LITTLE ROCK, AR Secretary of State Charlie Daniels today announced the schedule of holiday performances at the State Capitol this season. More than 130 school choirs and dance troupes will fill the Capitols bedecked marble halls with seasonal sounds for the next two weeks. A traditional part of the Capitols annual holiday festivities, choral and dance performances are taking place in the second floor rotunda December 7 through 18 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekdays. The most current schedule of performances, as well as group photos, can be found on Secretary of States website at www.sos.arkansas.gov/holidays2009 ( http://e2ma.net/go/2646653075/2408550/89269915/14850/goto:http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/holidays2009 ). The Capitol building will hold special holiday hours through New Years Day from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekends to allow visitors extra time to take in the sights and sounds of the season. Scheduled performances are as follows: Monday, December 7 9:00 AM Episcopal Collegiate School – 4th & 5th Grade Choir 9:20 AM Episcopal Collegiate School – 6th Grade Choir 9:40 AM Fountain Lake High School – Cobra Chorus 10:00 AM Landmark Elementary – Show Choir 10:20 AM Jim Stone Elementary School – 4th Grade Choir 10:40 AM Malvern Elementary School – MES Chorus 11:00 AM J.A. Fair High School – Choral Program 11:00 AM J.A. Fair High School – Choral Program 11:20 AM UA Fort Smith Academy of the Arts – Children’s Choir Grades 3-6 11:40 AM Brookland Jr. High – Brookland Jr. High Female/Male Chorus 12:00 PM Sheridan Freshman Academy – Sheridan 9th Grade Girls Choir 12:20 PM Episcopal Collegiate Middle School – Episcopal Chorus Tuesday, December 8 9:00 AM Little Rock Christian Academy- 7th and 8th Mixed Choir MS 9:20 AM Little Rock Christian Academy – 4th Grade Choir 9:40 AM Bryant Middle School – Advanced Choir 10:00 AM Perritt Primary & Peake/Arkadelphia – Nickelodeon & New Edition 10:20 AM Pine Bluff Community Children’s Choir 10:40 AM Moody Elementary – Moody Singers 11:00 AM Julia Lee Moore Elementary – Mustang Singers 11:20 AM Mineral Springs High School – Mineral Springs Sr. Choir 11:40 AM Cathedral School – Choristers 12:00 PM Woodlawn High School – WHS Chorus 12:20 PM Watson Chapel Senior High – Chamber & Varsity Choirs 12:40 PM Greenbrier Eastside Elementary – Treble Makers Choir 1:00 PM De Queen Elementary – Razzle Dazzle Show Choir 1:20 PM Ms. Karen’s Dance Studio – Dance Groups 2:00 PM Ridgefield Christian – Junior High Ensemble 2:40 PM Little Rock Christian Academy – Warrior Choir HS 3:00 PM Benton Jr. High School – Chamber Choir Wednesday, December 9 9:00 AM Mayflower Middle School – 5th & 6th Grade Select Choir 9:20 AM Sylvan Hills Middle School – 7th & 8th Grade Vocal Ensemble 9:40 AM Pulaski Heights Elementary School – Pulaski Heights Elementary Choir 10:00 AM Russellville Jr. High – 8th Grade Girls Choir 10:20 AM Russellville Jr. High – Boys Choir 10:40 AM Corning High School – Corning High School Choir 11:00 AM Lake Hamilton Elementary – Third Grade Specialty Choir 11:20 AM Perryville High School – Senior High Choir 11:40 AM Arkansas High School; Texarkana – Arkansas High School Choir 12:00 PM Tuckerman High School – Tuckerman High Music Club 12:20 PM Redfield Jr. High – Concert Choir 12:40 PM Hardin Elementary – Hardin Singers 1:00 PM Warren Senior High – Warren Senior High Choir 1:20 PM Sheridan High School – Sheridan High School Choir 1:40 PM Pulaski Academy – PA Sounds 2:00 PM Ridgefield Christian – Senior High Ensemble 2:20 PM Walnut Ridge High School – Swing Ensemble 2:40 PM Episcopal Collegiate School – Concert Choir Thursday, December 10 9:00 AM North Little Rock High School – West – Concert Choir 9:20 AM Arkadelphia High School – Arkadelphia Singers 9:40 AM Ida Burns Elementary – 4th Grade Scat Cats 10:00 AM Sulphur Rock Magnet School – SRMS Select Singers 10:20 AM Ringgold Elementary – Ringgold Choir 10:40 AM Hampton High School – Hampton High School Jr./Sr. Choir 11:00 AM Paragould High School – Paragould High School Encore Choir 11:20 AM Russellville Jr. High – 9th Grade Girls Choir 11:40 AM Central Primary School – Singing Bears 12:00 PM Sylvan Hills High School – Acappella Choir 12:20 PM Harrisburg High School – Sr. High Select Choir 12:40 PM Crossett Middle School – CMS 7th/8th Mixed Ensemble 1:00 PM Lonoke Middle & High School – Lonoke Middle & High School Choirs 1:00 PM Lee High School – LHS Concert Choir 1:20 PM Greater Pleasant Branch Missionary Baptist Church 