Weekend Guide: 21 Picture Perfect Activities in Little Rock

With great weekends come great responsibility. Here’s how to use your days wisely.

  

Thursday, October 19

Third Thursday Fright in The Heights: It’s about to get frightening in The Heights at this weekend pregame. During this monthly event, stores in The Heights extend hours and shoppers enjoy business open houses, music, hors d’oeuvres and drinks, sales and specials. This time around, everything is getting the spooky treatment. You can celebrate with Halloween eats at Eggshells Kitchen Co. and get your trick-or-treat on at your favorite local shops. For more info on Third Thursday, click here.

Fountain Fest at the Arkansas Arts Center: It’s time to get artsy. This fifth annual fundraiser, hosted by the AAC Contemporaries is a big outdoor party centered around the Carrie Remmel Dickinson Fountain. Drinks from Lost Forty and Stone’s Throw, lots of food from local restaurants and live entertainment make for a very promising night. Just make sure you enter the raffle and you could take home a Louis Vuitton purse or a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle. It all starts at 5:30 p.m. For more info, click here.

4 Things to Know About the Fifth Annual Fountain Fest

H&M Grand Opening at Park Plaza Mall: Finally. H&M — one of the largest, affordably-priced fashion retailers in the world — is opening its first Little Rock location. Be one of the first 300 shoppers and you could win up to $300. Bring in clothes to donate and you could win a gift card valued up to $500. Doors open at noon. (FYI: An opening date for the H&M slated for the Outlets at Little Rock is still TBD.) For more info, click here.

An Eerie Alley Party: CALS Edition: The Downtown Little Rock Partnership event series is back, bringing parties to the “tucked away portions of downtown.” This time the fun is getting freakish at the Central Arkansas Library System’s main campus, which will be packed with craft beer from Rebel Kettle, wine, live music from Ernie Biggs and a photo booth by Nexus Coffee and Creative. Costumes totally encouraged. Be there 5:30-8 p.m. For more info, click here.

“Casablanca” in the Garden at Dunbar Garden: Rick and Ilsa are waiting for you in this Quapaw Quarter community space. Bust out the picnic blankets and catch a screening of this classic complete with popcorn, beer, wine and s’mores. Bonus points if you donate $5 at the gate. Showtime is 6 p.m. For more info, click here.

 

Friday, October 20

Third Friday Argenta Art Walk in North Little Rock: It’s time to go on a walk, everybody. Lace up your comfy shoes because this fun walk is all about strolling through the Argenta Arts District’s monthly lineup of special exhibits. Walkable galleries include House of Art, Argenta Gallery, Core Brewery, StudioMain, Greg Thompson Fine Art, Innovation Hub, Thea Foundation, Claytime Pottery, Barry Thomas Fine Art and Studio, Laman Library, NLR Heritage Center and Mugs Café. The Art Walk runs from 5-8 p.m. For more info, click here.

Argenta Keyboard Concert at First Presbyterian Church: This concert series is new to North Little Rock, and is kicking things off with Julie Cheek, Rex Bell and Neil Rutman. The evening includes poetry readings by Terry Wright and a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine with the Arkansas Baptist College Singers. The free concert starts at 7:30 p.m. with pre-show artist talks at 7:15 p.m. For more info, click here.

Boo at the Zoo Adult Night at the Little Rock Zoo: Leave the little monsters at home and come enjoy this grownups-only even. Expect trick-or-treating for libations, haunted houses and trains, food trucks, live music and even a costume contest. The fun lasts from 6-9 p.m. For more info, click here.

U.S. Navy Band Southeast at the River Market Pavilions: Strike up the band. This weekend marks the last of three free outdoor concerts featuring U.S. military bands as part of the Little Rock Salutes series. Along with the live music from the Navy Band, the audience can take part in family-friendly public safety educational demonstrations and community-building activities. The show starts at 8 p.m. For more info, click here.

Hogwarts @ The Pub at Cregeen’s Irish Pub: No, you’re not imagining things. Yes, this is the third weekend in a row with Harry Potter-themed activities. No, we don’t want it to stop. Come in your wizarding best and compete in the costume contest, or just come and enjoy the live music and special potions. The Potter love starts at 7 p.m. For more info, click here.

