7 Events for Weekend Fun: Frozen, Water Park Openings, Festivals & More
Happy Mother's Day Weekend! And what a weekend it will be, with the opening of Crystal Falls water park at Magic Springs, the Disney on Ice production of "Frozen" at Verizon Arena and Mother's Day events galore! You can also flutter from festival to festival this weekend, from a family arts fest at the Arkansas Arts Center to the annual Territorial Fair at the Historic Arkansas Museum. Fasten your floaties; it's time to dive into the weekend!
Disney on Ice Presents "Frozen" at Verizon Arena: Royal sisters, Anna and Elsa take to the ice with their friends Kristoff, Olaf and Sven. Anna, a girl with an extraordinary heart, embarks on an epic journey to find her sister, the magical Elsa, who is determined to remain secluded as she finally feels free to test the limits of her powers. 7 p.m. May 4-8; 11 a.m. May 7 & 3 p.m. May 7 & 8. $26-$76; kids are $16 and up. Info: (501) 975-9000, VerizonArena.com.
Magic Springs Water Park Opening Day in Hot Springs: Crystal Falls, the Magic Springs water park, opens for the season this weekend! Splash and play in popular attractions Splash Island, Boogie Blast, and the Kodiak Adventure River. Smaller children will enjoy Bear Cub Bend and Grizzly Creek Splash Zone. Both water and theme parks are open weekends only until May 21. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. May 7-8 & May 14-15. Tickets for the first weekend of May are just $15 per person. Info: (501) 624-0100, MagicSprings.com.
55th Annual Young Arkansas Artists Awards Ceremony & Family Festival at Arkansas Arts Center: Student recipients and their families are honored. From 11 a.m.-2 p.m., free art activities are offered to the artists, their families and the general public, including a docent-led tour. Outside, you'll find a sun photo print project, a watercolor project and a drawing project. After a 20-minute docent-led tour, kids can draw a portion of the sculpture themselves. And there will (of course!) be treats for the artists and their families. The awards ceremony begins at 12:30 p.m. Afterward, everyone is encouraged to attend the 2 p.m. performance of “The Adventures of Peter Rabbit.” 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 7. For info: (501) 372-4000, ArkansasArtsCenter.org. FREE!
It's festival season! Click here to read about 12 fantastic fests in Central Arkansas!
43rd Annual Territorial Fair at Historic Arkansas Museum: Experience life in downtown Little Rock during the territorial era with various living history performances, actors and musicians in period clothing and other live enactments, including blacksmith demonstrations. Hands-on activities and pioneer games are part of the experience. Kids can learn how to start a fire with a bow and can make homemade Mother's Day cards, too! 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 7. Info: (501) 324-9351, HistoricArkansas.org. FREE!
ASO Pops Live! The Movie Music of John Williams at Connor Performing Arts Center: Grab your popcorn and settle in for the music of Hollywood's most decorated composer. Enjoy music from "Star Wars," "Jaws," "Jurassic Park," "Harry Potter" and more! 7:30 p.m. May 7 & 3 p.m. May 8. $19-$58; children free to the Sunday matinee with an Entergy Kids Ticket. Info: (501) 666-1761, ArkansasSymphony.org.
Mommy & Me Art Session at Pinot's Palette: Together, moms and their little ones ages 5 and up will create coordinating mama and baby elephant paintings. An instructor leads participants through the process step by step! $20 per painter. 1-3 p.m. May 7. Info: (501) 588-1661, PinotsPalette.com/PleasantRidge.
Celebrate Mom this weekend at one of these 15 Mother's Day events in central Arkansas!
North Little Rock Mini Maker Faire at Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub: This all-ages event returns for its second year, combining science, art and technology to celebrate DIY creativity and tinkering. The one-day exhibition of creative making hosts exhibitors, vendors, workshop teachers, panelists and performers from around the region. This year's fair will feature even more maker worlds, including Flying World, Space World, Craft World, Education World, Build World, Robot World and more. Makers can also enter competitions, such as Power Tool Drag Racing, Outlaw Pine Derby Racing, Catapult/Trebuchet for Accuracy, Robot Street Fight and Mini 3-D Printed Diorama. Food trucks will be on site. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 7. $10. Info: MakerFaireNLR.com.