10 THINGS TO DO

LITTLE ROCK — 1. Steer. Cars, trucks and motorcycles are taking over the River Market for Sonic's Big Cruisefest. The gates open at 9 a.m. today-Saturday for this gathering of classic cars, muscle cars, street rods, trucks and motorcycles. On Saturday, special activities will include the Kids Cruisin' Corral, a superhero children's parade, adult tricycle races and a variety of contests, all centered in the River Market pavilions and Riverfront Park. Admission for spectators is $1, free for children 12 and under. For participants, registration is $35. Visit www.bigcruisefest. com or call (501) 370-3201.

2. Jump. The Little Rock Zoo is all decked out in its spookiest finery for the annual Boo at the Zoo! With rides, concessions, a haunted house, haunted train, games, trick-or-treating, there's plenty of scary fun for all ages. The party goes on 6-9 p.m. through Wednesday. Admission is $4 for zoo members and $5 for nonmembers. Call (501) 661-7203. For scares and thrills that are more adult-oriented, the Arkansas Arts Center Studio Series presents a stage version of the zombie classic, Night of the Living Dead. The reanimated corpses take to the stage at 10 p.m. today, 8 p.m. Saturday-Tuesday. Tickets are $7 and the show is not appropriate for children under 14. (501) 372-4000.

3. Walk with spirits. If you want your Halloween chills to come with a bit of history and education, take a trip to the Arkansas Post National Memorial for Ghosts of the Past. People from Arkansas Post's past will tell their tales as visitors embark on a candlelight tour of the site. Tours last one hour and leave every 15 minutes from 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday. The memorial is on Arkansas 169, seven miles south of Gillett. Admission is free but reservations are recommended. Call (870) 548-2207. At the opposite end of the state, Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park will present Haunted Battlefield Tours every 15-20 minutes from 7-10 p.m. Saturday. The park is on U.S. 62 in Prairie Grove and tours are free. Call (479) 846-2990.

4. Consume. Eat your fill of beans and corn bread at Mountain View's Arkansas Bean Fest and Championship Outhouse Race on Saturday. While you chow down on the products of the bean cook-off, you can listen to the music around the square, browse the arts and crafts booths, or watch as contestants race their pedalpowered outhouses down the street. Admission is free. Visit www.yourplaceinthemoun tains.com or call (870) 269-8068.

5. Suit up. Re-enactors are setting up camp on the shores of DeGray Lake for a weekend of educational fun. DeGray Lake Resort State Park's Civil War Weekend will be open to the public 10 a.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. Sunday and visitors are invited to come out to witness the battles and learn about authentic camp life, period clothing and the roles of women. Admission is free. The park is on Arkansas 7 at Bismarck. Call (501) 865-2809.

6. Mix it up. Budding chemists have the chance to create all sorts of concoctions at the Museum of Discovery's Bewitching Chemistry program. Showtimes are at 1 p.m. today, 11:30 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday. The laboratory is open 10:30 a.m., 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission to the museum, 500 President Clinton Ave., is $8, $7 for ages 65 and older and children ages 1-12. Call (501) 396-7050.

7. Go back. The old days will be revisited in historic downtown Fort Smith with re-enactments, presentations, demonstrations, storytelling and crafts. The Frontier Fest on Saturday and Sunday will take place where history happened: on the grounds of the Fort Smith National Historic Site, the Frisco Railroad Depot and the River Parks complex. General admission is free. Visit www. fortsmithfrontierfest.org or call (479) 783-8888.

8. Breathe deeply. Enjoy the great outdoors with a Picnic in the Pavilion. Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts invites guests to spend an afternoon in the great outdoors, exploring Wildwood's arboretum and gardens. The grounds will open at noon Sunday and guided tours will begin at 2 p.m. Visitors can bring their own lunch or order a lunch at the park for $9, $3 for children under 12. The park is at 20919 Denny Road. Call (501) 821-7275.

9. Stare. The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival draws to a close this weekend with films including War Dance, Watching the Waters Rise and On a Tightrope continuing through Sunday. There are also several filmmaker question-and-answer sessions and a special workshop with Chris Gore. All screenings are at the Malco Theater in downtown Hot Springs. Tickets are $5 for a single film, $20 for a day pass and $50 for a three-day pass. Visit www.hsdfi.org or call (501) 321-4747.

10. Get chili. Chili lovers can have a field day Saturday. The Ozark Foothills Chili Cook-off at the Speedway RV Park Complex in Desha starts with a 7 a.m. setup time, followed by judging at 1 p.m. The cooking and tasting will be accompanied by a car show, music, arts and crafts and displays. Admission is $2, free for ages 18 and under. Call (870) 251-1008. Saturday chili cook-offs are also part of Russellville's Fall Festival, (479) 967-1437; the Lake Chicot Fall Festival in Lake Village, (870) 265-5997; and the adults-only Spice Up Your Southern Accent Chili Cook-off in Pine Bluff, (870) 535-0181. Call for more information.

E-mail things to do to: jnixon@arkansasonline.com