Dec. 18
Benefit Dinner
HOT SPRINGS — The Lake Hamilton basketball family will hold a benefit dinner for the family of Vandasha Hill at Hawg’s Pizza to offset the costs of funeral arrangements and other needs. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m., and a silent auction will be held, with items including gift baskets. All proceeds will benefit Hill’s family.
Santa Night at Holiday Lights
HOT SPRINGS — Children of all ages are invited to meet Santa and receive a photo with him from 6-8 p.m. at Garvan Woodland Gardens. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, and free for kids 5 and younger. For more information, call (501) 262-9600 or visit garvangardens.org.
Tween Library Club
BRYANT — The Tween Library Club will meet at 4 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library. The event, for kids ages 8-12, will feature book discussions, snacks, games and crafts, and will help promote the library to other tweens. For more information, call (501) 847-2166 or visit www.salinecountylibrary.org.
Dec. 18 and 19
Teen Movie Day
BRYANT — As a reward for finishing semester tests, teens are invited to the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library for pizza, snacks and movies from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Friday. For more information, call (501) 847-2166 or visit www.salinecountylibrary.org.
Dec. 18, 20, 21
Christmas Classics
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Christmas movie classics will be presented today, Saturday and Sunday in Woodlands Auditorium at the Ponce de Leon Center. Tickets are $2 per person and can be purchased online at hsvpoa.org/events-tickets. Movies and times include Miracle on 34th Street, 2 p.m. today; It’s a Wonderful Life, 7 p.m. today; Elf, 2 p.m. Saturday; Scrooged, 7 p.m. Saturday; and Polar Express, 2 p.m. Sunday.
Dec. 19
Winter Commencement
ARKADELPHIA — Henderson State University will conduct winter commencement exercises at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. The ceremony for the School of Business and Teachers College will be held first, and the Ellis College of Arts and Sciences ceremony will follow. For more information, visit www.hsu.edu.
Dec. 20
Family Story Time
BENTON — A Family Story Time for all ages will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. The event will feature songs, stories and a craft. For more information, call (501) 778-4766 or visit www.salinecountylibrary.org.
Animeniacs
BENTON — Youth ages 12-18 are invited to celebrate all things anime at noon at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. Various activities will be featured each month, including book talks, quizzes, crafts and more. Meetings are held downstairs in the teen lounge. Snacks are provided. For more information, call (501) 778-4766 or visit www.salinecountylibrary.org.
Dec. 21
Sharon Turrentine Holiday Concert
HOT SPRINGS — Garvan Woodland Gardens volunteer Sharon Turrentine will present a holiday concert at 3 p.m. in Anthony Chapel. The free concert is open to the public. For more information, call (501) 262-9300.
Dec. 22
Hot Springs Flute Ensemble Concert
HOT SPRINGS — Garvan Woodland Gardens will host the Hot Springs Flute Ensemble in a holiday concert at 6:30 p.m. in Anthony Chapel. The free concert is open to the public. For more information, call (501) 262-9300.
Ongoing
Art Exhibit
HOT SPRINGS — Tim Donar, a Conway photographer and fine-art printmaker, will exhibit a collection of nature-inspired photographs in the Magnolia Room of Garvan Woodland Gardens through December. The free exhibit is open to the public. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Saturday. For more information, call (501) 262-9600 or visit garvangardens.org.
Holiday Lights
HOT SPRINGS — Garvan Woodland Gardens will present Holiday Lights 2014 from 5-9 p.m. Sundays through Saturdays throughout December. Complimentary hot chocolate will be provided. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, and free for kids 5 and younger. For more information, call (501) 262-9600 or visit garvangardens.org.
Art Exhibit
ARKADELPHIA — Estamos Aqui (We Are Here), an exhibit of works of Latino/Chicano artists, is featured through Jan. 7 at the Arkadelphia Arts Center. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call (870) 245-3612 or visit ccahc.org.
Hot Springs Ukulele Club
HOT SPRINGS — The Hot Springs Ukulele Club meets from 2-4 p.m. each Tuesday at Cranford’s Village Pantry grocery store on Arkansas 5, east of the East Gate to the Village. No experience is needed. For more information, call (207) 844-1350.
Merry Mixers Dance Club
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Hot Springs Village Merry Mixers dance to live music from 7-10 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of every month at the Coronado Community Center. A lesson is held on the third Saturday. Admission is $7.50 for first-Saturday dances and $10 for third-Saturday dances. Club members receive a discount for the season. All dancers are welcome. For more information, call (501) 915-8111.
Ageless Bikers Club
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Ageless Bikers Club holds bicycle rides at 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are eight different 20-mile rides and six shorter 6- to 14-mile rides on relatively flat, quiet country roads. For more information or to sign up for a ride, visit hsvabc.weebly.com.
Toastmasters Meetings
BENTON — The Saline County Toastmasters meet at 12:05 p.m. Thursdays at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church. For more information, call (501) 454-9596.
Rhythmic Interactive Percussion
HOT SPRINGS — The Rhythmic Interactive Percussion musical event takes place from 5-9 p.m. Sundays at Kenneth Adair Park, 358 Central Ave. Participation is encouraged as ensemble members pass out drums, tambourines, maracas and more to audience members. Many weeks, belly dancers, hula-hoopers, poi ball artists and martial artists perform. For more information, call (714) 273-6464.
Upcoming
Starlight Gala
BENTON — The fourth annual Starlight Gala: A Gatsby Affair will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight Dec. 31 at the Benton Event Center. The black-tie event will feature food, live entertainment, dancing and a silent auction. Tickets are $75 per person or $140 per couple. For more information, visit
bryantbgc.org.
Character Writing Class
HOT SPRINGS — The Garland County Library Writers College will present a class titled Creating 3-D Characters in a Flat Stanley World from 1-3 p.m. Jan. 3. The class will be taught by Sylvia Dickey Smith. The free workshop is open to the public. Advance registration is required. For more information, call (501) 623-4161 or visit gclibrary.com.
Yoga Classes
HOT SPRINGS — The Garland County Library will hold a series of yoga classes taught by Karen Reeves at noon Jan. 5, 12 and 26; and Feb. 9 and 23. A $20 course fee and advance registration are required. For more information, call (501) 623-4161.
To submit a school or community event for the Tri-Lakes Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, Tri-Lakes Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR, 72203; fax (501) 378-3500; or email tlnews@arkansasonline.com. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.