listen as the legendary crooner regales the audience with new and old holiday favorites, along with his classics. The Central Arkansas Children’s Choir also performs. Tickets range from $10 to 40. Visit www.uca.edu/reynolds or phone 501-450-3406 for more information.

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Come serenade the “residents” of Pinnacle Mountain State Park with Caroling in the Forest Dec. 17. Meet at the Kingfisher Trail to stroll along a paved trail through the woods, singing favorite holiday carols. Bring a flashlight and dress appropriately for the weather. Join your fellow carolers for hot chocolate around a campfire at the Pinnacle Pavilion. Phone 501-868-5806 for more information.

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Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com

May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"