LITTLE ROCK — 1 RALPHIE’S RIFLE
Arkansas Repertory Theatre is staging A Christmas Story, a whimsical family tale spun from the beloved 1983 movie written by Jean Shepherd. Opening at 7 p.m. Friday after a preview performance at 7 p.m. today, and running through Dec. 26, it features bespectacled little Ralphie Parker. He wants Santa to bring him an official Red Ryder air rifle despite repeated warnings that “You’ll shoot your eye out.” (See full story on Page 4E.)
2 JINGLING JUNIE
Junie B. Jones returns to the stage of Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre in Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! by Allison Gregory, adapted from the series of books by Barbara Park, at 7 p.m. Friday, 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 19 at the Arts Center in MacArthur Park, 10th and Commerce streets, Little Rock. Tickets are $14, $11 for children. Call (501) 372-4000 or visit arkarts.com.
3 SCINTILLATING CIRCUS
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus comes to North Little Rock’s Verizon Arena with its “Illuscination” show, today-Sunday. There’ll be seven performances: at 7 p.m. today, 10:40 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets run from $11.75 to $50.75, with some discounts available. They can be bought at the Verizon Arena box office or via Ticketmaster: (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.
4 SEASON’S STRUTTING
The Big Jingle Jubilee Holiday Parade starts with a jingle and ends with a bang in Little Rock on Saturday. The Christmas floats, bands and dancers will make their way through downtown, starting at Second Street and Broadway at 3 p.m., then heading to the state Capitol. The official lighting of the Capitol and the fireworks show will start at about 5:30 or 6 p.m. Admission is free. Call (501) 376-4781 or visit holidaysinlittlerock.com.
5 TINSELED TUBAS
Ballet dancers, a children’s choir and a passel of tuba players will join the Conway Symphony Orchestra for its Tinsel, Tutus, Tunes and Tubas! concert, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall, University of Central Arkansas, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway. Dancers from the Arkansas Festival Ballet will perform selections from Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker; the Central Arkansas Children’s Choir will perform Pueri Concinite by Johann von Herbeck; and the Tubachristmas Troupe, an assemblage of regional tuba and euphonium players, will play traditional Christmas tunes. Israel Getzov will be on the podium. Fortier Inc. is underwriting the concert; Smith Ford is sponsoring the guest artists. Tickets are $6-$38. Call (501) 450-3265 or (866) 810-0012 or visit uca. edu/tickets.
6 CELEBRITY SIGNERS
Artistic aprons and other items (some autographed by Bill Clinton, Madeleine Albright and Jermaine Taylor) will be up for auction at the fourth annual Tie One On fundraiser for Our House, a Little Rock shelter and resource center for the working homeless, adults and children, 6:30-9 p.m. today at Pavilion in the Park, 8201 Cantrell Road, Little Rock. Also part of the event: food by Trio’s, libations and jazz. Dress code is “winter casual.” Tickets are $50. Call (501) 374-7383, Extension 200, e-mail ganelle@ourhouseshelter.org or visit OurHouseShelter.org.
7 MERRY MUSEUMS
Two downtown Little Rock museums will celebrate the season Sunday. Historic Arkansas Museum will open its doors for oldfashioned fun at the Christmas Frolic and Open House, 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Activities will include pioneer dances and games, art projects, model trains, demonstrations and re-enactments and the first public viewing of the Woodruff Print Shop reconstruction. Admission is free. Call (501) 324-9351. Old State House Museum will be festooned with garlands and wreaths for the annual Holiday Open House, 1-4:30 p.m. Sunday, featuring hands-on activities for children, Christmas carols and refreshments. Admission is free. Call (501) 324-9685 or visit oldstatehouse.com.
8 ECLECTIC EVERGREENS
Dancing, music and a forest of fully decorated trees are planned for the CARTI Auxiliary Festival of Trees, today-Saturday. The festival is an amalgam of events at the Statehouse Convention Center benefiting the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute. Guests can admire all the decorated trees at the Stroll Through the Forest, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. today, 1:30-4 p.m. Friday and 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5, $3 for children 12 and under. Today is Senior Day, with free admission for ages 55 and older and a discussion with Dr. David Lipschitz. Fathers and daughters can spend quality time at the Sugar Plum Ball, 6-8:30 p.m. today, $35. The Festival of Fashion show is 11 a.m.-noon Friday, $50. Festival After Dark, a casual mixer, will be 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Breakfast With Santa is set for 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, $15. Saturday night, Tux ’n Trees wraps things up with a formal dinner and auctions at 6 p.m. Tickets are $200. Call (501) 660-7634 or visit carti.com.
9 HISTORIC HOMES
Five of the city’s venerable homes will be open to visitors at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church’s annual fundraising Christmas in the Quarter, 2-6 p.m. Sunday. Refreshments as well as seasonal music including caroling will be part of the mix at the festively decorated houses. Shuttle buses will operate. Tickets are $20. Call (501) 375-1600 or visit qqumc.org.
10 GUILDED GOODIES
Handmade jewelry, glass, pottery, woodwork and paintings will be on offer at the Arkansas Craft Guild’s annual Christmas Showcase. Artists and artisans from across the state will sell their works 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at the Statehouse Convention Center. Admission is $5. Call (870) 269-4120 or visit arkansascraftguild.org.
Weekend, Pages 35 on 12/02/2010