One intergalactic marvel behind us, one marvelous spring weekend ahead. Let’s get into it.
Thursday, April 11
Alzheimer’s Arkansas 40th Anniversary Celebration at Argenta Plaza // Four decades of supporting caregivers is quite the legacy, and it deserves quite the celebration. The free event includes live music from Rodney Block, food and drink vendors and even a VIP option. It starts at 5 p.m. Learn more here.
Hat Club Crawfish Salute at Dickey-Stephens Park // Bring on the mudbugs. This year’s 13th annual event, which benefits the UAMS NICU, offers all-you-can-eat crawfish with all the fixin’s, drinks, giveaways and more. The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Learn more here.
Game Changer Casino Night at the Arkansas Realtor Association Building // Special Olympics Arkansas is starting the weekend with a sure thing. Its annual fundraiser includes rounds of blackjack, craps, roulette and three-card poker. The games begin at 6 p.m. Learn more here.
“Simply Sondheim” at UA-PTC CHARTS // This is your ticket to Broadway. The worlds of “Into the Woods,” “West Side Story,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” “Sweeney Todd” and more await in this production showcasing some of the most memorable moments of Stephen Sondheim’s iconic career. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Learn more here.
Stage not your medium of choice? Try the Rock Cities Book Crawl.
Friday, April 12
2nd Friday Art Night in Downtown Little Rock // It’s 2FAN time, aka the monthly lineup of downtown businesses opening their doors for after-hours artistic fun. Highlights this month include art vendors at the CALS Rock It! Lab, concerts and drinks at the Historic Arkansas Museum and Old State House Museum and some good ol’ fashioned letter writing at Bella Vita. 2FAN runs 5-8 p.m. Learn more here.
Speaking of OSHM: Prep for the Seersucker Spring Social with this Arkie Mint Julep recipe.
Saturday, April 13
Party for the Planet at the Little Rock Zoo // Looking good, Mother Earth. If you need a reminder of just how awesome our planet is, the zoo is where you’ll find it. To help celebrate Earth Day, guests can expect some conservation education, a chance to learn about local green organizations and more. You can even bring some of your old electronics to recycle and help support gorilla conservation in the process. Zoo hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Learn more here.
Keep it natural: Your Guide to Farmers Markets in the Little Rock Metro
Friday & Saturday, April 12 & 13
Dogtown Throwdown in Argenta // The Main Street fun is back, baby. This weekend, the NLR neighborhood shuts down the streets for outdoor dining, vendors and local entertainment. Highlights for the season’s kickoff include Four Quarter’s annual crawfish boil, a vintage pop-up at Flyway and lots of live music. From Friday happy hour to last call on Saturday night, you’ll find all kinds of fun in Argenta. Learn more here.
Classic Movies at Ron Robinson Theater // The popcorn is flowing once again at the CALS theater in the River Market. Up first on the lineup is “Twister” on Friday at 7 p.m., then “The Muppet Movie” on Saturday at 12:30 p.m., followed by “The Big Lebowski” at 8 p.m. Learn more here. Bonus: Want to spend all Saturday at the theater? Stick around post-Kermit for a screening of National Theatre Live’s “Best of Enemies” at 3 p.m.
More CALS news: Williams Library to Celebrate Grand Reopening This Month
Sunday, April 14
River City Men’s Chorus Spring Concert at St. James United Methodist Church // We like the sound of this. “Connections” is the name of this year’s spring event that marks the final concert of the group’s 20th anniversary season. The free show starts at 3 p.m. Learn more here.
Party at the Pond at Ciao Baci // This culinary event benefits the Arkansas Donor Family Council with a night of music, drinks and a menu by Ciao Baci’s Chef Jeff. It starts at 5 p.m. Learn more here.
Ok, it’s not a pond, but: Explore Little Rock’s Rivers With a Guided Sunset Kayak Tour
Thursday – Sunday, April 11-14
Disney on Ice at Simmons Bank Arena // Tell Mickey he’s on in five. Whatever the Arkansas weather is doing, ignore it and focus on the ice as your kids’ favorite Disney characters (and maybe yours, too) perform “Find Your Hero.” Expect to see the likes of Mickey, Minnie, Ariel, Elsa, Mirabel, Rapunzel, Moana and more. Learn more here.
Saturday & Sunday, April 13-14
“Poli POP” at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts // Your kiddos are in for a treat. A visual-driven production, this show follows the multi-sensory adventures of Poli and Pola, a pair of siblings who avoid bedtime by embarking on dreamlike journeys of pure imagination, all set to live music and interactive projections. And if this all sounds familiar, that’s because it’s a follow-up to 2022’s “Doodle POP.” See the show at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and at 2 p.m. both days. Learn more here.
The shows go on: Little Rock’s 2024 Spring Performing Arts Calendar
And for the green thumbs among us (or the wannabes), there are multiple plant sales happening at the moment that also support the community, including:
- Access Group on Thursday – Saturday
- Back 5 Fields on Saturday
- Oak Forest Community Garden on Saturday
Or if you’d rather lie low this weekend, curl up with the April issue of Soirée.