FUN
Fans of anime and animation, creators, gamers and cosplayers gather for Little Rock Anime Fest, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at the Statehouse Convention Center, Markham and Main streets, Little Rock. A list of celebrities, creators and cosplay guests appears in today’s paper. In-show events include Q&A sessions with celebrities, panels presented by professional cosplayers and artists, a costume contest, video gaming and tabletop gaming. Vendors and artists from across the country will sell merchandise. Local fan groups will exhibit displays and performances throughout the weekend. LittleRockAnimeFest.com.
The Central Arkansas Library System Main Library, 100 S. Rock St., Little Rock, brings together community organizations, cultural leaders and families “to uplift, educate, and empower families in honor of Black History Month” at the fourth annual Black Family Expo, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Families can share memorabilia, including photographs and historical documents; CALS Roberts Library staff will assist attendees to digitize up to five items at the Mobile Memory Lab station and each family will receive a complimentary flash drive with their digitized items. Families can take souvenir family photographs, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. cals.org.
MUSIC
The Close Up! Steinway Salon Chamber Series focuses on “Four Seasons,” 4 p.m. Saturday at 14901 Beau Vue Drive, Little Rock, with a program that includes Beethoven’s “Spring” Violin Sonata, a piano trio by Jean Sibelius, a clarinet sonata by Johannes Brahms and selections from Franz Schubert’s song cycle “Die Winterreise.” (501) 940-1562; steinwaylr.com/close-up.
The Conway Symphony Orchestra and conductor Israel Getzov will be “Dancing With Beethoven,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts at the University of Central Arkansas, 2150 Bruce St. at Donaghey Avenue, Conway. The dance-inspired program includes the “Can-Can” from “Orpheus in the Underworld” by Jacques Offenbach, “Danzon No. 2” by Arturo Marquez, “Hoedown” from “Rodeo” by Aaron Copland and the Symphony No. 7 in A major, op.92, by Ludwig van Beethoven. A brief meet-the-musicians reception with light refreshments in the lobby will follow. (501) 470-7572; conwaysymphony.org.
And the Salty Dogs, Stephanie Smittle, Justin Bank and Presley Michael perform at 8 p.m. Friday at the White Water Tavern, 2500 W. Seventh St., Little Rock,. (501) 375-8400; whitewatertavern.com.
THEATER
Two struggling writers decide to write a musical for a New York musical theater festival in just three weeks in “[title of show]” — and yes, that’s the title of the show — 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, the run extended through Sunday Feb. 8 at the Weekend Theater, 1001 W. Seventh St. at Chester Street, Little Rock. centralarkansastickets.com/e/titleofshow.
Chaos and comedy ensue when everything goes wrong after four middle-aged best friends seeking to start a business together buy a wedding venue in “The Second-to-Last Chance Ladies League,” the sequel to “Always a Bridesmaid” by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, onstage through Saturday Feb. 7 at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, 6323 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock. Buffet opens 30 minutes before curtain time. — 7:30 p.m. today-Saturday. Opening Feb. 11: (501) 562-3131; murrysdp.com.
ART AND EXHIBITS
“My Creeks,” recent paintings by Fayetteville artist and illustrator Daniel Coston that reflect his fondness for creeks, are on display through April 18 at Cantrell Gallery, 8202 Cantrell Road, Little Rock. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. (501) 224-1335; cantrellgallery.com.
“Disfarmer: Portraits of Rural Arkansas,” early 20th-century black-and-white portraits of Arkansans by Mike Disfarmer, is up through June, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, at the Old State House Museum, 300 W. Markham St., Little Rock. (501) 324-9685.
“Thomas Hart Benton,” a traveling exhibition of original artwork created by the artist during World War II, is up through July 31 at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 376-4602; littlerock.gov/macarthur.
The ESSE Purse Museum & Store, 1510 Main St., Little Rock, has extended through March 1 its “Henry and Nolan” exhibition, photographs by Rita Henry and Nancy Nolan along with their collections of cameras, photography tools and materials. (501) 916-9022.
“Under A Restless Sky,” a site-specific installation by Boston-based artist Nathalie Miebach, on display through April 4 in the Jackson T. Stephens Gallery of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. The three-dimensional art installation, created with paint, paper, wood, ropes and other materials that explores how various species — birds and humans — move and adapt due to environmental and climate changes, (501) 372-4000; arkmfa.org.
And “Kuimeaux’s World,” drawings and paintings by late Little Rock native Dwight “Kuimeaux” Drennan, is on display through spring 2027 at Little Rock’s Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 324-9351.