Tag Archives: Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau

Jazz in the Park returns Wednesday evenings in April in Riverfront Park

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jazzinparkJazz in the Park kicks off its third year in April.  It comes back better than ever through a new partnership with Art Porter Music Education!

Art Porter Music Education, Inc. (APME) continues its mission of keeping the musical legacies of local jazz statesman Art Porter, Sr. and his son, renowned saxophonist Art Porter, Jr. alive with community enrichment opportunities, volunteerism, and the awarding of scholarships. Through music, APME works to enhance education by helping students improve reading, language and mathematical skills. The partnership with the River Market to support Jazz in the Park, a free, family-friendly event featuring jazz in downtown Little Rock, is a natural fit for both organizations.

The concerts will be every Wednesday in April from 6pm to 8pm in the History Pavilion in Riverfront Park.

This year’s lineup features:

  • April 1 – Rodney Block & The Real Music Lovers
  • April 8 – Jazz R Us
  • April 15 – New Era Jazz Project
  • April 22 – Stellar Way
  • April 29 – John Burnette Band

The closest entry point to the History Pavilion is Ottenheimer Drive off of President Clinton Avenue.

In case of rain, the River Market West Pavilion will be the alternate location for the event.

The event is completely free, but no coolers are allowed. Beer, wine, soft drinks and water will be available for sale, with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit Art Porter Music Education, Inc.’s scholarship fund.  Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome, and there is some seating in the natural stone amphitheater at the History Pavilion.

This event is sponsored by Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau and the River Market.

For more information about Art Porter Music Education, visit www.artporter.org.

Final HOLIDAYS IN THE PARK tonight

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HolidaysInThePark2014Logo_tstFirst Security Amphitheater in Downtown Little Rock has been transformed into a winter wonderland of lights this holiday season. You can enjoy a ten minute light show choreographed to music throughout the holiday season.

Over 50,000 lights make up the show.  The display also features the tallest real decorated tree in Arkansas.

Tonight, from 5pm to 10pm, is the final chance to see the Holidays in the Park lights display.

Photo Vulture – Robinson Center Construction

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On the shortest day of 2014, sunlight streaming through the construction at Joseph Taylor Robinson Memorial Auditorium aka Robinson Center Music Hall.

Sunlight December 21 2014

Big Jingle Jubilee Holiday Parade this afternoon

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santa big jubilieeFloats! Marching Bands! Santa Claus! and Miss Arkansas! What more could you want?

The Annual Big Jingle Jubilee Holiday Parade, sponsored by the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau (LRCVB), will return to Little Rock Saturday, December 6, 2014. Serving as this year’s Grand Marshal is Miss Arkansas 2014, Ashton Campbell. She is a 20-year old junior at the University of Arkansas, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resource Management. In the recent Miss America Pageant, Campbell represented Arkansas very well finishing as 2nd Runner Up to Miss America and took home a $20,000 scholarship. Campbell’s platform is “Aim Higher: Setting our Sights on Higher Education”. This aims to help students across Arkansas take the next steps in furthering their education. It’s Ashton’s personal goal to speak to 75,000 students in Arkansas during her reign and help create a stronger Arkansas through Higher Education.

Beginning at Second and Broadway, the Holiday parade will start at 3:00 p.m. and travel south on Broadway, turn west onto Capitol Avenue and end at the State Capitol. The lighting and fireworks display will follow at dark or approximately 6 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

Campbell will join Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudy the Reindeer and many of their friends for this year’s highly anticipated holiday parade. Bring your camera and kids to watch decorated floats, marching bands, dancing troops and more make their way through the streets of downtown Little Rock.

School marching bands and non-profit community organizations will again have the opportunity to win cash prizes as part of the parade’s float competition. The band cash prizes will be $1,000 and $500 for first and second places and $1,000, $750 and $500 for the top three winners among non-profit entries. Local guest judges will evaluate the competition and will be positioned along the parade route at an official judge’s stand. Winners of the float and marching band competition will be posted on http://www.HolidaysinLittleRock.com after the conclusion of the parade.

“Miss Arkansas Ashton Campbell is a wonderful ambassador to our state, and we are very excited that she’ll be joining us in this year’s holiday parade” said Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau President & CEO Gretchen Hall. “We look forward to Little Rock citizens and visitors alike enjoying the upcoming Big Jingle Jubilee event. We encourage everyone to come and participate in this fun family-friendly celebration and experience our community holiday spirit during this memorable event.”

Holidays in the Park kicks off today in Riverfront Park

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HolidaysInThePark2014Logo_tstFirst Security Amphitheater in Downtown Little Rock will be transformed into a winter wonderland of lights this holiday season. You can enjoy a ten minute light show choreographed to music throughout the holiday season.  Over 50,000 lights make up the show.  The display also features the tallest real decorated tree in Arkansas.

