BIG Parade<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau\u2019s BIG Little Rock Holiday Parade through downtown Little Rock starts at 3 p.m. Saturday at Broadway and West Markham Street (flanked by City Hall and Robinson Center), continuing east along Markham street through the River Market and concluding near Interstate 30.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s theme is \u201cCandy Cane Lane.\u201d Parade participants are encouraged to bring their best and brightest peppermint-inspired elements via imaginative floats, costumes and designs. Entrants are competing for cash prizes, up to and including a $500 grand prize and trophy. (Deadline to sign up was Nov. 10.)<\/p>\n
Pre-parade, beginning at 2 p.m., an array of downtown holiday experiences will include photos with Santa, an ornament craft station and more at the Statehouse Convention Center, Markham and Main streets. And after the parade, the Arkansas State Capitol Lighting Ceremony gets underway at 5:30 p.m., with the official lighting set for approximately 6:15 p.m. Arkansas PBS will live-stream the event.<\/p>\n
Find a full list of activities being hosted downtown, at Littlerock.com.<\/p>\n
Nuts to you<\/strong><\/p>\nA pecan pie championship, food trucks and vendors, live music, pictures with Santa, a cycling event called the \u201cPie Ride,\u201d bounce houses, a petting zoo, a car show and a squirrel calling contest are all part of the fourth annual\u00a0Arkansas Pecan Festival, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday in downtown Keo. Admission is free. Call (501) 285-5051 or visit facebook.com\/keopecanfest.<\/p>\n
At 2 p.m., festival organizers are also hosting the inaugural\u00a0Harvest for Hope Concert, featuring performances by U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford\u2019s band, Triple Nickel, as well as Hannah Blaylock and Matt Stell, dedicated to raising awareness of the mental health challenges plaguing Arkansas farmers and the resources available to support them. Admission is free; financial donations will be collected on-site. It will also be live-streamed by Arkansas PBS.<\/p>\n
Holiday Open Houses<\/strong><\/p>\nThree downtown Little Rock museums \u2014 the Old State House, 300 W. Markham St.; Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St.; and the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 W. Ninth St. \u2014 host their annual\u00a0Holiday Open Houses\u00a0on Sunday. Visitors can participate in historic crafts and music, eat holiday treats and get a picture with Santa Claus. Admission to all three is free.<\/p>\n
\u25fc\ufe0f For the 58th annual Frolic, noon-4 p.m. on the grounds of Historic Arkansas Museum, visitors can make Springerle ornaments, Kwanzaa crafts, holiday cards, pomander balls and Chinese paper poppers and participate in candle dipping. There will also be woodworking, textile and cooking demonstrations, plus hot cider and gingerbread cookies. Sugar on the Floor, Lark in the Morning, Ricky Russell, Arkansas Country Dance, Aeolus Recorder Group and S. Juain Young & Artists United will perform. Father Christmas reads \u201cA Visit From St. Nicholas,\u201d aka \u201cThe Night Before Christmas.\u201d Visit arkansasheritage.coevents\/2025\/12\/07\/default-calendar\/58th-annual-frolic.<\/p>\n
\u25fc\ufe0f The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center will host its annual Holiday Open House, 1-5 p.m., with festive music and hot chocolate. Children can make crafts and get a picture with Santa. The center will also host its first Arkansas Made Black Crafted Christmas Market. Visit arkansasheritage.com\/events\/2025\/12\/07\/default-calendar\/mtcc-holiday-open-hous.<\/p>\n
\u25fc\ufe0f At the Old State House Museum, noon-4 p.m., the annual open house will feature craft activities (including a hands-on activity related to the \u201cFirst Families: Life in the Public Eye\u201d exhibit), sweet and savory holiday treats (including one made from a recipe by Liza Ashley, the chef for the Governor\u2019s Mansion for many years) and holiday music, plus photo opps with the Christmas tree in the lobby. Visit arkansasheritage.com\/events\/2025\/12\/07\/default-calendar\/oshm-holiday-open-house.<\/p>\n
MUSIC<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\u2018Windy\u2019 concert<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Little Rock Winds offer a \u201cHappy Holidays\u201d concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Center for Humanities and Arts Theater at the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College main campus, 3000 W. Scenic Drive, North Little Rock. Brent Walker will be the announcer. Israel Getzov conducts.<\/p>\n
Bass-baritone George Mayo sings \u201cYou\u2019re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch\u201d and will narrate Clement Clarke Moore\u2019s \u201cA Visit From St. Nicholas,\u201d aka \u201cThe Night Before Christmas,\u201d as the ensemble plays Randol Alan Bass\u2019 musical setting. Tap-dance troupe UnTapped will perform a Christmas Swings routine. The Sylvan Hills High School Chorus joins in for a \u201cChristmas on Broadway\u201d medley.<\/p>\n
