event preview by Brittany Ransom
bransom@thecitywire.com
Holiday happenings in Northwest Arkansas will include a Jingle Bell Run to fight arthritis, performances of "The Snowman" and "The Nutcracker," and family-friendly fun at Crystal Bridges' Winter Break Wonders.
Jingle Bell Run
Fight arthritis in festive fashion at the Northwest Arkansas' Jingle Bell Run on Dec. 14. Events will include a chip-timed 5K run, a one-mile walk, and an Elf Chase for children ages ten and under. Participants are encouraged to get in the holiday spirit by wearing a themed costume, reindeer antlers, jingle bell laces or other fun Christmas attire.
Registration is $25 for the 5k, $20 for the walk, and $15 for the Elf Chase. Participants can sign-up online or on the day of the event. Proceeds will help find a cure for arthritis, the nation's leading cause of disability.
The run/walk will begin at 2 p.m. at Lake Fayetteville. On-site registration and packet pick-up will be held prior to the race at 1 p.m. For more information, contact Angela Harris at (501) 664-4591.
The Snowman
Just in time for the holidays, the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA) will present "The Snowman," a family concert event, on Dec. 14.
Comprised of classic Christmas songs and special presentations, the show will be a fun addition to SoNA's 60th Anniversary Season. The event will include a concert with SoNA Music Director Paul Haas at the baton, as well as a special screening of the Academy-Award nominated holiday film “The Snowman,” with extraordinary live orchestral soundtrack.
The performance will begin at 3 p.m. at the Walton Arts Center's Baum Walker Hall. Ticket prices start at $25 and can be purchased online. For more information, call 443-5600.
Walton Arts Center presents The Nutcracker
Back for its fourth consecutive season, the Walton Arts Center will present the beloved holiday classic, "The Nutcracker" Dec. 19-21. The Moscow Classical Ballet will return to give a stunning presentation of Tchaikovsky’s Christmas ballet, featuring Russia’s finest dancers and beautiful scenery and costume.
Showtimes will be Friday (Dec. 19) at 7 pm., Saturday (Dec. 20) at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday (Dec. 21) at 2 p.m.
Tickets range from $29 to $39 and are available online or by calling the Box Office. All ages are invited to attend. For more information, call 443-5600.
Winter Break Wonders
Kids and parents looking for something to do over Christmas vacation should visit Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art for its "Winter Break Wonders." From Dec. 20 through Jan. 4, the museum will host a number of family friendly activities, including crafts, puppet shows, and live music.
The fun will get underway on Dec. 20 with the presentation of StoneLion Puppet Theatre's "The Emperor Penguin’s New Clothes." Festivities will continue throughout the Winter Break with regularly scheduled Pop-Up Playgrounds and Drop-in Art time. Other highlights will include a performance by the Ozark Philharmonic Youth Orchestra on Dec. 28 and Slapstick Circus with Richard Renner on Jan. 3.
A complete schedule of events is available online. Admission is free and no registration is required for the Winter Break Wonders sessions. For more information, call 418-5700.