Festivities kick off today.  From 3pm until 5pm, there will be a meet & greet with Santa Claus. Come to the River Market Pavilions and enjoy holiday cookies, beverages, crafts, games and much more!
At 5pm today the lights will be turned on in a special ceremony.  The lights will stay on until 10pm.
The Holidays in the Park lighting display will run through January 3.

The Economic Impact of the Clinton Center focus of noontime discussion

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cfiles16593The past ten years have witnessed incredible growth in Little Rock.  This is a panel discussion to highlight the tremendous influence the Center has had on Central Arkansas.

Panelists will include Gretchen Hall, CEO of the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau; Dr. Sadie Mitchell, Little Rock School District Associate Superintendent for Elementary Schools; Bruce Moore, Little Rock City Manager; Grant Tennille, Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission; and Van Tilbury, 2015 Chairman of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. Panelists will discuss both the economic and social impact of the Center, as well as how it continues to thrive as a vibrant educational and cultural venue for visitors of all ages. The panel will be moderated by David Goins of Fox16.

This program is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please RSVP to LRevent@clintonfoundation.org.

It will take place at noon today at the Clinton Presidential Center.

Arts in Park and on Stages with ACANSA today

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acansaThe ACANSA Arts Festival moves into the weekend with a full day of activities.

ARTISTS IN THE PARK
12:00pm to 6:00 pm
MacArthur Park
FREE

The Arkansas Arts Center will host a visual artist day at MacArthur Park from noon to 6:00 p.m.   This event is free and open to the public.  The first two hours are dedicated to children with a variety of art activities, and entertainment by Brian Kinder, a singer/ songwriter who performs rollicking goodtime concerts for kids.

Family entertainment by a variety of musical groups will begin at 2 p.m. Bands include the Clark Family Trio, the Greasy Greens, and SOULution.  Local food trucks will offer refreshments for purchase.

Artists will produce and sell art throughout the afternoon and will have the option to participate in a friendly Quick Draw Competition during the event.  Artists will be paired off to draw each other and the winner will receive a $500 prize!

The Quick Draw competition is open to anyone.  Know an artist who would like to participate?   Please have them contact Linda Newbern at lnewbern@ACANSAartsFestival.org.

Sponsored by: Arkansas Children’s Hospital, City of Little Rock & Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau

 

Acansa PuppetSUSPENDED ANIMATION
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Scottish Rite Masonic Temple
$20 to $50

In a cabaret presentation distinctly adult in its sophistication and artistry, internationally acclaimed marionette artist Phillip Huber is in full view of the audience as he controls incredibly compelling characters through a series of variety vignettes revealing humor, pathos, drama and grace.

Phillip Huber is most widely known for his work in the 3-time Academy Award nominated film “Being John Malkovich” and his work in the Disney film “Oz the Great and Powerful,” starring James Franco, Michelle Williams and Mila Kunis. Shimmering with nuance, sophistication and imagination, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to experience a world of sophisticated puppetry designed for entertaining discerning tastes.

 

Acansa DallasDALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
NLR High School East Campus Auditorium
$10 to $50

Dallas Black Dance Theatre celebrates its 36th season as the oldest, continuously operating professional dance company out of Dallas, Texas. The ensemble, a contemporary modern dance company, consists of 12 professional, full-time dancers performing a mixed repertory of modern jazz, ethnic and spiritual works by nationally and internationally known choreographers.

Sponsored by: Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, City of North Little Rock, North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation, North Little Rock Visitors Bureau

 

acansa Mike Disfarmer 3DISFARMER
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Argenta Community Theatre
$30

Don’t miss this production of Disfarmer, written by award-winning Arkansas playwright Werner Trieschmann and directed by Bob Hupp of The Rep.  Disfarmer is a comedic portrait which tells the story of Mike Disfarmer, an eccentric photographer from Heber Springs, Arkansas who charged townsfolk and visitors a quarter to have their picture taken in the early forties—and caused a minor speculative mania decades later as New York gallery owners “discovered” his work and descended on the small Arkansas town.

Nothing speaks louder about Mike Disfarmer than his photographs.  Before the play, stop by  Argenta Gallery at 413 Main Street to enjoy an exhibit of Disfarmer photographs. In 1974, Peter Miller purchased the collection of Disfarmer glass negatives from Joe Albright. The Disfarmer prints in this exhibit have been archivally printed from the original Disfarmer glass negatives

Sponsored by: Peter Miller

 

Acansa St PaulACANSA Late Night II – St. Paul and the Broken Bones
9:00 pm to 11:00 pm
South on Main
SOLD OUT

This Birmingham, Alabama based soul band harkens back to the region’s classic soul roots while extending the form with electrifying potency.  Lead singer, Paul Janeway, takes the soul revival to an equally outrageous place with a voice that hovers between sexy sweet and flat-out dirty.  The horn-fueled Broken Bones re-create one funky groove after another, sounding more like the truth than any band since the Seventies.

Sponsored by:  DOWNSTREAM Casino Resort with staff provided by Oxford American