 

Saturday, October 21

Arkansas Cornbread Festival on South Main: We don’t even care if it’s a stereotype to be Southern and obsessed with cornbread because we are both and proud of it, babe. Tons of vendors and live music, not to mention the traditionally incredible weather, make this cook-off in SoMa even sweeter. Bonus: It also benefits the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. It all kicks off at 11 a.m. and lasts through 4 p.m. For more info, click here.

Grand Opening at the Blue Canoe Brewing Co. Warehouse: The downtown nanobrewery is debuting its new warehouse space and beer garden at 1637 E. 15th. Guests will get to sip a special release, small-batch brew and enjoy live music and raffles, all while checking out the new digs complete with lawn games and a fire pit. Check it out from 12-10 p.m. For more info, click here.

Read on: Blue Canoe Brewing Co. to Open Warehouse Taproom and Beer Garden

MINDfest in downtown Little Rock: Taking place at two locations throughout the day, this family-friendly festival aims to promote mental health awareness in The Natural State. At Riverfront Park, vendors will be set up offering hands-on activities to occupy the kids, along with live music, food trucks and giveaways. At the Ron Robinson Theater, speakers will give presentations on trending topics surrounding mental health. The free fest lasts from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more info, click here.

Nightmare on Louisiana Street Halloween Bash: Now in its second year, this bash turns the historic Lafayette Building on (on Louisiana Street) into a spook-tastic party that includes food, libations, music, dancing and a costume contest. Proceeds benefit Hope Rises, an organization that works to help women who have been incarcerated reenter the community. The party starts at 7 p.m. For more info, click here.

Oktoberfest Beer Tasting at Colonial Wine and Spirits: Where Germany meets Arkansas, there you’ll find Oktoberfest. Get your fill of pretzels, brats and beer cheese fondue paired with specially selected beers. Stop in between 1-4 p.m. For more info, click here.

Your Guide to Oktoberfest Beers

Argenta Reading Series with Kyran Pittman at Argenta United Methodist Church: This Argenta’s monthly meetup has a goal to “connect writers directly with their audience” by inviting the two into an intimate space (and for free!). This month, author Kyran Pittman will present her work to the crowd. The night starts with live music at 6:30 p.m. Readings start at 7 p.m. For more info, click here.

Festival of Darkness: Nighty Night Release Party at Lost Forty Brewing: Bring on the undead. At this Nighty Night Imperial Stout release party, guests are encouraged to don their zombie gear and enjoy dark beer samples from local and regional breweries. A zombie lumberjack costume contest, zombie adult tricycle race, a log jam joust, big arse street beer pong, food trucks, live music and cash prizes for best-dressed zombies make this event one for the (horror) books. It starts at 4 p.m. For more info, click here.

 

Thursday-Saturday, October 19-21

Navy Week in the Little Rock Metro: Wrapping up a week of activities, this event series is finishing strong in our city, one of only 15 cities selected to host the signature Navy outreach program. Festivities include events at the Museum of Discovery, the above-mentioned concert and a final gala at the Wyndham Riverfront. For a full rundown of the schedule, click here.

 

Sunday, October 22

Sunday Brunch at the Castle on Stagecoach: You haven’t brunched until you’ve brunched in a castle. Come see what all the hype is about by taking a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, exploring the castle grounds and going to town on an indulgent brunch buffet that just won’t quit. This monthly meetup starts at 10 a.m. For more info, click here.

Bruno Mars at the Verizon Arena: Get up off of that thing. Bruno’s in town. Yes, the smoothest guy you know will return to North Little Rock as part of his 24k Magic World Tour. And judging from the last time he graced the Verizon stage, the four-time Grammy-winning artist is gonna Uptown Funk you up. Showtime is 8 p.m. For more info, click here.

Last Day of the Arkansas State Fair at the Fairgounds: Some things never change, and one of those things is the fair. The lights, the sights and the deep fried perfection are all waiting for you. All you have to do is answer their siren call get yourself a corndog. For more info, click here.

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