Special Events

Chicken, catfish, shrimp and more at four food events this weekend in Little Rock, North Little Rock

Volunteers from the Little Rock Midtown Rotary Club and the Knights of Columbus work on battering fish to feed the crowds at the Camp Aldersgate Fish Fry.
Volunteers from the Little Rock Midtown Rotary Club and the Knights of Columbus work on battering fish to feed the crowds at the Camp Aldersgate Fish Fry.

There will be a bombardment of food in Little Rock and North Little Rock this weekend as four different groups present dinners, lunches and entire festivals to feed the masses.

• To start off, it's a choice of fins or wings at the Fish & Fowl Dinner at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock.

Presented by the Friendly Chapel Church of the Nazarene, the fried chicken and fish dinner benefits Brother Paul's Soup Kitchen and Shelter in North Little Rock, which serves meals to local adults and children. This is the 31st year for the dinner that features, organizers say, "good eats for a good cause."

Fish & Fowl Dinner, 5-8 p.m. Friday, Verizon Arena, North Little Rock. Tickets: $15, $6 for children 5-12. Call (501) 371-0912.

• Food for every palate will be all in one place for lunch at the seventh annual Main Street Food Truck Festival, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Last year's gathering of food trucks and vendors drew nearly 50,000 people and organizers hope to break that record this year.

Vendors will include Get Ya Some BBQ, El Buen Gusto, Excaliburger, Katmandu Momo and Delish Desserts (full list at arkansasonline.com/2017foodtrucks) and they can be found over several blocks centered on the intersection of Main Street and Capitol Avenue.

Main Street Food Truck Festival, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Main Street and Capitol Avenue, Little Rock. Free admission. Call (501) 375-0121 or visit mainstreetfoodtrucks.com.

• On Saturday night, masses of shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn will be served up tableside (or curbside) at the annual Saint Mark's Shrimp Boil.

This is the 13th year for the dinner and those who have been before won't notice any changes, says Linda King, the event publicity chairman: "So far the formula works."

Tables will be set up inside the parish hall and outside in the garden, where Greasy Greens will play zydeco music for dancing. There will be beer and wine available and organizers will sell raffle tickets for a chance to win a Yeti cooler.

But for those who don't want to stick around, there is a drive-through open from 5-7 p.m.

The money benefits St. Francis House, a ministry that provides services including free medical clinics, employment training and housing for low-income and homeless clients.

"It is huge fun benefiting a wonderful cause," King says. "This is the most fun way to donate to something they'll ever do."

St. Mark's Shrimp Boil, 5-9 p.m. Saturday, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 1000 N. Mississippi St., Little Rock. Tickets: advance $25, children 12 and under $10; at the door $30 and $15. Call (501) 225-4203.

• More fishy dishes will be eaten by the plateful at the Camp Aldersgate Fish Fry.

The camp, which provides respite and summer camps for children with illnesses and disabilities as well as programs for senior citizens, has hosted its big fish fry for 34 years.

The event is more than just catfish and the usual trimmings. There's also music, a "merchants pop-up shop," kids fishing derby and, new this year, a petting zoo and hayrides. And, everyone is invited to explore the camp.

"If you want to have a good family afternoon and support a great cause, come on out and see what we're about," says Hanna French, the camp's events and marketing coordinator.

While some activities have had additional fees in past years, this year, everything other than the food is free.

Because parking at the camp can be tight, there will be shuttle service from parking lots at OrthoArkansas, 10301 Kanis Road, and Pediatrics Plus, 1900 Aldersgate Road. OrthoArkansas will also be the site for drive-through food service.

Camp Aldersgate Fish Fry, noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Camp Aldersgate, 2000 Aldersgate Road, Little Rock. Tickets: $15. Call (501) 225-1444 or visit campaldersgate.net.

Weekend on 10/05/2017

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