December 1st
Rogers Christmas Parade
A community event featuring floats, marching bands, and walking units. Nearly 100 floats, marching bands, decorated cars, scouts, dogs, choirs and kids take part every year — each covered with bright Christmas lights. The parade celebrates “Holidays Around the World” to showcase the beautiful traditions of the many cultures of people who call Rogers home.
Date: Dec. 1
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Fifth and Poplar, Rogers
More info: Click here
December 5th
A Christmas Story
Date: Dec. 5-14
Time: Varies
Location: Rogers Little Theatre
More info: Click here
The Little Craft Show
Date: Dec. 6-7
Time: Varies
Location: The Town Center, Fayetteville
More info: Click here
December 6th
Skating School Open House
At the Jones Center Ice Arena, for all ages. Everyone is invited to bring a friend. FREE Skating, holiday music, hot chocolate, door prizes. Information on all of the fun activities at The Jones Center. Holiday Skating Exhibitions. Santa Claus will make an appearance.
Date: Dec. 6
Time: 9-10 a.m.
Location: The Jones Center Ice Arena
More info: Click here
Princess Winter Wonderland Brunch
Dress up and join Anna & Elsa as they share stories of far away lands at Trike Theatre’s Princess Winter Wonderland Brunch! Delicious food, crafts and once in a lifetime photo opportunity to be sure to create an experience your little prince or princess will never forget. All proceeds benefit Trike Theatre’s education scholarship fund.
Date: Dec. 6
Time: 9:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.
Location: Tavola Trattoria, Bentonville
More info: Click here
Mercy O Night Divine Charity Ball
She has been in the national spotlight turning heads (and chairs) since first auditioning for NBC’s The Voice, and on Saturday, December 6th, Danielle Bradbery will charm hearts in Northwest Arkansas at Mercy Health Foundation’s 21st Annual O’Night Divine Charity Ball presented by Walmart/Sam’s Club along with the Lee and Linda Scott Family. Bradbery, the Season 4 winner of the blockbuster vocal competition, is the spotlight performer at the premier holiday event benefiting the work of Mercy and the patients and families they serve. An evening like no other, attendees will also enjoy many laughs provided by stand-up comedian, Ryan Hamilton, who has endeared comedy lovers and impressed industry insiders with his observational and sarcastic humor.
Date: Dec. 6
Time: 6 p.m.
More info: Click here
Breakfast with Santa
Santa and Mrs. Claus are coming to town! They want to share a special breakfast with you at the ACO. They have lots of fun treats planned for children of all ages including a yummy breakfast, a personal visit and photo opportunity with Santa, decorating gingerbread cookies with Mrs. Claus, creating special Christmas crafts and more.
Date: Dec. 6
Time: Seatings at 8:30 a.m., 9:15 a.m. or 10 a.m.
Location: Arts Center of the Ozarks, Springdale
More info: Click here
Santa’s Workshop
Cost: $20 and is best for kids ages 4 – 10. Event entry includes six craft stations, a visit with Santa, an opportunity to make holiday cards for the patients of Arkansas Children’s Hospital, child ID cards provided by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, cookies and hot chocolate. This is a NWA Circle of Friends for Arkansas Children’s Hospital event. The Circle of Friends is a network of passionate, dedicated volunteers providing care, love and hope for the children and families served by Arkansas Children’s Hospital. All proceeds raised at Circle of Friends events go directly to the hospital.
Date: Dec. 6
Time: 9-11 a.m.
Location: St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 2898 S. 48th St., Springdale
More info: Click here
Children’s Christmas Train
Enjoy the fun and festivities aboard the Children’s Christmas Train! Come early and enjoy a winter wonderland of games and activities. Special treats and surprises await you! Runs Springdale to Johnson.
Date: Dec. 6-8
Time: Varies
Location: 306 E. Emma Springdale
More info: Click here
Battle of Prairie Grove Reenactment
Date: Dec. 6-7
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Prairie Grove Battlefield
More info: Click here
December 12th
Mythbusters: Behind the Myths
Date: Dec. 12
Time: 4 and 8 p.m.
Location: Walton Arts Center
More info: Click here
December 13th
Bentonville Christmas Parade
The Bentonville Christmas Parade host thousands of participants and brings over 10,000 people into downtown to celebrate the holiday season. Participants from the area compete for best float and best walking group. The theme is “A Storybook Christmas”.
Date: Dec. 13
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Downtown Bentonville
More info: Click here
Christmas in New York City (then skate with Santa!)
Annual figure skating Christmas Show. Watch talented skaters from the Ozark Figure Skating Club skating to all your favorite Christmas music. There will be 2 shows, 1pm and 5pm. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children. They can be purchased at the door the day of the event or the following dates: Dec. 2 4-7 p.m., Dec. 6 from 9-10 a.m. and Dec. 9 from 4-6 p.m. After the show, you are invited to skate with Santa and the cast members. There will also be sleigh rides on the ice, door prizes and hot chocolate.
