THE WEEKEND TEN

LITTLE ROCK — 1 AAAH!

Not quite a cast of thousands, but singers, dancers, jazz musicians and even a couple of cut-ups join the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and conductor Philip Mann for “Home for the Holidays,” the orchestra’s annual Christmas pops concert, 8 p.m. Friday -Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Robinson Center Music Hall, West Markham Street and Broadway, Little Rock. Guests include the University of Pine Bluff Vesper Choir, the Ted Ludwig Trio and the Two Jewish Guys Phil Kaplan and Leslie Singer). The Holiday Children’s Fair, 2 p.m. Sunday in the music hall main lobby, includes an instrument petting zoo and photos with Santa. Sponsors: Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Tickets are $14-$52, free for grades K-12 kids to the Sunday matinee with a paying adult. Call (501) 666-1761 or visit ArkansasSymphony.org. See story Page 8E.

2 JINGLE! Women’s barbershop harmony ensemble Top of the Rock Chorus’ annual “Jingle Jam” Christmas gala, Saturday at Sherwood Forest, 1111 W. Maryland Ave., Sherwood. Cocktails at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7, plus a silent auction. The chorus and rock ’n’ roll band the Hi-Balls will entertain. Tickets are $32.50. Call (501) 580-0855 or visit topoftherockchorus.org.

3 HUM! Female voices in “ethereal combinations” (including sopranos Deleen Davidson, Ruth’e Korelitz and Lisa Harst and the Muses Children’s Christmas Choir) provide the “Voices of Angels” for the Muses Creative Artistry Project’s seventh annual Christmas concert, 3 p.m. Sunday in Anthony Chapel, Garvan Woodland Gardens, 550 Arkridge Road, Hot Springs. Singers, pianists and instrumentalists will offer a program of music that spans four centuries. Tickets are $25; call (501) 463-4514 or visitthemusesproject.org.

4 BRAGH! Little Rock-based Irish traditional-music trio Cup of Tea — Peg Roach Loyd (lead vocals, guitar and bodhran, a Celtic frame drum), Judi Warner (fiddle, keyboard and harmony vocals) and Laura Brown (flute, whistle and harmony vocals) — will give a Celtic Christmas Concert at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Dugan’s Irish Pub, Third and Rock streets, Little Rock. Celtic/classic rock band Carnie Barkers will “headline” from 8:30 p.m. to closing. No cover charge. Call (501) 244-0542 or visit DugansPubLR.com.

5 LAAA! Sing your favorite Christmas songs in the fresh air at the annual Caroling in the Forest event at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Participants will meet at the Kingfisher Trailhead at 7 p.m. Saturday and are encouraged to take flashlights. Hot chocolate around the campfire will follow. Admission is free. Call (501) 868-5806 or visit arkansasstateparks.com/pinnaclemountain.

6 MMM! Who makes the best nog in Little Rock? Competitors will vie for the title at the 8th Ever Nog-off, 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St., Little Rock. Guests will listen to Celtic Ozark music by Lark in the Morning as they taste creations by competitors, including the Capital Hotel, Copper Grill and museum Director Bill Worthen. Admission is free. Call (501) 324-9351 or visit historicarkansas.org.

If beer is more your drink of choice, hop over to the Old State House, 300 W. Markham St., Little Rock, where they’ll host Home(brew) for the Holidays, 5-8 p.m. Friday. Admission is free, but the party is only for those 21 and older. Call (501) 324-9685 or visit oldstatehouse.com.

7 EWWW! Explore the stinky, slimy, disgusting world of biology as “Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body” opens Saturday at the Museum of Discovery, 500 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. The traveling exhibit of interactive displays explains runny noses, body odors and everything in between through May 26. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10, $8 for ages 60 and older and children 1-12. Call (501) 396-6475 or visit museumofdiscovery.org.

8 OOOH! Enjoy the twinkling and flashing of Christmas lights from the comfort of your car at these drive-through displays.

Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends sets Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Regional Park in downtown Pine Bluff aglow 6-9 p.m. nightly through Dec. 31. The largest such drive-through in the state, it includes elaborate displays over a route of more than a mile. Admission is free but donations are accepted. Call (870) 536-7600.

In North Little Rock, Hometown Holiday Lights in Burns Park continues, 6-10 p.m. through Dec. 30 along Funland Drive. The 56 displays start at the Softball Complex. Admission is $5 per car, $10 per van, $20 per motorcoach. Call (501) 753-7307 or visit nlrpr.org.

9 OHO!

KTM Productions and Positive Images in Christ will stage an original musical, Love Came Down at Christmas (music by Randy Hood, book and lyrics by Kyle T. Miller), at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Argenta Community Theater, 405 Main St., North Little Rock. A prodigal sister (Helen Daniel) comes home for Christmas, trailing the famous sex-symbol husband (Dion Burns) she’s divorcing, and possibly finding new love with a local therapist (Roosevelt Griffin). Tickets are $35. Call (501) 420-3704 or visit lovecamedownatchristmas.eventbrite.com.

10 BRAVO!

Closing on other local stages this weekend: The Weekend Theater, West Seventh and Chester streets, has added a performance of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, 7:30 p.m. today to go with the run-closing shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday (if any tickets remain — a car through its window has reduced seating to about 50 until repairs are made). Tickets: $16, $12 for students and adults 65 and older. Visit weekendtheater.org or call (501) 374-3761.

City Mouse, Country Mouse, Christmas House, Keith Smith’s contemporary take on one of Aesop’s fables, closes this weekend with performances at 7 p.m. Friday, 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre, in MacArthur Park, 10th and Commerce streets, Little Rock. Tickets are $12. Call (501) 372-4000 or visit arkarts.com.

The Royal Players’ closing performances of Annie (music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, book by Thomas Meehan) are at 7 p.m. today-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Royal Theatre, 111 S. Market St., Benton. Tickets are $12, $10 for senior citizens, $5 for students. Call (501) 315-5483 or visit theroyalplayers.com. Continuing through the end of the month:

White Christmas — songs by Irving Berlin, based on the 1954 movie — continues through Dec. 30 at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main St., Little Rock. Curtain time 7 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $30-$60. Call (501) 378-0405 or visit therep.org.

It’s “farce-feeding” through Dec. 31 at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, 6323 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, which is staging Pajama Tops by Mawby Green and Ed Feilbert. No shows Dec. 23-25; the New Year’s Eve show includes celebratory extras for an extra price. Tickets (including buffet meal and show): $31 Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday evening, $33 Friday-Saturday, $29 Wednesday and Sunday matinees, $20 for children. (Show-only tickets are $25, $15 children.) Call (501) 562-3131 or visit the website, murrysdinnerplayhouse.com.