Events in Little Rock August 2011

The Big Boo!seum Bash

The Big Boo!seum Bash, always a great fun free event for kids, will be held 6 - 8:30 p.m. October 27 at eight museums around Little Rock.

Start out at Historic Arkansas Museum for games and treats. Other participating museums are Heifer Village, Central High School National Historic Site, the Old State House Museum, EMOBA, the Clinton Presidential Library, MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, and Mosaic Templars Cultural Center.

And bring cans of food for the Arkansas Foodbank for a chance to win prizes. The Foodbank serves more than 23,000 people weekly in central and Southern Arkansas.

Free parking will be available at each museum. For more information, call 376-4781.


Enjoy Free John Steinmetz Concert

A free concert, "Chopin, Listz & Steinmetz! Piano Masterworks," will be held 3 p.m. October 16 in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The UALR Music Department is sponsoring a residency by composer John Steinmetz October 15 and 16. The centerpiece of his time in Little Rock will be the regional premiere of his piece "A Little Traveling Music," featuring UALR professor of music Linda Holzer (piano), and guest artists Kelly Johnson (clarinet) and David Renfro (horn) of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Steinmetz will speak before the performance and will engage with the performers and the audience in a panel discussion immediately following the concert.

For more information call 569-8436.

Arkansas Challenge Ride

Support wounded veterans in Arkansas by joining in this year's Arkansas Challenge Ride 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. October 15 at the Clinton Presidential Center.

Ride your bike through Little Rock and North Little Rock alongside 23 wounded veterans; Later, enjoy lunch and music on the lawn. Lunch will be provided by Whole Hog Cafe of North Little Rock.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., and the ride starts at 8:30 p.m.. Registration is $25. For more information, call Mark Leonard at 517-5388 or visit ArkansasFreedomFund.org.


Annual Spaghetti and Italian Sausage Dinner

St. Francis of Assisi Church in Little Italy will be holding its annual spaghetti and Italian sausage dinner 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. October 2.

The church is located on Highway 300 north of Lake Maumelle. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 7 - 12, and free for kids 6 and younger. The day includes activities and games. Mass will be held at 10 a.m.

Boo at the Zoo

The 20th Annual Boo at the Zoo will be held 6 - 9 p.m. October 20 - 23 and October 27 - 31.
It includes trick-or-treating, a hay maze, carnival rides, a haunted train, a haunted house, a costume contest, a magic show and Frankenstein's Dance Party.

Tickets are $7 per person, $15 all-inclusive armband, and $1 off for members or for advance purchase. littlerockzoo.com.

Dancing Into Dreamland Dance Contest

Dancing Into Dreamland dance contest auditions will be held 6 - 10 p.m. October 3 at Dreamland Ballroom, 800 West 9th St.

Eight teams will be selected to compete November 4 at the Governor's Mansion.
The contest is open to all styles of dance and to all ages. Applications are $25. For more information or an application, visit dreamlandballroom.org.

Family Fun Fest in North Little Rock

The 3rd Annual Family Fun Fest will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. October 1 at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.

There will be music by Trout Fishing in America, a Kids' and Teens' Zone with inflatables, games, rock climbing, creative crafts, community dancers and other performers. It promises good food, fun and prizes. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. For more information, call 372-5959 or visit nlrfamilyfunfest.org.

The First Main Street Food Truck Festival

The first Main Street Food Truck Festival with street food vendors, music and art will be held 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. October 1. Main Street will be blocked off from 3rd to 7th for the festivities. 375-0121.


The 11 Annual Hearts & Hooves Hoedown

The 11th Annual Hearts & Hooves Hoedown will be held 6 p.m. October 29 at the Hearts & Hooves facility, 2308 Kellogg Acres Road in Sherwood.

Hearts & Hooves is a nonprofit riding center enriching the lives of people with disabilities through partnerships with horses. The activities allow children and adults to work with horses and certified riding instructors to improve physical, emotional and mental health.

Tickets are $65 per person, or $500 for a table of eight.

There will be dinner, dancing, silent and live auctions and, most importantly, a fashion show by the group's special equestrians. Smell the steaks cookin' on the grill, feast your eyes on the horses in the pasture, kick back and enjoy the evening.

For additional information, or for tickets, call 834-8509. The event is entirely volunteer based, and all proceeds go to the benefit of the program. If you cannot attend, but wish to make a tax-deductible donation, sent it to the above address in Sherwood, AR, 72120.t will be held 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. October 1. Main Street will be blocked off from 3rd to 7th for the festivities. 375-0121.

The King Biscuit Blues Festival
October 6 - 8 in Helena

The King Biscuit Blues Festival, one of the nation's foremost showcases of blues music, will be held October 6 - 8 in downtown Helena.

It is the 26th year for the festival, which is typically attended by thousands of blues enthusiasts from around the world.

The stated mission of the festival is to sustain the culture, the heritage, and the authenticity of the Delta blues. There will be five stages and more than 80 groups performing during the three-day event. The music lineup is headed by Buddy Guy (9:30 p.m. Thursday), Delbert McClinton (9:30 p.m. Friday) and Keb' Mo' (9:35 p.m. Saturday).

Early ticket sales on line are $25. Admission is $30 at the gate. For more information, go to kingbiscuitfestival.com.