All events listed in 8 Days a Week are open to the public. To submit a listing, send to Fayetteville Free Weekly, P.O. Box 1607, Fayetteville, AR 72702, or to sporter@nwaonline.com, at least two weeks prior to the event. Submissions are printed as space allows. Photographs and art are also considered.

Holiday Happenings

HOLIDAY EXPRESS PJ TRAIN WITH SANTA: 5 p.m. today, 6 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 17 from the Arkansas and Missouri Train Station in Springdale. $15-$30. arkansasmissouri-rr.com or 751-8600.

“TWAS THE NIGHT”: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 17-19, Dec. 22-23 and Dec. 26, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 19-20 and Dec. 26-27 at TheatreSquared at Nadine Baum Studios in Fayetteville. Holiday comedy by local playwright Robert Ford. $10-$22. theatresquared.org or 445-6333.

“IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE”: 7 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Rogers Little Theater. $9.50-$42. RogersLittleTheater.org or 631-8988.

HUNTSVILLE COMMUNITY ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Assembly of God Church on Arkansas 74 West in Huntsville. 456-2650.

SANTA IN THE PARK: 5-7 p.m. Friday and Dec. 18, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 19 at Centennial Park in Rogers. Photo-op with St. Nick in a special Santa House. mainstreetrogers.com.

HEARTWOOD GALLERY HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: 5-9 p.m. Friday at 428 S. Government St. in Fayetteville. Music by 3 Penny Acre. 444-0888

“A DUPONT WHITE TRASH CHRISTMAS”: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the UArk Ballroom, 644 W. Dickson St. in Fayetteville. Pearl and the gang are back again in this local favorite. $12. ceramiccowproductions.org or 571-4879.

CLAUDIA BURSON TRIO HOLIDAY JAZZ CONCERT: 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Fayetteville. $25. fayettevilleunitarian.org or 521-8422.

WINTERFEST: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday in the Rogers Historic District. Santa in the park, Elf House Gift Store, WinterFest Bazaar with baked goods and crafts, performances on the Frisco Stage, Christmas train and carriage rides. Holiday Open House 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Poor Richard’s Art. mainstreetrogers.com or 936-5487.

SWEET TREATS COOKIE TOUR: 1-6 p.m. Saturday at 12 Bed and Breakfast establishments in Eureka Springs. $20. allianceofbetterbandbs.com.

ARKANSAS WINDS A HOLIDAY CONCERT: 3 p.m. Saturday at the Arts Center of the Ozarks in Springdale. Free. arkansaswinds.org or 751-5441.

HOLIDAY GALLERY STROLL: 6-9 p.m. Saturday in Eureka Springs. 253-7679.

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AND ARTIST’S RECEPTION: 6-10 p.m. Saturday at Be Salon, 118 Spring St. in Fayetteville. Ceramic art, paintings and other works by Erin Usher Blanton. 443-7707.

HOLIDAY IN MUSIC CONCERT: 3 p.m. Sunday at the Arts Center of the Ozarks in Springdale. Youth Choir and Chorale. $8-$12. artscenteroftheozarks.org or 751-5441.

OZARK BRONZE HANDBELL ENSEMBLE: 3 p.m. Sunday at the Fayetteville Public Library. Free. faylib.org or 856-7250.

SINFONIA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA OF KRAKOW: 8 p.m. Sunday at the University of Arkansas Fine Arts Concert Hall. Conducted by Steven Byess. Free. music.uark.edu or 575-4701.

THE CHRISTMAS MUSIC OF MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER BY CHIP DAVIS: 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. $45-50-$75.50. waltonartscenter.org or 443-5600.

HARMONIA WINTER CONCERT: 7 p.m. Wednesday at Teatro Scarpino, 329 N. West Ave. in Fayetteville. Donations collected for Women for Women International, empowering women survivors of war to build new lives. scarpino.com or 409-3772.

EUREKA HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS CONCERT: 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at The AUD in Eureka Springs. With local musicians. Admission by donation. 253-2586.

BRIAN KINDER CHRISTMAS SHOW: 10:30 a.m. Dec. 19 at the Fayetteville Public Library. Free. faylib.org or 856-7170.

STILL ON THE HILL WINTER CONCERT: 8 p.m. Dec. 19 at GoodFolk, 229 N. Block St. in Fayetteville. Reservations required. $15. goodfolk.org or 521-1812.

HOLIDAY MOVIE MARATHON: 2 p.m. Dec. 28-30 at the Fayetteville Public Library. Free. faylib.org or 856-7250.

FIRST NIGHT FAYETTEVILLE “Dancing into the Decade”: 6 p.m.-midnight Dec. 31 at the Northwest Arkansas Mall. Music, theatre, dance, visual arts, puppetry, storytelling, magic and more. Free-$10. firstnightfayetteville.org.

HOLIDAY ART MARKET: At White Lotus Salon, 4750 E. Mission Blvd. in Fayetteville. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays in December. Art from cards to jewelry, paintings, photography and more by 24 local artists. 582-4806.

