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Southwest Arkansas’s premier Christmas event showcases Historic Washington State Park at its loveliest during the 21st Annual Christmas and Candlelight Dec. 1. The entire park can be seen with natural 19th-century decorations and 3,000 luminaries lighting the historic streets. Guides are stationed in buildings and minstrels perform throughout the town.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children and students. Advance tickets are also available at a discount. The event lasts from 1- 8 p.m. If you miss the Dec. 1 event, a second chance to see the park showcased with its loveliest holiday attire takes place Dec. 8. For more information, check out www.historicwashingtonstatepark.com. 

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Village Creek State Park in Wynne will host a Christmas Toys Benefit Ride on Dec. 1. Riders from around the tri-state area will collect toys to make the holiday season a little brighter for local disadvantaged children. For those who don’t ride, join in the fun and bring an unwrapped gift. For more information, call Village Creek State Park at 870-238-9406 or log on to www.ArkansasStateParks.com. 

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The first weekend in December will be a festive one in Central Arkansas as various holiday events take place. On Dec. 1 the annual Arkansas State Capitol Lighting Ceremony will take place following Little Rock’s Big Jingle Jubilee Holiday parade. Visitors will join Secretary of State Charlie Daniels and Santa for the ceremony, which will also feature fireworks, music, children's activities and more. Admission is free. Contact the Secretary of State's office for more information at 501-682-1010; www.sos.arkansas.gov. 

The 40th Annual Christmas Frolic & Open House at the Historic Arkansas Museum in downtown Little Rock will be held Dec. 2. This event celebrates Christmas as it was in the 1800s with living history, carols, re-enactments, live music, dancing and more. Those who attend come from across the state every year for the museum’s famous hot cider and ginger cake, as well as holiday shopping for Arkansas-made products in the museum store. Admission is free. The museum is located at 200 East Third Street. Additional information can be obtained by calling 501-324-9304 or checking the Web site www.Historicarkansas.org. 

A few blocks over, another historic building will hold its holiday celebration on Dec. 2 -- the Old State House’s Annual Holiday Open House – also in downtown Little Rock. There will be nostalgic seasonal festivities including local music groups performing holiday favorites. The museum’s 1836 House of Representatives Chamber will be the site of creative hands-on activities. Cookies and punch will be served in the museum’s Riverfront Room. Admission is free and the address is 300 West Markham Street. Call the museum at 501-324-9685 or check the Web site www.oldstatehouse.com for more information.

A one mile drive-through Holiday Lights Display in Burns Park is scheduled for the month of December in North Little Rock. Hours 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 1-31. Admission is $5 for cars, $10 for 15-plus passenger vans and $20 for motorcoaches. Dashin’ Through the Lights Fun Run/Walk will be on Dec. 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 per family. Contact the North Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department at 501-791-8543 or funland@nlrpr.org for more details.

The Enchanted Forest Holiday Trail of Lights in Sherwood begins Dec. 1 and continues through Dec. 30. The drive-through display includes over 60 lighted displays and features Robin Hood, forest animals, Santa’s workshop and more. There is no admission but donations are welcome. December 2 brings the Sherwood city Christmas Parade, beginning at 2 p.m. and proceeding down Kiehl Avenue. The Sherwood Chamber of Commerce can provide additional information at 501-835-8909 or check www.ci.sherwood.ar.us/. 

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Eureka Springs becomes an extraordinary escape in December in celebration of the holidays. Special events take place the whole month. Music tributes to the season take place at the Pine Mountain Jamboree, Ozark Mountain Hoedown and City Auditorium. The Great Passion Play offers 12 nights of Christmas concerts and a drive-through light display.

The holiday schedule sees the return of some traditional celebrations and includes several inaugural events as well. New to the seasonal festivities this year are the Sweet Treats Bed and Breakfast Tour, Gingerbread People Cookie contest, concert by John Two-Hawks and performances of the ballet, “Gwinna.” Old favorites returning include the Food and Wine Weekend, the 19th Annual Fall Antique Show & Sale, Thanksgiving buffets, the Trail of Lights tour, the Christmas parade, Santa in the Park, the annual St. James Episcopal Church’s “Silver Tea,” this year benefiting Habitat for Humanity, “Christmas at the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa,” and the Christmas Ball.

With its Victorian architecture dressed for the season, Eureka Springs is an even more charming respite to put you in the Christmas mood and provide a great place to shop for unique art and gifts. Details on all events in the 2007 Eureka Springs holiday season are available online at www.eurekasprings.org  or by calling 866-WISH-EUREKA.

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Warfield Concerts in Helena-West Helena presents the Memphis Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 2. Taking place at the Lily Peter Auditorium on the campus of Phillips Community College, the free concert well-loved songs of the season. For more information, visit the Warfield Concerts Web site at www.warfieldconcerts.com.

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Pine Bluff’s award-winning Enchanted Land of Lights & Legends will be open until Dec. 31. at the Pine Bluff Regional Park. The 1.2-miles of lights includes over 130 displays, several of which are animated. The event is one of the largest of its kind in the region. Hours are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and admission is free. Donations are accepted. The park is located on U.S. 65 B. Contact Greg Gustek at 800-536-7660, ext. 2144 for additional information.

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The El Dorado Christmas Parade is slated for Dec. 6. With more than 150 entries, the parade is the largest Christmas parade in the state and annually draws thousands of spectators.

