Travelin’ Central Arkansas: Events Taking Place During February

Kerry Kraus, travel writer
Arkansas Tourism

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 Tennessee Williams literary classic, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," takes the stage Feb. 5 presented by the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. The performances run through Feb. 21. The 1955 Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama, the story is of the Pollitts, a Southern family in crisis. The play has been described as being “full of themes such as the emerging power of women and the mendacity of the powerful that are more pertinent today than ever before” and as a comment on the “decaying Southern society.”

Go to www.therep.org to order tickets online. The Rep is located at 601 Main Street in downtown Little Rock. For more information call the box office at 501-378-0405.

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One of the 20th century’s most prolific and popular composers will be in Conway on Feb. 9 for “An Evening with Marvin Hamlisch.” Hamlisch gained major recognition in the 1970s for his adaptations of Scott Joplin’s ragtime tunes as the score for “The Sting” movie. He is one of only two people (the other is Richard Rogers) who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, a Tony and a Pulitzer Prize. Hamlisch has also been the recipient of a Golden Globe. The concert, which features the Conway Symphony Orchestra, is at 7:30 p.m. in the Reynolds Performance Hall on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas. Ticket prices range from $5 to $36. Visit www.conwaysymphony.org or call 501-269-1066 for additional information.

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The Arkansas Governor’s Mansion is the setting for A Valentine Affaire on Feb. 11. Enjoy champagne and chocolates while being serenaded with love songs sung by Satia Spencer. The event takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Arkansas Chamber Singers. The mansion is located at 1800 Center Street in downtown Little Rock’s historic Quapaw Quarter. Visit www.ar-chambersingers.org/ to order tickets online. Admission is $65. E-mail info@ar-chambersingers.org or call 501-377-1121 for more information.

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A sure harbinger of spring in central Arkansas is the annual Arkansas Flower & Garden Show. The 19th edition will be Feb. 26-28 at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock. Theme for this year’s show is “A World of Gardening,” and features 100 vendors, speakers, how-to gardening demonstrations, a silent auction and the Big Backyard Family Learning Center. There will also be nine to 10 display gardens, the Dreaming in Technicolor advanced standard flower show, and a competition featuring professional florist’s table-top creations. The show is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7.50 for adults and $5 for ages 6-12 and senior citizens ages 60 and up. A three-day pass is $20 and children under age 6 are free. For more information, visit www.arflowerandgardenshow.org/, e-mail krista.quinn@yahoo.com or phone 501-821-4000.

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Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a beginner looking to start a collection, the 23nd annual Arkansas Glasshopper Inc. Depression Era Glass and Pottery Show is a must on your February calendar. Dates are Feb. 27 and 28. Dealers from 14 states show and sell china, glassware and pottery from the Depression era. Also scheduled are glass identification booths and special displays of rare glass. The Hall of Industry on the Arkansas State Fairgrounds in Little Rock is the site of the event and admission is $5. For more information e-mail or phone Bud Martin at bgmarglass@sbcglobal.net or 501-868-4969.

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Prompted by the first full moon of the lunar year, Wildwood Park hosts one of the most unusual winter events in Arkansas Feb. 26-28, with LANTERNS! The park’s botanical gardens provide the setting for visitors as they stroll along paved walkways lighted by lakeside fire pits and luminaries. Eight cultural stops along the way have international foods and entertainment highlighting Shakespearean England, Mexico, Venice, old Americana, Asia, Africa and even the moon.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children age 6-12, with children age 5 and under admitted free. Wildwood is located at 20919 Denny Road in west Little Rock. Visit www.wildwoodpark.org to order tickets online and for more information.