The rest of the program: \u201cPolonaise\u201d from \u201cChristmas Eve\u201d by Nicolai Rimsky Korsakov; \u201cA New Orleans Nutcracker Suite,\u201d Michael Kamuf\u2019s arrangement of music by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky; \u201cGreensleeves Variants\u201d by Robert E. Foster; \u201cTuba Christmas,\u201d arranged by Robert W. Smith; \u201cA Rhapsody on Christmas Carols\u201d by Claude T. Smith; \u201cGoin\u2019 Home for the Holidays,\u201d by Antonin Dvorak and Robert Allen; \u201cThe Ultimate Christmas Sing-Along\u201d; and Theresa Morris, winner of the Christmas baton auction, conducting Leroy Anderson\u2019s \u201cSleigh Ride.\u201d<\/p>\n
Santa Claus will greet fans and take Selfies with Santa. The group holds its annual Stocking Stuffer Silent Auction starting at 6:30 p.m., which includes the Flag Day Conductor\u2019s Baton \u2014 the winner receives a free conducting lesson from Getzov and will lead John Philip Sousa\u2019s \u201cThe Stars and Stripes Forever\u201d at the annual Flag Day concert June 14 in MacArthur Park.<\/p>\n
Concert sponsors are Dr. Rich and Dottie Brown. Tickets are $20, $5 for students. Visit lrwinds.org\/tickets.<\/p>\n
\u2018Brass Band Christmas\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Natural State Brass Band offers a concert titled\u00a0\u201cA Brass Band Christmas,\u201d\u00a07 p.m. Friday at St. Luke\u2019s Episcopal Church, 4106 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock, part of the church\u2019s Festival of the Senses series<\/p>\n
The program: \u201cCity of David\u201d by Philip Rayment; \u201cO Holy Night\u201d by Adolphe Charles Adam, arranged by Tom Kubis; \u201cThe Message of Christmas\u201d by William Himes; \u201cCandlelight Carol\u201d by John Rutter, arranged by Chris Mallet; \u201cFrosty the Snowman\u201d by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins, arranged by Sandy Smith; \u201cThe Snowman\u201d by Howard Blake, arranged by Philip Sparke; \u201c\u2019Twas the Night Before Christmas,\u201d poem by Clement Moore, music by Anthony DiLorenzo, arranged by Michael Green; \u201cA Christmas Finale\u201d by Paul Lovatt-Cooper; \u201cWe Wish You a Merry Christmas,\u201d traditional English carol, arranged by John Rutter. Nevada Mills conducts; Dave Woodman will narrate.<\/p>\n
Admission is free. A reception (with food and drink) will follow in the church\u2019s Parish Hall. Call (501) 753-3578 or email baxternan@aol.com.<\/p>\n
The band will repeat the program at 6 p.m. Sunday at Levy Baptist Church, 3501 Pike Ave., North Little Rock, and at 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at Lakewood United Methodist Church, 1922 Topf Road, North Little Rock. Admission to both is free.<\/p>\n
Brass quintet Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Five Star Brass, the 106th Army Band\u2019s brass quintet, performs a holiday program at 2 p.m. Saturday at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E. Ninth St. in Little Rock\u2019s MacArthur Park. The 106th Army Band is part of the Arkansas Army National Guard; the Five Star Brass \u2014 SFC Cody Jernigan and SSG David Hixson, trumpet; SSG Layne Martens, trombone; SPC Saelah Carvin, French horn; and SPC Billy McCarrell, tuba \u2014 performs for military ceremonies and public celebrations, with a repertoire that includes classical, jazz, marches and popular music. Admission is free. Call (501) 376-4602 or visit littlerock.gov\/macarthur.<\/p>\n
Conway Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Conway Symphony Orchestra\u00a0swings in the holiday season with singer Shaleah Adkisson and the Cool Yulers, a group of 28 young Conway area singers and dancers, 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Reynolds Performance Hall at the University of Central Arkansas, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway.<\/p>\n
Adkisson will perform a variety of jazz arrangements, including \u201cMy Favorite Things\u201d from \u201cThe Sound of Music\u201d; \u201cCool Yule,\u201d also featuring tap and jazz dancers from Stage Door Dance Arts and Irby Dance Studio; \u201cJingle Bells ala Barbra\u201d; and Donnie Hathaway\u2019s \u201cThis Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n
She and the Cool Yulers singers will perform\u201cDo You Hear What I Hear?\u201d and \u201cChildren Will Listen\u201d from Stephen Sondheim\u2019s \u201cInto the Woods.\u201d She and sister Kelsie Adkisson will sing the duet \u201cFor Good\u201d from \u201cWicked.\u201d The orchestra will play selections from Peter Tchaikovsky\u2019s ballet \u201cThe Nutcracker,\u201d seasonal pieces by Leroy Anderson, and the Concert Suite from \u201cThe Polar Express.\u201d CSO Music Director Israel Getzov conducts.<\/p>\n
Tickets are $34.50-$57.50, $23-$46 for the UCA \u201ccommunity,\u201d faculty and staff; $17.50 for students. Conway Corp is providing a limited number of free kids tickets, available with the purchase of a regular adult ticket (limit two per family). Call (501) 450-3265 or visit conwaysymphony.org.<\/p>\n