1:40 PM Arkansas Baptist High School 2:00 PM Nettleton Junior High – Cantori 2:40 PM Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield 2:40 PM Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield Friday, December 11 9:00 AM Beebe Jr. High School – Beebe Freshman Choir 9:20 AM Monticello Junior & Senior High – Junior Madrigals & Senior Madrigals 9:40 AM Gurdon Middle School – Gurdon Choir 10:00 AM Cabe Middle School; Gurdon – Choristers 10:20 AM Benton Middle School – BMS Select Choir 10:40 AM Alma Intermediate School – Alma Intermediate Honor Choir 11:00 AM Holly Harshman Elementary – Sixth Grade Choir 11:20 AM Mena High School – The Spot Light Singers 11:40 AM Dover Middle School – Buccaneer Choir 12:00 PM G.R. Taylor Elementary – Taylor Singers 12:20 PM Mayflower Elementary – Mayflower Elementary Choir 12:40 PM Crossett High School – Kantorei 12:40 PM Lakeside Middle School – Hot Springs – 7th Grade Choirs – The Treble Makers 1:00 PM Bayyari Elementary – Encore Choir 1:20 PM Harmony Grove High School – Sr. High Choir 1:40 PM Pulaski Academy – Bella Voce 2:00 PM Mountain Home High School – Chamber Singers 2:20 PM Mountain Home High School – MHHS Female Chorus 2:40 PM Manila High School – Manila Chamber Choir 3:00 PM Benton Jr. High School – Heartsong Monday, December 14 9:00 AM Harmony Grove Middle School – Harmony Grove Middle School Choir 9:40 AM Clinton Elementary Magnet School – Eagle Show Choir 10:00 AM Lakeside Middle School – Hot Springs – 7th Grade Choirs – The Treble Makers 10:20 AM Little Rock Central High School – Madrigals 10:40 AM Alpena Schools – Jr. / Sr. High Choir 11:00 AM Valley View High School – Valley View Chamber Choir 11:20 AM University of Arkansas – Children’s Choir 11:40 AM Wooster Elementary School – Wooster Elementary Choir 12:00 PM Star City High School – Concert Choir 12:20 PM Bauxite High School – Sr. High Choir 12:40 PM Lake Hamilton Intermediate School – 5th Grade Choir 1:00 PM Goza Middle School – Goza Choir 1:20 PM Cedar Ridge High School Choir Tuesday, December 15 9:40 AM Williams Magnet – Magnetic Musicians Choir 10:00 AM Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic School – 6th Grade Choir 10:20 AM Southside Elementary – Southside Elementary Honor Choir 10:40 AM Sequoyah Elementary – 4th Grade Choir 11:00 AM Heber Springs Elementary School – Heber Springs Elementary Honor Choir 11:20 AM Southside Middle School – Southside Middle School Choir 11:40 AM Mineral Springs Elementary – 5th & 6th Grade Choirs 12:00 PM Gurdon Primary School – GPS Select Choir 12:20 PM Cloverdale Magnet Middle School – Cloverdale Choir 12:20 PM Arkadelphia High School – Arkadelphia Singers 12:40 PM Valley View Intermediate – Voices of Valley View 1:00 PM Booker Arts Magnet School – Booker Arts Magnet Choir 1:20 AM Hector High School Wednesday, December 16 9:20 AM Chenal Elementary School – Chenal Showstoppers 9:40 AM Seventh Street Elementary – Singing Stars 10:00 AM Chicot Primary – 2nd Grade Choir A 10:20 AM Chicot Primary – 2nd Grade Choir B 10:40 AM Harrisburg Middle School – Mini Singers 11:00 AM Bryant Elementary School – 5th Grade Chorus 11:20 AM Oaklawn Magnet-Hot Springs – OVPA Show Choir 11:40 AM Riverside High School – Concert Choir 12:00 PM Marmaduke High School – Marmaduke High School Choir 12:20 PM Morrilton Elementary School – Mighty Pup Singers 12:40 PM Lee High School – LHS Concert Choir 2:00 PM Bonnie Grimes Elementary – Treble Makers Thursday, December 17 9:20 AM Horace Mann Arts/Science Magnet Middle School – Horace Mann Choir 9:40 AM Sallie Cone Elementary – Voices of Sallie Cone 10:00 AM Mann Magnet Middle School – Piano Lab 10:20 AM Horace Mann Magnet Middle School – Dance Ensemble 10:40 AM Vilonia Primary – The Vilonia Primary Melodies 11:00 AM Kraus Middle School – 6th Grade Select Choir -Voice oferica 11:20 AM Hall High School – Madrigals and Hallmarks 11:40 AM Pike View Elementary – Singing Panthers 12:00 PM The Anthony School – 4th/5th Grade Choir 12:20 PM Crestwood Elementary School – Crestwood Kindergarten Choir 12:40 PM Langston A.E.S. Magnet Rockets Choir 2:00 PM Jacksonville Middle School – Concert Choir Friday, December 18 10:00 AM Mann Magnet Middle School – Piano Lab 10:00 AM Westside Elementary in Greenbrier – Westside Showstoppers 10:40 AM Victory Baptist School – Victory Baptist Choir 11:00 AM El Dorado High School – The Oratorio Singers 11:40 AM Harrison Jr. High – 8th Grade Girls Choir 12:00 PM Harrison Jr. High – 8th/9th Grade Boys Choir 3:00 PM Siloam Springs Middle School – Heart & Soul

