Tri-Lakes Calendar of Events

— Read below to find out what's going on in the Tri-Lakes area.

THURSDAY

First Thursday Lunch

BENTON — The Benton Area Chamber of Commerce will host its First Thursday Lunch from noon to 1 p.m. in the Health and Education Building at Saline Memorial Hospital. The cost for lunch is $12. Andi Ridgway will discuss “How Livable Is Your Community?” Ridgway is the Hometown Health Improvement branch chief for the Center for Local Public Health, Arkansas Department of Health.

THURSDAY-SATURDAY

Book Sale

HOT SPRINGS — The annual spring used-book sale, sponsored by the Friends of the Garland County Library, will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Garland County Library auditorium, 1427 Malvern Ave. in Hot Springs. Admission is free. Thousands of hardcover and paperback books of fiction and nonfiction, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, videocassettes, puzzles, and hobby and craft magazines will be available. Most items will cost 50 cents to $4, including bestsellers in excellent condition. There will be several tables of out-of-print books and collectibles. Friends of the Library members may attend a preview sale from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. today. Anyone may join the group by paying $5 membership dues at the sale door today. All proceeds from the event will go toward books, equipment and special programs for the Garland County Library.

FRIDAY

Art Reception

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Hot Springs Village artists Bonnie Ricci and Linda Shearer will be featured artists at the Artists Workshop Gallery, 810 Central Ave., on Gallery Walk night Friday. A reception for the artists will be held from 5-9 p.m., and the exhibit will continue until Monday, May 30. Ricci will exhibit watercolor botanical florals, landscapes and abstract mixed-media collages. Shearer will exhibit Chinese brush paintings on rice paper in traditional and spontaneous styles.

SATURDAY

Rock the Park

HOT SPRINGS — National Park Community College’s Student Government Association will host a Rock the Park: Battle of the Bands event at the NPCC Gym complex. All ticket proceeds will benefit the Garland County Relay for Life. The event will begin at 2 p.m. and will end at 6 p.m. SGA has more than a dozen bands scheduled to participate. The event will include something for guests of all ages. Local vendors will be on site to serve concessions. There will be bounce houses and slides for kids, as well as face painting and a dunking booth. NPCC Vice President for Student Services Maggie Picking is slated to be dunked by the highest bidder, followed by NPCC Student Government President David Galloway. Admission is $7 for adults; $5 for NPCC students and staff; $3 for children ages 4-12; and free for children 3 and younger.

SATURDAY

Farmers Market Opening

HOT SPRINGS — The Friends of the Farmers Market announce the kickoff for the regular season Saturday for the Historic Downtown Hot Springs Farmers Market. This will be the second year for the Farmers Market at its permanent home at 121 Orange St. in downtown Hot Springs. The Market hours have changed this year. The market will be open from 7-11 a.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through the end of October. Free entertainment will be provided each Saturday, starting with the Cook Mountain Bluegrass Band from 9-10:30 a.m. opening day. Market patrons are asked to observe the one-way drive on the north entrance of the market (from Orange Street) and to reserve parking on the pavilion grounds for handicap or elderly patrons only. Ample parking is available on the north side of the pavilion near the transportation depot and near the south end of the pavilion. For more information about the market, to become a vendor, to rent the pavilion site, to sign up to receive weekly information or to become a Friend of the Farmers Market, visit www.cityhs.net/dept-parks-farmers-market.html or call (501) 627-0711.

UPCOMING

Pickleball Tournament

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Village Pickleball Club will host a pickleball tournament Saturday, May 28, through Monday, May 30, at the Family Recreation Area on DeSoto Boulevard in Hot Springs Village. The event is open to pickleball players both in and outside the Village. Tournament events will include Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles played at three different levels — beginner, intermediate and advanced. Fees are $20 per person for one event or $30 for two events. Registration is by mail, and the form is available at www.hsvpickleball.org. Wednesday, May 18, is the deadline for returning registration forms. For more information about the tournament, visit hsvpickleball.org or call Ronnie Hawkins at (501) 922-0620.

To submit a school or community event for the Tri-Lakes Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, Tri-Lakes Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR, 72203; fax to (501) 378-3500; or e-mail to wbryan@arkansasonline.com.

Upcoming Events