Coterie Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\nArkansas piano teachers perform for the\u00a0Little Rock Musical Coterie\u2019s\u00a0holiday program, 2 p.m. Sunday at Highland Valley United Methodist Church, 15524 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock. The program: Howard Duff performing a \u201cChristmas Peace Medley\u201d in his own arrangement; Trudy Kincade and Sabrina Shivley performing Brian Lockard\u2019s arrangements of \u201cWhat Child Is This?\u201d and \u201cUkrainian Bell Carol\u201d; \u201cGrand Fantasia on I Saw Three Ships\u201d Overton\/Galway, with flutist Sharon Burrall and pianist Janine Tiner; Sharon Burrall, Barbara Cantley and Tressa Tiner singing \u201cHave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas\u201d with Janine Tiner at the keyboard; Nancy Griffin and Kay Lindley playing a piano duet version of the \u201cWaltz of the Flowers\u201d from \u201cThe Nutcracker\u201d by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky; Kristin Duckworth playing \u201cIt\u2019s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year\u201d; and Duckworth and Genni Sutano playing the \u201cThe Nutcracker March.\u201d Admission is free. A reception will follow. Call (501) 240-7765.<\/p>\n
THEATER<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\nJunie B. is back<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Children\u2019s Theatre at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts stages\u00a0\u201cJunie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!\u201d\u00a0by Allison Gregory, based on Barbara Park\u2019s bestselling book series, 10:30 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 and 20; 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 and 21 in the Performing Arts Theater at the museum, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. Tickets are $15, $12 for museum members, free for children 2 and younger if seated in an adult\u2019s lap. Visit events.arkmfa.org\/series\/junie-b-jones.<\/p>\n
The 10:30 show on Dec. 13 features audio description; the 2 p.m. show that day will feature ASL interpretation and a post-show Member Mingle, 3:15-4 p.m., in which museum members can meet the cast and explore the stage. The Dec. 14 show is billed as being a sensory-friendly performance. And Dec. 21 is Holiday Dress Up Day.<\/p>\n
Royal \u2018Christmas Pageant\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Royal Players stage\u00a0\u201cThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical\u201d\u00a0(all music and lyrics by Malcolm Hillgartner, book and lyrics by Jahnna Beecham, based on the play by Barbara Robinson), 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and Dec. 11-13 and 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 14 at the Royal Theatre, 111 S. Market St., Benton. Sponsor is Everett Buick GMC. Tickets are $18; $15 for senior citizens 60-plus, college students and members of the military; $8 for youngsters in grade 12 and younger. Visit onthestage.tickets\/the-royal-theatre.<\/p>\n
ART<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\u2018Headline\u2019 paintings<\/strong><\/p>\nPaintings by Donnie Copeland, John P. Lasater IV and Sammy Peters are among the \u201cheadliners\u201d in the December exhibit at Justus Fine Art Gallery, 827A Central Ave., Hot Springs, opening with a monthly Hot Springs Gallery Walk reception, 5-9 p.m. Friday. The exhibition is up through Jan. 31. Admission to the gallery and the reception is free; this and other participating galleries will be collecting monetary donations benefiting the Project Hope Food Bank of Garland County. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and by appointment. Call (501) 321-2335 or visit justusfineart.com.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.arkansasonline.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Let us read it for you. Listen now. Your browser does not support the audio element. FUN BIG Parade The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau\u2019s BIG Little Rock Holiday Parade through downtown Little Rock starts at 3 p.m. Saturday at Broadway and West Markham Street (flanked by City Hall and Robinson Center), continuing east […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2185988,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2185987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ENTERTAINMENT-BIG-holiday-parade-set-for-Saturday-Keo-hosts-pecan.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2185987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2185987"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2185987\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2185989,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2185987\/revisions\/2185989"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2185988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2185987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2185987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2185987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}