The freezing temps are no excuse to not go out this weekend, when there is simply too much to do! And, go ahead, warm your heart by volunteering with your youngsters.

Thursday

Teen Half-And-Half at CALS’ Roosevelt Thompson Library: Check out this weekly program for teens and tweens at 4 p.m. For the first half of the program, they’ll hang out, play a game and caffeinate. During the second half, they’ll do a craft learn life skills or work on a service project. FREE!

Bead Loom Introduction at Argenta Bead Company: Learn how to set up a loom, weave and finish a simple beaded bracelet at 5:30 p.m. Looms are provided for classroom use, as are bead mats and scissors. Ages 14 and up. The cost is $30 plus materials. 

Preview Event at The Anthony School: Come learn about The Anthony School at 5:30 p.m. Please arrive a few minutes early to check in, and register for the event at TourAnthony.com. 

Fortnite Bootcamp at Spec Ops Gaming Lounge: Take this class, taught by Pro Player Atlas JV at 6 p.m., to improve your game skills. All ages are welcome. The lounge also aims to help kids land scholarships from playing and get paid to play esports. The boot camp includes strategy development, game sense training, game mechanics development, exercises and Kovaak’s Aim Trainer. The cost is $15. 

Friday

Board Games for Homes-choolers at Game Goblins: Stop buy for a meetup with other home-schoolers at noon to play board games. Games are provided, or you can bring your own. FREE! And reservations are not required.

Meet a Live Cheetah at the Zoo!: Stop by the zoo’s Civitan Amphitheater at 1 p.m. to make a spotted friend. The cheetah you’ll meet is from from the Columbus Zoo’s Animal Ambassador program. This special conservation presentation is sponsored by the Little Rock Zoo and the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Seating is limited to the first 150 people who arrive. It is FREE! with paid zoo admission, and free for zoo members.

America Recycles Day at The Bernice Garden: Keep Little Rock Beautiful is hosting another America Recycles Day event this year.  There will be plenty of exhibitors, food and beer, face painting and live entertainment, starting at 5 p.m. FREE!

Art Walk Through Downtown Argenta: Every third Friday of the month, you’re invited to visit Argenta to view art exhibitions in gallery spaces, see art performances, and even make your own art pieces. From 5-7 p.m. see the Thea Foundation’s gallery. Visit Argenta Community Theater for a performance before 7:30. Enjoy galleries at the Laman Library - Argenta Branch and at Barry Thomas's studio (the studio will have wine on offer) from 5-8. There will be another gallery at the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub from 5-8, plus art making for all ages. FREE!

Santa's Arrival at Bass Pro Shops: Don't miss Santa's arrival at 5 p.m. Bring the whole family to see the magical tree lighting and unveiling of Santa's Wonderland in Bass Pro Shops. There will be free hot chocolate, starting at 5:30 p.m., a free “Decorate a Santa Stocking” craft and a free photo with the big guy, both from 6-8 p.m.  Santa will also be giving away a $25 gift card to one lucky winner every half hour from 5:30-7:30. FREE!

Saturday

Our House Volunteer Day: Help this nonprofit get its campus ready for winter, starting at 9 a.m., by raking leaves, weeding and planting what can survive this chilly weather we’ve been having. Our House will also be working on organizing donations inside. Families, other groups and individuals are welcome.

Impact the Rock - A Day of Unity and Service: Volunteer to clean up Benny Craig Park in Little Rock, starting at 9 a.m. Bring tools to help pick up trash and clear bank vegetation. And bring your own canoe or use Audubon's canoe to cleanup from the creek.

Coleman Creek Cleanup - A Keep Arkansas Beautiful Event: Volunteers will remove illegally discarded trash, or litter, from Coleman Creek, or help maintain a rain garden, and will be provided with gloves, trash bags, tools, water, snacks and a free t-shirt. Wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes, and yard work clothes. Check in, starting at 9 a.m., at the Cooperative Extension Service, 2301 S. University Ave., or at the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center on the UA Little Rock campus. 

Music and Movement Plus at Little Rock School of the Arts: Kids ages 2-5 will be introduced to a variety of instruments, rhythm and melodies through games, songs and fun activities, starting at 9:30 a.m. The class will be held weekly and is $50 per month.

Dunbar Bazaar - Craft Market Party: Craft market, succulent sale, food truck, beverages and s’mores for donations, oh my! Drop in on all this at 10 a.m. at Dunbar Garden.

Tinker Fest at CALS’ Children’s Library: Let your kiddos tinker away. There will be FREE activities for Kinder Coders (ages 5 and under) and for Tinker Kids (agest 6-11) from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Toggery Toys Grand Opening at Pleasant Ridge: From 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., enjoy meeting Frozen's Elsa and Anna, a braid bar, art activity, Lego contest, giveaways and toy demos. FREE!

