Nov. 22
Thanksgiving Dinner
CONWAY — A Centennial Thanksgiving will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at New Life Church, 633 Country Club Road. This is the fifth year for Centennial Bank to offer the free meal, an event started about 20 years ago by Catherin and Bob Blankenship of Conway.
Nov. 22-23
Thanksgiving Closings
RUSSELLVILLE — The Hughes Community Center will be closed today and Friday for observation of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Nov. 23-25
Mountain Rendezvous
PETIT JEAN MOUNTAIN — The 15th annual Mountain Rendezvous will be held Friday through Sunday at Petit Jean State Park. The events will offer attendees a chance to experience primitive camping; learn some of the survival skills of Arkansas pioneers; and watch demonstrations of activities such as muzzleloading and tomahawk throwing. The event is co-sponsored by the Early Arkansaw Re-enactors Association. For more information on this free event, contact the park by calling (501) 727-5441, emailing petitjean@arkansas.com or visiting www.petitjeanstatepark.com.
Nov. 26
Holiday Potluck
PETIT JEAN MOUNTAIN — The Arkansas River Valley Audubon Society will have its annual Holiday Potluck at 7 p.m. at the Lutheran Camp on Petit Jean Mountain. Everyone is invited to bring a dish and enjoy the fellowship of nature lovers. For more information, call Coe Wilson at (501) 727-5559.
Nov. 26 and Dec. 6
Holiday Lighting and Parade
MORRILTON — The annual lighting of the Conway County Courthouse, the train depot and City Hall in Morrilton is slated for sundown Monday. In conjunction with the displays, which will continue through Dec. 31, the annual Morrilton Christmas Parade will be held at 5 p.m. Dec. 6 in downtown Morrilton, followed by the Night of Luminaries at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton.
Nov. 27
Audubon Society Meeting
CLINTON — The Little Red River Audubon Society will meet at 7 p.m. at Western Sizzlin Restaurant in Clinton. Abigail Darrah will present “Flock-Following Behavior of the Wedge-Billed Woodcreeper in Amazonian Ecuador.” Before the meeting, a Dutch-treat dinner will be held at 5 p.m. Door prizes will be available. For more information, email lrras2011@gmail.com.
Fishing Clinic
RUSSELLVILLE — A Basic Trout Fishing Clinic will be held from 6-7 p.m. at the Hughes Center in Russellville in conjunction with Trout Day 2012. The free clinic will be led by members of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The first 50 kids who are 15 or younger who attend the clinic will receive a certificate for a free rod and reel, which will be presented at Trout Day on Dec. 1. For more information, call (479) 968-1272.
Ongoing
Pleasant View Park Walk-in Access
RUSSELLVILLE — Preparation for the annual Winter Wonderland Christmas light display at Pleasant View Park is under way. During this time, the main gate at Pleasant View Park will be locked. Parking for walk-in access is available off Pleasant View Road. For more information, call (479) 968-1272.
Be a Santa to a Senior
CONWAY/RUSSELLVILLE — Be a Santa to a Senior, a campaign to deliver gifts and provide companionship to local needy seniors, is being held again this holiday season. To help, pick up ornaments with the first names of seniors and their gift requests through Dec. 10 from Christmas trees at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Russellville or at Conway Regional Medical Center. Buy items on the list and return them unwrapped, with the ornaments attached, to the hospitals. Community gift-wrapping events will be held from 4-6 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Pope County Senior Center in Russellville and at 3 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Conway Senior Wellness and Activity Center. For more information, visit www.beasantatoasenior.com.
First Baptist Church Services
MAUMELLE — Pastor Tony Auxier invites the community to attend worship at 10:15 a.m. Sundays at First Baptist Church of Maumelle. The topic for Auxier’s sermons through November is “Giving Thanks to God and Worshipping Him.” At 9 a.m. Sundays, Bible fellowship classes are held for all age groups. AWANA clubs for children 2 through the sixth grade meet from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Sundays, with evening worship at 5. For more information, call the church office at (501) 851-3547 or visit fbcmaumelle.org.
Upcoming
Candlelight Carol Service
CONWAY — The Hendrix College Choir, under the direction of Nancy Fleming, will present the 48th annual Candlelight Carol Service at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 and at 4 p.m. Dec. 2 in Greene Chapel. The services are free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Reservations are available by calling (501) 450-1495. For more information, visit www.hendrix.edu/news/news.aspx?id=62440.
Winter Wonderland
RUSSELLVILLE — The Winter Wonderland Drive-Through Light Display will be open Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, Dec. 7 and 8, Dec. 14 and 15, and Dec. 19-24. Pictures with Santa Claus will be available to area youths on Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 19-24. There will be a live Nativity scene. On Dec. 19-24, an outdoor ice -skating rink will be added. Admission is a $5 donation. For more information, visit discoverrussellville.org.
Grab Bag Adventures
RUSSELLVILLE — Lake Dardanelle State Park will host Grab Bag Adventures at 9 a.m. Dec. 1 at the park. The event offers an opportunity to learn about the diverse habitats around Lake Dardanelle. Participants will meet a park interpreter at the amphitheater to find out what is in her magic bag. Hints will be given, but visitors’ sense of wildlife will be tested. For more information, call (479) 890-7479.
