There’s no better way to befriend the natives than to mix and mingle with them. Luckily, Metro Little Rock plays host to a variety of fun social and cultural events that benefit numerous local, state and national causes. Attending one of these events is a perfect way to meet new people, learn more about the area and give back to your new community.

October 2011
6 / Thursday
2011 Central Arkansas Festival of Wines features more than 600 wine samplings paired with food by local restaurants to benefit the American Heart Association, 6-9 p.m., Dickey-Stephens Park, 400 W. Broadway, North Little Rock. Tickets: $60 per person in advance; $75 at the door. Info: (501) 379-9148,
Heart.org/LRWineFestival

11 / Tuesday
Tales of the Crypt is a portrayal of famous Arkansans buried in the historic Mount Holly Cemetery presented by student actors from Parkview Magnet High School to benefit the Mount Holly Cemetery Association, 5:30-8 p.m., Mount Holly Cemetery, 1200 Broadway, Little Rock. Tickets: Free (donations accepted).
Info: Kay Tatum, (501) 375-5197

12 / Wednesday
Brew HaHa! for Arkansas Repertory Theatre features food and brews at 6 p.m., followed by a performance by “The Second City” at 7 p.m., Argenta Community Theater, 405 Main St., North Little Rock. Tickets: $30 per person. Info: (501) 378-0405, TheRep.org

22 / Saturday
18th Annual Komen Arkansas Race for the Cure to benefit breast health programs in Arkansas, 8 a.m., downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock. Tickets: $25 per person by mail; $26 via online registration.
Info: (501) 202-4399, KomenArkansas.org

November 2011
10-12 / Thursday-Saturday
Holiday House is a shopping event that showcases items from more than 150 merchants from across the country and benefits community programs of the Junior League of Little Rock, 9 a.m.-noon, Statehouse Convention Center, 1 Statehouse Plaza, Little Rock. Tickets: $7 for a one-day pass, $15 for a three-day pass. Info: (501) 375-5557, www.JLLR.org

19 / Saturday
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs in Little Rock, War Memorial Stadium, 1 Stadium Drive, Little Rock.
Info: www.ArkansasSports360.com

29 / Tuesday
13th Annual “A Night at the Rep,” hosted by the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce with a silent auction and reception, hors d’oeuvres and drinks followed by a performance of
“A Christmas Carol: The Musical,” 5 p.m. silent auction, 7 p.m. show begins, The Rep, 601 Main St., Little Rock. Tickets: $40 per person.
Info: NLR Chamber, (501) 372-5959, NLRChamber.org

December 2011

2 / Friday
Festival After Dark is a casual holiday mixer with entertainment by Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster Band that benefits Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (CARTI), 7 p.m., Statehouse Convention Center,
1 Statehouse Plaza, Little Rock. Tickets: $50 per person.
Info: (501) 660-7634, CARTI.com

4 / Sunday
Governor’s Mansion Holiday Open House, 2-4 p.m., Arkansas Governor’s Mansion, 1800 Center St., Little Rock. Tickets: Open to the public. Info: (501) 324-9805, Tiffany.Dabbs@Governor.Arkansas.Gov, www.FriendsOfTheMansion.org

Christmas in the Quarter, a tour of historic Quapaw Quarter homes decorated for the holidays – to benefit the Quapaw Quarter area. Tours begin at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, 1601 S. Louisiana St.,
Little Rock. Tickets: $20 per person.
Info: (501) 375-1600, QQUMC.org

10-11 / Saturday-Sunday
“The Nutcracker” presented by Ballet Arkansas, 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, Robinson Center Music Hall, corner of Broadway and Markham,
Little Rock. Tickets and info: (501) 223-5150, BalletArkansas.org

January 2012

27 / Friday
Starin’ Early, Stayin’ Late is a semi-formal fundraiser with drinks and appetizers that benefits Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 6 p.m., Governor’s Mansion, 1800 Center St., Little Rock. Tickets: $50 per person.
Info: (501) 378-0445, TheRep.org

31 / Tuesday
Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Chamber IV: Mozart Meets P.D.Q. Bach, 7 p.m., Clinton Presidential Center, 1200 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. Tickets: $22 per person; $10 for students. Info: (501) 666-1761, ArkansasSymphony.org

