THE WEEKEND TEN

Big Jingle Holiday Parade and  the Arkansas State Capitol Lighting Ceremony
Big Jingle Holiday Parade and the Arkansas State Capitol Lighting Ceremony

1 PARADE

Santa, reindeer, bands and floats will lead a festive march through downtown Little Rock at the Big Jingle Holiday Parade, 3 p.m. Saturday. The parade starts at Second Street and Broadway, travels to Capitol Avenue and ends at the state Capitol, where the official lighting will take place about 6 p.m. Admission is free. Visit holidaysinlittlerock.com.

2 PRANCER

The day after the parade, two of the parade's stars will have their own meet-and-greet with Reindeer on the River, noon-5 p.m. Sunday at the River Market Pavilions, 400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. Guests can take photos with the reindeer and take part in other holiday activities. Admission is free. Visit holidaysinlittlerock.com. See story on Page 4E.

3 PRATS

A pair of funny men and some music make for a lively evening at North Little Rock's Verizon Arena. Steve Martin and Martin Short, with musical trio I'm With Her, present "An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life," 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $59-$250. Call (800) 745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com.

4 '(SHAM) PAIN'

Five Finger Death Punch and Breaking Benjamin co-headline at 6 p.m. Saturday at North Little Rock's Verizon Arena. Tickets are $25.50-$80 (plus service charges). Call (800) 745-3000 or visit Ticketmaster.com. See Music Scene on Page 5E.

5 PUCKISH

A mischievous elf causes problems for St. Nick in Jack Frost in Santa Land by Keith Smith at the Arkansas Children's Theatre, East Ninth and Commerce streets, Little Rock. Performances are 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday through Dec. 16, with a special opening-night celebration Friday, pajama night on Dec. 7 and an American Sign Language performance Dec. 8. Tickets are $12.50, $10 for Arts Center members. Call (501) 372-4000 or visit arkansasartscenter.org.

6 PARTIES

Downtown Little Rock museums and centers are opening their doors for fun and tasty (and free) holiday fun on Sunday:

• The Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St., presents its Christmas Frolic, 1-4 p.m., with living history performers, hot cider and ginger cake, games and dancing. Call (501) 324-9351 or visit historicarkansas.org.

• At the Old State House Museum, 300 W. Markham St., area music groups will perform carols and children can take part in hands-on crafts, 1-5 p.m. Call (501) 324-9685 or visit oldstatehouse.com.

• It's time for the annual "Say It Ain't Say's" Sweet Potato Pie Baking Contest, 2-5 p.m. at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 W. Ninth St. Music and dance groups will perform while guests sample the pies and make crafts. Call (501) 683-3593 or visit mosaictemplarscenter.com.

• Take a tour of the Governor's Mansion, 1800 Center St., 1-4 p.m.; this year's theme is "An Arkansas Natural Christmas." Call (501) 324-9805 or visit friendsofthemansion.org.

7 PUDDLES

Puddles, the "Sad Clown with the Golden Voice," headlines the Puddles Pity Party, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Center for Humanities and Arts Theater, University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College, 3000 W. Scenic Drive, North Little Rock. Tickets are $40-$55, $25 standing room only ($10 for students). Call or visituaptc.edu/charts.

8 PREDICTION

As it has every year since 1930, the Arkansas Choral Society will perform portions of George Frideric Handel's Messiah, 7:30 p.m. Friday in the sanctuary at Calvary Baptist Church, 5700 Cantrell Road, Little Rock. Joining them will be the University of Arkansas at Monticello Chamber Chorus, musicians from the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and soloists Suzanne Banister, soprano; Diana Salesky, alto; Kyle Davis, tenor; and Scott Bearsden, bass. Kent Skinner conducts. A silent auction starts at 6:30. Tickets are $20. Call (870) 723-7838 or visit lovetosing.org.

• St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 228 Spring St., Hot Springs, will, with National Park College and the Hot Springs Music Festival, present the Advent and Christmas portions of Messiah, 7 p.m. Sunday, with professional instrumentalists and soloists. Lynn Payette conducts. Community singers are welcome -- take your own score or copies will be available to borrow. Call (501) 623-1653.

9 PERMS

Six Southern women discuss life and love in a Louisiana beauty parlor in Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling, 7:30 p.m. today-Saturday, Dec. 7-8 and Dec. 13-15 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and 16 at the Weekend Theater, 1001 W. Seventh St., Little Rock. The cast: Jane Morgan Balgavy as M'Lynn, Ivy McGrew as Shelby, Roben R. Sullivant as Truvy, Angela Morgan as Annelle, Donna Singleton as Clairee and Kandy Jones as Ouiser. Tickets are $16, $12 for students and senior citizens. Call (501) 374-3761 or visit weekendtheater.org.

10 PARKER

Ralphie Parker yearns -- in song -- for an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle for Christmas in A Christmas Story -- The Musical (music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, book by Joseph Robinette, based on the 1983 motion picture), 7:30 p.m. today-Saturday, Dec. 6-8 and 13-15, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9 and 16 at the Studio Theatre, 320 W. Seventh St., Little Rock. Tickets are $25, $20 for senior citizens (65-plus), military and students; for Friday's performance, a special benefit for the Ronald McDonald House, all tickets are $50. Cast members will also perform in a Christmas Cabaret benefit for the nonprofit, 6:30 p.m. Monday in the adjoining Lobby Bar. Call (501) 374-2615 or visit centralarkansastickets.com or studiotheatrelr.com.

photo

Puddles the Clown

Weekend on 11/29/2018

Upcoming Events