5 Events for Weekend Fun: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Marshmallow Roast & More
The best gift of all this season is spending time with your family! If your crew is getting restless after the excitement of Christmas morning wears off, enjoy one of these post-Christmas activities the weekend of Dec. 26-27. The circus will be in town for the weekend, Pinnacle Mountain lights up a free bonfire and marshmallow roast, and the Holiday Lights at Garvan Woodland Gardens will still be shining brightly!
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents "Legends" at Verizon Arena: Experience epic family fun as legendary circus artists from around the globe perform awe-inspiring feats, including The Riders of the Wind, who perform tricks while riding on horses, trapeze artists, lion and tiger tamers, and more! Free to all ticketholders, the All Access Pre-show starts an hour before the show. Step onto the arena floor and meet the performers, get autographs, take photos and enter to win a one-of-a-kind elephant painting. 11 a.m., 3 & 7 p.m. Dec. 26; 1 & 5 p.m. Dec. 27. $20 and up for adults; kids are $10 and up. Info: (501) 975-9000, VerizonArena.com.
Holiday Hayride and Campfire and Marshmallow Roast at Pinnacle Mountain State Park: On Saturday, families can enjoy a guided hayride, complete with a campfire and hot chocolate at the end of the route ($12, children ages 6-12 $5). Or, on Sunday, meet at the West Summit Trailhead to roast marshmallows and share nature stories. Why does the opossum have a tail? Why does the owl hoot? Discover interesting facts about native Arkansas animals and celebrate the season! Hayride: 3-5 p.m. Dec. 26; Campfire & Marshmallow Roast: 3-4 p.m. Dec. 27. Info: (501) 868-5806, ArkansasStateParks.com/PinnacleMountain.
Holiday Lights at Garvan Woodland Gardens: It’s your last chance of the season to see more than 4 million brilliant bulbs transform approximately 17 acres into a memorable animated holiday display. As you amble through the winter wonderland, your family can sip complimentary hot chocolate. The Chipmunk Cafe will be open nightly, as well. Open 5-9 p.m. daily through Dec. 31. $15; children ages 6-12 $5; children under 6 & members are free. Info: (501) 262-9300, GarvanGardens.org.
Exhibit: Freedom! Oh, Freedom! at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center: "Freedom! Oh, Freedom!" Arkansas's People of African Descent and the Civil War 1861-1866 is a story of transformation, as it will allow visitors the opportunity to explore the African American perspective of the Civil War from the lens of slavery, the contributions of African American soldiers, and what happened through and after the Reconstruction Era. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. through Dec. 31. Info: (501) 683-3593, MosaicTemplarsCenter.com. FREE!
Junior Maker LEGO Club at CALS Main Library: Young builders can show off their LEGO-building skills, while exploring, engaging in creative play and storytelling through building! 10:30 a.m. Dec. 26. Info: (501) 918-3000, CALS.org. FREE!