Displays light up the night as Santa settles in for season
LARA JO HIGHTOWER
lhightower@nwadg.com
From pictures with Santa Claus to dazzling light displays, Northwest Arkansas has more to offer during the holiday season than you can shake a reindeer tail at!
Ongoing Events
Take a Selfie with Santa
File Photo/DAVID GOTTSCHALK
Santa Claus and Alexa Graham make eye contact before a formal portrait together last Christmas at the Northwest Arkansas Mall in Fayetteville.
Santa at the Northwest Arkansas Mall
WHEN — Through Dec. 24 at various times during the week; pet pictures with Santa, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 4 and 11
WHERE — 4201 N. Shiloh Drive, Fayetteville
COST — Varies, depending on photo package
INFO — 521-6152
Santa at Pinnacle Hills Promenade
WHEN — Through Dec. 24 at various times during the week
WHERE — 2203 Promenade Drive, Rogers
COST — Varies, depending on photo package
INFO — 936-2160
Santa at the Walmart Museum
WHEN — 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 6 & 10; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 22
WHERE — 105 N. Main St., Bentonville
COST — Free
INFO — 273-1329
Santa’s Wonderland
WHEN — Through Dec. 24
WHERE — Bass Pro Shops, 2300 Promenade Blvd., Rogers
COST — Free
INFO — BassPro.com/Santa
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Light Displays
Lights of the Ozarks
WHEN — 5 p.m.-1 a.m. through Jan. 1
WHERE — Downtown Fayetteville square
COST — Free
INFO — 521-5776
File Photo/J.T. WAMPLER
Carlin and Kim Stewart of Fayetteville pose amid a previous edition of their family’s holiday light display. This year, the Stewart family has added a new pathway from the parking lot to the main event, which features 1.5 million lights and dozens of inflatables. The display is open 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. through Jan. 1 at 4423 E Wyman in Fayetteville. Parking is $5; train rides, $2.
The Stewart Family Christmas Light Display
The Stewart family has added a new pathway from the parking lot to the main event, which features 1.5 million lights and dozens of inflatables.
WHEN — 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. through Jan. 1
WHERE — 4423 E Wyman, Fayetteville
COST — Parking $5; train rides $2
INFO — facebook.com/pg/StewartFamilyLights
Bentonville Square
WHEN — Through Jan. 1
WHERE — Downtown square
COST — Free
INFO — 439-8500
Great Passion Play Lights Drive-Through
A forest of over 300 Christmas trees will greet you on your way to the Christ of the Ozarks.
WHEN — Dark through 8 p.m. Nov. 27-Dec. 25
WHERE — 935 Passion Play Road, Eureka Springs
COST — Free with donation
INFO — 253-9200
UAFS Lighting Ceremony
WHEN — Through Dec. 31
WHERE — Campus Green on UAFS campus, 5210 Grand Ave., Fort Smith
COST — Free
INFO — 788-7025
Christmas Parade of Lights
WHEN — Through Dec. 31
WHERE — Downtown Eureka Springs
COST — Free
INFO — 800-6Eureka
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Other Events
‘Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley’
As the family gathers at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy to celebrate Christmas, Mary — the bookish middle child of the Bennets — finally has her day. Set two years after the events of “Pride and Prejudice,” this winning sequel with period style and modern wit is sure to delight Jane Austen fans and newcomers alike.
WHEN — Through Dec. 30
WHERE — TheatreSquared, 505 W. Spring St., Fayetteville
COST — $17.50-$50
INFO — theatre2.org or 443-5600
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
The classic animated television special comes to life in this musical stage adaptation.
WHEN — 7 p.m. Nov. 29-Dec. 1; 3 p.m. Dec. 2
WHERE — Arts Center of the Ozarks, 214 S. Main St., Springdale
COST — $10-$15
INFO — 751-5441
Holly Jolly Junk Ranch
Come shop the fields under the twinkling lights, sign up for workshops, enjoy festive photo-ops and eat from delicious food trucks. Vendors will be bringing vintage Christmas goods, seasonal handmade items, jewelry, boutique and much more.
WHEN — 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 30; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 1
WHERE — 11195 Centerpoint Church Road, Prairie Grove
COST — $5-$10
INFO — www.thejunkranch.com
The Little Craft Show
The LCS takes over the Fayetteville Town Center with 100 makers and artists, handcrafted food and drink.
WHEN — 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Nov. 30; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 1
WHERE — Fayetteville Town Center, 15 W. Mountain, Fayetteville
COST — Free
INFO — www.thelittlecraftshow.com
Children’s Day
Children will participate in a Build a Pal workshop and may choose a stuffed animal to make, decorate a cookie, paint an ornament, enjoy hot chocolate and write a letter to Santa to be mailed in a special North Pole only mailbox. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for photos.
WHEN — 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 1
WHERE — Fort Smith Museum of History, 320 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith
COST — $40
INFO — 783-7841
Breakfast With Santa
What better way to ignite the holiday spirit than a morning of food, fun and photos with Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Elves? A hearty breakfast will be served, kids will decorate gingerbread cookies, make reindeer food and create Christmas ornaments. Each child will get their picture taken with Santa.
WHEN — 8:30 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 10 a.m. Dec. 1
WHERE — Arts Center of the Ozarks, 214 S. Main St., Springdale
COST — $10-$15 plus fees
INFO — 751-5441
Children’s Christmas Train Ride
Enjoy fun and festivities aboard the Children’s Christmas Train. Come early and join the winter wonderland of games and activities.
