July 29 – July 1
The Little Mermaid
BATESVILLE — The Fusion Dance Academy’s presentation of The Little Mermaid will continue through Saturday, with shows at 7 nightly, in the Southside High School Auditorium on Batesville Boulevard next to the high school. Seating will begin at 6:30. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children, students and senior citizens.
June 30
Exhibit and Reception
BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council will present Reconstructing Dreams, artwork by Michael Church, through Aug. 5 at the BAAC Gallery on Main, 226 E. Main St. A gallery reception for the exhibit will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, with a brief artist’s talk at 6 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Church experimented with collage and developed a process of finding old images, cutting them up, then reassembling the pieces into new scenes. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
The Gordons Concert
MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Gordons will give a concert at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Tickets are available the day of the show at all park ticket locations. Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for children ages 6 to 12. Children ages 5 and younger will be admitted free. A family pass is $29.50. Combination tickets for the Craft Village and the evening concert is $19.50 for adults. Season passes will be honored. The Gordons, Gary and Roberta, have been bringing their folk, bluegrass and country-music blend to audiences since the 1970s. For more information, call the Folk Center at (870) 269-3851 or visit www.ozarkfolkcenter.com.
July 1
Dog Bath/Dip/Vaccination Clinic
BATESVILLE — The Humane Society of Independence County will host a Dog Bath/Dip/Vaccination Clinic from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Humane Society Shelter, 5 Environmental Drive, north of Batesville by the Recycling Center. For Vaccination Clinic services and prices, call (870) 793-0090. Donations will be accepted, but not required, for baths and dips. For more information, call (870) 793-0090 or email hsicshelteroffice@yahoo.com.
Heber Springs Fireworks Extravaganza
HEBER SPRINGS — The Heber Springs Fireworks Extravaganza will take place at Sandy Beach on the shores of Greers Ferry Lake. Partygoers are invited to arrive by boat or by car. Admission is free, although there is a $10 parking fee for those traveling by car. Food vendors will open at 11 a.m., live music will begin at 7:30 p.m., and the fireworks will start at 9:30 p.m. Music choreographed to the fireworks will be broadcast on 106.1 FM KFFB.
July 2
Pangburn All-School Reunion
PANGBURN — The annual Pangburn All-School Reunion will take place at 2 p.m. in the school’s Performing Arts Center. The 1967 graduating class will host the event. All who have attended Pangburn schools are invited to attend. For more information, call (501) 728-4378 or (501) 268-9003.
July 3
Music Gathering
BATESVILLE — There will be a music gathering at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at First Community Bank, on the corner of Harrison and St. Louis streets. The event will focus on patriotic songs. The public is welcome to sing, play, request songs or listen at the free event.
July 4
Melbourne Fireworks
MELBOURNE — The Melbourne fireworks show will take place at the Izard County Fairgrounds. The gates to the fairgrounds will open at 6 p.m., with entertainment by The Deadwood Groove Band starting at 6:30 p.m. There will be two bounce houses for children, one of which will include a water slide. The fireworks are scheduled to start at dark. The event is free to the public.
4th of July Extravaganza
BEEBE — The city of Beebe’s free 4th of July Extravaganza will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Beebe Ballpark. Live entertainment will be provided by Brock Entertainment and The Brandon Cunning Band. The Beebe City Pool will be closed, but there will be three giant water slides for all ages, and the ballpark playground area will be open. The city will provide free ice cream, drinks and popcorn, and local civic groups and churches will provide free food and drinks. Parking will be available on the park grounds on a first-come basis. Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs. A fireworks display, provided by the Beebe Fire Department, will begin after dark. For more information, call Kristen at Beebe City Hall at (501) 882-8135.
