Dec. 10
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. 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 from 2-4 p.m. as a fundraiser to support mission projects. Tickets to view the four homes 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.
Dec. 12
Arkansas Coding Academy Open House
CONWAY — The Arkansas Coding Academy will have an open house from 5-7 p.m. at UCA Downtown, 1105 W. Oak St. Visitors can learn more about the Coding Academy and the classes it offers. For more information, call Anita at (501) 450-1715.
Dec. 12 and 14
Blood Drive
CONWAY — Conway Regional Medical Center and the Arkansas Blood Institute will conduct a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Conway Regional Auditorium, 2302 College Ave. If possible, donors are asked to make appointments online at www.yourbloodinstitute.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/196678. For more information, contact Vince Maniace, blood drive coordinator for the ABI, at vince.maniace@obi.org. Donors will receive a T-shirt and can enter a drawing for a $50 Walmart gift card.
Dec. 13
Lunch and Learn
CONWAY — Alzheimer’s Arkansas will sponsor a free Lunch and Learn from noon to 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 1610 Prince St. The speaker will be Priscilla Pittman, program director for Alzheimer’s Arkansas. Her topic will be dementia and the holidays. Seating is limited. Contact Charlene Hooten at (501) 224-0021 or charlene.hooten@alzark.org.
Dec. 15-17
A Lantern Christmas
CONWAY — The Conway Community Arts Association and The Lantern Theatre will host A Lantern Christmas on Friday through Dec. 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. Friday and Saturday 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 6 and younger will be admitted free. For more information, visit The Lantern Theatre Facebook page.
Ongoing
Master Naturalists Classes
CLINTON — The Foothills of Arkansas Master Naturalists chapter is taking applications for its second-year class of volunteers for 2018. The course, Naturalists in Training, will begin Jan. 1 with a New Year’s Hike Meet and Greet at Woolly Hollow State Park in Greenbrier, 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. Select “How Do I Join?” and 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.
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. 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
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. For more information, visit www.gracepresconway.org or call (501) 504-6899.
Maumelle Newcomers Christmas Luncheon
MAUMELLE — The Maumelle Newcomers Christmas Luncheon will take place at 11 a.m. Dec. 21 at the Maumelle Country Club. The cost is $15. Paul Vogler will entertain with Christmas music. For reservations, call Betty McBurnett at (501) 664-7196 by Dec. 18.
Christmas Eve Service
CONWAY — Grace Presbyterian Church, 1010 Hogan Lane, will host a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 24. The public is invited. For more information, visit www.gracepresconway.org or call (501) 504-6899.
Lantern Theatre Auditions
CONWAY — The Conway Community Arts Association and the Lantern Theatre will have auditions for their first show of the 2018 season, Steel Magnolias, at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8 and 9 at the Lantern Theatre, 1021 Van Ronkle St. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Women 18 and older are encouraged to audition. Steel Magnolias, by Robert Harling, will be directed by Carla Grant and presented Feb. 23 through March 4. For more information, email infor@thelanterntheatre.com.
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.