this week’s EVENTS

TODAY

AARP Meeting

BALD KNOB — Bald Knob AARP Chapter 2146 will meet at noon at the Bald Knob Senior Center. Lunch will be served at 11 a.m., and the program will be White Elephant Sale. For more information, call (501) 724 5817.

Movie for Adults

JACKSONVILLE — The Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St., will show a movie for adults, The Nightmare Before Christmas, at 5 p.m. The film is rated PG-13. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.

TODAY, FRIDAY AND SUNDAY  TUESDAY The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

HEBER SPRINGS — The Heber Theatre will present The Best Christmas

Pageant Ever at 7 p.m. today and Friday, at 2 p.m. Sunday, and at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the William Carl Garner Visitor Center. Doors will open 30 minutes before the show, and seating is limited. The performances will benefit the Heber Springs Lions Club. For more information, visit www.

hebertheatre.com.

FRIDAY

Mary’s Memory Trunk

NEWPORT — Jacksonport State Park will hold Mary’s Memory Trunk from 3-4 p.m. at the Jacksonport Courthouse in Newport. Mary, dressed as a frontier woman, will talk about traveling to Arkansas from North Carolina in 1855. She will display and discuss the items that she brought with her from North Carolina, what they mean to her and how she uses those items in her home. Admission is free.

Christmas Choral Concert

BATESVILLE — The Lyon College Concert Chorale will perform Handel’s Messiah in the college’s annual Christmas Choral Concert at 7:30 p.m. in Brown Chapel on campus. Audience participation is welcome. Michael Oriatti will direct the chorale.

Blood Drive

HEBER SPRINGS — The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Chemo Infusion Room on the third floor of Baptist Health Medical Center-Heber Springs.

Holidays in Who-ville

MELBOURNE — Ozarka College will hold its fifth annual holiday event, Holidays in Who-ville, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the John E. Miller Education complex at Ozarka College in Melbourne. The free family event will feature Dr. Seuss cartoons, pictures with Santa, coloring activities, and treats prepared by the Ozarka College Culinary Arts Department. In case of inclement weather, the event will not be rescheduled. For more information, contact Suellen Davidson, director of advancement, at (870) 368-2059 or sdavidson@ozarka.edu.

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

Luminary Project

SEARCY — The CARTI/Searcy Auxiliary will present its 24th annual Holiday Luminary Project on Friday and Saturday at the White County Courthouse downtown. The project involves circling the courthouse with hundreds of lights in support of cancer awareness. Sold for $10 each, luminaries can be purchased in person at CARTI/ Searcy or by contacting the center at (501) 268-7870. All proceeds will benefit CARTI/Searcy and area cancer patients. Luminary sales will continue until the lighting of the luminaries on Friday. For information on joining the CARTI/Searcy Auxiliary,

contact membership chairwoman Karen Davis at (501) 268-2222 or kkd2299@ sbcglobal.net.

FRIDAY  SUNDAY, DEC. 1214 AND DEC. 1921

The Rented Christmas SEARCY — The Performing Arts Center on the Square will present The Rented Christmas, written by Norman C. Ahern Jr. and Yvonne Ahern, on Friday through Sunday, and again Dec. 12-14 and Dec. 19-21 at 219 W. Arch Ave. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and matinee performances on Sundays are at 1:30 p.m., with brunch at 12:30 p.m. For dinner and the show, tickets are $29 for adults and $24 for seniors 55 or older and students. For brunch and a matinee, tickets are $27 for adults and $21 for seniors and students. All show-only tickets are $15. Reserve meal tickets 48 hours in advance. For more information or tickets, call (501) 368-0111 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit www.centeronthesquare.org.

FRIDAY AND DEC. 12 AND 19

Teen Takeover JACKSONVILLE — The Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St., will present Teen Takeover for ages 13-19 at 4 p.m. Friday and Dec. 12 and 19. December will be a video game month. Snacks will be provided. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.

SATURDAY

SAME Café

SEARCY — The SAME Café will be open from 4-5:30 p.m. at the West Side Church of Christ, 709 W. Arch St. The SAME Café is open the first Saturday of the month to anyone in the community who would like a free warm meal.

Country Christmas Craft Fair

BATESVILLE — The Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches will hold the 29th annual Country Christmas Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the ranches’ Batesville campus, 100 Saint Vincent Place. Country Christmas offers an opportunity to purchase unique handmade items by crafters from across the state. Breakfast, including homemade cinnamon rolls, will be available, as well as homemade chili for lunch. Admission is free, and proceeds will benefit the programs at the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches. Limited booth space for crafters is still available. Call (870) 793-6841 to check availability.

Heber Springs Christmas Parade

HEBER SPRINGS — The annual lighted Christmas parade in Heber Springs, with the theme “A Magical Disney Christmas Parade” is set for 6 p.m. Floats and entrants are required to be illuminated. Santa, from the North Pole, will be at the parade, and parade organizers ask that there not be any extra Santas in the parade. For more information or to register for the parade, call (501) 362-4150, or visit www.hebersprings.com/events/he ber-springs-christmas-parade.

Old-Fashioned Christmas in the Village

SEARCY — Pioneer Village’s Old-Fashioned Christmas in the Village will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1200 Higginson St. The event will depict a late-1800s Christmas, including stockings hanging from the mantels and a family tree with handmade ornaments in the old log house, and a community tree in the school. The farm animals will be dressed in bells and ribbons. Live music will be provided, as well as hot cider and sugar cookies. Santa and his sleigh will be there, and children may bring a wish list and camera and have their picture made with Santa. The day will also include gifts, stocking stuffers, a bake sale and more. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. For more information, call (501) 580-6633 or (501) 2785010.