July 5
Star Children’s Theater Registration
BEEBE — The Arkansas State University-Beebe Star Children’s Theater, for ages 8 to 16, is accepting participants for a four-week class that will meet Wednesday through Aug. 4, with registration ending Wednesday. The Phantom Tollbooth, a play based on the 1961 novel by Norton Juster, will be directed by Sandra Williams. The primary goal of the class is to introduce children to theater. The cost is $50 per child. Practices will be from 1-4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at the Owen Center Auditorium. For registration forms, visit the cashier’s office in the State Hall Building at ASUB or call (501) 882-8850. For details, contact Williams at (501) 882-4493 or sfwilliams@asub.edu.
ONGOING
Arkansaw Exhibit
CALICO ROCK — The Calico Rock Museum and Visitor Center, 104 Main St., is presenting a free traveling exhibit, Arkansas/Arkansaw: A State and Her Reputation, in the Murphy Gallery through July 8. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free. The exhibit highlights artifacts from the Old State House Collection and is presented in partnership with the Arkansas Humanities Council. For more information, call the museum at (870) 297-6100 or visit www.calicorockmuseum.com.
Summer Reading Program
BATESVILLE — The Independence County Library, 368 E. Main St., has begun its annual Summer Reading Program. Preschoolers through sixth-graders are eligible to participate and receive weekly prizes for reading books. There will be a live performance Wednesday, as well as weekly story times with Charlotte on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week. For more information, call the library at (870) 793-8814, email info@indcolib.com, or visit www.indcolib.com.
Pioneer Village Summer Saturdays
SEARCY — Pioneer Village, a late-1800s village at 1200 Higginson St., will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. all Saturdays through August. Volunteers will give tours of the buildings and grounds. All buildings are original to White County. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. For more information or to verify opening in the event of rain, call (501) 580-6633.
Summer Arkansas Artists and Mentors Exhibit
BEEBE — The Arkansas State University-Beebe Art Department is featuring the exhibit Arkansas Grown: Artists Emerging on the Arkansas Art Scene through Aug. 15 in the England Center Art Gallery, 201 N. Orange St. Participating artists and their mentors are Hannah May and mentor Stephen Driver; Logan Hunter and mentor Louise Halsey; Joey Lindsey and mentor John Baymore; Irena Fernandez and mentor Richard Stephens; Robert LaWarre and mentor Austin Lindsey; and Cat Traen and mentor Amy Klein. For more information, call (501) 882-4495. The gallery is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Farmers Market
HORSESHOE BEND — The Horseshoe Bend Farmers Market will be open from 8-10:30 a.m. each Wednesday at Faith Presbyterian Church, at Church and Fourth streets. Vendors will offer fresh produce, baked goods and crafts.
Free Brown-Bag Lunch
CABOT — The Mount Tabor United Methodist Church Women of Cabot serve a free brown-bag lunch at 11 a.m. each Thursday at the church, 4100 Arkansas 89 S. In 2016, this mission of the church served more than 8,600 lunches to the hungry and needy of Cabot.
Opportunity for Bridge Players
BEEBE — Bridge players are needed at 1 p.m. Wednesdays at the Shepherd’s Center at Beebe United Methodist Church, 302A N. Main St. Beginners are welcome. For more information, call (501) 843-2930.
Beebe Caregivers Support Group
BEEBE — The Beebe Caregivers Support Group meets at 3 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at the Shepherd’s Center at Beebe United Methodist Church, 302A N. Main St. For more information, call Sandra Garrett at (501) 940-4021.
Alzheimer’s Support Group
CABOT — The Alzheimer’s Support Group meets at 10 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Cabot United Methodist Church, 2003 S. Pine St. For more information, call (501) 265-0027.
Republicans Meetings
NEWPORT — The Jackson County Republicans meet at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at Merchants and Planters Bank, 915 Arkansas 367 N. For more information, call Jeff McDonald at (870) 731-7646.
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.
Cabot Lions Club Meetings
CABOT — The Cabot Lions Club has regular get-togethers at noon the first and third Thursdays of the month at the Kingpin Sports Grill. Lions serve local communities and protect the planet. Club members provide children with eyeglasses, offer food for seniors and provide assistance during natural disasters. All are invited to the meetings.
