THE WEEKEND TEN

LITTLE ROCK — 1 QUACK UP

Stuttgart’s annual Wings Over the Prairie Festival lets fly with its main events this weekend. The carnival and midway area is open today-Saturday. Arts and crafts, the sporting collectibles show and duck-calling events start Friday. The main attractions come Saturday: the Great 10K Duck Race, the World Championship Duck Gumbo Cook-off and the World Championship Duck Calling Contest. General festival admission is free. Call (870) 673-1602 or visit stuttgartarkansas.org.

2 SHOP ’TIL YOU STOP

The sale circulars in today’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette are a cue to bundle up and be prepared to shop ’til you stop on Black Friday, the “official” start of the Christmas buying season. Many stores will be opening in the wee, or even wee-er, hours Friday to draw dedicated bargain hunters. There’s potential for serious traffic snarls along major retail corridors, such as McCain Boulevard in North Little Rock and the multi-shopping-center intersection of West Markham Street and University Avenue in Little Rock.

3 LAUGH A LOT

On the central Arkansas comedy scene this weekend, Alex Ortiz headlines shows at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and 7, 9 and 11 p.m. Saturday at the Loony Bin comedy club, in the Breckenridge Village Shopping Center, Interstate 430 and North Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock. Doug Richardson will be the featured act. Tickets are $9. Call (501) 228-5555 or visit loonybincomedy.com. Meanwhile, actor-comedian Kevin Hart brings his “Thanks for the Laugh Comedy Tour” to Little Rock, at 8 p.m. Friday at Robinson Center Music Hall, West Markham Street and Broadway. Tickets are $27.40-$45.90 plus Ticketmaster handling charges. Call (800) 745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com.

4 DINE AND CHUCKLE

Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, 6323 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, continues its run of Boeing-Boeing, by Marc Camoletti, adapted by Beverly Cross, through Dec. 31. A businessman, with the assistance of his housekeeper, juggles love affairs with three flight attendants until a childhood friend shows up, causing everything to collapse. No show tonight (Thanksgiving); for the rest of the weekend, doors open at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday (curtain time 7:30), 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday (curtain at 12:30 and 6:30 p.m.). Tickets (including buffet meal and show): $32 Friday-Saturday, $28 Sunday matinee, $30 Sunday evening. “Special kid rate”: $22. Call (501) 562-3131 or visit murrysdinnerplayhouse.com.

5 GAWK AT CLAY

“Bigger, Better, More: The Art of Viola Frey,” an exhibition of large (up to 10 feet tall) clay sculptures, ceramic plates, paintings and works on paper by the revolutionary artist, who died in 2004, closes Sunday at the Arkansas Arts Center in MacArthur Park, 10th and Commerce streets, Little Rock. Admission is $7, $4 for children. The center is closed today for the holiday; hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Call (501) 372-4000 or visit arkarts.com.

6 MARVEL AT MASKS

From the mask collection at the Museum of Discovery, 500 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, come 70 pieces in wood, tin and other materials that make up “Masks of Guerrero,” named for the Mexican state where they originated, on display through March on the museum’s lower level. It’s part of the Arkansas Celebrates Mexico 2010 observance. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday (closed today for the holiday). Admission: $8, $7 for senior citizens 65 and older and children 1-12, free for children under 1. Call (501) 396-7050 or visit amod.org.

7 BLAST OFF

The annual ArtBlast gives parents the chance to let their kids work off some of that creative energy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hot Springs Civic Center. Children ages 4-18 will get to try their hands at interactive art activities like a poet tree, 3-D aluminum foil sculptures, recycled art and hieroglyphics. The center is at 134 Convention Blvd., Hot Springs. Admission for children 4-18 is $5, free for accompanying adults. Call (501) 625-3992 or visit artblasths.com.

8 HIKE AWAY POUNDS

A good spot to walk off that Thanksgiving dinner in the fresh air this weekend is DeGray Lake Resort State Park. The park’s Thanksgiving Get-Away continues through Sunday with owl prowls, guided hikes, nature games, special programs and lake tours. Lake tours are $9, $5 for children 6-12. Other activities are free. The park is at 2027 State Park Entrance Road, Bismarck. Call (501) 865-5810 or visit degray.com.

9 HIT THE HAY

Pinnacle Mountain State Park’s Fall Hayride & Campfire will take guests through the woods not far west of Little Rock to a campfire with stories, hot chocolate and marshmallows. The rides take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $10, $5 for children 6-12 and advance payment is required. Call (501) 868-5806.

10 ROLL RIGHT ALONG

Mannheim Steamroller returns to Little Rock with its distinctive approach to Christmas music favorites at 8 p.m. Saturday at Robinson Center Music Hall. The group is on its 25th Christmas Anniversary Tour, a yearly phenomenon sparked by the release in 1984 of its album Mannheim Steamroller Christmas. Tickets are $44.35-$86.05. Call (800) 745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com.