FUN
The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau brings back its seasonal spectacle for the first time since the covid-19 pandemic on Saturday with a new name, new theme and new downtown location — now called the BIG Little Rock Holiday Parade, it starts at 4 p.m. at West Markham Street and Broadway and proceeds eastward along the Arkansas River, concluding in the River Market District near Interstate 30. The State Capitol Lighting Ceremony follows at 5:30 p.m., with the actual lighting expected to happen around 6:15 p.m.
North of the river, the North Little Rock Elks Christmas Parade starts at 2 p.m. Sunday along North Little Rock’s Main Street, from 22nd Street to Washington Avenue.
Elsewhere: The Arkansas Pecan Festival returns to downtown Keo, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. There’s a bicycle Pie Ride, live music and a car show; judging begins at noon for the state Pecan Pie Championship.
“The Illusionists — Magic of the Holidays,” featuring five magicians — Kevin James, “The Inventor”; James More, “The Deceptionist”; David Williamson, “The Trickster”; Chris Cox, “The Mentalist”; and Pablo Canovas, “The Unforgettable” — is onstage 7:30 p.m. Friday at Little Rock’s Robinson Center Performance Hally. CelebrityAttractions.com or Ticketmaster.com.
And Piccolo Zoppé’s Winter Circus wraps up its run in downtown North Little Rock on Sunday, under a big top in the parking lot at Bishop Lindsey Avenue and Magnolia Street. secure.piccolozoppe.com.
MUSIC
The Arkansas Choral Society, with soloists and members of the Arkansas Symphony, performs portions of George Frideric Handel’s oratorio “Messiah” — which it has done since 1930 — at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Calvary Baptist Church, 5700 Cantrell Road, Little Rock. lovetosing.org.
The River City Men’s Chorus offers its “HOLIDAY! 2024” concerts, 3 p.m. Sunday, 7 p.m. Monday and Thursday at St. James United Methodist Church, 321 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock. (501) 377-1080 or visit rivercitymenschorus.com.
The Little Rock Winds celebrate the holidays with a program titled “Mistletoe Melodies” with the Arkansas Chamber Singers and dancers from the Arkansas Festival Ballet, 7:30 p.m. today Thursday at the Center for Humanities and Arts Theater at the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College, 3000 W. Scenic Drive, North Little Rock. (501) 666-0777 or visit lrwinds.org/tickets.
The Natural State Brass Band performs seasonal music at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 4106 John F. Kennedy Blvd. (501) 753-3578 or baxternan@aol.com.
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra performs “The Lost Christmas Eve” at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at North Little Rock’s Simmons Bank Arena. And at the same venue, Justin Timberlake performs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Ticketmaster.com.
And mezzo-soprano JoAna Rusche and the University of Central Arkansas Concert Choir join the Conway Symphony Orchestra and conductor Israel Getzov for “Sleighbells at the Symphony,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Reynolds Performance Hall at UCA, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway. (501) 450-3265 or visit conwaysymphony.org.
THEATER
In live theater this weekend:
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Children’s Theatre stages “Madeline’s Christmas,” 10:30 and 2 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 22 in the Performing Arts Theater at the museum, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. events.arkmfa.org.
The Weekend Theater, 1001 W. Seventh St. at Chester Street, Little Rock, opens its production of “Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge!” by Christopher Durang at 7:30 p.m. Friday, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 21. CentralArkansasTickets.com.
The Studio Theatre, 420 W. Seventh St., Little Rock, continues its production of the musical “Annie,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday through Dec. 15. studiotheatrelr.com
The Argenta Contemporary Theater, 405 Main St., North Little Rock, is staging “A Christmas Story the Musical,” 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 11-14 and 19-21. I’m told the run has sold out, but visit argentacontemporarytheatre.org to get on a a waiting list.
Actors Theatre of Little Rock continues its run of “Dreamgirls,” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 6 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 21 at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, 1601 Louisiana St., Little Rock. actorstheatrelr.org.
And Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, 6323 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, is staging Irving Berlin’s musical “White Christmas” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 12:45 and 6:45 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 31. The buffet opens 90 minutes before curtain time. (501) 562-3131; murrysdp.com.
ART AND EXHIBITS
“Treehouse Treasures: A Collector’s Collection Part 1” remains on display through Jan. 18 at Cantrell Gallery, 8208 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, works from the collection of original gallery owner Helen Scott, who is downsizing her home, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday or by appointment. (501) 224-1335; cantrellgallery.com.
“Two Minutes to Midnight and the Architecture of Armageddon,” photographic essays on the Cold War by Jeanine Michna-Bales and Adam Reynolds, on display through Jan. 5 at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. (501)-376-4602; littlerock.gov/macarthur.
And “Commanding the Screen: The American Presidency in Film and Television,” continues to offer a look at material from more than 30 movies and television shows portraying fictional and real-life U.S. presidents, through March 23 at the Clinton Presidential Center, 1200 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. clintonpresidentialcenter.org/exhibits.