Calico Rock’s Fourth Annual Holiday Home and Lights Tour will be Saturday, December 12, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The tour makes five stops at historic and contemporary homes and churches each decorated for Christmas. Warm busses leave the Calico Rock Chamber Office on Main Street (Highway 5 at the White River) every 30 minutes. Tickets are $5. Buy in advance or that evening from the Calico Rock Chamber Office, Don Quixote’s Restaurant on Main Street or calicorocket.org  For more information, contact Gloria Gushue, 870-291-8899, or mailto:core@calicorocket.org  This event is sponsored by CORE.

Title: Christmas in Heber Springs
Description: Christmas in Heber Springs
Fri., Dec. 4 – 2 PM – 6 PM & Sat., Dec. 5 – 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Enjoy live music on the court square. Bring the kids and enjoy a small town Christmas.
We are adding to the schedule daily, for a complete participant schedule visit heberspringstoday.com
For more information call Yvonne Harvey at 250-5100 or Gina Herget at 206-6383.
Start Date: 2009-12-04
End Date: 2009-12-06

Arkansas Festival Ballet Performs with the Conway Symphony Orchestra

CONWAY, ARK. (Nov. 6, 2009) – The Conway Symphony Orchestra is joined by Arkansas Festival Ballet for selections from “The Nutcracker” along with favorite songs of the season at Conway’s premier holiday event, set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at Reynolds Performance Hall in Conway.

Tickets are available at the Reynolds Box Office, by phone at 450-3265 or toll free at 1-866-810-0012, and at www.uca.edu/tickets.  Prices range from $5 to $35, with significant discounts for children, students and the UCA community.  A special rate of $15 per ticket is offered for groups of 10 or more for this concert only.  The concert is underwritten by Fortier, Inc. with guest artist sponsorship by Morgan Keegan.

With a “Tutus and Tinsel” theme, the concert includes Christmas classics from “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” ending with the  traditional favorite, “Sleigh Ride.”  Arkansas Festival Ballet, led by Artistic Director Rebecca Stalcup, performs an original dance to “The Skaters Waltz” and selections from “The Nutcracker” in the company’s first collaboration with the Conway Symphony.