February 2012

3-5 / Friday-Sunday
Wildwood Lanterns! is an outdoor winter festival that celebrates the first full moon of the lunar year with various luminaries, lights and lanterns and food, hot drinks and entertainment, 6-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Wildwood Park for the Arts, 20919 Denny Road, Little Rock. Tickets: $10 for adults; $5 for kids. Info: (501) 821-7275, WildwoodPark.org

11 / Saturday
Chocolate Fantasy Ball is a black-tie gala that offers guests all the chocolate they can eat, a fabulous dinner and live and silent auctions, all to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas, 6 p.m.-midnight, The Peabody Little Rock, 3 Statehouse Plaza. Tickets: $200 per person.
Info: Emily Piechocki, (501) 973-3119, Emily@RMHCLittleRock.org

19 / Sunday
31st Annual Soup Sunday features a variety of soups made by notable central Arkansas restaurants and chefs to benefit Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families, 4-7 p.m., Embassy Suites Hotel, 11301 Financial Centre Parkway, Little Rock.
Tickets and info: Nancy Leonhardt, (501) 371-9678, ext. 103, NLeonhardt@ARAdvocates.org

March 2012

3 / Saturday
Bargain Boutique, a women and children’s clothing consignment sale to benefit community programs of the Junior League of Little Rock, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Junior League of Little Rock Building, 401 S. Scott St., Little Rock. Tickets: Free. Info: (501) 375-5557, JLLR.org

3-4 / Saturday-Sunday
Little Rock Marathon, 8 a.m. both days, downtown Little Rock. Registration and info: LittleRockMarathon.com

April 2012

12-15 / Thursday-Sunday
Arkansas Literary Festival features readings by renowned authors, workshops, book signings and more, downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock. Info: (501) 918-3029, ArkansasLiteraryFestival.org

12 / Thursday
Arkansas a la Carte—a food and wine event to benefit Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH)—will feature tastings from more than 20 Arkansas restaurants and caterers, as well as a silent auction and live music, Children’s Hall on the ACH campus, Little Rock. This year marks ACH’s 100th year providing care to children from birth to age 21!
Tickets and info: (501) 364-1100, ARChildrens.org

8th Annual Ragin’ Cajun Bash, a New Orleans-style party with all-you-can-eat Cajun food, drinks, and live music to benefit CARTI.
Tickets and info: CARTI Foundation, (501) 296-3406, CARTI.com

21 / Saturday
Central Arkansas Heart Walk to benefit the American Heart Association, 8 a.m., North Shore Riverwalk Park, North Little Rock.
Info: Alexis Sims, (501) 379-1172

May 2012
11 / Friday
Dinner on the Grounds, a picnic-style dinner held on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion to benefit Our House shelter for the working homeless, 6-8 p.m., Governor’s Mansion, 1800 Center St., Little Rock. Tickets and info: Ganelle Grimm, (501) 374-7383, ext. 200, www.OurHouseShelter.org

12 / Saturday
Wild Wines of the World and More, a wine event pairing food from some of the area’s finest restaurants with wines from around the world, 7-10 p.m., Little Rock Zoo, 1 Zoo Drive.
Tickets and info: LittleRockZoo.com

18-20 / Friday-Sunday
International Greek Food Festival features traditional Greek food like gyros, falafels, tabouleh and more, as well as entertainment and shopping, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 1100 Napa Valley Drive, Little Rock.
Tickets and info: GreekFoodFest.com

25-27 / Friday-Sunday
Riverfest is a celebration of visual and performing arts that is held annually over Memorial Day weekend in downtown Little Rock; past acts include Al Green, REO Speedwagon, B.B. King, One Republic,
Ludacris and more.
Info and lineup: RiverfestArkansas.com

June 2012

5 / Tuesday
Diamond Chef Arkansas, a culinary competition and dinner that benefits the Pulaski Technical College Foundation, 6-9 p.m., Statehouse Convention Center, 1 Statehouse Plaza, Little Rock. Tickets: $150 per person. Info: Yvette Henton, (501) 812-2771, YHenton@PulaskiTech.edu

9 / Saturday
9th Annual CARTI Tour de Rock, a cycling-based fundraiser and race that benefits CARTI, Burns Park, North Little Rock.
Info: (501) 296-3429, CARTI.com

September 2012
8-9 / Saturday-Sunday
Biennial Little Rock Air Force Base Open House & Air Show featuring
The Blue Angels, Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, 840 Leadership Drive. Admission is free.
Info: (501) 987-3601, www.LittleRock.AF.Mil