WEEKEND TEN

The top things to do and places to be

— 1 SUNRISE Greet Easter morning down by the river at the annual community Easter Sunrise Service, 7 a.m. Sunday at Little Rock’s Riverfest Amphitheatre. The service is presented by Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, with participation by other churches and community leaders. Admission is free. Call (501) 664-3600 or visit phumc.com.

2 SWEET

Join the Easter Bunny for breakfast (9:30 a.m.) or lunch (1:30 p.m.) Saturday at the Little Rock Zoo, 1 Jonesboro Drive, Little Rock. Guests will get a photo taken with the big bunny, meet some animal friends, decorate an Easter cookie, make an egg basket and pick out a surprise. You must buy tickets — $18.95 (with substantial discounts for zoo members) — in advance. Call (501) 661-7218 or visit www.littlerockzoo.com. In between, at 11 a.m. Saturday, zoo visitors can watch the Easter Egg Toy Toss, in which the Easter Bunny will toss large toy eggs to the otters and big cats.

Or take a ride with the Easter Bunny before his big day. The River Rail Eggspress will be running on all cylinders Saturday. The Easter Bunny will start the day at the River Market in Little Rock for a meet and greet session, 9-9:30 a.m. Then he’ll board the trolley for a ride to the River Rail Trolley Barn in downtown North Little Rock, where he’ll pose for photos and share refreshments from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. From 8:30 a.m.-midnight, trolley rides will be free. Admission is free. Call (501) 375-6717.

3 SAMPLE Fill your own belly and someone else’s at Empty Bowls, a fundraiser for Arkansas Foodbank, 6-9 p.m. today at the Foodbank’s warehouse, 4301 W. 65th St. Guests will eat “food court style,” sampling dishes by area chefs, and can bid on art, trips and other items in the auction. Admission is $65. Call (501) 569-4317 or go to arkansasfoodbank.org.

4 SWING

Today is opening day at Dickey-Stephens Park, at the North Little Rock end of the Broadway Bridge, as the Arkansas Travelers take on the Midland RockHounds at 7:10 p.m. and kick off a six-game home stand. Former Arkansas Razorbacks Brison Manor and Jake Bequette will throw out the ceremonial first pitches. The ballpark, festooned with traditional bunting, will open at 5:30 p.m. (30 minutes earlier than usual) so fans can watch batting practice and listen to the park organ. Tickets are $6 general admission, $8 reserved seats ($4 and $5 for children 3 and up), $12 for box seats, plus a $1 per-ticket convenience charge for tickets bought online. Call (501) 664-1555 or visitticketreturn.com/prod2/ team.asp?SponsorID=4095.

5 SONS The Sons of Confederate Veterans will celebrate the past with their annual Confederate Heritage Day ceremony, 11 a.m. Saturday at the state Capitol. The event — an observation of Arkansas Confederate History and Heritage Month, Confederate Memorial Day and Confederate Flag Day — will include a gun salute, a display of flags and appearances by re-enactors and living historians. The keynote speaker will be Army of Trans-Mississippi, Sons of Confederate Veterans commander W. Danny Honnoll. Admission is free. Call (870) 926-2985.

6 SILLY The irreverent folks with Red Octopus will poke fun at old-school soap operas, movies, the weather, television and more at their latest show. Beyond the Valley of the Red Octopus takes the stage at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and April 12-14 at The Public Theatre, 616 Center St. Tickets are $10, $8 for ages 65 and older and students. Call (501) 291-3896.

7 SCHISM

A committed gay couple, in which one is devoutly religious and the other is an atheist, is at the center of Next Fall by Geoffrey Nauffts, which opens Friday at the Weekend Theater, West Seventh and Chester streets, Little Rock. Show times: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday through April 21. Tickets are $16, $12 for students and senior citizens 65 and older. Call (501) 374-3761 (information only; the theater no longer takes reservations by phone) or visit weekendtheater.org.

8 SOCIAL Art for Action, a joint project of Arkansas artists and community organizations using art to “raise awareness and inspire social change,” will hold a fundraiser at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Canvas Community Church, 1111 W. Seventh St., Little Rock. Donations of cash and art supplies will go toward funding a new art program for homeless, low-income people and inner-city children in Little Rock. The event will include a performance by Ferrous Patella and QuadkilleR, a poetry reading accompanied by a slide show of photography by local artists and refreshments. Doors open at 7. Call (501) 350-0855 or visit www. facebook.com/#!/events/324953720898139.

9 SHINDIG The Seark Concert Association presents the Spring Shindig on the Square, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday on the Square in downtown Monticello. Featured performers include Kim’s Dance Factory, Diane Fisher as Patsy Cline, Ben Coulter and the Delta Outlaws, the Monticello Dance Academy, John Gladden & Haley Greer, Cara Akin & Kevin Henry, the Seark Festival Children’s Chorus with the University of Arkansas at Monticello Jazz Band I, the UAM Music Theater Workshop, the Haley Creek Boys, the Robin Hood Family and the MHS Readers Theatre. Food vendors will be vending and there will be hourly door prizes. Admission is free; take your own lawn chair. In case of rain, all events will be held at First Baptist Church, 413 N. Main St., Monticello. It all leads up to a concert by the Martins at 7 p.m. in the church’s new gymnasium/auditorium. Tickets are $10. Call (870) 460-1412.

10 SPRING The Arkansas County Master Gardeners present a morning of gardening tips and sales with their 15th annual Spring Home & Garden Show, Saturday at the Arkansas County Fairgrounds Exhibit Building, 16th Street, DeWitt. Plants and garden-related crafts and gifts will be on sale 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Admission is $2, free for children under 12. After the sale, there will be a special lunch with a “Five Seasons” program by Chris Olsen. Tickets are $15. Call (870) 946-3231.

Weekend, Pages 31 on 04/05/2012

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