THE WEEKEND TEN

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Elf the Musical and A Christmas Story  (right) photo illustration.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Elf the Musical and A Christmas Story (right) photo illustration.

1 'CHRISTMASTOWN'/CHRISTMAS STORY

photo

Big Jingle Jubilee Holiday Parade

photo

Comedian Jeff Dunham and one of his puppets

• NETworks Presentations' touring production of Elf the Musical (music and lyrics by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, based on the 2003 film) will be onstage, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday at Robinson Center Performance Hall, West Markham Street and Broadway, under the aegis of Celebrity Attractions. Tickets are $28-$73 plus service charges. Sponsor is Arkansas Federal Credit Union. Call (501) 244-8800 or visit ticketmaster.com. See story on Page 5E.

• An official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle with a compass in the stock, a bunny suit, a leg lamp and a box marked "Fragile" all factor big into A Christmas Story by Philip Grecian (based on the 1983 MGM film), which the Arkansas Repertory Theatre stages through Christmas Day. After a preview performance, 7 p.m. today with a 6:15 p.m. pre-show director talk, show times are 7 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday (with additional performances at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 17 and 20 and 7 p.m. Tuesday and Dec. 13) at the Rep, 601 Main St., Little Rock. Tickets are $50 and $40, $25 for students. Call (501) 378-0405 or visit TheRep.org. See story on Page 4E.

2 CAPITOL

Santa and Mrs. Claus make their official entrance into the capital city with the Big Jingle Jubilee Holiday Parade, 3 p.m. Saturday. The parade, featuring floats, bands and dancers, starts at Second Street and Broadway, continues down Capitol Avenue and ends at the state Capitol, where a fireworks show and the official lighting will take place. Admission is free. Call (501) 904-5228 or visit holidaysinlittlerock.com.

3 COMEDY

Comedian Jeff Dunham and his puppets hit North Little Rock's Verizon Arena on his Perfectly Unbalanced Tour, 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $62.80. Call (800) 745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com.

4 CORUSCATE

The Bernice Garden and SoMa neighborhood welcome Christmas with their official tree lighting, 5-7 p.m. today at 1401 Main St., Little Rock. Expect caroling, shopping, performances, treats and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Admission is free. Call (501) 410-3938. See story on Page 5E.

5 CAROLS/CHARACTERS

Have an old-fashioned Christmas with carols, living history, music, dancing and crafts at the Historic Arkansas Museum's annual Christmas Frolic, 1-4 p.m. Sunday. The museum is at 200 E. Third St., Little Rock, and admission is free. Call (501) 324-9351 or visit historicarkansas.org.

• The Old State House Museum will serve up hot cider and ginger cake as visitors interact with living history characters, hear music and do some Arkansas Made shopping, 1-4:30 p.m. Sunday. The museum is at 300 W. Markham St., Little Rock. Admission is free. Call (501) 324-9685 or visit oldstatehouse.com.

6 CHORAL

The Arkansas Choral Society -- as it has every year since 1930 -- will perform portions of George Frideric Handel's oratorio Messiah, 7:30 p.m. Friday at First Pentecostal Church, 1401 Calvary Road (fronting Interstate 40), North Little Rock. Richard Couch conducts with Jonathan K. Merritt at the organ; soprano, alto, tenor and bass soloists are coming from the chorus. Tickets are $15, $10 for students, free for children 12 and younger. Call (501) 376-8484 or visit lovetosing.org.

7 COBBLER

A poor cobbler with a good heart and grateful spirit facing hard times receives a magical gift that reminds him what's truly important in life in The Elves and the Shoemaker, adapted by Keith Smith from a tale by the Brothers Grimm, 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday through Dec. 18 at the Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theatre, MacArthur Park, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. There's a "Pay What You Can" preview at 7:30 p.m. today; otherwise, tickets are $12.50, $10 for Arts Center members. Call (501) 372-4000 or visit ArkansasArtsCenter.org/childrenstheatre.

8 CRUST

Sweet potato pie is on the menu at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center's Holiday Open House, 2-5 p.m. Sunday at 501 W. Ninth St., Little Rock. In addition to music and children's activities, there will be the annual Say It Ain't Say's sweet potato pie contest. Admission is free but guests are asked to take a toy to donate. Call (501) 683-3593 or visit mosaictemplarscenter.com.

9 CLASSIC

There will be a Handel's Messiah cathedral-like atmosphere at the Governor's Mansion, 1800 Center St., Little Rock, for the mansion's open house, 2-4 p.m. Sunday. Public rooms will be decked out in musical-inspired finery and there will be plenty of treats to enjoy. Admission is free. Call (501) 324-9805 or visit friendsofthemansion.org.

10 CONWAY

The Conway Symphony Orchestra is billing as "A Christmas Double Feature" its pair of Christmas concert performances, 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall, University of Central Arkansas, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway. Arkansas Festival Ballet dancers will perform highlights from P.I. Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker and the UCA Opera will join the orchestra for a fully staged performance of Gian Carlo Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors. Israel Getzov conducts. Tickets are $20-$38, $5 for children and students. Call (501) 450-3265 or visit uca.edu/tickets. Preceding Sunday's matinee, 1:30-2:30 p.m.: "Nutcracker Sweets," with cookies, crafts, storytelling and a chance for kids to meet the ballerinas and the conductor. Tickets, sold separately, are $5 and free for accompanying adults. Call (501) 269-1066 or visit ConwaySymphony.org

Weekend on 12/01/2016

Upcoming Events