You know spring has sprung when the list of cheerful events starts getting longer. Lucky for you, it’s a downright cheer fest in our fair city this weekend. Food trucks, jazz, celebrities; it’s all here. Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a wild weekend.
Friday, April 24
Main Street Food Truck Friday Kick-Off, Main St., downtown Little Rock: We’ve been waiting for this all winter: Main Street’s popular Food Truck Friday is baaaack. Just some of the trucks on the roster for the Friday, April 24 kick-off include Bryant’s BBQ (turkey legs? yes, please.), Brunch-o-licious (our favorite meal), The Pie Hole (that lemon icebox, y’all), and The Southern Gourmasian (I’m coming for you, banh mi burger). Find out more details on Main Street Food Truck Festival’s Facebook page.
E. Leigh’s Birthday Bash, Little Rock: Join the women’s boutique as it celebrates its third birthday. On Friday, April 24, at all three locations, E. Leigh’s will offer shoppers mimosas, pastries, Chick-Fil-A lunch, champagne and sweet treats. Those who spend $75 or more will also receive special birthday swag bags. Watch the boutique’s Facebook page for more info.
Friday-Saturday, April 24-25
An Evening with Lance Armstrong & Cardiac Classic Bike Ride, Little Rock: The king of cycling is in Little Rock, everyone. The Arkansas Heart Foundation will host the Cardiac Classic, a bike ride with 20, 50 and 63 mile routes along the Arkansas River Trail out to Wye Mountain on Saturday, April 25. Lance Armstrong will be riding in the race, but the night before, he’ll also be part of the fundraising event “An Evening with Lance Armstrong.” Guests will be able to hear Armstrong speak and meet and take pictures with the cyclist. The special event will take place at 6 p.m. at Noah’s Event Venue on 21 Rahling Road. For more information on these events and to register for your spot, click here.
Beyond Cotton’s B. Aston Trunk Show, Little Rock: Looking for some new spring bling? Beyond Cotton on Rodney Parham Road is hosting a special trunk show Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, for B. Aston jewelry. The vintage, one-of-a-kind pieces feature intricate beading and vintage metal pieces and medallions. Learn more here.
Arkansas Jazz Festival at Clinton Presidential Library, Little Rock: To celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month, the Clinton Presidential Library will host a two-day Arkansas Jazz Festival from 3:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, April 25. Held in partnership with the Arkansas Jazz Educators and the University of Arkansas at Monticello, “Blue” Lou Marini will be performing, as well as about a dozen high school and college jazz bands. Marini has been a member of Blood, Sweat and Tears and The Saturday Night Live Band and is an original member of the Blues Brothers Band. The festival is free and open to the public. Food and beverages will be available to purchase on-site from vendors and food trucks. Find out more here.
Friday-Sunday, April 24-26
Arkansas Literary Festival, downtown Little Rock: Listen up, literary lovers. The much-anticipated 12th annual Arkansas Literary Festival is descending upon downtown Little Rock this weekend, and you won’t want to miss it. Hosted by the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS), the fest kicks off Thursday, April 23, and runs through Sunday, April 26. The weekend will feature more than 80 presenters ranging from prestigious award-winners and Grammy nominees to filmmakers, journalists and artists. Included among them are John Waters, Food Network’s Simon Majumdar, lifestyle coach Desha Peacock, Rebecca Wells and so many more. If you’re interested in meeting some of your favorite writers face-to-face, make sure you get your tickets to the Author! Author! party on Friday night. Check out our feature on Arkansas Literary Festival chair Katherine Whitworth in our April issue to learn more about the spirit and history of the fest. See the weekend’s full lineup here. For more information, call 918-3098 or follow the fest on Facebook and Twitter.
Sculpture at the River Market Preview Party, After Party, Show & Sale, River Market Pavilions, Little Rock: Love all of downtown’s sculptures like we do? Then show your support by attending one of this weekend’s Sculpture at the River Market events. A nonprofit dedicated to raising money for downtown’s sculptures, each year Sculpture at the River Market hosts a preview party and show and sale featuring the works of some of the nation’s best sculptors for attendees to peruse and/or purchase. The weekend’s events will kick off with a ticketed preview party at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, during which guests will enjoy live music, food and libations. Tickets are $100. A young professionals after-party, Bronze & Brewskis, will take place afterward, at 8:30 p.m., and tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. The show and sale, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 26. For more info and to purchase tickets for either party, click here.
