January Events Taking Place in Central Arkansas

Kerry Kraus, travel writer
Arkansas Tourism

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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If you are a bicyclist and one of your New Year’s resolutions is to ride more, or if you’re a newbie and want to give distance riding a try, then the New Year's Day Bicycle Ride should interest you. The annual 30- to 35-mile round trip ride from North Little Rock to east Pulaski County takes place Jan. 1. The trek begins at 10 a.m. at the North Little Rock Kroger, 2509 McCain Blvd at North Hills Blvd. There is no entry fee. Contact the Arkansas Bicycle Club for more information by calling 501-912-1449.

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Sandwiching in History Tours offered by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP) are an entertaining way to spend your lunch hour. The Jan. 7 destination is the Seed Warehouse #5 at Plantation Agriculture Museum State Park in Scott. Tours last no more than one hour. An AHPP historian gives a brief talk about the property before leading guests on a tour. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunches with them.

Built in 1948, Seed Warehouse #5 in Scott was a collection and distribution point for cotton, soybean, corn and oat seeds. Today, exhibits explain the seed business and how the warehouse worked through artifacts, interactive models, photographs and self-guided tour information. America’s only intact vintage seed warehouse open to the public, it details how cotton, soybean, corn and oat seeds were collected, cleaned and distributed to farmers for planting crops. Plantation Agriculture Museum State Park is located at the southwest corner of U.S. 165 & Ark. 161 n Scott. Call 501-324-9880 for more information.

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“The Cars are the Stars” at the Auto Extravaganza, Jan. 7-9 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. The largest indoor auto show in Arkansas, it features hot rods, street rods, marquis cars, and entertainment. Other activities include Trick Chick Boulevard for ladies who want to shop; magic balloon art by Derrick Rose, the Magic Man; caricature portraits by Jim Tindall Artistry, and exhibitions by Mega’s Powerhouse gymnastics and cheerleading teams, and United Freestyle cyclists. A pin striping extravaganza showcasing six of the best pin stripers in the country is also on the agenda. Tony Witt, an Elvis tribute artist, and the band FEVER perform as does Chris Yerling, entertainer extraordinaire pantomime artist. Hours for the International Show Car Association-sanctioned show are 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 7, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Jan. 8, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 9. For more information visit www.cruisinlittlerock.com or phone 800-844-4781.

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Eagle Lake Cruises offered by Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Little Rock are held each Saturday this month: Jan. 8, 15, 22 and 29. Join park interpreters at Jolly Roger’s Marina for a cruise on Lake Maumelle to seek wintering Bald Eagles. Usually several eagles and other migratory waterfowl are spotted. Participants are encouraged to dress in layers for extreme cold and windy lake weather. Advance payment of $10 for adults and $5 for ages 6-12 is required. The marina is located at 11800 Maumelle Harbor Road. Call the park at 501-868-5806 for more information.

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Learn the pioneer version of microwaving during the Dutch Oven Cooking Workshop at Pinnacle Mountain State Park on Jan. 16 and 29. Park staff demonstrates how to cook tasty meals over an open campfire. You can discover the methods and secrets of how to cook outdoors in this frontier cooking vessel. Advance payment of $35 is required. Meet at the park visitor center, 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road in west Little Rock. For more information phone 501-868-5806.

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January 16 brings the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration to Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. The children’s event, “Characters of Change,” features Park Ranger Christian Davis reading the book “Dear Dr. King: Letters From Today’s Children to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” Afterward children write letters to the Little Rock Nine describing how they can be characters of change today. Letters will be displayed in the visitor center lobby. A showing of a children’s animated film, “Our Friend Martin: A Magical Movie Adventure,” is at approximately 3 p.m. The visitor center is located at 2120 Daisy Bates Drive across the street from Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. Phone 501-374-1957 for additional information.

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A national touring production of “Cats,” the second longest running show in Broadway history, is coming to Conway Jan. 18. Composed by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, this adaptation of T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Expect to hear all the wonderful music including “Memory.”

Tickets range from $10 for students to $40 for the general public and are available from the University of Central Arkansas. Reynolds Performance Hall on the UCA campus is where the performance takes place. For more information or to order tickets, phone 501-450-3682.

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“The Color Purple” takes stage at Robinson Center Music Hall in Little Rock, Jan. 21-23. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and Steven Speilberg’s Academy Award-nominated film, this national touring musical production tells the story of Celie, who triumphs over unbelievable odds to find joy and her inner beauty.
The Broadway show competed for 11 Tony® Awards while the score of blues, jazz and gospel was up for a GRAMMY®. Order tickets online by visiting www.celebrityattractions.com or by calling 501-244-8800.

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Learn the ancient art of Navajo Sandpainting by attending a workshop presented by Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park in Scott, Jan. 22. This Native American art is a religious ceremony. Participants create their own works with materials provided by the park. According to the staff, making art in traditional ways with simple materials helps people connect with the prehistoric residents who lived at the Toltec site more than 1,000 years ago. Families are welcome. Reservations and advance deposit of $5 are required. Contact the park 501-961-9442 for more information. Toltec Mounds is located at 490 Toltec Mounds Road off U.S. 165 South.

As of November 2022, Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park has been renamed Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park. For more information, click here.

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January 29 and 30 are the dates for the Arkansas Symphony's Reformation concert at Robinson Center Music Hall. Guest cellist Julie Albers performs along with the orchestra, conducted by music director Philip Mann. Selections presented include Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 – Reformation, Cello Concerto by Elgar, and Barber’s The School for Scandal Overture. The curtain goes up at 8 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets range from $14 to $48 and can be ordered by visiting www.ArkansasSymphony.org or by calling 501-666-1761. Robinson Center is located at the corner of Markham and Broadway in downtown Little Rock.