Holiday Happenings in the River Valley

You can enjoy the magic of the holidays in the Arkansas River Valley with events such as Winter Wonderland in Russellville on Dec. 19-24 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Pleasant View Park. View a drive-through light display for a $5 donation and show off your moves on the ice skating rink at the cost of $5 for adults and $3 for kids. Also enjoy hot chocolate, hay rides, live nativity, and a petting zoo. Take Exit 81 and head north for one mile on Ark. 7 to reach the park.

The 2012 Dardanelle Christmas Parade will be held Friday, Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “Tales of Christmas.”  For more information call 479-229-3328.

Russellville holds its Downtown Art Walk & Holiday Open House from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 7. Begin with a stop at the Russellville Depot at 320 W. C St. to pick up a program listing host locations and participating artists.

Enjoy a night of music and dance at “Tis the Season!” The Center for the Arts in Russellville offers this performance at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8. Tickets are available at any Russellville Arvest location or by calling 479-968-6888. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children.

Other seasonal performances include the Singing Men of Arkansas performing “Home for Christmas” at 7:30 p.m. at the Van Buren Performing Arts Center. Edens Edge “Coming Home” performance is Dec. 21 at The Center for the Arts. It’s an evening of holiday classics and the group’s new hits.

The students in Arkansas Tech University’s Music Theatre Workshop, directed by Holly Gale and Ken Futterer, are performing their Fall Dinner Cabaret on Monday, December 10 in Sutherland Hall at All Saints Episcopal Church, 501 South Phoenix Street, Russellville. Seating begins at 7:00 with dinner soon there after. Tickets are only $25 per person and can be obtained by calling 479.968.2452 or e-mail.

Bring the whole family to the Lake Dardanelle State Park in Russellville for the one-day event, Winter at the Park. There will be interpretive programs, crafts, and other activities that help you focus on and appreciate nature in the winter season. Activities will take place all day, and will end with the ceremonial trimming of the Master Naturalists’ bird feeding tree. Call 479-967-5516 or email [email protected]  for details.