COMMUNITY EVENTS IN THE RIVER VALLEY & OZARK AREA

Dec. 3

Holiday Make-and-Take Art Workshop

DARDANELLE — McElroy House, 420 S. Second St., invites the public to a free make-and-take art class titled Art Across Generations: Intergenerational Art Making for the Holidays from 2-4 p.m. The class, led by artist Jeannie Stone, will provide art supplies and instruction to make stamped holiday cards, a choice between a Memory Sparkle Wreath or Nature’s Prize Wreath, and scratch art. Participants are welcome to bring natural objects, family heirlooms (special ornaments) or other items and share a story about them. For more information, call (479) 957-0551 or find McElroy House on Facebook.

Dec. 4

Russellville Christmas Parade Entry deadline

RUSSELLVILLE — The entry deadline for the 2017 Russellville Christmas Parade is noon Monday. Entries will not be accepted past this time. Parade entry forms are available at the Recreation and Parks Department office, 1000 E. Parkway, and at www.russellvillearkansas.org. For more information, call the Recreation and Parks Department at (479) 968-1272.

Dec. 4-6

Festival of One-Act Plays and Scenes

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas Theatre Program will present the annual Festival of One-Act Plays and Scenes at 7:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday in the Bridges/Larson Theatre of the Snow Fine Arts Center. The festival is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required. The doors will open at 7 each night. The plays are directed and produced by UCA Theatre students enrolled in the directing class. For more information, contact Melissa Pearson at (501) 450-5092 or melissap@uca.edu.

Dec. 5

Pinnacle Brass Concert

CONWAY — Pinnacle Brass will perform holiday and brass favorites at 7 p.m. at the Faulkner County Library. Pinnacle Brass features musicians from the University of Central Arkansas and Hendrix College music faculty. The concert is sponsored in part by the Conway Symphony Orchestra. All library events are free and open to the public. For more information, call the library at (501) 327-7482 or email nancy@fcl.org.

Dec. 6

First Wednesday Ladies’ Lunch Break

CONWAY — The First Wednesday Ladies’ Lunch Break will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in the Second Baptist Church Fellowship Hall at Dave Ward Drive and Farris Road. Women of all ages are invited to attend. Lunch, for $5, includes a drink and dessert. Child care is available at no charge with advance registration by calling (501) 327-4066 or (501) 730-4106 by Monday.

QuickBooks Workshops

RUSSELLVILLE — The Arkansas Tech Small Business and Technology Development Center will offer two hands-on workshops for QuickBooks Pro, Premier and Enterprise software users at Arkansas Tech University. QuickBooks for Beginners, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, is for business owners and their employees with little or no experience using QuickBooks desktop software. QuickBooks Day-to-Day Basics, from 1-4:30 p.m., includes working with invoices, payments, bills, inventory and reports. Computers are provided for use at the sessions. The cost per session is $65. Register by Tuesday by calling (479) 356-2067 or visiting asbtdc.org/training/russellville-events.

Dec. 7

UCA Concert Choir: Handel’s Messiah

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas Concert Choir will perform the first act of Handel’s Messiah at 7:30 p.m. at the Snow Fine Arts Center. The first act is about the birth of Jesus Christ. The performance, which will feature soloists, the chorus and orchestra, is free and open to the public. For more information, contact John Erwin, associate professor and director of choral activities, at (501) 450-5757 or johne@uca.edu.

Dec. 8 and 9

Living Nativity

CONWAY — Salem United Methodist Church, 1018 Salem Road, will present a living Nativity from 6:30-8:30 p.m. both days. Attendees will witness a retelling of the Nativity story and will walk through scenes featuring King Herod, the Three Wise Men, shepherds, Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call the church at (501) 327-2884.

Dec. 9

Spaghetti dinner

NEW DIXIE — St. Boniface Catholic Church will hold its spaghetti and sausage dinner, featuring homemade rolls and peach cobbler, from 4-7 p.m. at St. Boniface Hall. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. Children younger than 6 may eat free. For carry-out meals, call (501) 759-2876.

Ongoing

Master Naturalists Classes

GREENBRIER — The Foothills of Arkansas Master Naturalists chapter is taking applications for its second-year class of volunteers for 2018. Chapter president Tom Nowlin of Clinton said the chapter invites residents from Heber Springs, Conway, Clinton and surrounding areas to apply. The course, Naturalists in Training, begins Jan. 1 for a New Year’s Hike Meet and Greet at Woolly Hollow State Park in Greenbrier and will be an informal gathering. Classes will begin at 9 a.m. Jan. 27 at the Faulkner County Library, 1900 Tyler St. in Conway. Graduation will be May 19 at Woolly Hollow State Park. The application form and class schedule are available at wordpress.arkansasmasternaturalists.org. Scroll down to FAMN. For more information, contact Nowlin at twnowlin@artelco.com or (501) 723-5122.

’Tis the Season Art Exhibit

CLINTON — ’Tis the Season is the North Central Arkansas Artist League’s free exhibit at Ozark Health Medical Center on U.S. 65 on the south side of Clinton. The exhibit will be on display until Feb. 12. The new collection includes 40 paintings by eight local artists. Artwork is in the hallways near the cafeteria on the upper level and in the outpatient wing through the skywalk and down the elevator to the lower level. The paintings are for sale for prices from $15 to $350. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Hospital Auxiliary projects. For more information, contact league president Charlotte Rierson at (501) 884-6100.