Parents are encouraged bring their cameras and dress their children in holiday finery for a photo with Santa in the Reynolds Performance Hall lobby at intermission.  “It’s a great way to start the holiday season with your entire family,” said Music Director and Conductor Israel Getzov.  “From grandparents to grandchildren, everyone can sing their favorite carols, experience the music of the Conway Symphony and enjoy the dance of Arkansas Festival Ballet.”

Before the concert at the Nutcracker Sweets event, children and their families may enjoy hot chocolate, a selection of desserts, special artwork to celebrate “The Nutcracker” and a chance to meet the Maestro and ballet dancers from 6 to 7 p.m. in Brewer-Hegemen Conference Center adjacent to the Reynolds Performance Hall. Tickets are $5 for children and $7 for adults, and those attending Nutcracker Sweets will receive special discount pricing for concert tickets. Call 269-1066 to reserve a ticket, or visit www.conwaysymphony.org. Seating is limited to the first 80 registrations.

Parents can find the perfect gift for their favorite dancer at The Ballet Boutique, open during Nutcracker Sweets and immediately before and after the concert in the lobby of Reynolds Performance Hall.

In its 25th Anniversary season, the CSO exists to create meaningful experiences through performances and education.  The 2009-2010 CSO roster is composed of both professional and pre-professional musicians performing seven concerts, plus classroom educational programs. Through the support of corporate and individual donors, the CSO makes the enjoyment of classical and popular music available to the entire community.

Hall IV, Statehouse Convention Center, Downtown Little Rock

The Arkansas Craft Guild’s 31st Annual Christmas Showcase will take place THIS WEEKEND December 4th, 5th & 6th in Hall IV at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock. Don’t miss this once a year event showcasing the fine art and  crafts of members of the Arkansas Craft Guild and their guests, offering a great selection of handcrafted jewelry, glass, photography, carved and turned wood, decorative and functional pottery, handwoven clothing and accessories, furniture, candles, metal sculpture, paintings, and bath and spa products created by over 100 juried artisans.  The show is sponsored by the Arkansas Craft Guild, a statewide crafts cooperative which has upheld high standards of design, quality and fine craftsmanship for over 40 years.

This holiday event offers shoppers a unique opportunity to purchase one of a kind gifts in all price ranges directly from these creative artists and enjoy musical entertainment by Charlie Mink, a dulcimer player from Mountain View with a distinctive finger picking style.  Show hours are Friday, December 4th, 10 am to 8 pm; Saturday, December 5th, 10 am to 6 pm; and Sunday, December 6th, 10 am to 4 pm.  Admission is $5.00 at the door. For more information call the Arkansas Craft Gallery in Mountain View at 870-269-4120 or visit the Guild’s website at www.arkansascraftguild.org for a list of participating artists.

The North Central Arkansas Artist League (NCAAL) would like to invite everyone to a Holiday Open House, Sunday December 6 from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. at the Bayside Gallery located at the corner of Hwy 330 and Greenwood Dr. (by the marina entrance) Fairfield Bay.  The public is invited to view the works of over thirty area artists.   Oil, watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil, photography and pottery mediums are represented in the NCAAL gallery.

The gallery is decorated for Christmas in conjunction with the Tour of Homes.  So come and join us for hot cider and refreshments.  For more information contact Connie Hood at (501)884-3283.

Title: Annual Tour of Homes in Fairfield Bay
Description: The Annual Tour of Homes in Fairfield Bay will be held on December 6th from 2:00 to 4:30pm. Tickets may be purchased at the Library or Indian Rock Village.
Date: 2009-12-06

Old Independence Regional Museum will host its 3rd Annual Old Fashioned Family Christmas Party on Saturday, December 12th, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  Admission is free for this event, but donations are always appreciated.  This is the final installment of the museum’s popular Family Day series for 2009.

“We envision an old fashioned Christmas as one where families come together to enjoy the stories, sights, and sounds of the season.  What would Christmas be without cookies and homemade ornaments and Christmas cards and mistletoe?  We look forward to sharing some of the Christmas traditions of the past with visitors of all ages and hope that generations of families will come out and share some old and make some new Christmas memories,” stated Amanda Nikkel, Volunteer Coordinator.

