| Chili Cook-off and Downtown Lighting Ceremony. Benefit for downtown lighting display with all-you-can-eat chili. Exchange Street parking plaza, 1 p.m., $3. Downtown Hot Springs. 501-624-3370.
Thanksgiving on the River. Family dinner cruises along the Arkansas River with all the trimmings on a two-hour ride with live music. Arkansas Queen Riverboat, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., $27.09 children, $43.59 adults. 100 Riverfront Park Drive, NLR. Reservations 372-5777.
Annual Winter Wonderland Arts and Crafts Festival. More than 250 vendors display a huge variety of handcrafted items. Hot Springs Convention Center, 8 a.m. 134 Convention Blvd., Hot Springs. 501-262-3651.
Fall Hayride & Campfire. Pinnacle Mountain Visitor Center, 2 p.m., 10 p.m., $5-$10, limited space. 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road.
868-5806.
ArtBlast 2009. Benefit for non-profit organizations with hands-on art festival for ages 4-18 with more than 18,000 square feet of activities including painting, drawing, drum-making, documentary filmmaking, poster contests, music activities, a treasure hunt and more. Hot Springs Convention Center, $5. 134 Convention Blvd., Hot Springs. 501-321-2027.
Duck Gumbo Cook-Off. Cook-off caravan from Little Rock to Stugggart. Big Whiskey's, 11 a.m. departure, $45 adv., $75 d.o.s., includes transportation to and from, 21 and up. Markham & Cumberland. Reservations info@littlerockin.com">info@littlerockin.com.
Parents Without Partners Dance Social. Weekly dance for single parents following social hour and brief instruction, visitors and children welcome. PWP building, 7 p.m. social, 8 p.m. dance, $5-$6, all ages, BYOB. 4521 W. 65th St. 568-4476.
Celebration of Living Gifts. Meet and interact with some of the animals given over the world to other nations including sheep, chickens and a goat, with arts and crafts, photo shots and more. Heifer International, 10 a.m., free. 1 World Ave. 501-2697, http://www.heifer.org/heifervillage">www.heifer.org/heifervillage.
Arkansas Queen Ho Ho Ho Cruise. A special cruise with Santa Claus and his elves, with sandwiches, drinks and snacks. Arkansas Queen Riverboat, 10 a.m., 2 p.m. $9.90 ages 3-12, $17.05 adults. 100 Riverfront Park Drive, NLR. 372-5777.
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. With performances by Ballet Arkansas, Arkansas Chamber Singers, Chenal Elementary School fifth graders, with Santa, train and carriage rides, caroling, kids activities. The Promenade at Chenal, 3 p.m., free. 17711 Chenal Parkway. 821-5552, http://www.chenalshopping.com">www.chenalshopping.com.
Christmas Music Cruise. Enjoy cruising the Arkansas River to the sounds of traditional Christmas and holiday music. Arkansas Queen Riverboat, 6:30 p.m. boarding, 7 p.m. departure. 100 Riverfront Park Drive, NLR. 372-5777.
Storybook Holidays at the Peabody Little Rock. Santa Claus serves as honorary duck master to escort the world famous Peabody ducks from their palace to their water wonderland, hear legend of the ducks, enjoy tree-lighting ceremony. Peabody Little Rock, 10:45 a.m., free. Markham & Main. 399-8059.
Keep the Hearts Beating. Benefit for Arkansas AIDS Foundation. Pulse at Off Center, 8 p.m. 307 W. 7th. www.pulseatoffcenter.com">www.pulseatoffcenter.com
Tie One On. Benefit for Our House with auctions of donations by local artists, celebs and vendors, with entertainment, food, drinks and auctioneer Craig O'Neill. Clinton Center, 6:30 p.m., $50. 1200 Clinton Ave. 374-7383 ext. 202, amanda.hughes2@axciom.com">amanda.hughes2@axciom.com, http://www.ourhouseshelter.org">www.ourhouseshelter.org.
Sugar Plum Ball. CARTI Auxiliary Festival of Trees mini-gala, this daddy-daughter date night event features a silent auction, dancing, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts. Statehouse Convention Center Ballroom, $35. 660-7634, http://www.carti.com">www.carti.com.
