Ethan Patterson as Buddy in "Elf" at the Studio Theatre. Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Justin A. Pike
NORTHERN LIGHTS
The lighting of North Little Rock's Christmas tree (38 feet tall plus a 4-foot star for a total 42 feet, bottom to top) and the grand opening of Argenta Plaza, 510 Main St., North Little Rock, are the centerpieces of the Northern Lights Festival 2019, 5-9 p.m. Saturday in North Little Rock's Argenta District. Doors open at 5, with the plaza grand opening at 5:30, the tree lighting at 6:30, the Big Dam Horns starting to perform at 7 and fireworks at 8. The event also features food trucks, a holiday market, kids activities, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, horse-and-carriage rides and costumed actors from the Argenta Community Theater's production of A Christmas Carol. Admission and parking throughout downtown North Little Rock are free. Visit tinyurl.com/tmhrssv, NorthLittleRock.org or the Facebook event page, facebook.com/events/2359524190970018.
NORTHERN PARADE
"Candy Canes and Gingerbread" is the theme for this year's North Little Rock Sertoma Christmas Parade, 2-4 p.m. Sunday, heading down Main Street from Pershing Boulevard to the City Services building at Main and Broadway. Admission is free. Sponsors are the city of North Little Rock, the North Little Rock Sertoma Club and the North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau. Visit northlittlerock.org/events.
NORTH POLE MUSICAL
Buddy the Elf (Ethan Patterson), when he learns that he may be working at the North Pole under unusual circumstances, goes on a quest to find his true identity in Elf — The Musical. It's onstage 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and Dec. 5-7 and 12-14, 2:30 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 8 and 15 at the Studio Theatre, 320 W. Seventh St., Little Rock. Tickets are $25, $20 for students, senior citizens (65-plus) and military. Visit centralarkansastickets.com. For more information, call (501) 3740-2615 or visit studiotheatrelr.com.
PRAIRIE WINGS
Fans of ducks, music, crafts and hunting will flock to downtown Stuttgart for the annual Wings Over the Prairie Festival, Friday-Saturday. In addition to the World Championship Duck Calling Contest, the festival includes exhibits, duck gumbo, a carnival and the Great Duck Race 10K/5K. The carnival will also be open at 3 p.m. today. General admission is free. Call (870) 673-1602 or visit stuttgartarkansas.org.
MOUNTAIN MEET-UP
Experience the way life used to be at the annual Mountain Rendezvous, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday-Sunday at Petit Jean Mountain State Park, 1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road, Morrilton. Re-enactors will be on hand to demonstrate primitive camp skills such as rifle loading and tomahawk throwing. Admission is free. Call (501) 727-5441 or visit petitjeanstatepark.com.
JOLLY HOLIDAY
Sketch-comedy trio Steve Farrell, Vicki Farrell and Brett Ihler, aka The Main Thing, play the Fertle Family, whose trouble-ridden holiday reunion in the tiny town of Dumpster, Ark., is at the heart of A Fertle Holiday, opening at 8 p.m. Friday at The Joint, 301 Main St., in North Little Rock's Argenta District. The show runs 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday through Jan. 11. Tickets are $25 and $30. Call (501) 372-0205 or visit TheJointArgenta.com.
SUGAR PLUM PERFORMANCE
Arkansas Festival Ballet, guest dancers, the South Arkansas Symphony and conductor Kermit Poling perform Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at First Financial Music Hall, 101 E. Locust St. in El Dorado's Murphy Arts District. Tickets, $30-60. Call (870) 863-4547 or visit eldoMAD.com.
SHOP LOCAL
Little Rock's River Market retailers will offer sales while local artisans will set up pop-up shops as the district encourages everyone to think local with Think Big, Shop Small, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. There will also be music and children's crafts. Visit rivermarket.info.
THINK GREEN
Across the state, parks will offer special programs, hikes and activities on Green Friday. For instance: hike the Delta Woodlands Nature Trail at Lake Village's Lake Chicot State Park, make crafts at Village Creek State Park in Wynne or tour the Plantation Agriculture Museum in Scott. Visit arkansasstateparks.com.
— Compiled by Jennifer Nixon
and Eric E. Harrison
Weekend on 11/28/2019
Print Headline: Calendar highlights for the days ahead: