this week’s EVENTS
MONDAY Annual Chamber Awards Banquet
SEARCY — The Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce will present its annual awards banquet at 5:30 p.m. at the Searcy Municipal Airport. Tickets are $50 each or $550 for a table for eight. For more information, call the chamber at (501) 268-2458.
THURSDAY Arkansas Craft School Gala
MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Arkansas Craft School Gala will take place at 6:30 p.m. at 1032 Park Ave. For more information, call (870) 269-8397, or visit info@arkansascraftschool.org.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ‘The Nutcracker’
BATESVILLE — The North Arkansas Dance Theatre will present its 17th annual production of “The Nutcracker” at 7 p.m. Friday and at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. This timehonored classic is a family-friendly show. Tickets, which are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 11 and younger, are available from any NADT dance academy student or at the door.
Holiday Craft & Gift Sale
JACKSONVILLE — The 44th annual Holiday Craft and Gift Sale will take place from 2-8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Drive. Attendees will have an opportunity to purchase original works of art and unique gifts from Arkansas artists and vendors. Handmade creations will include woodworking items, paintings, jewelry, holiday decor and more. Refreshments will be available. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for youth ages 12 to 18. For more information, call (501) 982-4171 or visit www.jacksonvilleparks.com.
SATURDAY Carve a Large Santa Claus Ornament
MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Arkansas Craft School, 101 N. Peabody Ave., will present Carve a Large Santa Claus Ornament, with Mike Pounders. For more information, call (870) 269-8397, or visit info@arkansascraftschool.org.
Feed the Veterans Pantry
CABOT — The Feed the Veterans Pantry will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1212 S. Second St. to veterans and their family members younger than 18, who will be welcome to shop for nonperishable food items and personal-hygiene items. Shoppers need to have a DD 214 and a photo ID or a Military ID card or a VA card. The pantry is open the third Saturday of each month. To make a donation, visit the pantry’s Facebook page @feedtheveterans. Also, see the Facebook page for information on a fundraiser by Snell Prosthetics for Feed the Veterans during November.
ONGOING Arkansas Master Naturalists Applications
The Foothills chapter of the Arkansas Master Naturalists is accepting applications. FAMN is an independent, all-volunteer organization that promotes the preservation, restoration and appreciation of the natural environment. The Foothills chapter draws volunteers from White and Cleburne counties. Classes will begin in January. To learn more, visit arkansasmasternaturalists.org.
Convergence Exhibit
BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council presents Convergence, an exhibition of mixed-media works by Landon M. Perkins, at the BAAC Gallery on Main, 226 E Main St., through Friday. Perkins is an artist from Tallahassee, Florida, who lives in Bella Vista and works as a preparator at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. A closing reception for Convergence will take place from 6-8 p.m. Friday. The exhibit is free and open to the public during BAAC’s regular gallery hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
Colors & Coffee
BATESVILLE — The Independence County Library, 267 E. Main St., will offer Colors & Coffee, an adult meet-up, from 10-11 a.m. Tuesdays. All adults are invited for a relaxing hour of coloring and coffee. For more information, call the library at (870) 793-8814.
Mindfulness Mondays
BATESVILLE — The Independence County Library, 267 E. Main St., will offer Mindfulness Mondays for teens ages 13 to 19 from 4-5 p.m. each Monday. The event will include a guided meditation and mindful snacks. Beginners are encouraged to attend. Yoga mats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, or participants can bring their own. For more information, call the library at (870) 793-8814.
Calico Rock Museum Memorial Bricks
CALICO ROCK — The Calico Rock Community Foundation is selling memorial bricks to be added to the Main Street Memorial Walk in front of the Calico Rock Museum. These 8-by-8-inch bricks cost $100 each and can include up to 21 characters per line, with up to eight lines of text. The bricks must be ordered by Saturday using the official brick order form, which can be completed at the Calico Rock Museum or online at www. calicorockmuseum.com/ memorial-walk.html. For more information, visit this website, or call (870) 297-6100.
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines
Sherwood Urgent Care centers in Batesville, Lonoke and Searcy offer Moderna COVID-19 vaccines each Wednesday. The free vaccine is for people ages 18 and older. For more information or to sign up for the vaccine, visit sherwoodurgentcare.com.
Walk With a Doc
BATESVILLE — Everyone is invited to take a step toward better health by participating in a free 60-minute Walk With a Doc at 10 a.m. the third Saturday of every month. Meet in the Batesville Rec Center parking lot, across from the lake. For more information, visit www. walkwithadoc.org/why-walk.
UPCOMING White River Wonderland
BATESVILLE — White River Wonderland will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight daily from Nov. 24 to Jan. 2 at Riverside Park. The event will include a light display that features millions of lights, a Ferris wheel, selfies with Santa, ice skating, White River Express train rides and carriage rides. Admission is free. The light show can be viewed from a car or by walking on illuminated trails throughout the park. For more information and a complete schedule of activities, visit whiteriverwonderland.com.
Holiday Festival of Trees
NEWPORT — The Newport Area Chamber of Commerce will host its first Holiday Festival of Trees on Dec. 1-23. This friendly Christmas-tree-decorating competition is open to any youth group, business, church or nonprofit organization. Trees will be judged in three categories with awards given for the Most Comical, Most Traditional and Most Unique trees, plus an overall Best Tree award. Trees will be voted on by the public to determine the winners. Each $1 donation equals one vote. All donations will support the chamber’s scholarship and Arkansas Scholars programs. Voting will begin during business hours Dec. 1 at the chamber office, and final judging will be at noon Dec. 23.
ASU-Beebe Community Tree Lighting Ceremony
BEEBE — Arkansas State University-Beebe invites the public to its annual Community Tree Lighting Ceremony at
5 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Grove behind State Hall on the Beebe campus. Jubilation Jazz will perform Christmas favorites, along with special guest performers. Other highlights of the event will include holiday greetings from ASU-Beebe Chancellor Jennifer Methvin, crafts, storytelling, hayrides and visits with Santa Claus. Handcrafted dishes and pottery will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the Student Emergency Hope Fund. For more information, call (501) 882-3600 or visit www.asub.edu.
Kitchen Table Silversmithing: The Basics
MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Arkansas Craft School,
101 N. Peabody Ave., will present Kitchen Table Silversmithing: The Basics, with Brandy Boyd, on Dec. 3 and 4. For more information, call (870) 269-8397, or visit info@ arkansascraftschool.org.
Carve a Small Santa Ornament
MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Arkansas Craft School,
101 N. Peabody Ave., will present Carve a Small Santa Ornament, with Mike Pounders, on Dec. 4. For more information, call (870) 269-8397, or visit info@ arkansascraftschool.org.
Batesville Christmas Parade
BATESVILLE — The 2021 Batesville Christmas parade, titled A Bicentennial Christmas, will begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 along historic Main Street.
Newport Christmas Parade
NEWPORT — The Newport Christmas parade will take place at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 and will travel down Arkansas 69 to Malcolm Avenue, then to the Village Mall parking lot. Entries are needed: floats, walking groups, antique vehicles, beauty queens, horseback riders, school clubs and organizations. Awards will be given for first-, second- and third-place commercial and noncommercial winners. Entry is free, and participants may choose their own holiday theme. Get entry forms at the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce office, 201 Hazel St., or at www.newportarchamber.org.
Fax completed forms to (870) 523-1055, drop them off at the chamber, or email to director@newportarchamber.org.