Knitting For Noggins. Annual event for organization that knits and collects hats for their patients and their families, with Susan B. Anderson, author of knitting book "Itty Bitty Toys," on hand to demonstrate and discuss. Children's Hospital Cress Board Room, 2 p.m., free. 1 Children's Way. 501-364-1825.
Holiday Dinner and Handmade Pottery Sale. ROOT Cafe host local foods community dinner with presentations by four Arkansas potters. Christ Episcopal Church, 6:30 p.m., $5-$12. 6th and Scott. RSVP therootcafe@yahoo.com">therootcafe@yahoo.com.
“Sandwiching in History.” Tour series targeting historical Pulaski County structures and sites. Reutlinger House, noon, free, bring lunch. 2005 S. Spring St. 324-9880, http://click.aristotle.net/click.aspx?lid=300~xz1VgU">www.arkansaspreservation.org/.
Christmas Showcase. Arkansas Craft Guild's 31st annual holiday shopping event. Statehouse Convention Center, 10 a.m. Markham & Scott. 870-269-4120, http://www.arkansascraftguild.org">www.arkansascraftguild.org.
Big Jingle Jubilee Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony. Annual parade through downtown Little Rock, followed by mini-show by Top of the Rock Chorus. Downtown to State Capitol Rotunda, 3:30 p.m. parade, 5 p.m. ceremony. Capitol and Woodlane
835-3399.
Annual Christmas and Candlelight. Southwest Arkansas’s premiere Christmas event showcases Historic Washington with 19th century lights, decorations, luminaries, music and more. Downtown Washington, 1p.m.-8p.m., $5-$10.
870-983-2684, HistoricWashington@arkansas.com">HistoricWashington@arkansas.com.
Family Pet Photos With Santa. CARE for Animals fund-raiser with 5x7 shots, packages and holiday cards. Cammack Village City Hall, 10 a.m. Sat., noon Sun., $15 per shot. 2710 N. McKinley. 603-2273, http://www.careforanimals.org/">www.careforanimals.org.
Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers Annual Holiday Brunch and Auction. Trapnall Hall, 10 a.m., $25. 423 E. Capitol. Reservations http://www.arwomenlawyers.org">www.arwomenlawyers.org.
Camp David's Bartenders Bash. Drive for Toys For Tots with food, drinks, prizes, elf/reindeer costume prize, toy donations. Camp David (Holiday Inn Presidential Suites), 3 p.m.-1 a.m. 600 I-30. 975-2267, 326-2072.
Fifth Annual Jewish Guys' Chanukah Special. Celebrate music, stories and schtick with Phil Kaplan and Leslie Singer, presented by KUAR. Clinton Center, 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. show, $4.99. 1200 Clinton Ave. Reservations 569-8485, tickets@kuar.org">tickets@kuar.org.
Great Escapes Silent Auction. Featuring art created by zoo animals benefiting the Little Rock Chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers. Boswell Mourot Gallery, 6 p.m. 5815 Kavanaugh. 541-2419.
Christmas In The Wild. Meet Santa and enjoy milk and cookies, arts and crafts and join him as he presents gifts to the animals. Little Rock Zoo, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., $10-$15. Reservations required. 1 Jonesboro Drive. 661-7203.
Christmas In The Wild. Meet Santa and enjoy milk and cookies, arts and crafts and join him as he presents gifts to the animals. Little Rock Zoo, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., $10-$15. Reservations required. 1 Jonesboro Drive. 661-7203.
Zoo Year's Eve. Annual blast at zoo with food, unlimited beverages, music by Shannon Boshears Band to benefit Arkansas Zoological Foundation. LR Zoo Cafe Africa, 8 p.m., $75 adv., $100 at door, cocktail attire. 1 Jonesboro Drive. Reservations 661-7208, saltrui@littlerock.org">saltrui@littlerock.org
Searcy Walks Through History. AHPP historians each month provide free guided walking tours of historic structures and districts across Arkansas. Historic Smyrna Church and Cemetery, 11 a.m., free. Hwy. 36, Searcy. 324-9880, http://click.aristotle.net/click.aspx?lid=300~xz1VgU">www.arkansaspreservation.org/.
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