Master Gardeners Online Training

RUSSELLVILLE — The Pope County Master Gardeners will offer Master Gardener training online beginning Jan. 16. The deadline to apply is Friday. For more information or an application, contact the Pope County Cooperative Extension Office at pope-russellville@uaex.edu or call (479) 968-7098.

Fall BA/BFA Senior Exhibit

CONWAY — The Baum Gallery at the University of Central Arkansas will host its Fall BA/BFA Senior Exhibit through Thursday. Fall graduating seniors in the exhibit include Kaitlyn Haynes, Conway; Winsor Luke, Canyon, Texas; Shiori Soya, Tokyo; Josh Steging, North Little Rock; Kaelyn Suarez, Bald Knob; Lauren Swaim, Little Rock; Jordan Tribble, El Dorado; Abigail Nipper, Conway; Kelsee Sawrie, Bradford; Emily Willhite; Greg Beene; Kolby Black; Georgie McCarthy; and Leah Roddey.

Master Naturalists Classes

CLINTON — Training for the 2018 class of the Foothills Arkansas Master Naturalists Chapter will begin in January. Master Naturalists help build and maintain trails, test water quality, conduct plant and animal surveys, remove invasive plants and educate the public about Arkansas’ natural areas. For an application form, go to wordpress.arkansasmasternaturalists.org. Select “How Do I Join?” and scroll down to Foothills (FAMN). For more information, email twnowlin@artelco.com.

Humane Society Benefit Bingo

GREENBRIER — Bingo, sponsored by the Humane Society of Faulkner County, takes place every third Friday at the Melton Cotton City Event Center, 5 Lois Lane. Pregames start at 5:30 p.m., and full games begin at 6:30. Proceeds from the event benefit the Sloan-Swindel Spay and Neuter Memorial Fund. For more information, email rescuethestrays@yahoo.com.

Bluegrass Music Night

HEBER SPRINGS — Heber Springs Christian Church, 1101 N. Broadway St., offers a bluegrass music night from 6:30-8:30 every Tuesday. Musicians are invited to participate. Free coffee will be available.

Yoga Class at the Library

CONWAY — Danny Mize, registered yoga instructor, teaches a yoga class at 6 p.m. Thursdays at the Faulkner County Library. Mize’s class focuses on feeling good in one’s body and letting go of life’s stress while listening to music. Yoga practitioners of all skill levels, especially beginners, are welcome in the class. All library programs are free and open to the public. For more information, call the library at (501) 327-7482 or email nancy@fcl.org.

Faulkner County Coin Club Meetings

CONWAY — The Faulkner County Coin Club meets the second Tuesday of each month at the Ola and John Hawks Senior Wellness and Activity Center, 705 E. Siebenmorgen Road. The 5 p.m. dinner is optional, and a $6 donation is suggested for those 60 and younger. A fellowship time will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. with educational speakers, show-and-tell, news and door prizes. For more information, call (501) 514-0785.

Friday Night Bingo

HEBER SPRINGS — Friday Night Bingo takes place each week at the American Legion Hall, 49 Park Road. Doors open at 5:30 for bonanzas, and regular play starts at 6:30 p.m. Food is available.

Faulkner County Tea Party Luncheon

CONWAY — The Faulkner County Tea Party has a luncheon at noon every Thursday at Larry’s Pizza, 1068 Markham St. Guest speakers and the members’ “soap box” are featured each week. All who are interested in governmental and business affairs on the county, state or national level are invited to attend.

Upcoming

Pancakes, Buddy the Elf and Santa Claus

CONWAY — Bethlehem House will host an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10 at Stoby’s Restaurant, 805 Donaghey Ave. Santa and Buddy the Elf will be at the breakfast, starting at 9 a.m. Tickets are $5, and the price includes pancakes, sausage, and coffee, milk or juice. Purchase tickets at www.bethlehemhouse.net, by calling (501) 329-4862 or at the door. Proceeds from the breakfast will go to Bethlehem House to assist homeless and nearly homeless individuals and families in improving their life situations.

Holiday Tour of Homes

RUSSELLVILLE — The United Methodist Women of First United Methodist Church will have their fourth annual Holiday Tour of Homes as a fundraiser to support mission projects. Four homes will be open from 2-4 p.m. Dec. 10. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased from any UMW member or at the church office, 304 S. Commerce. The self-guided tour of Christmas decorations and home interiors will include the homes of Toni Laws, 318 Quapaw Drive; Susie Nicholson, 328 Quapaw Drive; Laura Harrison, 3000 Highland Drive; and Cynthia Blanchard, 202 E. Shore Drive. For reservations, call the church office at (479) 968-1232. Transportation service will be provided for the tour for those who need it; meet in the church parking lot at 1:45 p.m.

A Lantern Christmas

CONWAY — The Conway Community Arts Association and The Lantern Theatre will host A Lantern Christmas on Dec. 15-17 at the theater, 1021 Van Ronkle St. The event will feature songs and sketch-comedy acts suitable for the family. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 17. Tickets are $15 online and at the door. Student rush tickets may be available at the door for $5, and children younger than 7 will be admitted free. For more information, visit The Lantern Theatre Facebook page.

Choir Christmas Concert and Nativity Pageant

CONWAY — The choir of Grace Presbyterian Church, 1010 Hogan Lane, will present a Christmas concert titled Kinsman Redeemer at 7 p.m. Dec. 19. The children of the church will also perform a Nativity pageant. The public is invited.

To submit an item for the Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, River Valley & Ozark Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR 72203; fax to (501) 378-3500; or email to rvonews@arkansasonline.com. The deadline for calendar-item submissions is noon Tuesday.

Upcoming Events