Upcoming
The Tectonic Evolution of Arkansas
CHEROKEE VILLAGE — The Spring River Gem and Mineral Club will host The Tectonic Evolution of Arkansas, by University of Arkansas professor Mac McGilvery, at 10 a.m. July 6 at the Omaha Center, 20 Omaha Circle. McGilvery will talk about the 600-million-year geologic history of Arkansas that made the plains, valleys, hills and mountains, starting with an ancient river called the Mississippi. The program is free, and visitors are welcome. For more information, contact Tana Holder at tanaholder@centurylink.net or (417) 280-0161.
Fore Mile Adventure
CABOT — The Fore Mile Adventure, benefiting Lonoke County Safe Haven, will take place July 8 at the Greystone Country Club. The family event will open at 6 p.m., and the Fore Mile Fun Run will start at 7 p.m. There will be a bounce house, a swimming pool and food. Register for the event at www.runsignup.com.
Historical Society Meeting
BROCKWELL — The Izard County Historical Society will meet at 2 p.m. July 9 at the Izard County Senior Center on Arkansas 9, south of Brockwell. Tori Moss, marketing and communications director for the North Arkansas Electric Cooperative in Salem, will be the guest speaker and present information about the history of the cooperative. Two copies of The North Arkansas Electric Cooperative History Book will be given away. Copies may be purchased at the meeting for $15. Money from the book sales is donated to the co-op’s Operation Round Up program, which provides college scholarships, disaster relief and donations to nonprofit organizations in the communities the co-op serves. The meeting is open to the public.
Camp Awesome-Kid’s College
BEEBE — Arkansas State University-Beebe will offer Camp Awesome-Kid’s College during July. The camp is designed to provide children with a fun and exciting range of unique opportunities to gain new knowledge, explore careers, develop new skills and boost self-confidence. Camp Awesome is recommended for second through eighth grades, and courses are offered on the Beebe, Searcy and Heber Springs campuses. For more information, including a complete schedule of classes, or to register, call (501) 362-1273, email daschueren@asub.edu or visit www.asub.edu.
Democratic Party of White County Meeting
SEARCY — The Democratic Party of White County will meet at 6:30 p.m. July 17 at Arkansas State University-Searcy, 1800 E. Moore Ave. The agenda will include special elections. For more information, email white@arkdems.org or call (501) 368-9390.
Summer Art Camp for Kids
BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council will host a Summer Art Camp for Kids on July 17-21 at the BAAC Gallery on Main, 226 E. Main St. Students entering kindergarten through the second grade will meet from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and students going into third through sixth grades will meet from 1-2:30 p.m. each day. The cost is $50 for the week. Students will learn a variety of art techniques with instructor Leia Parks, and their artwork will be featured in a culminating exhibition at the BAAC Gallery on Main on Aug. 8-26. Register online at www.batesvilleareaartscouncil.org, or call (870) 793-3382 for more information.
White County Business Expo
SEARCY — The Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce will host the 2017 Business Expo on July 25 in Harding University’s Ganus Activities Complex. The event is an opportunity for businesses to advertise their services and products, building relationships between the businesses and members of the community. The Expo will open to the general public from noon to 4 p.m. Exhibitor-space reservation forms are available on the chamber’s website. Early-bird booth pricing is available until July 12. For more information, call the chamber at (501) 268-2458.
Marty Stuart Concert
MOUNTAIN VIEW — Marty Stuart will be in concert at 7 p.m. Sept. 2 in the large auditorium at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Tickets are reserved seating at $35 for premium seats and $25 for general reserved seats. To purchase tickets, call (870)-269-3851 and press No. 2.
To submit an item for the Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, Three Rivers Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR, 72203; send faxes to (501) 378-3500; or email trnews@arkansasonline.com. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.