SUNUP: Down by the riverside, on Easter.

Rev. Vic Nixon of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church will lead the 19th annual Community Easter Sunrise Service at Riverfront Park and the Riverfest Amphitheatre on Sunday beginning at 7 a.m.

Admission is a donation that will go to Women and Children First, a nonprofit that targets domestic violence. All denominations are invited.

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Nixon will offer a message of hope with the sermon “God Shows No Partiality.” State Rep. Ed Garner, Miss Arkansas Amber Bennett, student Katherine Green, and Virgil Miller, co-chair of the Central High Integration 50th Anniversary Commission, will read scripture.

Participating choirs from Pulaski Heights United Methodist, Philander Smith College, Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, Christway Missionary Baptist, Theressa Hoover United Methodist and Allison Presbyterian will participate.

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Call 664-3600 for more information, or visit www.communitysunriseservice.com.

Boxing in NLR

The Mid-South Golden Gloves, bringing together amateur boxers from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, West Tennessee and Memphis, will be held Thursday through Saturday at the North Heights Community Center in North Little Rock.

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Winners from the weekend will advance to the National Golden Gloves in Chattanooga April 30.

The community center is at 4801 Allen St. Call 225-7998 or 225-7185 for more information.

Magic Springs opens

Magic Springs Theme Park in Hot Springs opens for the season on Saturday, April 7, and will remain open on weekends until May 26 when it moves into its seven-day-a-week schedule.

Also, the park will hold two free Easter egg hunts for kids. Children 5 and under can hunt eggs at the Timberwood Amphitheater beginning at 2 p.m. Kids age 6 to 10 will search for eggs starting at 2:30. Both are free with admission to the park on Saturday.

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The theme park has undergone a $5 million expansion of its Crystal Falls water park, including what park officials say is the biggest waterslide complex in the state. Visitors on Saturday can get free Pepsi fountain products, free tubes and free sunscreen. A new section of the water park, covering 10,000 square feet, will be known as Crystal Lagoon, and will include three speed slides, four tube slides and a new play pool.

Magic Springs features the world’s tallest inversion roller coaster, called the X-Coaster, along with the Gauntlet looping coaster, the Plummet Summit supersoaker ride and dozens of other rides that for various age groups.

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Season passes are $49.99, which includes admission to all concerts. Children under 52 inches tall and seniors 55 years and older are admitted for $34.99. Children aged 2 and under are admitted at no charge. Call 501-624-0101 or visit www.magicsprings.com to order season passes, or visit any Summit Bank location.

The park has scheduled 16 concerts at the Timberwood Amphitheater, covering every genre from classic rock to country to Christian rock to R&B to blues rock to Latino. The shows begin with country star Jason Aldean playing June 2 at 8 p.m. Reserved seating is available for $5 per show.

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Magic Springs is at 1701 E. Grand Ave. (Hwy. 70) in Hot Springs. For more information, call 501-624-0100.

Foam Fest No. 10

More than 75 craft beers and wine from around the world will be available at Friday’s 10th annual Foam Fest, which benefits the Arthritis Foundation’s Arkansas chapter.

The event will run from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the River Market pavilions. Live entertainment will be provided by local bands.

Admission is $18 (advance) and $20 (at the door). Patrons must be 21 years old with a valid driver’s license. Group tickets are available at a discount.

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Call 664-7242 or 800-482-8858.

Pedaling for the Cup

Kids will be racing antique replica pedal cars from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday for the Pulaski County CASA Cup at the River Market east pavilion.

The event benefits Pulaski County Court Appointed Special Advocates. Tickets are $1, and children who race the cars must be less than 65 pounds. Tricycle races will be available for older children. Each racing heat will consist of three participants with a winner for each race.

For more information, call 340-6946 or 340-6741, or visit www.pulaskicountycasa.org.

Quick hits

Comedian Paul J. Williams will perform in a benefit for the Little Rock-based Helping People with AIDS (HPWA) on Friday, April 6, at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. Tickets are $25 per person or $40 per couple, and the price includes hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer and soft drinks. Call 660-7697 … The Arkansas RimRockers’ professional basketball season is winding down with two games this week at Alltel Arena. The RimRockers play Sioux Falls on Friday, and Tulsa on Saturday. Tip-off for both games is 7 p.m. Tickets start at $12 and are available through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com 975-7575) or at the arena box office before the game … The Weekend Theater will conclude its run of the drama “Visiting Mr. Green” with shows on Friday and Saturday starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $14 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Call 374-3761 for reservations … Pinnacle Mountain State Park is holding spring canoe floats every Saturday, launching from the Little Maumelle Boat Launch at 9 a.m. Travel the four-and-a-half-mile trip while guides point out the wildlife and answer questions. Cost is $30 and advance registration and payment is required. Call 868-5806 … Pinnacle Mountain State Park will have a special Easter Day trail walk on the Kingfisher Trail to check out dogwood blooms, lilies and more from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. It’s free; everyone gathers at the Kingfisher Trailhead in the park. Call 868-5806 for more information … Chameleon Art Glass will hold a glass Easter egg hunt on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Chameleon is at 24907 Kent Lane (take Kanis Road west to Roberts Road and follow the signs). Call 821-2323 … The energetic Adam Hunter will make fun of relationships, his dysfunctional family and other aspects of his life as the headliner at the Loony Bin Comedy Club through Saturday. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Saturday. Call 228-5555 for reservations. Next up at the Loony Bin is the hypnotist Sandman.

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