1 SUGAR PLUMS
Ballet Arkansas and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra present their annual festival of dancing treats, children and rodents in a new location. Performances of The Nutcracker start at 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday at the Maumelle Performing Arts Center, 100 Victory Lane, Maumelle. Tickets are $20-$52. Call (501) 666-1761 or visit balletarkansas.org. See story on Page 4E.
2 'SHAMELESS'
After more than 20 years, Garth Brooks returns. The Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood hits the North Little Rock Verizon Arena stage at 7:30 p.m. today and 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Tickets are $73.25. Call (800) 745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com.
3 SWEETS
Colorful, edible constructions will fill the state Capitol for Treatment Homes Inc.'s Gingerbread Extravaganza, 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Judges will announce winners of the holiday coloring and gingerbread house decorating contests and guests can also get photos made with Santa Claus. Call (501) 372-5039 or visit treatmenthomes.org.
4 SIPS
Nog, nog. Who's there? The competitors in the 10th Ever Nog-off, 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St., Little Rock. Teams representing area eateries, breweries and families will fix up eggnogs according to historic and contemporary recipes, vying for the People's Choice Award (most votes from guests) and the Taster's Choice Award (chosen by a panel of local celebrity judges). It's in conjunction with 2nd Friday Art Night. Admission is free. Call (501) 324-9351.
5 SHOWPIECES
Art gets wild as Boswell Mourot Fine Art presents "Great Escapes: Art by Animals of the Little Rock Zoo," 6-9 p.m. today. The silent auction of artwork includes ornaments and wine glasses for purchase, and proceeds benefit the Little Rock chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers. Admission to the gallery, 5815 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, is free. Call (501) 834-3372.
6 SEASONAL SONGS
The Arkansas Chamber Singers and conductor John Erwin will celebrate "Christmas at the Old State House," 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Old State House Museum, 300 W. Markham St., Little Rock. The program will include familiar and traditional carols ( "The Holly and the Ivy," "Fum, Fum, Fum," the "Wassail Song," "Good King Wenceslas," "In the Bleak Midwinter") and seasonal songs and pieces by Felix Mendelssohn, Rene Clausen, John Tavener, Michael Ekbladh and John Rutter. Admission is free but they're expecting all three houses to fill up so arrive early, or you can reserve a ticket by calling (501) 377-1121 or online at AR-ChamberSingers.org.
7 'SISTERS'
Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will screen the classic film White Christmas, starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, with songs by Irving Berlin, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Monday at the Breckenridge Village 12 and Colonel Glenn 18 in Little Rock. For ticket information, visit the website, fathomevents.com/event/white-christmas-the-60th-anniversary.
8 SANTA
Friends of the Animal Village will hold their second annual Santa Paws Holiday Party, in partnership with Landers Fiat of Benton, 8-11 p.m. Saturday at Trapnall Hall, 423 E. Capitol Ave., Little Rock. The event will feature entertainment by singer Julia Buckingham, hors d'oeuvres, Diamond Bear beer and desserts from Sweet Love Bakes, plus art, clothing and jewelry prizes. Proceeds go toward purchasing a digital X-ray machine for the animal village. Tickets, $40, are fully tax-deductible and include a voucher for free micro-chipping for every pet in your household. Call (501) 416-6525, email FriendsoftheAnimalVillage@gmail.com or visit tinyurl.com/paws3331.
9 SPLENDOR
The 19th-century streets of Historic Washington State Park are still decorated for the season as the park celebrates its second weekend of Christmas and Candlelight on Saturday. The historic village is dressed in Victorian finery for daylight tours, 1-5 p.m., with candlelight tours following, 5-8 p.m. The Williams Tavern will serve a Christmas buffet during the event. Tickets are $10, $5 for children 6-12. Call (870) 983-2684 or visit historicwashingtonstatepark.com.
10 ST. LOUIS SINGER
Denise Thimes, a St. Louis jazz singer with a pedigree (she's the daughter of St. Louis radio personality Lou "Fatha" Thimes), and her quartet -- keyboardist/pianist Jeremiah Allen, electric bassist Jahmal Nichols, saxophonist Amos Brewer and drummer Demarius Hicks -- will perform seasonal songs, jazz standards and gospel tunes at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Arkansas State University's Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro. The event is part of the university's Riceland Distinguished Performance Series. Sponsor is radio station KASU-FM, 91.9. Tickets are $30 and $20, $23 and $15 for senior citizens and students. Call (870) 972-2781 or (888) 278-3267 or visit astate.edu/tickets or yourfowlercenter.com.
Weekend on 12/11/2014