Tinsel and Tutus Holiday Concert
CONWAY — The Conway Symphony Orchestra will present its annual holiday extravaganza, Tinsel and Tutus, at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at Reynolds Performance Hall. The orchestra will be joined by the Arkansas Festival Ballet, plus special guests the Central Arkansas Children’s Choir and the Parkview Arts and Science Magnet School Choir. The performance will include highlights from The Nutcracker, new arrangements of holiday favorites and a special visitor from the North Pole. Tickets are $6 for children and students, and $20 to $38 for adults, with a discount rate of $15 for groups of 10 or more. Purchase tickets at the Reynolds box office, (501) 450-5506, toll-free at (866) 810-0012, or at ConwaySymphony.org.
Western Performance
CONWAY — Conway’s Jonathan Trawick will be joined by the Western Fling band for a performance at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Faulkner County Library. Refreshments will be served. All library events are free and open to the public. For more information, call (501)327-7482 or email Nancy@fcl.org.
Trout Day 2012
RUSSELLVILLE — The CADDIS Fly Fishing Club, the Russellville Recreation and Parks Department and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission are partnering to present Trout Day 2012 from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 1. The commission will stock Pleasant View Park pond with 1,000 Rainbow Trout prior to the event. All ages are invited to participate, and fly-fishing as well as bait-fishing will be available. Bait will be provided. For more information, call (479) 968-1272.
Sugarplum Festival
LESLIE — The fourth annual Sugarplum Festival will be held from 2-6 p.m. Dec. 1 in and around the city park in Leslie. The event will include Santa Claus, vendors, hayrides, clogging and hot apple cider. For more information, call (501) 941-4828.
Free Concert
CONWAY — Jonathan Trawick will perform at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Faulkner County Library. Trawick started playing guitar in his early college years, adding mandolin to his repertoire in the last few years. All library events are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call (501) 327-7482 or email Nancy@fcl.org.
Parade Entry Deadline
RUSSELLVILLE — The entry deadline is noon Dec. 3 for the 2012 Russellville Christmas parade, to be held Dec. 6. Entry forms are available at the Recreation and Parks Department office at 1100 E. Parkway or online at russellvillearkansas.org. For more information, call (479) 968-1272.
Eagle Tours
RUSSELLVILLE — Lake Dardanelle State Park will offer free winter lake cruises for the best chance of seeing the national symbol, the American bald eagle, throughout December. Many other birds will be in the area for viewing, including American white pelicans, ducks and snow geese. Participants are asked to dress warmly, as temperatures and winds are more severe on the lake. Tours will take place at 9 a.m. Dec. 5; at noon Dec. 7; at 2 p.m. Dec. 9; at 10 a.m. Dec. 13; at 10 a.m. Dec. 19; at 11 a.m. Dec. 22; at 2 p.m. Dec. 27; and at 9 a.m. Dec. 29. To reserve a seat, call (479) 967-5516.
Christmas Festivities
GREENBRIER — The Greenbrier Lions Club, in partnership with the city and the Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce, will offer Christmas activities for the community on Dec. 6, including a chili cook-off, a parade and a tree-lighting ceremony. Submissions for the chili cook-off will be due at 4:50 p.m., and the judging will begin at 5 p.m. The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Eastside Elementary School, travel down Glen Lane, through the Sagebrush Cove subdivision and conclude behind the City Event Center. Following the parade, the tree-lighting ceremony will feature Christmas carols, pictures with Santa and the announcement of parade winners. Parade and chili cook-off entry forms may be obtained by calling (501) 472-7083 or visiting greenbrierchamber.org.
Shakespeare Auditions
CONWAY — Auditions for the 2013 summer season of the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre will be held from 6-10 p.m. Dec. 10 and 11 in Reynolds Performance Hall at the University of Central Arkansas. Much Ado About Nothing, King Lear, Oliver! and A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed. To schedule an audition, send a headshot and resume to casting@arkshakes.com. Actors are asked to prepare two contrasting classical monologues (at least one of which must be by Shakespeare) no longer than two minutes each, as well as 16 bars of a song if they would like to be considered for the musical. An accompanist will be provided. Separate auditions will be held for youth (17 and under) who wish to audition for the season. For more information about auditions or the 2013 season, contact Scallet at (501) 852-0702 or arkansasshakespearetheater@uca.edu.
Oxford American Editor Presentation
CONWAY — Roger Hodge, the new editor of the Oxford American, will speak at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Faulkner County Library. Hodge was the editor of Harper’s Magazine from 2006-10, and during his tenure, the magazine was a National Magazine Award finalist seven times, winning in 2006 for fiction and in 2010 for reporting. Refreshments will be served. All library events are free and open to the public. For more information, call (501) 327-7482 or email Nancy@fcl.org.
Reading and Book Signing
CONWAY — Arkansas author Gwendolyn Graves will read from her latest book, The Fall of Men, at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Faulkner County Library. A book signing will follow. Participants my purchase a copy of the book and of Scorned, by the same author, online and bring them to the library to be signed. Refreshments will be served. All library events are free and open to the public. For more information, call (501)327-7482 or email Nancy@fcl.org.
Christmas Carol Sign and Sing
CONWAY — The Faulkner County American Sign Language class will sign and sing Christmas carols at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at the library. All library events are free and open to the public. For more information, call (501) 327-7482 or email Nancy@fcl.org.
Gospel Performance
CONWAY — The Nelson Family singers will bring the pure mountain sound of traditional gospel music and Christmas carols to the Faulkner County Library at 7 p.m. Dec. 20. The Larry Nelson family has been traveling for more than 28 years, singing gospel music at churches and other venues. Refreshments will be served. All library events are free and open to the public. For more information, call (501) 327-7482 or email Nancy@fcl.org.
To submit an item for the Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, River Valley & Ozark Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR, 72203; fax to (501) 378-3500; or email to rvonews@arkansasonline.com. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.