Winter weather
Arkansas Weekend is printed inadvance. Weather conditions could lead to cancellations. Contact venues to check the status of events.
1 BUFFETT
Jimmy Buffett and his Parrotheads invade North Little Rock once again as Buffett returns to North Little Rock’s Verizon Arena, 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $48.50-$159. Call (800) 745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com. A tailgate party hosted by KABZ-FM, 103.7 The Buzz will be off Riverfront Drive adjacent to the Interstate 30 bridge in North Little Rock, noon-7 p.m. See story on Page 4E.
2 BOW WOW
The Arkansas Repertory Theatre is going to the dogs with the world premiere production of Because of Winn Dixie the Musical, Friday-Dec. 29 at the Rep, 601 Main St., Little Rock.
The award-winning creative team: music by Duncan Sheik(Spring Awakening), lyrics and book by Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), based on the novel by Kate DiCamillo. Curtain is 7 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, with 2 p.m. matinees Saturday (Little Rock Family hosts, with crafts, games, vendors, prizes and the Pulaski County Humane Society’s mobile adoption unit in the lobby 1-2 p.m.), Dec. 26 and 28. And yes, there is a Christmas evening show. Tickets are $25-$55 through today; $30-$60 thereafter, half price for kids under 12.
Call (501) 378-0405 or visit therep.org/attend. See story on Page 5E.
3 BELEW
Little Rock has its official Christmas kickoff event Saturday with the Big Jingle Jubilee Holiday Parade at 3 p.m. The collection of floats, dancers and bands with grand marshal Cody Belew will follow a course from Second Street and Broadway to the state Capitol where, about 6 p.m., guests can witness the lighting of the Capitol and a fireworks display. Admission is free. Call (501) 835-3399 or visit holidaysinlittlerock.com.
4 BANJO
Nashville, Tenn.-based folk quartet Harpeth Rising (banjo, fiddle, cello and percussion) returns under the auspices of the Little Rock Folk Club for a special CD release show for its fourth album, Tales From Jackson Bridge, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Thomson Hall, Unitarian Universalist Church of Little Rock, 1818 Reservoir Road. Admission is $15, $8 for students with ID, free for children 12 and under. Call (501) 663-0634 or visit littlerockfolkclub.org. See story on Page 4E.
5 BAH HUMBUG!
Alan Douglas plays the singing, dancing title miser in Scrooge!, Leslie Bricusse’s musical version (based on the 1970 film) of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, opening Friday at the Weekend Theater, West Seventh and Chester streets, Little Rock. Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 22. Tickets are $20, $16 for students and senior citizens 65 and older; visit weekendtheater.org. For information only, call (501) 374-3761.
6 BAROQUE
The Arkansas Choral Society continues a tradition it started in 1930, performing portions of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah at 7:30 p.m. today at First Pentecostal Church, 1400 Calvary Road (off Interstate 40), North Little Rock. Kent Skinner will conduct the 60-plus-voice choir, members of the University of Arkansas at Monticello Chamber Choir and musicians from the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are $15, $10 for students with ID, free for children under 12; take a nonperishable food item to donate to the Arkansas Foodbank and get a $2 discount. Call (501) 376-8484 or visit lovetosing.org.
7 BEAUTY
Little Rock’s Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church will offer up its 10th annual Christmas in the Quarter holiday tour of houses, 2-5 p.m., Sunday in the downtown Quapaw Quarter, including the church, 1601 Louisiana St.; the Kavanaugh House, 1854 S. Arch St.; the Bowman House, 1415 Broadway; the Empress Bed & Breakfast, 2120 Louisiana; and the Foster-Robinson House, 2122 S. Broadway.
Start at any point on the tour; stroll from house to house or take a trolley shuttle. Each house will feature a brief history lesson, appetizers, beverages and music. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day-of; all proceeds go to the church. Call (501) 375-1600 or visit qqumc.org/citq.
8 BOLT
Be there with bells on. Craig’s Jingle Bell Run/ Walk for Arthritis has its 22nd jaunt through Little Rock starting at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Clinton Presidential Center. The Jimmy Buffett concert and related celebration means the 5K run won’t cross the river into North Little Rock this year but there will be plenty of partying going on on the south side, with a kids zone, Santa photos, face painting, music and a bounce house at the center starting at 9:30 a.m. Registration is $30 for the 5K, $25 for walkers. Call (501) 664-4591 or visit lrjbr.kintera.org.
9 BOUNTY
Look into a different type of Christmas gift and some very useful animals by exploring the Living Gift Market, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Heifer Village, 1 World Ave., Little Rock. Activity stations will highlight different regions around the world and will teach visitors about the impact animals can make on the lives of impoverished families. Admission is free.
Call (501) 907-2697.
10 BUDDIES
Feline and canine children deserve a photo with Santa too. Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals presents their annual Pet Photos with Santa, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday at Cammack Village City Hall, 2710 N. McKinley St. A $20 donation gives you a 5-by-7 professional photograph. Additional print packages and cards are available. Call (501) 603-2273 or visit careforanimals.org.
It’s an evening of drinks, prizes and food, all for the good of four-legged, furry friends at the Santa Paws Cocktail Party, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 1300 Main St., Little Rock. The Oxford American plays host to this fundraiser for the Little Rock Animal Village.
Tickets are $30. Call (501) 416-6525 or visit friendsoftheanimalvillage.org.
Children get a chance to chow down with a few local heroes and Santa Claus himself at Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s annual Breakfast with Santa, 7 a.m.-noon Saturday at the hospital’s Children’s Hall, 6 Children’s Way, Little Rock. Doors close at 11 a.m.
Little Rock Fire Department firefighters will cook and serve to children who can also take pictures with Santa and make their own crafts while listening to music. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
Call (501) 364-1074 or visit archildrens.org/breakfastwithsanta.
Weekend, Pages 32 on 12/05/2013