Travelin' Arkansas: Events Taking Place in January

"CATS!," the smash hit musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber, will be performed on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 5-6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Perot Theater at 219 Main St. in downtown Texarkana.

Tickets range from $48 to $5 and student discounts are available. For more information, phone the theater box office at (903) 792-8681 or e-mail nfhutcheson@trahc.org. Additional information on online ticket purchases, on the Perot, including a seating chart, and on other programs in the theater's on-going 25th entertainment season is available at http://trahc.org.

Information on lodging, restaurants and other attractions in the Texarkana area may be obtained from the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce by phone at (903) 792-7191 or by visiting its Web site at www.texarkana.org and selecting "Visitor's Guide."

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Each winter across the state, numerous state parks, as well as private businesses, offer guided trips for eagle viewing. Trips include hikes, lake tours and some van tours. All take bird watchers within easy viewing distance of our national symbol. Call ahead about events to ensure availability and confirm dates.

• Bull Shoals-White River State Park, Lakeview. Bull Shoals Lake and White River tailwater areas below Bull Shoals Dam play host to more than 100 bald eagles migrating to and through this prime eagle wintering ground. See eagles, hawks, owls, and other birds of prey in the wild. Activities include eagle-spotting lake tours, guided bird walks, guest speakers, and a visit with a live mature bald eagle and other birds of prey. Tour dates: Jan. 13 and 14. Programs are free, except lake tours: $6 adults, $3 ages 6-12. Contact: (870) 431-5521.

• Petit Jean State Park, Morrilton. Park interpreters devote two days to our national symbol, the bald eagle. A variety of programs will be offered, including field trips to Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge to see wintering bald eagles along the Arkansas River. Tour dates: Jan. 14 and 15. Admission: free. Contact: (501) 727-5441 or visit www.petitjeanstatepark.com.

• Belle of the Ozarks, Rogers. Captain Jay Viator will take passengers into favorite winter habitats for eagles during the 13th annual Eagle Watch on Beaver Lake cruises aboard the Belle of the Ozarks, which will depart from Rocky Branch Marina. Expert guides on each two-hour cruise inform passengers about birds of prey and other wildlife sighted during each cruise. All seats for cruises are reserved and must be pre-paid. Tour dates: Jan. 27-29. Admission: $17 adults, $7 children under 12. Contact: Belle of the Ozarks, 1-800-552-3803 or visit the Web site www.estc.net/belle.

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Some 100 vendors are expected to be on hand Friday through Sunday, Jan. 13-15 at the Hot Springs Convention Center in Hot Springs as the Tri-Lakes Coin Club hosts its annual Coin, Stamp and Sports Card Show. Admission and parking will be free.

Event hours will be 2-6 p.m. on Jan. 13, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan.14, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 15. For more information visit www.hotspringscoinshow.com or phone (501) 624-0074.

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Moro Bay State Park near Jersey in southern Arkansas will be hosting a Backyard Birding Workshop on Saturday, Jan. 21 beginning at 1 p.m. at the park's visitor center. The event will begin with a bird-watching tour in the park, after which local experts will discuss how to provide food and shelter for wild birds in the yard. Participants will be taking home birdhouses and birdfeeders.

Pre-registration is required and admission will be $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. The park is located on U.S. 63 about 23 miles northeast of El Dorado and 29 miles southwest of Warren. For more information, contact the park by phone at (870) 463-8555 or by e-mail at morobay@arkanasas.com. More information on the park is available at www.ArkansasStateParks.com.

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PaperMoon Attractions is bringing entertainment to Eureka Springs this winter with Tartanic in Concert on Jan. 21 at The City Auditorium.

Tartanic showcases traditional and innovative Celtic music with bagpipes and world-flavor percussion to fuse contrasting musical conventions into nothing short of explosive music. Traditional jigs and reels are forced into the future musical world as Tartanic launches live performance to a high-energy rhythm.

Admission is $25 in advance online, $30 the day of the show or $12 for ages under 18.

For more information, contact Steve Shell at (479) 363-0363. Keep up-to-date on more attractions from PaperMoon at www.PaperMoonAttractions.com.

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Arkansas' two archeological state parks -- Toltec Mounds and Parkin -- will have pottery workshops on Jan. 28. Experience the lifestyle of the Plum Bayou people who once occupied the Toltec Mounds site by learning to create, as they did, ceramic vessels for use in everyday life. Participants will be taught hand-building techniques for making pottery and be able to take home the two pots they've made. Families are welcome and reservations are required. Advance payment, which is required, confirms the reservation. Admission is $20. Hours are 10 a.m. to noon. Contact the park at (501) 961-9442 or toltecmounds@arkansas.com.

Parkin's Primitive Pottery Workshop, also on the 28th, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the park visitor center. Those taking part will be able to learn the ancient craft of pottery making by using natural materials. The vessels will then be fired in an open fire pit at a later date. Instructor for the event is Wynne artist Angela Benderman. Workshop fee includes instruction, materials and tools. Bring a sack lunch. Space is limited; reservations are required. Admission is $20. The park can be reached for more information by calling (870) 755-2500 or e-mailing parkin@arkansas.com.

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The Freddy Cole Quartet, featuring the younger brother of legendary pianist and vocalist Nat "King" Cole, will be appearing in concert in Helena at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30 as part of the 38th season of the annual Warfield Concerts series. The performance will include songs by Jerome Kern, Cole Porter and the elder Cole. Admission will be free.

The concert, which will not be open to children under 6, will be in the 1,200-seat Lily Peter Auditorium on the campus of the Phillips County Community College/University of Arkansas. The campus can be reached by following directional signs located on U.S. 49-B in Helena.

Up to four free tickets can be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed legal-size envelope to Warfield Concerts, P.O. Box 81, Helena AR 72342. In Helena, tickets can be obtained at the Phillips County Chamber of Commerce at 111 Hickory Hill Drive and at the Arkansas Welcome Center on the U.S. 49-Bypass. Ticket holders will be seated first, with others admitted beginning at 7:20 p.m.

For more information, e-mail the chamber at pcchamber@hnb.com or phone Bettye Hendrix at (870) 572-1123. Information about additional Warfield performances is available at www.warfieldconcerts.com.

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