Date: Dec. 13
Time: 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Location: 922 East Emma Ave., Springdale
More info: Click here or email Robin raprea@jonesnet.org for tickets.
A Very SoNA Christmas (Christmas Concert)
Symphony of Northwest Arkansas presents its Christmas Concert under the baton by Maestro Paul Haas on Saturday, December 13 at Walton Arts Center’s Baum Walker Hall in Fayetteville. Featuring vocal soloists, the SoNA Singers and regional choirs. Visit for ticketing information and complete season lineup.
Date: Dec. 13
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville
More info: Click here
Visit Santa on the Caboose
A community event in Frisco Park, First and Walnut Streets.
Date: Dec. 13
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Frisco Park, Rogers
More info: Click here
December 14th
The Snowman, A Family Concert
Guaranteed to get your whole family in the mood for Christmas. Holiday music for children of all ages and a special screening of the heart-warming animated film, The Snowman, with live orchestral soundtrack.
Date: Dec. 14
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Walton Arts Center
More info: Click here
Drop off a letter to Santa in Rogers at Frisco station? Other places?
December 19th
Moscow Classical Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Back for its fourth consecutive season, the beloved holiday tradition The Nutcracker is a must-see for the whole family! The venerable Moscow Classical Ballet gives a stunning presentation of Tchaikovsky’s classic Christmas ballet, featuring Russia’s finest dancers and all the beautiful scenery and costumes you’ve come to expect – audiences of all ages will be absolutely enchanted. Come see for yourself why this brilliant dance troupe has won numerous gold medals from international competitions and awards from the esteemed Paris Academy of Dance. The holidays simply aren’t complete without experiencing this live performance!
Date: Dec. 19-21
Time: 2 & 7 p.m.
Location: Walton Arts Center
More info: Click here
December 23rd
The Polar Express (movie at Walton Arts Center)
Movie description: Directed by Robert Zemeckis and based on children’s book by Chris Van, The Polar Express tells the story of Billy (Hayden McFarland), who longs to believe in Santa Claus but finds it quite difficult to do so, what with his family’s dogged insistence that all of it, from the North Pole, to the elves, to the man himself, is all just a myth. This all changes, however, on Christmas Eve, when a mysterious train visits Billy in the middle of the night, promising to take him and a group of other lucky children to the North Pole for a visit with Santa. The train’s conductor (Tom Hanks) and the other passengers help turn Billy’s crisis-in-faith into a journey of self-discovery
Date: Dec. 23
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Walton Arts Center
More info: Click here
Through Christmas Eve
Santa at the NWA Mall
Date: Nov. 21 through Christmas Eve
Time: Varies
Location: NWA Mall, Fayetteville
More info: Click here
Eureka Springs Events
The grounds of the Great Passion Play will be lit up with thousands of lights as well during “Experience the Light” which runs on Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8:30pm through December 21st. Besides the lights, they will feature Christmas music in the Great Hall and a live nativity with actors and animals in the Smith Chapel. Admission is by donation.
The largest Snow Village and Train Exhibit in the South will be on display every weekend at the Gaskin’s Switch Village at 2051 E. Van Buren. Presented by the Eureka Springs Historical Museum, the display takes you back to a 1930’s to 1950’s landscape of small town America. It is comprised of over 300 buildings, including three ‘town squares’ depicting businesses of the era, three Lionel 0 scale trains, a Lionel 0 scale trolley, and numerous other vehicles and accessories of this time.
The 48th Annual Silver Tea is hosted by the women of St. James’ Episcopal Church, Eureka Springs. On Thurs., Dec. 4th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., the dining room of the historic Crescent Hotel will be transformed by seasonal decorations, hostesses in period costume and elegant tea tables with heirloom silver pieces displayed on stunning lace tablecloths. A mouth-watering variety of tea sandwiches and cookies will be served in addition to coffee and tea. Admission is by donation.
Miss Arkansas 2014 will serve as Grand Marshal of the Annual Christmas Parade scheduled for Friday December 5th at 6 p.m. The theme for the 2014 parade is “Light the World.” The parade is staged in the historic downtown district and is surrounded by great shops and boutiques, galleries, and restaurants.
On Saturday, December 6th, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Eureka Springs Preservation Society hosts the 32nd Annual Eureka Springs Christmas Tour of Homes. Ten locations will be participating in this year’s tour, giving guests a glimpse of a bygone era. All stops on the self-guided tour will be lavishly decorated for the season with Victorian attired docents at each site to relate the history of each home. Tickets can be purchased at the Eureka Springs Historical Museum or Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce.
The Alliance of Better Bed & Breakfasts in Eureka Springs will host their annual Sweet Treats Cookie Tour from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 13th. Visit 8 different bed and breakfasts sampling their favorite cookie and candy recipes.
Kids of all ages can see Santa in Basin Spring Park during several events. In December, he’ll be at the park on Saturday, December 6th and 13th from 1-3 p.m. for photos, a scavenger hunt, games, and goodies for the whole family.
CLICK HERE to see the calendar of Christmas events in Eureka Springs.
