1 BEATLES
Commemorating the brief stop the Beatles made in Walnut Ridge during their 1964 U.S. tour (they flew in and out en route to and from a Missouri ranch where they spent some down time), the northeast Arkansas town will put on its fourth annual Beatles at the Ridge Festival on Friday-Saturday along U.S. 67, the site of the town's "Guitar Walk." The festival will feature live performances by Deadwood Grove, Jeffrey and the Pacemakers, Lauren Richmond, Sonny Burgess and the Legendary Pacers, Riverbilly and the Liverpool Legends tribute band. Other activities and attractions include the Octopus Garden for Kids, the Nuttin' But Talent contest (the winner opens for the Liverpool Legends), a British car show and shine, an air guitar competition and duck calling contests. Ivor Davis, author of The Beatles and Me on Tour, will headline the noon Friday Artists and Authors Symposium. Admission and parking are free; there's a charge for the Octopus Garden blow-ups, bounce houses and amusement rides. A complete schedule is available at BeatlesattheRidge.com.
2 BUSH WOMEN, BLOOD, BATMAN
The Acansa Arts Festival continues through Sunday in venues on both sides of the Arkansas River. Highlights (except as noted, all tickets $20) include two dance groups -- Push Physical Theatre, 7 p.m. today and Urban Bush Women, 7 p.m. Saturday, both at North Little Rock Middle School, East Campus (formerly Lakeview Middle School), 2400 Lakeview Road, North Little Rock; musical acts -- jazz-stride band The Hot Sardines, 8 p.m. today, Park Lawn, Clinton Presidential Center, 1200 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock ($20), and a cappella group The Exchange, 7 p.m. Friday, Albert Pike Memorial Temple, 712 Scott St., Little Rock ($20); and theater -- Blood at the Root by Dominique Morriseau, 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Argenta Community Theater, 405 Main St., North Little Rock ($30, $15 students), and The Dork Knight, actor Jason O'Connell's one-man show about life through the prism of his love/hate relationship with Batman, 9 p.m. Thursday-Friday, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre's Black Box, 550 Main St., Little Rock. A complete schedule and ticket information are at Acansaartsfestival.org. See Music Scene on Page 5E.
3 BUSY
Kids can work out creative and destructive tendencies at the Museum of Discovery's annual Tinkerfest, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. The area inside and outside the museum, 500 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, will be packed with activities including the Car Take Apart and Toy Take Aparts, "How to Make" workshops and a variety of games and projects. Admission is $10, $8 for children 1-12, ages 65 and older, teachers, Little Rock city employees and military. Call (501) 396-7050 or visit museumofdiscovery.org. See story on Page 4E.
4 BABER, ETC.
Nearly two dozen Arkansas bands and performers will perform on two stages -- the History Pavilion and First Security Amphitheater -- in Little Rock's Riverfront Park for the third annual grassroots Legends of Arkansas music and art festival, noon-11 p.m. Saturday. Enter behind the River Market's Ottenheimer Market Hall, 400 President Clinton Ave. The lineup includes Adam Faucett & the Tall Grass, the Wild Flowers, Barrett Baber, Good Foot, Collin vs. Adam, Big Piph, Charlotte Taylor with Matt Stone, Mothwind, Federalis and Ducktronaut. Stilt walkers and hula-hoop dancers from ReCreation Studios will perform in the park throughout the day; a special fire performance follows Faucett's headline performance. Mike Poe will be the master of ceremonies with special guest appearances by Shoog Radio's Aaron Sarlo and Kara Bibb of radio station KABF-FM, 88.3. Admission is free. Call (870) 540-9867 or visit LegendsofArkansas.com. See story on Page 4E.
• Baber, a singer/songwriter from Marion, will also be the opening act for Fayetteville country rock band Backroad Anthem for the Heart of Arkansas United Way's Campaign Kickoff Concert today at Dickey-Stephens Park, 400 W. Broadway, North Little Rock. Gates open and food and beverage sales begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the gate. Visit heartaruw.org or facebook.com/heartofARuw.
5 BACON
The flavor and scent of pork products will fill the State Fairgrounds, 2600 Howard St., Little Rock, during the second annual Bacon Fest, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. The fundraiser for the Arkansas State Fair Scholarship Program features a 5K run, bacon-themed cooking contests, eating contest, vendors, children's activities and music. Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 event day, with children 8 and under free with a paid adult (two per adult). The 5K Bacon Run/Walk, which starts at 10 a.m., is $35. Call (501) 372-8341 or visit arkansasstatefair.com.
6 BREWS
The Little Rock Zoo gets frothy and foamy for its annual Zoo Brew, 6-9 p.m. today. The craft beer festival takes over the area around Cafe Africa, which will also have music and the chance to meet some zoo residents. Beer servings are included in the admission price, but food from food trucks including Southern Gourmasian and the Pie Hole will be sold separately. Tickets are $30 at the door. Call (501) 666-2406 or visit littlerockzoo.com.
7 BOOTS
A flamboyant feline sings, dances, buckles swashes and uses brain over brawn to conquer kings, ogres and even a few rabbits in Puss in Boots, adapted by Alan Keith Smith from Charles Perrault's feline fairy tale, the Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theatre 2015-16 season opener, 7 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday through Oct. 4 at the Arts Center in MacArthur Park, East Ninth and Commerce streets, Little Rock. Tickets are $12.50, free for kids (on laps) 2 and younger. There's a "Pay What You Can" preview at 7 p.m. today; buy your tickets in person at the visitor center in the Arts Center lobby or at the door. Call (501) 372-4000 or visit ArkansasArtsCenter.org/theatre.
8 BENEFIT
The Huntington's Disease Society of America's Arkansas Affiliate presents its annual Walk, Raffle and Roll Fall Festival, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Clinton Presidential Center, 1200 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. The event includes music, children's activities and a silent auction. Tickets are $10. Call (501) 831-8452 or visit hdarkansas.org.
9 BEATEN PATH
The scenic hills around Mountain View are home to a large number of artists and they're opening their studios for the annual Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. The tour includes 40 artists around Mountain View, Calico Rock, Pineville, Fox and Guion. Participation is free and guidebooks are available. Call (870) 615-4825 or visit offthebeatenpathstudiotour.com.
10 "(ROCK) BOTTOM"
Wynonna Judd and her band the Big Noise will open the 2015-16 entertainment season at the University of Central Arkansas, 7:30 p.m. Friday in Reynolds Performance Hall at UCA, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway. Tickets are $23-$40, $10 for children and students. Call (501) 450-3265 or (866) 810-0012 or visit uca.edu/reynolds.
Weekend on 09/17/2015