Do a double take at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Did someone just escape from a straightjacket suspended above a den of lions? Did those women just hang from their hair 35 feet in the air? You will see all that and more when The Greatest Show on Earth brings "Illuscination" to Verizon Arena Dec. 2-5. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. Thurs.-Fri.; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sat. and 1 p.m. Sun. Arrive one hour early to meet the animals and performers for free with your ticket. Tickets range from $15.75-$56. For info and tickets: Ticketmaster.com.

Laugh out loud at the Children's Theatre performance of "Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells." Running Dec. 3-19, Junie B. is sure to put some cheer in your holiday spirit as she takes center stage for the holidays. Room One is celebrating the season by making elf costumes and singing joyful songs, but how can Junie celebrate when Tattletale May keeps ruining her holiday glee? Performances are at 7 p.m. Fri., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sat. and 2 p.m. Sun. Tickets are $14 for adults and $11 for children. For info: 372-4000.

Catch some candy at the annual Big Jingle Jubilee Holiday Parade Dec. 4 in downtown Little Rock. There's no better way to ring in the holiday season than to stand by and watch the showcasing of floats, marching bands, classic cars, horses, beauty queens and holiday-themed features of all kinds. Parade starts at 3 p.m. After that, visit the State Capitol for craft activities at 4 p.m. and the official lighting ceremony at sundown. For info: 835-3399. FREE.

See a dream come to life during Ballet Arkansas' holiday performance of "The Nutcracker" at Robinson Center Music Hall. During this holiday classic, little Clara receives a beautiful Nutcracker doll from her uncle at a magical party. Her fantasy world then becomes larger than life as she dances with the Nutcracker Prince and gets led through the Kingdom of Snow. In Act II, the Angels and the Sugar Plum Fairy will dance along with Chinese Tea, Arabian Coffee, Spanish Chocolate and more. Be mesmerized at either performance: 7 p.m. Dec. 11 or 3 p.m. Dec. 12. Tickets range from $20-$52. For info: 666-1761. Planning to attend the Sunday performance? Meet up with some of the performers beforehand for tea at the Peabody Hotel. Tea tickets are $32 for adults and $25 for children ages 4-12. A free picture with one of the characters is included with the price of a child's ticket. For tea info and tickets: 223-5150.

Go home for the holidays, without really going anywhere. Arkansas Symphony Orchestra's Christmas concert, "Home for the Holidays" will bring together some of the area's best local talent to perform classic Christmas carols. And who knows? The Big Man in Red might even be there. Performances are Dec. 17-19 at Robinson Center Music Hall. Showtimes are at 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. and 3 p.m. Sun. Tickets range from $16-$65. For info: 666-1761.