Range Day at Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center: Test your archery or BB gun skills at noon on the third Saturday of every month. Targets and instruction will be provided. Depending on the weather and available staffing, the archery range or the BB gun range (not both) will be set up for target shooting. FREE!

Paint Your Cartoon Selfie at Painting with a Twist: At noon, let your youngsters cartoonify themselves with help from the talented artists at Painting with a Twist. For ages 6 and up. The cost is $27.

Santa’s Workshop and CALS’ Dee Brown Library: Stop by at 1:30 p.m. to create stockings, quilts, hats and scarves for distribution at the Christmas Caravan on Dec. 14. All materials (yarn, fabric, fleece) are provided. FREE!

Night Owls at Chenal Valley Church: Take advantage of this Parents’ Night Out Program for children with special needs and their siblings. Starts at 5 p.m. Volunteers include medical staff, therapists, educators and others who just want to love on the kiddos while their parents enjoy a night out. FREE!

Night at the Movies at Afrodesia Studio of Performing Arts: Check out this $5 event from 6-11 p.m. There will be FREE food and drinks, plus a jam session after the movies. Also, Philander Smith students get in free. Bring your pillow and blanket!

Sunday

Harvest Tea Party at Castle on Stagecoach: Join their Snow and Ice Family for a harvest-time celebration at 12:30 p.m. Don’t forget to dress your little one in their very finest princess dress. Activities include horse-drawn carriage rides to and from the castle; full English tea service including scones, sandwiches, cupcakes and a variety of teas; complimentary digital photos with the characters; musical singalong with the characters; meet and greet with each character; and an interactive royal dance party. Tickets are $60 for adults and $50 for children.

Darci Lynne & Friends - Fresh Out of the Box: Singer/Ventriloquist Darci Lynne Farmer will perform at 3 p.m. at the Robinson Center. At just 12 years old, she won NBC's "America's Got Talent" by the most votes for a final performance in the history of the show. Darci will be accompanied by a divaesque rabbit named Petunia; a shy and soulful mouse named Oscar; and a sarcastic old woman named Edna. Following her big win, this talented young lady was featured on NBC's "Little Big Shots," Food Network's "Kids Baking Championship," "Ellen" and "TODAY." And her first Christmas special, "Darci Lynne: My Hometown Christmas," aired in December on NBC. Tickets are $29.75 - $49.75.

Thursday-Friday

Cooking in Bloom classes: Denise Albert will teach her Cooking in Bloom curriculum at 3:30 p.m. at Bramble Market, 9325 Ferndale Cut Off Road. Cooking in Bloom, according to its website, empowers children to be advocates of sustainable life choices that will impact the community by decreasing food waste, childhood hunger and chronic disease. On Thursday, you can ‘shop’ the store and learn about what is in season, talk about how making good food choices benefits your body and the environment, and make some simple but delicious recipes even the kiddos will try. Tickets are $35. There will also be a Cooking in Bloom after school class for kids from 3-4:30 p.m. at Artlab, 8201 Cantrell Road, on Friday. Cost is $35.

Holiday Art Sale at UA Little Rock: The Department of Art and Design is having its annual Student & Faculty Holiday Art Sale. A Preview Sale Party will be hosted by the Friends of the Arts from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday. Admission is $50 for the public or $25 for faculty and staff, and it comes with an annual Friends of the Arts membership. Tickets can be purchased in advance online. Friday’s sale at the Windgate Center of Art and Design is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and it's FREE to attend.

Friday-Saturday

Paint + Storytime: Turkey Plates at The Painted Pig Studio: Kiddos of all ages (though projects are designed for up to age 5) are welcome to come hear a story and paint a coordinating simple project at 10 a.m. Cost is $16 plus tax. But hurry to reserve a spot; the studio has limited seating.

Friday-Sunday

ComiConway at the Conway Expo and Events Center: Enjoy free activities at 5 p.m. Friday that include a cosplay contest, Yule Ball, Escape Room, Magic the Gather tournament, GunPla contest, guest panel and vendors. Friday’s activities will be held at the Faulkner County Library. Saturday’s events include cosplay contests, vendors, panel discussions, displays and a game room. Admission. Tickets are $25 for a VIP pass and include a commemorative 2019 ComiConway tee shirt, swag bag and early admission privileges, or $5 for the weekend pass and $3 for Sunday only admission. The fun starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and at 11 a.m. Sunday. Children under 12 are FREE with a paid adult admission.