Masks mean education

The Masquerade Ball to benefit arts education programs at the Walton Arts Center returns for its fourth year on March 1.

The Mardi Gras celebration will feature jazz standards and jazz fusion from Little Rock-based Lagniappe. Ella's Restaurant and Bordinos will provide dinner. The Cajun-inspired menu includes oysters Rockefeller, savory beignets, fried alligator with sweet jalapeno pesto and sauce ravigote, crab cake bites with remoulade and red beans and rice with andouille sausage.

Masquerade Ball

What: Cajun fare, live jazz, dancing, soda fountain, mask contest

When: 6-11 p.m. March 1

Where: Walton Arts Center

Tickets: $250

Attire: Black tie, mask required

Information: (479) 443-5600

Also slated for the fundraiser are a mask contest, photo booth, soda fountain for dessert, live and silent auctions, roving entertainment from Dancenhance and the performance group Quixotic Fusion.

The Masquerade Ball is the arts center's largest fundraiser to support arts education programs that reach more than 40,000 Northwest Arkansas school children each year. Programs include matinee performances for school groups, "Digging Up Arkansas," in-school residencies for teaching artists and the annual Arts with Education institute for educators.

Upcoming performances for kids include "LEO," "Cirque Ziva," Soweto Gospel Choir, "Fluff" and "Down the Dirt Road Blues."

The Masquerade Ball is hosted by the Walton Arts Center's Corporate Leadership Council.

-- CARIN SCHOPPMEYER [email protected]

NAN Our Town on 02/20/2014

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