Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Dance, Drive Through Or Watch From Home
Holiday events still lighting up Northwest Arkansas
It’s certainly been a year short on glad tidings, peace on Earth, and all things merry and bright. So, though things will look a bit different this season, we hope this roundup of holiday festivities will bring you some cheer.
BENTONVILLE
A Virtual Nutcracker
Presented by the NWA Conservatory of Classical Ballet and NWA Ballet Theatre.
WHEN — Dec. 12-13
WHERE — Online
COST — $50
INFO — stubs.net/event/3378/virtual-nutcracker-2020
Christmas Lights
WHEN — Through Dec. 31
WHERE — Downtown Bentonville square
COST — Free
INFO — downtownbentonville.org
Miracle Pop-Up Bar
Unique and unusual holiday cocktails at the Undercroft — the speakeasy below The Preacher’s Son — as well as The Preacher’s Son’s patio. Miracle on 2nd Street is a 21-and-up only pop-up, and reservations are required.
WHEN — 4 p.m.-midnight through Dec. 31
WHERE — 201 N.W. A St.
COST — Drinks for purchase
INFO — 445-6065, facebook.com/events/259646122118542
Lawrence Plaza Ice Rink
Skaters will be limited to 40 at a time to accommodate social distancing.
WHEN — Through Jan. 3
WHERE — 214 N.E. A St.
COST — $2 skate rental, $3 skate
session
INFO — 271-3390, bentonvillear.com/1188/Lawrence-PlazaIceRink
North Forest Lights
An artistic light and sound experience in the middle of the North Forest, back at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art through April 4.
WHEN — Nightly Wednesday-Monday through April 4
WHERE — 600 Museum Way
COST — $7-$22
INFO — 657-2335, crystalbridges.org
EUREKA SPRINGS
Christmas at the Crescent
This year’s Christmas at the Crescent will look a little different, with most activities, including Santa’s Brunch, only open to hotel guests. But all visitors can still enjoy the elegant Victorian-style Christmas decorations throughout the hotel and grounds, and all are welcome to peruse the Christmas Forest on the East Lawn full of more than 30 uniquely decorated trees.
WHEN — Christmas Forest on display
through Jan. 1
WHERE — 75 Prospect Ave.
COST — Free
INFO — christmasatthecrescent.com
Holiday Farmers Market
WHEN — 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Dec. 10, 17, 24
WHERE — 44 Kingshighway
COST — Free
INFO — eurekasprings.org
Drive-Through Light Display
WHEN — Through Jan. 4
WHERE — Great Passion Play Grounds, 935 Passion Play Road, Eureka Springs
COST — Free
INFO — eurekasprings.org
FAYETTEVILLE
A Historical Holiday
The Washington County Historical Society will hold its annual holiday event today, Dec. 6, outdoors at the west parking lot of Headquarters House. The annual event is usually an open house inside the museum, but plans have been altered this year because of the pandemic.
Carol performances will begin on the quarter hour and will last for about 10 minutes. Father Christmas will also be present to pass out covid-safe goodies to visitors.
WHEN — 2-4 p.m. Dec. 6
WHERE — Headquarters House, 118
E. Dickson St.
COST — Free
INFO — 521-2970 or email info@washcohistoricalsociety.org, washcohistoricalsociety.org
Holidays at Home: A Virtual Variety Show
Join Broadway stars, Chad Burris (“Mean Girls,” “Frozen”) and Katie Ladner (“Wicked,” “Heathers”) for an unforgettable evening of holiday singalongs with the Pilot Arts orchestra. The evening will also feature a local chef preparing holiday cocktails and mocktails as well as a holiday treat, and crafts for the family. Come sing, cook and laugh alongside Pilot Arts from the best seat in the house — yours!
Ticket purchase includes a pdf of all song lyrics and a list of supplies for cooking and crafting along. Link and interactive pdf will be emailed two days before chosen show date. Performance is streamed from home and will be available to view as many times as you’d like between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. on selected date.
WHEN — Dec. 17-20
WHERE — pilotarts.org
COST — $12-$20
INFO — pilotarts.org
Virtual Visit with Santa
WHEN — Through Dec. 24
WHERE — Northwest Arkansas Mall via createholidaymagic.com
COST — $9.99 and up, depending on package
INFO — northwestarkansasmall.com
‘A Christmas Carol’
The TheatreSquared original by Amy Herzberg and Bob Ford returns to stream at home through Dec. 27.
WHEN — Through Dec. 27, times vary
WHERE — TheatreSquared, 477 W. Spring St.
COST — $20-$50
INFO — 777-7477, theatre2.org
Holidaze Pop-Up Bar
The second year of Fayetteville’s holiday pop-up bar relocates to the Walton Arts Center. All proceeds, as well as fees from reservations, support Walton Arts Center’s Ghost Light Recovery Fund, as well as four local nonprofits.