WHEN — 1 p.m. Dec. 1
WHERE — 306 E. Emma Ave., Springdale
COST — $10-$20
INFO — 725-4017
NWA Conservatory of Classical Ballet’s The Nutcracker
WHEN — 7 p.m. Dec. 1, 2 p.m. Dec. 2
WHERE — Arend Arts Center, 1901 SE J St., Bentonville
COST — $20-$25
INFO — 888-310-0146
Holiday Market and John Two-Hawks Concert
WHEN — 2-6 p.m. Holiday Market, 7 p.m. John Two-Hawks Holiday Concert, Dec. 1
WHERE — The Auditorium, 36 S. Main St., Eureka Springs
COST — $15-$55
INFO — johntwohawks.com
Winter Dreams Tour of Homes
This 20th annual event, sponsored by the Junior League of Northwest Arkansas, will give ticket holders the opportunity to see six stately homes in Washington and Benton counties.
WHEN — 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 2
WHERE — Various locations in Benton and Washington Counties
COST — $20-$100
INFO — juniorleaguenwa.org/winterdreams
Festival of Lessons and Carols
WHEN — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4
WHERE — St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, 1416 W. Poplar St., Rogers
COST — Free, love offering collected to benefit the NWA Children’s Shelter
INFO — 855-0277
Silver Tea
The Crystal Dining Room at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs will be turned into a Winter Wonderland by the St. James Episcopal Church members for the Silver Tea. Proceeds will benefit “A Cup of Love.”
WHEN — 1:30 p.m. Dec. 6
WHERE — Crystal Dining Room, Crescent Hotel, 75 Prospect, Eureka Springs
COST — By donation
INFO — 253-5610
A Child’s Christmas in Wales
Presented by the UA Schola Cantorum
WHEN — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6
WHERE — Faulkner Performing Arts Center, 453 Garland Ave., Fayetteville
COST — $5-$10
INFO — faulkner.uark.edu
Wackiest Tackiest Christmas
WHEN — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6-8
WHERE — Fort Smith Little Theatre, 401 N. 6th St., Fort Smith
COST — $5
INFO — fslt.org
Wampus Wonderland
WHEN — 6-9 p.m.Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 8
WHERE — Hilton Garden Inn, 1325 N. Palak Dr., Fayetteville
COST — Free
INFO — gocattywampus.com
The Rogers Christmas Parade
WHEN — 7 p.m. Dec. 7
WHERE — 2001 S. First St., Rogers
COST — Free
INFO — 936-5487
NWA Holiday Geek Market
A market for nerdy and unique gifts
WHEN — 12-7 p.m. Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 8, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 9
WHERE — Washington County Fairgrounds, 2537 N. McConnell Ave., Fayetteville
COST — Free
INFO — nwageekmarket.weebly.com
‘Tis the Season
With ACO Chorale
Join the ACO Chorale for a concert celebrating the holiday season through festive song.
WHEN — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8
WHERE — Arts Center of the Ozarks, 214 S. Main St., Springdale
COST — $5-$10 plus fees
INFO — 751-5441
Bentonville Christmas Parade
WHEN — 10 a.m. Dec. 8
WHERE — Starts at the fire station, to Main to the Square, turns left on 2nd St. and ends at the corner near The Preacher’s Son
COST — Free
INFO — 439-8500
Handel’s Christmas Messiah Singalong
No rehearsals for this impromptu gathering of community voices.
WHEN — 3 p.m. Dec. 9
WHERE — Bella Vista Community Church, 5 E. Lancashire Blvd., Bella Vista
COST — Free
INFO — 876-7204
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
There’s no better way to continue the holiday spirit than to see this classic come to life on stage in a radio-on-stage adaptation.
WHEN — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13-15
WHERE — Arts Center of the Ozarks, 214 S. Main St., Springdale
COST — $5-$10 plus fees
INFO — 751-5441
From Christmas to the Cross
Live Walk-Through Nativity
WHEN — 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 14; 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 15
WHERE — Ozark Adventist Academy Campus, 20997 Dawn Hill East Road, Gentry
COST — Donation of nonperishable food items
INFO — 736-221 or euglena1370@yahoo.com
A Very SoNA Christmas
A collection of favorite sacred and secular music celebrating the magic and beauty of Christmas. Featuring the SoNA Singers, regional high school choirs, and special guest soloists.
WHEN — 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15
WHERE — Walton Arts Center, 495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville
COST — $32-$55
INFO — 443-5600
Christmas with the APO
This year the orchestra will be performing the jazzy Duke Ellington “Nutcracker” with its own big band on stage with the orchestra, both under the direction of Maestro Steven Byess. Don’t miss a special reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” with the APO in the background, and the ever popular sing-along with the orchestra will also be on the program.
WHEN — 7 p.m. Dec. 15, 3 p.m. Dec. 16
WHERE — Arend Arts Center, 1901 SE J St., Bentonville
COST — $5-$35
INFO — 841-4644
Winter Wonderland NWA
The Winter Wonderland will provide your family with a fun shopping experience just in time for Christmas.
WHEN — 10 a.m. Dec. 15-16
WHERE — Bentonville County Fairgrounds, 7640 SW Regional Airport Blvd, Bentonville
COST — Free
INFO — 616-2997
The Snowman: A Family Concert
The family-favorite holiday tradition returns in the fourth annual screening of the 1982 Academy Award-nominated film “The Snowman,” based on Raymond Briggs’ classic children’s book of the same name.
WHEN — 2 p.m. Dec. 16
WHERE — Walton Arts Center, 495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville
COST — $10
INFO — 443-5600
‘The Polar Express’
Put on your PJs and join the WAC for a special screening of the family-favorite Christmas story.
WHEN — 7 p.m. Dec. 21
WHERE — Walton Arts Center, 495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville
COST — $10
INFO — 443-5600
Send holiday events to lhightower@nwadg.com. A list will run every Sunday until Christmas.