The morning will begin at 10 a.m. with a reading of some traditional Christmas stories in the Shawneetown exhibit room by one of the museum’s volunteers.  For $1.00 per person, visitors can participate in a “dessert walk” in the Barnes/Simmons Gallery at 10 a.m. and again at noon.  The winners will be able to choose from a collection of delicious, homemade desserts.

At 10:30 and again at 11:30 The Cobb Brothers will play in the Honkonen Program Center.   This group consists of Caleb Cobb, 15, on the fiddle, Samuel Cobb, 13, on the mandolin, and Nathan Cobb, 11, on the bass.  The Cobb Brothers play regularly at the Ozark Folk Center, Cash’s White River Hoedown, Silver Dollar City, and many other blue grass venues around the state.  In addition to many musical accomplishments, The Cobb Brothers are also state and national clogging champions.  These talented young men will be joined later in the their performance by Mountain View friends, accompanied by Joe Jewell on the guitar, for square dancing, jig dancing, waltzing, and two stepping.

Mark Rorie will be on hand at 10 a.m. to autograph copies of his new book The Polk Bayou Kids and The Secrets of the White River Monster .  Visitors are invited to enter a drawing to win autographed copies of the book.

Beginning at 11 and continuing until 1:15, visitors are invited to move through the museum to several stations where museum staff and volunteers will assist with decorating Christmas cookies, Christmas card making, and making angel and reindeer ornaments.  Visitors will also learn about the traditional “kissing ball” made with mistletoe and be able to make a small mistletoe bough to take with them and hang in their homes.

To close out the day, at 1:15 p.m. members from Batesville’s Chorale Society will give a performance of Christmas songs and lead a sing-along with visitors.

The museum gift shop will be open during the event. “Santa’s Helpers” will be on hand to assist children in gift selection for parents, grandparents, and siblings.  Free gift wrapping will accompany gift purchases.  The gift shop carries books and toys, as well as a variety of educational, local and handcrafted items many of which are priced for small pockets.

Normal museum hours are: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Sundays.  Admission is $3.00 for adults, $2.00 for seniors and $1.00 for children.  The museum is located at 380 South 9th street, between Boswell and Vine Streets in Batesville.

Old Independence is a regional museum serving a 12-county area: Baxter, Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Marion, Poinsett, Sharp, Stone, White, and Woodruff.  Parts of these present-day counties comprised the original Independence County in 1820’s Arkansas territory.

Title: Fairfield Bay Mall Open House
Description: The Fairfield Bay Mall will be hosting their Christmas Open House November 20th-21st!
The event will be held during their regular business hours. Come get a head start on
Christmas Shopping!
Start Date: 2009-11-20
End Date: 2009-11-21

You are invited to support the 2009 Christmas Project for needy children and deserving senior citizens of Cleburne County who may be forgotten during the Holidays.  This project is once again sponsored by Cleburne County Cares, Inc., which is an all volunteer, non-profit organization.  Children age birth to 12 years  receive new clothes, toys, books, and Christmas treats.  This year we expect to have 350-375 children and at least 30-35 forgotten indigent elderly persons in the program.

Cleburne County Cares, Inc. office is located at 2016 Highway 25-B North, Heber Springs, AR and our offices are open from 9:00 until 3:00 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  This year Sugar Maple Inn and Collec-Tiques Mall in Greers Ferry, AR will also be accepting your new, unwrapped presents for children and financial donations at their location, 8546 Edgemont Road, Greers Ferry, AR.  Please make checks payable to CCC, Inc.  Collec-Tiques Mall is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00a.m. until 5:00p.m. and the office of Sugar Maple Inn is open from 9:00a.m.  until 10:00p.m. daily.  We hope this additional location and the extended hours will assist all who care to participate.

Mrs. Lorrie Lindeman, Executive Director, Cleburne County Cares, will be joining in the festivities of an Open House at Collec-Tiques Mall on November 14th.   She will be available during the hours of 11:00a.m. until 3:00p.m. to personally meet and answer any questions regarding Cleburne County Cares and all the services provided to needy residents all year in various ways such as providing free clothing, food, medical needs, helping with rent/mortgage, utilities, transportation, child care, etc.