Both alcoholic and nonalcoholic holiday drinks are available. To-go drinks are available until 9:30 p.m.
WHEN — 5 p.m.-midnight through Dec. 31; closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
WHERE — Walton Arts Center, 495 W. Dickson St.
COST — Drinks for walk-up purchase; reserved 2-hour seating $15
INFO — waltonartscenter.org/holidaze
Lights of the Ozarks
Downtown Fayetteville’s iconic holiday display — which comprises some 400,000 lights and takes more than 3,300 hours to assemble — is now in its 27th year.
WHEN — Nightly 5 p.m.-1 a.m. through Jan. 1
WHERE — Downtown Fayetteville square
COST — Free
INFO — experiencefayetteville.com
Stewart Family Christmas Light Display
The display is made up of more than 2 million lights, hundreds of inflatables, a ride-on train, camel ride, pony ride and refreshments.
WHEN — 5-10 p.m. daily
WHERE — 4279 E. Wyman Road
COST — $5 per person; ages 2 and younger free
INFO — facebook.com/StewartFamilyLights
FORT SMITH
‘The Nutcracker’
Western Arkansas Ballet’s 35th annual production of the holiday classic.
WHEN — 7 p.m. Dec. 11, 2 & 7 p.m. Dec. 13
WHERE — ArcBest Performing Arts Center at 55 S. 7th St.
COST — $15-$25
INFO — 785-0152, waballet.org
ROGERS Imagine Studios Holiday Events
Paint with Santa — 1-4 p.m. today, Dec. 6. Create a handprint plate and take home an ornament project. Registration required. $45; plus $15 for additional child.
Grinch Whobilation — 6-8 p.m. Dec. 11. One little Who and his/ her adult buddy will create a front porch Grinchmas sign and a Grinch ornament together. $60; plus $15 for additional child.
Santa’s Workshop — 5:30-8 p.m. Dec 18. Create three hand-painted Christmas gifts. $45.
WHERE — 5212 Village Parkway, Suite 11
INFO — 619-6085, imaginestudiosnwa.com
Victory Film Series
With live programming on hold for the rest of the year, Arkansas Public Theatre continues its film series with a little something for everyone.
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” — 7 p.m. Dec. 11
“White Christmas” — 3 p.m. Dec. 12
“Krampus” — 7 p.m. Dec. 18
“Scrooged” — 7 p.m. Dec. 19
WHERE — 116 S. Second St.
COST — $10
INFO — 631-8988, arkansaspublictheatre.org
DTR Holiday Market
The Farmers Market in Downtown Rogers will transition to a holiday market featuring vendors selling their winter crops, holiday treats, handmade crafts and gifts.
WHEN — 12-5 p.m. Dec. 12
WHERE — 120 W. Poplar St.
COST — Free
INFO — downtownrogersinc.org/ market
Virtual Art on the Bricks
“The Art of Giving” is the theme for the Downtown Rogers holiday Art on the Bricks virtual art walk.
WHEN — Through Dec. 24
WHERE — facebook.com/ArtOnTheBricks
COST — Free; art for sale
INFO — facebook.com/ArtOnTheBricks
‘A Victorian Culinary Christmas’
Slip away into the past and experience a re-creation of some of the Christmas culinary traditions of yesterday in the Rogers Historical Museum’s new exhibit, “A Victorian Culinary Christmas,” on display at the historic Hawkins House. Guided tours of limited group size offered through Jan. 2.
WHEN — Through Jan. 2; Hawkins House hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday
WHERE —322 S. Second St.
COST — Free
INFO — rogershistoricalmuseum.org
Virtual Visit With Santa
WHEN — Through Jan. 7
WHERE — Pinnacle Hills Promenade via jinglering.com
COST — $24.95 and up, depending on package
INFO — pinnaclehillspromenade.com
SPRINGDALE
Holiday Express
The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad welcomes guests aboard for the Holiday Express and Pajama Train. One-hour round trips from Van Buren to Rudy, and from Springdale to Johnson feature holiday-themed train cars with on-board caroling and letters to Santa. Times vary; multiple trips per day.
WHEN — Dec. 6, 12, 19
WHERE — Springdale depot, 305 E. Emma Ave.; Van Buren depot, 813 Main St.
COST — $5-$40
INFO — amtrainrides.com
Parade of Trees
With a little ingenuity, a bunch of community spirit and a truckload of trees from Wisconsin, Springdale hosts this inaugural tree-decorating event.
WHEN — On display through Dec. 28
WHERE — Downtown Springdale
COST — Free to view
INFO — downtownspringdale.org/events
Please send holiday events to Jocelyn Murphy, What’s Up! associate editor, at jmurphy@nwadg.com.