Yuletide Madrigal Feaste

BEEBE — The Arkansas State University-Beebe Music Department will celebrate the holiday season with a Yuletide Madrigal Feaste at 7 p.m. at the University Café in the ASU-Beebe Student Center, 610 N. Pecan St. The evening will begin with wassail, followed by an elegant feast, with musical entertainment during each course. Entertainment will be under the direction of Timothy Bartlett, with Brent Bristow, instrumental conductor, and Mary Jo Parker, accompanist. Tickets are $20 and must be purchased in advance. To reserve tickets, call the music department at (501) 882-4435. For more information, visit www. asub.edu.

Christmas Portraits With Pets

BATESVILLE — The Humane Society of Independence County’s 19th annual Christmas Portraits With Pets fundraiser will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the old Revenue Office in the Town Plaza Shopping Center. Matthew’s Photography will take the portraits. There is no sitting fee, and photo packages start at a cost of around $35. To make an appointment, call (870) 613-3045 or (870) 698-1265. Photos may contain pets, kids, families or any combination, and Christmas cards are available.

Kids’ Gingerbread House Workshop

BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council will host its annual Kids’ Gingerbread House Workshop on Saturday at the BAAC Gallery on Main, 226 E. Main St. Students can attend one of four sessions: 9-10 a.m., 10:30-11:30 a.m., noon to 1 p.m. or 1:30-2:30 p.m. Participants will create holiday houses out of graham crackers, icing, various candies and other food items. Preregistration is required, and children of all ages are encouraged to sign up. Students 4 years old and younger must be accompanied by a parent. The cost of the workshop is $5 per student. For more information, call (870) 793-3382 or visit www. batesvilleareaartscouncil.org.

Breakfast With Mrs. Claus

NEWPORT — Breakfast with Mrs. Santa Claus for children ages 4-8 will be held from 9-10 a.m. in the Larry N. Williams Student/ Community Center, 7648 Victory Blvd., at Arkansas State University-Newport. Children will have breakfast, including milk or juice, while Mrs. Claus visits with them about being good and what they want for Christmas. Children are asked to bring their letters to Santa and will make Christmas picture frames to give as gifts. Registration is open, but the free breakfast is limited to the first 50 children registered. To reserve a space, call (870) 512-7800.

2014 Beebe Christmas Parade

BEEBE — The 2014 Beebe Christmas Parade, with the theme “Star-Spangled Christmas,” will be held at 6 p.m., beginning at the Beebe Public School campus on Badger Drive. Participants need to be on-site and prepared for judging by 5 p.m. Awards will be given in four classifications: civic, commercial, educational and religious. All floats must be lighted and safe for riders. Bicycles, roller blades, skates, skateboards and ATVs will not be permitted. Horseback riders, buggies and wagons will be permitted with proof of a negative Coggins test for all horses. Livestock will not be permitted on the Beebe Public School campus and will enter the parade at Center Street via South Lemon. In case of inclement weather, the Beebe Chamber of Commerce will reschedule the parade. Parade entry forms can be obtained at www.beebenow.com or by calling the chamber office at (501) 882-8135.

Christmas Tree Lighting

CONCORD — The city of Concord will hold its 2014 Christmas Tree Lighting at 5:30 p.m. at the Concord Community Center, 10424 Heber Springs Road N. Christmas music, refreshments and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will follow the lighting of the tree.

Holiday Open House

POWHATAN — Powhatan Historic State Park will hold a Holiday Open House from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. See Powhatan Historic State Park decked out in its Victorian Christmas finery for a family-oriented day of crafts, programs and activities. For more information, contact Powhatan Historic State Park at (870) 878-6765 or powhatan@arkansas.com.

Victorian-Style Christmas Ornament Workshop

NEWPORT — A Victorian-Style Christmas Ornament Workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Jacksonport Courthouse. Participants will make three historically authentic Victorian-style Christmas ornaments: Victorian icing ornaments, natural pearl shell ornaments made with shells from the White River, and gilded walnut and pecan ornaments made from nuts grown locally. Reservations are required by 3 p.m. today. The session offers an opportunity for children, parents and grandparents to work together. For more information, contact the park. Admission is $7.50 per person.

The Foods of Our Fathers

NEWPORT — Jacksonport State Park’s The Foods of Our Fathers program will be held from 2-3 p.m. at the Jacksonport Courthouse. Explorers, pioneers and Native Americans who settled in this area of the White River found an area rich in natural resources, including wild game, native fruits and edible plants. Join a park interpreter to discover what helped the settlers survive until their first crops came in. Admission is free.

SUNDAY Making Christmas Ornaments for Kids

NEWPORT — Making Clay Christmas Ornaments for Kids will be held from 2-3 p.m. at the Jacksonport Courthouse at Jacksonport State Park. Join a park interpreter to make easy and attractive clay ornaments for Christmas. This activity is geared for kids 7-14, who should be prepared to get their hands sticky and not wear good clothes. Admission is free.

MONDAY Independent Tea Party Meeting

SEARCY — The Independent Tea Party of White County will meet at 6:30 p.m. at IHOP in Searcy. The public is invited. For more information, call (501) 278-9413 or email teaparty@itpwca.org.

To submit an item for the Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, Three Rivers Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR, 72203; send faxes to (501) 378-3500; or email trnews@arkansasonline.com. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.