If you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day weekend, you’re in the right place. From a Celtic concert and an annual parade, to an Irish cooking class and a beer festival, you’re sure to find an Irish festivity that strikes your fancy. If leprechauns aren’t your thing, the weekend also holds one of the city’s most anticipated biennial celebrations, the Arkansas Arts Center’s Tabriz. Read on to see what else is in store.
Friday (March 13)
10th Anniversary of 2nd Friday Art Night / Opening of Recent Acquisitions at Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St., Little Rock: In conjunction with the 10th anniversary of 2nd Friday Art Night, the Historic Arkansas Museum is hosting a free opening reception for its newest exhibition, Recent Acquisitions. Held from 5-8 p.m., Friday, March 13, the evening’s festivities will include snacks, live music provided by the John Burnette Band, and the museum will be decorated with tons of tulips, courtesy of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership and P. Allen Smith. The exhibit will showcase historical artifacts and contemporary pieces from the museum’s permanent collection including an 1890 portrait of Sitting Bull, two circa 1860 Arkansas-made derringer pistols and much more. After you peruse the HAM show, hop on the River Rail Trolley and hit up other museums and galleries on the 2nd Friday Art Night roster for even more fun and anniversary surprises. For more info, click here.
The 18th Annual Food & Foam Fest at Dickey-Stephens Park, 400 W. Broadway St., North Little Rock: It lives! After winter weather made for a messy postponement, the fest is finally on. With more than 350 varieties of local libations and food. Look for Stone’s Throw, Vino’s, Rock Town, Lost Forty, Mother’s Brewing and much more. Then chase all the brew with food from places like Loblolly, Blue Coast Burrito, Southern Gourmasian, Mellow Mushroom and ZaZa’s. Proceeds go toward Arthritis Foundation and sending Arkansas kids with arthritis to Camp AcheAway this summer. Don’t worry about rain; everything is under the concourse. And bring your ID, even if you’re the DD. For tickets and more information, click here.
Celtic Spring Concert Benefits Family Promise, Second Baptist Church, 222 E. Eighth St., Little Rock: We can get down with some Celtic tunes, especially when it’s for a good cause. At 7 p.m. Friday, March 13, The Muses Creative Artistry Project and the Arkansas Arts Council are presenting a “Celtic Spring” concert at Second Baptist Church. Enjoy the transformative power of Irish harp, flute, piano and song and dance while benefiting Family Promise of Pulaski County, an organization whose mission is to help homeless families secure shelter, meals and more. For more info, click here.
St. Patrick’s Day Feast with Ben Brainard & Matt Bell, Eggshell’s Kitchen Co., 5501 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock: What luck! Chefs Matthew Bell (South on Main) and Ben Brainard (Local Lime, Heights Taco & Tamale) are teaming up to teach a St. Patrick’s Day cooking class from 6-8 p.m., Friday, March 13, at Eggshells in the Heights. The menu will include traditional Irish dishes like corned beef, cabbage, gnocchi and house-made mustard. Beer and whiskey are also on the agenda. Advance reservations are required, but there are still spots available. Hop to it, leprechauns. Call Eggshells at 664-6900 or click here.
Saturday (March 14)
Gala of Tabriz, Arkansas Arts Center, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock: Part two of the Arkansas Arts Center’s biennial Tabriz, the Gala is an upscale, black-tie affair featuring live and silent auctions, a sit-down dinner, live music, fine wines and spirits, dancing and more. The party starts at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, March 14, and the ticket price includes admission to Thursday night’s Bazaar. Money raised from both events helps purchase art for the AAC’s permanent collection, but it also supports AAC programming (Children’s Theatre, Museum School for art classes, etc.). Purchase tickets and learn more here.
Amy Howard Hands-On Furniture Painting Workshop at Cynthia East Fabrics, 1523 Rebsamen Park Road, Little Rock: It’s high time to do a little spring sprucing and Cynthia East Fabrics in Riverdale has got you covered. The boutique is hosting an Amy Howard at Home Hands-On Workshop with Paige Rystrom from 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, March 14. During the DIY event, attendees will learn how to use Amy Howard One Step Paint, which covers a variety of materials with no stripping or sanding required. Demonstrations will include antiquing and distressing. Bring your own small piece of furniture (chair, side table) and you’ll be all set. Space is limited. Call 663-0460 or click here.
16th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, downtown Little Rock, Third and Rock Streets: Get your green on and head downtown at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 14, for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Presented by the Irish Cultural Society of Arkansas, the parade will feature leprechauns, Irish Wolfhounds, antique cars, pipe and drum bands, Irish dancers, decorative floats and so much more. It’s a must-see event bursting with local color. Find out more here.
Saturday & Sunday (March 14 & 15)
Bella Rustina Modern Vintage Market at War Memorial Stadium, 1 Stadium Dr., Little Rock: For those of you who run in the estate sale world, you probably already know about Ashley’s Finds, the website with all the info on estate sales and auctions in central Arkansas. Now the Ashley’s Finds crew is putting on the Bella Rustina Modern Vintage Market, complete with more than 175 booths of antiques, vintage items and more from all over the U.S. Stop by on Saturday from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and on Sunday 12-5 p.m. And don’t worry about the elements here either; it’s all under the concourse. Click here for all the details.