The parade will begin at the intersection of 18th Street and North West Avenue then proceed south on North West Avenue to Main Street; east on Main Street to Jefferson Street and end at Jefferson and Peach Streets. As always, Santa Claus will ride into town on an El Dorado Fire Department truck. There is no admission charge for the event. For further details, phone 870-863-6113 or log on to www.GoElDorado.com.

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A drive-through living nativity of scenes of Christ’s birth featuring live actors and exotic and domestic farm animals including camels, donkeys and cows will be offered Dec. 7-8 at Heifer Ranch, a Heifer International Learning Center, in Perryville.

After the drive-through, guests are invited to join Heifer Ranch staff for refreshments and hands-on activities for kids. The event is free.

Heifer Ranch is one of three U.S. education centers, focusing on world hunger solutions, organic gardening and sustainable agricultural practices. At Heifer Ranch, over 25,000 visitors a year become familiar with the root causes of poverty and hunger and Heifer’s work to help the poor achieve self-reliance. Since 1944, Heifer has provided livestock and ecologically sound agricultural training to millions of struggling families and is currently at work in 50 countries.

For more information, phone 800-696-1918 and visit the Web site www.heifer.org/ranch.

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At the Basic Training: Second Saturday Chef Series offered on Dec. 8 at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute on Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton, “The Saucy Side of Cooking” class will focus on five grand or “mother” sauces from which many variations can be made: velouté, hollandaise, tomato, béchamel and beef stock based.

In addition to these sauces, the class will cover more modern ones based on mayonnaise, coulis and beurre-blancs. Participants will learn the history behind the sauces, the processes to make them, the variations that can be made from each one, and ultimately how to pair the sauces to the proteins.

The cost will be $59 per person plus tax. For more information, phone 501-727-5435 and visit www.uawri.org. 

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Van Buren’s historic Main Street becomes a living history lesson on Dec. 8 when merchants entertain with live window displays depicting Van Buren’s colorful history.

About 30 living window displays will be acted out and will include scenes such as old-time spinning, churning butter, candle dipping, chair caning, and gingerbread making. The displays change from year to year, so there is always something new to see. Merchants along Main Street offer everything from wedding dresses and vintage clothing to antiques. Several merchants make their products on location, including jewelers, soap and candle makers and quilts, making much of Van Buren’s living history a continued reality.

Admission is free. For more information, contact the Old Town Merchants Association at 479-474-0332 or visit www.vanburen.org.

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Enjoy the holiday season with a touch of Victorian elegance as Powhatan Historic State Park in Powhatan hosts their 2nd Annual Holiday Ball and Open House on Dec. 8. The 52nd Regimental String Band will provide music and dance instruction throughout the evening. For more information, contact Jacksonport State Park at 870-878-6765 or visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com. 

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Travel back in time with a Walk Through History tour of Batesville on Dec. 8. Visit the School Addition Historic District in Batesville, which includes some of the most architecturally interesting homes in the city. Participants will discuss the unique history and architecture of this neighborhood. For more information, contact the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program at 501-324-9880 or visit www.arkansaspreservation.org. 

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Blytheville’s Arkansas Aeroplex is the site of the 12th Annual Lights of the Delta through Dec. 29. With six million lights and 32 major displays on 40 acres, it’s easy to see why this is one of the largest lighting festivals in the mid-south. Hayrides and a live nativity scene are available each night. Live music will be presented on select nights throughout the festival. Lights of the Delta will run through Dec. 29. For more details, visit www.LightsoftheDelta.com.

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It’s a Wonderful Life in West Memphis will be held at Worthington Park in West Memphis through Jan. 2. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides through the park, which is lit with 1,500 stars, globes, displays and a 45-foot blue spruce decorated for the holiday season. For more information, phone 870-732-7598 or visit www.westmemphis.org. 
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Center on the Square in Searcy will present A Christmas Carol on Dec. 6–22. Relive the tale of Scrooge and his visits from the Christmas ghosts. For more information, call Center on the Square at 501-368-0111 or log on to www.CenterontheSquare.org. 

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The Pine Bluff Symphony Orchestra will present a Christmas concert at the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s Fine Arts Center in Monticello on Dec. 9. For more information, phone 870-460-1562,
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Christmas at the Ace takes place Dec. 8 and 9 at the Ace of Clubs House Museum in Texarkana.

Music and tours throughout the 1885 historic home will be available that showcase Christmas décor in the Victorian period. There will also be other special attractions for children. Admission is $6 adults with discounts for children, seniors and groups. For more information, phone 903-793-4831 or check out www.texarkanamuseums.org.

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A classic holiday favorite, The Nutcracker will be presented at the Imperial Dinner Theatre in Pocahontas on Dec. 13–20. The Nutcracker is the story of Clara, her Uncle Drosselmeyer, Clara’s magical nutcracker doll, the raucous mouse king and the beautiful sugar plum fairy. To learn more, call 870-892-0030 or visit www.imperialdinnertheatre.com. 

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The Historic Perot Theatre in Texarkana will show Peter Pan Dec. 8. Now in an enduring musical, all your favorite characters come to life in song and dance. Wendy, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook and, of course, Peter remain ageless in this Broadway production made famous by Mary Martin and Sandy Duncan. Admission price varies. For more details, phone 903-792-4992 or type in www.trahc.org.

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Family fun is the main goal Dec. 21-24 during Christmas on the Mountain at Queen Wilhelmina State Park in Mena. There will be wagon rides, tree decorating, crafts, caroling, concerts and more for all to enjoy. Contact the park for a schedule or more information at 479-394-2863 or queenwilhelmina@arkansas.com. More details can also be found at www.queenwilhelmina.com. 

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