THE WEEKEND TEN

The top things to do and places to be

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Riverfest Sheryl Crow and BIG K.R.I.T. illustration.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Riverfest Sheryl Crow and BIG K.R.I.T. illustration.

It's Memorial Day Weekend. Really. (Surprised? It's the earliest date on which Memorial Day can fall, almost a full week "early.") That means Riverfest 2015 has come early -- 6-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 1-11 p.m. Sunday in Julius Breckling Riverfront Park (behind the River Market, access from Little Rock's President Clinton Avenue), the Clinton Presidential Center and Park (1200 President Clinton Ave.) and nearby Heifer International, 1 World Ave. For the seventh consecutive year, Verizon and Nokia are presenting sponsors. Tickets are $25, free for children 6 and younger with a paid adult admission. A three-day pass, $40, covers the festival from Friday's opening to Sunday night's concluding fireworks display. Exchange your ticket for an admission wristband. Call (501) 255-3378 or visit riverfestarkansas.com.

photo

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Riverfest MAN’S BEST FRIEND illustration.

photo

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Riverfest Yarnells illustration.

1 MUSIC

Music, as always, is a primary draw for Riverfest. Friday headliners this year are Sheryl Crow (9:30 p.m., Miller Lite/Arkansas Federal Credit Union Stage) and Halestorm (9:45 p.m. Bud Light Stage). Capping off Saturday's lineup: 311 (9:45 p.m., Bud Light Stage) and Kip Moore (9:30 p.m., Miller Lite/Arkansas Federal Credit Union Stage). And Sunday's top acts are Girl Talk (9:45 p.m., Bud Light Stage) and Jake Owen (9:30 p.m., Miller Lite/Arkansas Federal Credit Union Stage). Featured acts to watch for (for a complete schedule, visit riverfestarkansas.com): Starset, Kris Allen, Sister Hazel, Robert Earl Keen, Big K.R.I.T. and Galactic featuring Macy Gray.

2 MUNCHIES

Food is also a big part of Riverfest. A partial list of food vendors: Cristi-N-Cuisine (chicken and steak wraps, buffalo chips, pot stickers, fried Oreos and Butterfingers); Dry Creek Concessions (burgers, brats, nachos, pulled pork sandwiches); Yarnell's (multiple locations, root beer floats, orange whip, eight flavors of hand-dipped ice cream cones); perennial Flossie's Funnel Cakes; Kathy's Kabana (walking taco, Philly cheese steak, chocolate dipped bananas); Linda Chan's (chicken on a stick, shrimp fried rice and egg rolls); Nucci's Concessions (corn dogs); Original Corn Roast (roasted corn, corn in a cup, apple slices); Bryant's BBQ; Riverside Catering (crawfish, boudin alligator, deep-fried banana pudding); Santa Lucia (gyros, chicken and seafood pitas and baklava); Taste of the Caribbean (jerk chicken and pork, curried goat and shrimp, Escovitch fish); and Bubba's Bacon (quarter-pound bacon on a stick, quarter-pound bacon on a stick covered in chocolate, bacon popcorn).

3 MOPPETS

The Deltic Timber KidZone Area & Playtime Promenade is the place to be for the smaller set, 6-8 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 1-8 p.m. Sunday. The Julius Breckling Riverfront Park water park area will be the place for making butterfly finger puppets and other crafts, beating drums, playing dress-up and playing games. There will also be a rock climbing wall, quad jump and cooling spray pad. The Yarnell's KidZone Stage will host family friendly performances, ice cream eating contests and appearances by the Little Rock Zoo penguins.

4 MEANDER

Next door at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette International Village, guests can go globetrotting this year with a "Reading Around the World Theme." Guests can make a Harry Potter magic wand in England, create Hansel and Gretel gingerbread men in Germany and make a Tiki Tiki Timbo kite in China.

5 MAN'S BEST FRIEND

Proud pups and their people are invited to strut in the Ruff on the River Pooch Parade, 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The theme for 2015 is Red, White and Blue! so patriotic is the way to go. The registration "Pawty" starts at 8:30 a.m. at Heifer Village, 1 World Ave., and after the parade, short-legged dogs can compete in the Weenie Dog Derby. Parade registration is $35, which includes a festival ticket. Registration for additional humans and the derby is $5. Proceeds benefit Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals, the Little Rock Animal Village and All About Labs.

6 MASTERY

Some super-talented dogs show their stuff near the Main Street Bridge in the central area of Riverfront Park. The Super Retriever Series Super Dock features dogs competing in distance, long jumping and retrieving, Friday-Sunday. Meanwhile, Jonathan Offi's Ultimate Stunt & Trick Dog Show showcases speed and agility at 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Clinton Presidential Park.

7 MOTION

Dress up as a rock star, or wear whatever costume rocks your world, and burn off some of the food-on-a-stick calories at the Rock-N-Stroll 5K Fun Run. The race starts at 8 a.m. Saturday at Heifer International, 1 World Ave. Registration (which includes a Riverfest ticket) is $35 in advance, $40 at Go! Running, 1819 Grant St., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and at the race site 6:30-7:55 a.m. Saturday. Children 10 and under are $10. Awards are given for top three male and female finishers, best costume and largest team.

8 MONEY

To buy any of those comestibles, or pretty much anything else at Riverfest (except souvenir items and some artwork), you'll need RiverMoney, the festival currency, which you can buy at any Arvest RiverBank -- locations throughout all three sites. They won't take checks, and you have to either spend it all or take it home -- you cannot turn in unspent scrip for refunds.

9 MUSTS

Yes, take blankets and folding chairs if you're planning to attend one or more concerts. These items, however, are strictly prohibited: selfie sticks, drones, coolers, containers, cans or glass bottles, food, laser pointers, camelbacks, audio recording devices, professional photography equipment, cameras with detachable lenses, video recorders, skateboards, bicycles, roller blades, motorized vehicles of any type, large cane umbrellas or umbrellas with a point, and concealed weapons of any type. All bags and backpacks are subject to a security search.

10 MARVEL

The festival draws to a close with a big, colorful bang at the Fireworks Show, 9 p.m. Sunday before the final performers take the stage. Music will be broadcast through the park and on radio station KKPT-FM, The Point 94.1.

Weekend on 05/21/2015

Upcoming Events