Spoiler alert: There are a lot of margaritas involved.
Thursday, May 3
Tres de Mayo at the Symphony Designer House: Your weekend of fiestas begins at 8 Valley Creek View with Sharp, the ASO young professionals group. Expect margaritas, lawn games, salsa and tango lessons and more. It all starts at 6 p.m. For more info, click here.
Read more: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Guild Prepares for 24th Annual Symphony Designer House
Spellebration: A Celebrity Spelling Bee at the Albert Pike Masonic Center: It’s easy as 1-2-3, right? Six local celebrity teams will soon find out at this fundraiser for AR Kids Read. Guests will enjoy cocktails and a silent auction while they watch media celebs battle it out for the title of Queen Bee. It kicks off at 6 p.m. For more info, click here.
POP! Beaux Arts Ball at the Arkansas Arts Center: The biennial bash is back. This event, which is held in alternate years from the AAC’s primary fundraiser Tabriz, celebrates with a night of food and music from the unlikely combo of the Arkansas Symphony Big Band and a DJ. There will also be a champagne toast and awards ceremony highlighting outstanding works of philanthropy and service. The event starts at 6 p.m. For more info, click here.
“Around the Horn” at St. James United Methodist Church: As part of the Intimate Neighborhood Concert series, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will feature Handel’s “Samson, HWV 57: Overture;” Koetsier’s “Concertino for Tuba and String Orchestra, Op. 77;” and Haydn’s “Symphony No. 31 in D Major, ‘Hornsignal.'” The ASO’s Philip Mann will conduct the performance in this series built to get audiences closer to the action by booking smaller venues. The concert starts at 7 p.m. For more info, click here.
First Thursday Shop & Sip in Hillcrest: It’s the first Thursday of the month, and you know what that means — time to get your Hillcrest shop ‘n’ sip on. Soak up the Kavanaugh vibes while you take advantage of the discounts, later hours and live music. This month, prepare for a whole lot of pop-up shops and general merriment. For more info, click here.
Food Truck Meetup at Good Earth Garden Center: ‘Tis the season for enjoying food trucks out in the great weather. The monthly meetup happens on every first Thursday during spring and fall, and this particular gathering will bring Say Cheese, Count Porkula, Katmandu MoMo and The Clean Eatery with drinks from Stone’s Throw Brewing. The eats last from 5-8 p.m. For more info, click here.
Friday, May 4
The Art Department Presents Katherine Rutter at the Thea Foundation: In this installment of the quarterly series for Thea, we celebrate the work of Arkansas-born artist Katherine Rutter. Her new exhibit titled Meet Me in the Water dives into femininity, beauty and connection to nature through mixed media. The opening reception includes food, drinks and the chance to win an original work by Rutter. The art starts at 6:30 p.m. For more info, click here.
MacArthur Park 5k at MacArthur Park: The 11th annual neighborhood race takes to the city park as all ages (and dogs) battle it out for the top time. After you finish up, stick around for the awards ceremony/lawn party complete with live music, pizza and beer. All proceeds go to benefit MacArthur Park and affiliated programs. Start time is 7 p.m. For more info, click here.
Lettuce Grow Spring Event at St. Joseph Center of Arkansas: Pile on the produce puns. Now in its third year, this dinner event marks the opening of the St. Joseph Farm Stand and spring planting while supporting St. Joseph’s mission to preserve the historical space with sustainable farming and community outreach. Guests will enjoy food from Chef Margie Raimondo of Southern Table, along with building tours, craft beer, a silent auction and live music. It all begins at 6:30 p.m. For more info, click here.
Shorties Stories and Mountain Music at Wildwood Park for the Arts: May is all about The Art of Arkansas Natural Heritage Month at Wildwood, and they’re kicking things off with a night of folk music and folklore. Expect big laughs, bluegrass and mind-bending harmonies. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. For more info, click here.
May the Fur Be With You at Bark Bar: We have a great feeling about this. Your dog’s favorite hangout spot is headed for a galaxy far, far away — the kind of galaxy where a Star Wars costume gets you in for free. While you’re there, make sure to sip on some Jedi Juice, complete with lightsaber garnish. Stop in from 3-10 p.m. For more info, click here.
Saturday, May 5
Little Rock Farmers Market Opening Day at the River Market Pavilions: Time to freshen things up a bit. Saturday kicks off five months of local produce, foods, crafts and more. The market will also include all sorts of activities for the kiddos, so make sure to bring them along. Stop in anytime from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. For more info, click here.
Psst! We made you a cheat sheet to all the local farmers markets.
