Ballet Arkansas stages its annual performances of performances of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” with a cast that includes its 17 professional company members and nearly 300 children and adults enacting whirling snowflakes, waltzing flowers, belligerent rodents, angels, dancing bonbons and other desserts, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Little Rock’s Robinson Center Performance Hall. (501) 244-8800; balletarkansas.org/tickets or Ticketmaster.com.
The North Little Rock Elks Christmas Parade, postponed from last week because of inclement weather, starts at 2 p.m. Sunday along North Little Rock’s Main Street, from 22nd Street to Washington Avenue.
This weekend’s live music lineup includes the Arkansas Chamber Singers’ trio of Christmas concerts titled “Christmas Bells Are Ringing!”, 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Old State House, 300 W. Markham St., Little Rock. The program explores the tradition of bells ringing at Christmastime around the world through traditional carols and seasonal songs. Lorissa Mason conducts. Admission is free; seating is limited (doors open 30 minutes before curtain time). ar-chambersingers.org.
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band brings its “Creole Christmas,” seasonal favorites in a mix of blues, jazz and ragtime, to Reynolds Performance Hall at the University of Central Arkansas, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway, 7 p.m. Saturday. (501) 450-3265 or (866) 810-0012; uca.edu/publicappearances.
And Una Voce, a community choral ensemble for youngsters age 14-19 based at Wildwood Park for the Arts, offers its biennial Madrigal Feast, 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Wildwood, 20919 Denny Road, Little Rock. Bring your own silverware. wildwoodpark.org.
THEATER
In live theater this weekend:
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Children’s Theatre continues its run of “Madeline’s Christmas,” 10:30 and 2 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 22 at the museum, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. events.arkmfa.org.
The Weekend Theater, 1001 W. Seventh St. at Chester Street, Little Rock, continues its run of Christopher Durang’s “Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge!” — 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, wraps up its production of the musical “Annie,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. studiotheatrelr.com
The Argenta Contemporary Theater, 405 Main St., North Little Rock, is staging “A Christmas Story the Musical,” 7 p.m. today-Saturday and Dec. 19-21. 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.