THE WEEKEND TEN

The top things to do and places to be

If it’s Memorial Day Weekend, it’s time for Riverfest. The 37th annual celebration takes place Friday-Sunday in and around Riverfront Park, River Market District, the Clinton Presidential Center and Heifer International in downtown Little Rock. Hours are 6-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 1-11 p.m. Sunday. Admission (get a wristband including all three days and every festival performance) is $40 at the gate; $20 in advance at area Walgreens stores; free for kids 10 and younger with a paying adult. All bags/backpacks will be subject to a security search; no pets unless specially trained to assist the disabled; and no tobacco products (by city ordinance). Call (501) 255-3378 (FEST) or visit riverfestarkansas.com. Here are 10 Riverfest things to know, do, see, hear or eat:

1 STAGES

Entertainment for adults throughout the weekend will take place on three main stages:

Bud Light Stage at the Clinton Presidential Center. Top names include Easton Corbin at 8 p.m. Friday and Lee Brice at 9:45; Buckcherry at 8:15 p.m. Saturday, followed by Three Days Grace at 9:45 and Hank Williams Jr. at 9:45 Sunday.

The Coors Light/Arkansas Federal Credit Union Stage (enter at President Clinton and River Market avenues gateway). Chicago headlines at 9:30 p.m. Friday, with Salt-N-Pepa at 8 p.m. Saturday and CeeLo Green at 9:45.

Stickyz Music Stage (enter at Third and Kumpuris streets or at Clinton Avenue and Ferry Street). Grand Theft headlines at 9:45 p.m. Friday, with Cody Canada & the Departed headlining at 9:45 p.m. Saturday and Surfer Blood at 10 p.m. Sunday.

2 SONGWRITER

Barrett Baber, winner of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism “Song of Arkansas” contest, will perform his original tune (co-written by Kenny Lamb), “A.R.K.A.N.S.A.S. (Get There From Here),” at 3:30 p.m. Sunday on the Coors Light/ Arkansas Federal Credit Union Stage.

3 SCRIP

For on-grounds food, etc., purchases (except souvenir items and some artwork), you’re going to need to swap U.S. currency for Arvest Bank RiverMoney at any Arvest Bank RiverBank on site. No checks.

4 STUFF

Speaking of food, options at this year’s Riverfest include chicken and steak wraps, pot stickers, fried Oreos and fried Butterfingers, burgers, brats, nachos, barbecue, frozen lemonade, funnel cakes, “walking tacos,” Philly cheesesteaks, chocolate-dipped bananas, chicken on a stick, shrimp fried rice, egg rolls, corn dogs, roasted corn on the cob, kettle korn, pizza, crawfish, boudin alligator, gyros, baklava, jerk chicken and pork, curry goat and shrimp, slushies and daiquiris (must be 21 and get an “I’m of age” wristband), and last but not least, bacon on a stick and covered in chocolate.

5 SPECTACLES

Parents looking for something the whole family can enjoy can head Kidzone in the playground and water park area of Riverfront Park. There will be crafts and games and the Yarnell’s Kidzone Stage will host ventriloquists, kazoo players and Saturday and Sunday night performances by Trout Fishing in America.

6 SHUTTLE

The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau and radio station KARN-AM, 920, is sponsoring a $4-round-trip over to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Family Zone on the east side of the Clinton Presidential Center and Heifer International. Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 1-7 p.m. Sunday, the Family Zone includes cultural celebrations, acrobat and tumbler performances, hands-on exhibits from Heifer Village and the Super Retriever Series Crown Championship. More child-centric activities will be underway at the Deltic Timber Riverfest Shuttle from stops on the east side of War Memorial Stadium, West Markham Street and Fair Park Boulevard in Little Rock or at the Lakewood Middle School parking lot, 2300 Lakeview Road, North Little Rock. Take a nonperishable food item and get $1 off the ride. Hours are 5:30 p.m. until closing Friday, 10:30 a.m. until closing Saturday, 12:30 p.m. until closing Sunday.

7 SPRINT

There are more exercise opportunities than just strolling from venue to venue. The Rock-N-Stroll 5K Fun Run is back, 8 a.m. Saturday at Heifer International. Participants are invited to dress up as a rock star, cartoon character or whatever they’d like. Registration is $30 in advance, $35 the day of the run, $10 for children 10 and under. Three-day Riverfest admission passes are included.

8 STAY!

Why should bipeds have all the fun? The theme for this year’s Ruff on the River festival for dogs is Cirque du Pup. It starts with the registration “pawty” at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Acxiom, Third Street and River Market Avenue, and continues with the Pooch Parade to Heifer International at 9:30. Event-only registration is $10. Registration with a Riverfest ticket is $30. Short-legged dogs from “Beenie Weenies” to “Summer Sausages” can face off in the Weenie Dog Derby at 10 a.m. for an additional $5. Proceeds benefit Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals, Little Rock Animal Village and All About Labs Rescue.

9 SCORE

Those skilled at tossing beanbags through holes can show off their prowess at the Riverfest Oaklawn Gaming Baggo National Championship, 1 p.m. Saturday at Heifer International. Prizes range from $500 to $1,500 cash. Team registration is $100 and includes two Riverfest tickets and eight RiverMoney tickets and all participants must be at least 18.

10 SHOOT

Before the Sunday night headliners take their respective stages will come the Riverfest Fireworks Show, 9 p.m. Sunday and visible with simulcast music (also airing on radio station KKPT-FM, 94.1, “The Point”).

Weekend on 05/22/2014

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