Holiday celebrations are a great time to connect with friends and family. 

Here are five fun events to enjoy in Central Arkansas this holiday season and to make lasting memories with your loved ones.

A Ferncliff Christmas 2022

An activity for all ages, the Ferncliff Christmas is an interactive living nativity experience designed for participants to learn more about Jesus’ birth. The walking trail is 45 minutes (3/4 mile), and along the way, you’ll hear the angels announce the upcoming birth, get stopped by a Census Taker, feed Mary’s tired donkey and more.

The Ferncliff Christmas event will be held on Dec. 9-11, 2022, from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Admission is free, but you can reserve your time slot with a ticket. Festive food and drinks will be available, and an alternative gift market will be open for anyone interested in holiday gift shopping. For more information, visit ferncliff.org. 

Santa Sundays At Café Africa

Santa Claus is coming to town! You can catch him and Rudolph at the GloWild event at Café Africa in the Little Rock Zoo. Santa Sundays will include live holiday music featuring Christine DeMeo, and food and drinks will be available. This event is the perfect opportunity for you and your family to take photos with Santa. 

Mr. Claus will be at Café Africa on the following dates: 

  • December 4
  • December 11
  • December 18, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

For more information, visit www.littlerockzoo.com

Ballet Arkansas – Nutcracker Spectacular

The Nutcracker Spectacular is a famous holiday classic that many families look forward to this year. The ballet production will take place at the Robinson Center, and the performances dates are the following:

  • Friday, December 9, 2022, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, December 10, 2022, 2:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, December 10, 2022, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, December 11, 2022, 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit the Nutcracker Spectacular page.

North Little Rock Sertoma Christmas Parade 2022 

Are you looking for a holiday parade? The North Little Rock Sertoma Christmas Parade will bring people together to celebrate the holiday season on Sunday, December 4, at 2:00 p.m. at Argenta Plaza. The Beloved Christmas Character Parade is sponsored by the North Little Rock Sertoma Club, the City of North Little Rock, and the North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau. It will feature equestrian riders, school groups, marching groups, pageant winners, and more. Also, a 38- foot Christmas Tree will be set up to make this event the merrier. Find more details about this event at northlittlerock.org.

Christmas Market

The Market at Chenal has been bustling with events throughout the year to provide fun family activities to the community. A few of these have included Movies in the Park, Rhythm in the Rock Festival, and a Halloween carnival. This month, the Market at Chenal will host their Christmas Vendor Market on Saturday, December 10. Be on the lookout for more details on the Market at Chenal’s social media channels, Facebook and Instagram.

From immersive experiences and classic ballet shows to parades and Christmas markets, there are plenty of holiday events in Little Rock that you don’t want to miss. Happy Holidays from Baptist Health!