Friends of Central Arkansas Libraries (FOCAL) Used Book Sale, CALS Main Library, Little Rock: Nerds, the good news keeps coming. In addition the the Lit Fest, CALS is hostings its popular used book sale this weekend, featuring $1 hardbacks and 50-cent paperbacks. The sale takes place 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, and 1-4 p.m. Sunday, April 26 in the Main Library’s basement. For more info, click here.
Saturday, April 25
Indie Arts & Music Festival, Hillcrest, Little Rock: Etsy Little Rock is hosting its fifth annual Indie Arts and Music Festival from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. this Saturday, April 25. Known to locals as Etsy Fest, the list of vendor booths reaches well past 50 and will feature everything from handmade jewelry and screenprinted shirts to comic books and items for your pets. Live music will include the sounds of Sea Nanners, Listen Sister, The Rolling Blackouts and others. Local food trucks, including Southern Salt and Loblolly Creamery, will also be on hand. The event is free and open to the public. For more information on vendors, food, music and attractions, check out the festival’s Facebook page or website.
ArtWorks XXVII, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Little Rock: An annual fundraiser for the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, ArtWorks is an art auction featuring nearly 90 works created by some of central Arkansas’ most notable artists. Guests will also enjoy live music by Danny Fletcher and Milt Jackson, light hors d’oeuvres and an open bar, followed by silent and live auctions of great artworks. The event begins at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, April 25, at The Rep and tickets are $50. Proceeds support The Rep’s general operating fund. Call The Rep’s box office at 378-0405 to purchase tickets.
Dizzy’s Fundraiser for The Van, Dizzy’s Restaurant, Little Rock: We really love it when food and philanthropy come together. This Saturday, April 25, Dizzy’s Gypsy Bistro in downtown Little Rock is teaming up with The Van, a nonprofit dedicated to serving the city’s homeless, to raise money to help the organization pay off its women’s house. Dine at Dizzy’s from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and they’ll donate 5 percent of the day’s sales to The Van. Representatives from the nonprofit will be on handt to answer questions and meet people all day long. For more info, visit the Facebook page created for the event.
Sunday, April 26
Cruzin at Chenal Car Show, Promenade at Chenal, Little Rock: Hosted by Everett Buick GMC & Everett Infiniti of Little Rock, in a partnership with The Promenade at Chenal, the Cruzin’ at Chenal Car Show will feature classic, modern and import vehicles on display from 2-6 p.m. this Sunday, April 26. Visitors can get a sneak peek at some of the coolest models from the 1950s through today, sample food from Boneheads Grill enjoy music and sign up for giveaways. Learn more on The Promenade at Chenal’s website.
2015 Traditional Pie Contest & Recipe Swap, The Root Cafe, Little Rock: Bakers and pie makers: The first-ever pie contest and recipe swap are taking place from 4-6 p.m. this Sunday, April 26, at The Root Cafe. The Food Network’s Simon Majumdar (a Lit Fest participant) will judge the pies, alongside local food writers and bloggers His new book, “Fed, White and Blue: Finding America With My Fork,” will also be available to purchase. Visit the event’s Facebook page for more details and to buy tickets.
Jewish Food and Cultural Festival, War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock: Mazel tov! The Jewish Food and Cultural Festival is coming to War Memorial Stadium on Sunday, April 26. Hosted by the Jewish Federation of Arkansas, the event kicks off with a breakfast at 8:30 a.m. followed by opportunities to purchase Jewish-themed items, learn about Jewish traditions, Judaism and Hebrew calligraphy and, of course, eat tons of delicious Jewish food. There will even be a special Western Wall replica where you can leave a blessing or prayer, which will then be taken to the real Wall in Jerusalem. Admission, parking and live music is free and open to the public. Keep up with all the details by following the Facebook event page.