10 Events for Weekend Fun: Tinkerfest, Pirate Day and Disney Junior Live!
(Pictured above: Last year's Tinkerfest at the Museum of Discovery!
There is no way your family can hit all of the amazing events and activities this weekend, Sept. 19-21...but there's no reason you can't try! Plan your weekend wisely and you may be able to visit the Faulkner or Lonoke County Fairs, participate in a Great Arkansas Clean-Up Event, run or walk in one of the three family-friendly fundraising walks, or get an early start on making the pumpkin patch rounds.
AND, we haven't even mentioned our top 10 events for weekend fun! Keep reading for details on each event.
1. 3rd Annual Tinkerfest at Museum of Discovery: MOD is proud to host the third annual Tinkerfest event with over 50 building and taking-apart activities that are sure to please visitors of all ages. Activities include 3D printing, marshmallow shooters, hula hoop construction, giant bubbles, mini catapults, shadow puppets, Google Glasses, giant cardboard robots, light painting and so much more! Included with regular museum admission: $10, kids 1-12 are $8, under 1 & members free. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 20. For info: (501) 396-7050, MuseumOfDiscovery.org.
2. Disney Junior Live on Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure at Verizon Arena: Tickets are still available to see this exciting adventure, led by Mickey and Minnie. Families will be rooting for their favorite pirate, Jake, and Disney's first little girl princess, Sofia. Pirate & Princess Adventure begins with a special interactive pre-show featuring the six-year-old doctor to toys and stuffed animals, Doc McStuffins. Children and their parents will sing the “I Feel Better” song, along with Doc as she provides tender love and care. Then, embark on a journey to the magical world of Enchancia, where Sofia, her step-siblings Amber and James, and the entire kingdom are preparing for the annual friendship festival. The excitement continues when families cast away to Never Land where Jake and his Yo Ho pirate friends, Izzy and Cubby, are in a race against time to locate a mysterious treasure-filled volcano. Peter Pan and Tinker Bell make a special appearance, aiding the team in their heroic quest. $44.80-$98.25. 3:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19. For info: (501) 975-9000, VerizonArena.com.
3. Go, Dog. Go! at the Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theatre: Friday is opening night of the Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theatre's new season! Find out where the dogs are going and why they are going so fast, as a high-energy cast presents this captivating adaptation of P.D. Eastman's famous canine extravaganza. Watch the stage explode with a delight of color, motion, music, and, of course, dogs! $12.50 for children and adults, $10 for AAC members. Sept. 19-Oct. 5: 7 p.m. Fri.; 2 p.m. Sat. & Sun. For info: (501) 372-4000, ArkansasArtsCenter.org.
4. Talk Like a Pirate Day Celebration & Screening of "Hook" at CALS Ron Robinson Theater: Ahoy, matey! Wear your favorite pirate costume and head to the theater for a costume contest with prizes, Lost Boys-themed snacks, and photo booths. A screening of "Hook" (PG) begins at 7 p.m. $5. 6 p.m. Sept. 19. For info: (501) 320-5715, CALS.org.
5. Growing in the City Block Party in Downtown Little Rock: Enjoy food trucks, live music, kids activities, dip cook-off, and gardening seminars. The fun continues with dance, cheer, and gymnastics performances by groups from central Arkansas on the family stage. Proceeds go to eSTEM's technology needs for grades K-8. $5, children $3. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 20. For info: EstemLR.net.
6. Q is for Quilt: A Children’s Story & Crafts Hour at Historic Arkansas Museum: Join the museum staff for storytime in the galleries amid the quilts hanging in "The Great Arkansas Quilt Show 3" exhibit. Then, decorate a quilt square to add to the Community Quilt that will be pieced together, quilted and put on display. Fun for ages 3–8. There are three sessions of this crafty event: 10 a.m. Sept. 20, Oct. 11 & Nov. 15. For info: (501) 324-9351, HistoricArkansas.org. FREE!
7. Teddy Bears' Picnic at Laman Library in North Little Rock: Enjoy stories, games, treats, and a bear cave for your little ones and their favorite teddy bears! 2 p.m. Sept. 20. For info: (501) 758-1720, LamanLibrary.org. FREE!
8. Fall Equinox Celebration at Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park: Celebrate harvest season by participating in Native American weapons demonstration and help harvest native food crops, as the American Indian tribes did long ago. At 4:30 p.m., the park staff provides a presentation on the alignment of the mounds with solar events. The activities end with a guided tour of the mound site at 5:30 p.m. to observe the sunset over Mound A, the tallest mound in Arkansas. $4, children ages 6-12 $3. 3:30-7 p.m. Sept. 20. For info: (501) 961-9442, ArkansasStateParks.com/ToltecMounds.
9. ASO Demonstration and Instrument Petting Zoo at CALS Hillary Rodham Clinton Children's Library & Learning Center: Meet Arkansas Symphony Orchestra musicians and get to know their instruments, too! 10 a.m. Sept. 20. For info: (501) 978-3870, CALS.org. FREE!
10. The China Circus Performs at Pine Bluff Convention Center: The Anhui Acrobatic Troupe is known for its cool precision, playful fun, and daring feats of human performance art. The award-winning acts include group bicycling, juggling on stand, tight rope, aerial fish ballet, hoop diving, hats, spinning plates, hula hoop, Diabolo (Chinese Yo Yo), and more. Their dramatic interpretation of classic Chinese dance highlights the fact that each province of China has its own acrobatic troupe that, while using traditional Chinese Acrobatic performances, is distinctly different in presentation, costuming, and performance style. $20, children 16 and under $10; families of 2 adults and 2 children $40. 7 p.m. Sept. 20. For info: (877) 212-4462, Facebook.com/PineBluffArkansas.
For more weekend events, browse our full online calendar here.