Handmade in The Heights on Kavanaugh Blvd.: Bring out the makers, Little Rock. This neighborhood festival is designed to “celebrate crafters and creators of all kinds,” and that’s exactly who will line the street in The Heights. You’ll find everything from jewelry to T-shirts to furniture and beyond. There will also be lots of food, so come hungry. The fest lasts from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more info, click here.
Southern Silks at the Metroplex: Put on your fanciest hat. The Methodist Family Health Foundation is back with its annual Kentucky Derby celebration and fundraiser. This post-race soirée offers attendees food, drinks, faux horse races and live and silent auctions. Proceeds go to support the programs at MFH. The event starts at 6 p.m. For more information, click here.
Read on: Casey and Matt Finch Place Bets on Southern Silks
Cinco de Heights Street Fiesta at Heights Taco & Tamale Co.: Doubling up on the restaurant’s third anniversary celebrations, Heights Taco will take over Kavanaugh Blvd. in front of the restaurant for a few hours of live music, a mojito/margarita/beer zone, kid activities and more. Oh, and get your DIY golf cart ready. The fun lasts from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more info, click here.
Rock City Margarita Festival at Heifer Village and Urban Farm: Pass the salt, please. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style with margaritas from more than 25 vendors, along with outdoor games, music and taco trucks. Get salty from 4-7 p.m. For more info, click here.
Fifth Birthday Blast at The Studio Theatre: HBD, Studio Theatre! To mark five whole years of local goodness, the theater is celebrating with a family-friendly day of cupcake decorating, slushies, a silent auction and the new season reveal. It starts at 6 p.m. For more info, click here.
Derby Day at the Old State House Museum: Don’t pack up your fancy hat just yet. This dapper event raises money for the museum’s School Bus Fund and other educational efforts by luring in guests with lawn games, music, food, mint juleps and a livestream of the Kentucky Derby. The party starts at 3 p.m. For more info, click here.
Circo en el Fold at The Fold: More festive birthdays? Don’t mind if we do. With five whole years of slingin’ margaritas under its belt, the Riverdale restaurant will shut down the street for a block party complete with live music, yoga, face painting, aerialists, and yes, more margaritas. It kicks off at 11 a.m. For more info, click here.
The fiesta is far from over. Check out these Cinco specials around The Rock:
- Las Palamas
- Flying Saucer
- The Rev Room
- The Tavern
- Skinny J’s
- Cregeen’s
- La Terraza (all weekend!)
- Cantina Cinco de Mayo #3
- Bark Bar
Sunday, May 6
“Ghostbusters” Screening at The Root Cafe: We ain’t afraid of no ghost, and we’re proving it at this Movies in the Parking Lot event. Audience members are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets to the outdoor screening, and to bring their appetites for the food trucks and beer tent. Showtime is 8 p.m., but we suggest showing up when the doors open at 7 p.m. to get a good seat. For more info, click here.
Friday & Sunday, May 4 & 6
William Grant Still’s “Troubled Island” at UA Pulaski Tech CHARTS Theater: Join the city’s opera troupe for a performance of this historic and groundbreaking opera. Opera in the Rock presents “Troubled Island,” an opera by Arkansas native William G. Still, performed for the first time in the state featuring an all-African American cast of local and regional talent. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. For more info, click here.
Saturday & Sunday, May 5 & 6
Arvest Little Rock Gran Fondo through the metro: At the ready, riders! Approximately 70 miles of premium Arkansas scenery await on this bike tour (gran fondo means “big ride” in Italian, btw), or 40 miles if you opt for the Medio. Whether or not you ride, you can still get in on the after party with eats from the soon-to-open Cathead’s Diner, beer from Lost Forty and live music from Bonnie Montgomery. On Sunday, riders can take part in the Dirty Fondo, a 50-mile ride on a dirt and gravel course to raise funds for Recycle Bikes for Kids. For more info, click here.
Friday-Sunday, May 4-6
Vintage Market Days at the Outlets of Little Rock: Flea market fabulous is now officially a thing. This traveling pop-up market is setting up shop so that locals can get their fill of clothing, outdoor furnishings, antiques, art, home goods, food trucks, live music and more. Shopping hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available at the gate. For more info, click here.
Ballet Arkansas in Concert at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre: Teamwork makes the dream work, and that’s exactly what happens with this collaboration with world-class pianist Dr. Drew Mays. The troupe’s season wraps up with works by Tony Award-winning choreographers Agnes De Mille and Christopher Wheeldon, as well as a world premiere by artistic director Michael Fothergill. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. For more info, click here.