Special Events

BEAR TO ROCK: Saturday at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville. A Teddy Bear Run benefit. Bring a teddy bear for police and emergency personnel to give to kids in distressed situations. Calling Tokyo, Fade to Fall, Well, Well, Well, Anomaly, After the Scars, Affectus. $6. georgesmajesticlounge.com or 442-4226.

TOP CHEFS AND ROCK STARS: 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Fayetteville Town Center. Food from local restaurants, cash bar, silent auction. Private performances of local bands auctioned. Music by T.J. Scarlett. Benefits Peace at Home Family Shelter. $50-$500. peaceathomeshelter.org.

Stage and Screen

THE RAT PACK IS BACK: 7 p.m. today and Sunday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. $30.50-$48.50. waltonartscenter.org or 443-5600.

HOTEL CASSIOPEIA: A play about the life of artist Joseph Cornell. At 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at White Auditorium at NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville. $7 at the door, $5 for students, $1 discount with canned food item.

FRONT ROW: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday on Jones TV, Cox channel 22. With Adele & the Matts. myspace.com/frontrownwa.

DINNER AND A MOVIE: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at the UARK Ballroom, 644 W. Dickson St. in Fayetteville. $25-$45. uarkballroom.com or 582-0400.

Words

MITCHELL GOLD: Co-editor of the book “Crisis: 40 Storis Revealing the Personal, Social and Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing Up Gay in America” will speak at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Fayetteville Public Library. Free. faylib.org or 856-7170.

DON HOUSE: Reception for the photographer and writer at 7 p.m. Monday at the Elkins Public Library. donhousephotoworks.com or 643-2904.

Music

JAZZ CONCERT: 7 p.m. today in the Music Recital Hall, Burns Hall, NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville. With students of Ben Harris. Free. 619-4261.

NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE CIRCLE: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Fire Om Earth, 874 Mill Hollow Road in Eureka Springs. Second Saturday each month. Donation. fireomearth.com or 253-8679.

NWA SACRED HARP SINGERS: 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Shiloh Museum. springdaleark.org/shiloh or 750-8165.

ARSAGA’S SONGWRITER’S CIRCLE: 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at Arsaga’s on Crossover Road in Fayetteville. arsagas.com or 527-0690.

Outdoors

OVERNIGHT HIKE: Saturday and Sunday from Fane Creek to Spirits Creek. About 15-miles. Registration required. ozarkhighlandtrail.com or 432-8952.

DAYHIKE: 9 a.m. Sunday from Veteran’s Park at Lake Fayetteville. Easy 5-mile hike. ozarkhighlandtrail.com or 466-7569.

Minor Matters

GINGERBREAD DECORATING WORKSHOP: 4 p.m. today at the Fayetteville Public Library. BYO candy for decorations. Free; registration required. faylib.org or 856-7170.

HANUKKAH CELEBRATION: 10 a.m. Saturday at the Fayetteville Public Library. With Temple Shalom. Free; registration required. faylib.org or 856-7170.

Seniors

CHRISTMAS DANCE: 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Fayetteville Senior Activity and Wellness Center, 945 S. College Ave. in Fayetteville. With DJ Ron. $5. 571-2920.

LATE BLOOMER BAND: Monday at the Fayetteville Senior Activity and Wellness Center. Free. 571-2920.

CHRISTMAS PARTY: 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Fayetteville Senior Activity and Wellness Center, 945 S. College Ave. in Fayetteville. Continental breakfast at 9:30 a.m. 571-2920.

SENIOR DEMOCRATS: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Western Sizzlin’ Steakhouse in Springdale. 750-7700.

Auditions & Call For Entries

“LAURA” AUDITIONS: 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Arts Center of the Ozarks, 214 S. Main St. in Springdale. artscenteroftheozarks.org or 751-5441.

“BIG RIVER THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN” AUDITIONS: 7 p.m. Jan. 4-5 at the Rogers Little Theater. RogersLittleTheater.org or 631-8988.

“WINNIE THE POOH” AUDITIONS: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25-26 at the Arts Center of the Ozarks, 214 S. Main St. in Springdale. artscenteroftheozarks.org or 751-5441.

“THE MIRACLE WORKER” AUDITIONS: 7 p.m. Feb. 15-16 at the Rogers Little Theater. RogersLittleTheater.org or 631-8988.

SPRING BREAK MUSICAL THEATER CAMP AUDITIONS: 7 p.m. Feb. 22-23 at the Rogers Little Theater. Camp is March 22-26. RogersLittleTheater.org or 631-8988.

“FOOLS” AUDITIONS: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22-23 at the Arts Center of the Ozarks, 214 S. Main St. in Springdale. artscenteroftheozarks.org or 751-5441.

FAYETTEVILLE MARDI GRAS MARCHING BAND: Looking for musicians to be part of the 2010 Mardi Gras marching band. E-mail dementedkrewe@yahoo.com.