From Easter festivities to outdoor concerts to foodie fun, it’s a great weekend to be in our favorite city. Let’s get into it.
Thursday, April 17
Rock Your Red at The Hall // City Year Little Rock is marking a big milestone — 20 years! — with a community bash and, yes, lots of its signature color. The first-ever event promises a night of live music from the Rodney Block Collective and the Mabelvale Middle School drumline, food, drinks and celebrating CYLR’s mission to advance academic outcomes for local kids while building up AmeriCorps mentors. It kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Learn more here.
CARTI Salute! at the CARTI Cancer Center // We’ll raise a glass to this. Now in its third year, this bash brings together some of your favorite local restaurants for a progressive wine and food tour through the gardens. Expect eats from Cache, 42 Bar & Table, BCW, The Oyster Bar, George’s and lots more, and all to benefit CARTI. It starts at 6 p.m. Learn more here.
Read on: 4 Things to Know About CARTI Salute!
Amanda Jones at Ron Robinson Theater // Next up in the CALS Speaker Series, this bestselling author will discuss “That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America,” her hit book detailing her fight for free speech in the midst of a culture war. It starts at 6 p.m. Learn more here.
Cake at the First Security Amphitheater // Another weekend, another great concert on the riverbank. This time around, alt rock icons Cake are going the distance to the River Market and bringing the hits to the stage. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Learn more here.
“Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue” at the Robinson Center // Something tells us Bea and the gang would love this. One of TV’s greatest hits gets a makeover in this live parody show that imagines what the girls would be up to in 2025. Stock up on cheesecake and catch the show at 7 p.m. Learn more here.
Coming soon to the stage: ‘Mrs. Doubtfire,’ ‘Elf,’ ‘Wicked’ and More Coming to Robinson Center
Friday, April 18
Grand Opening at Back Home BBQ // Downtown regulars have all been eyeing the progress at the corner of West Markham and State streets, and now that patience is paying off. The Texas-style barbecue joint is ready to welcome customers starting at 11 a.m. until they run out of the goods. And if you miss out, don’t panic. They’ll be back at it the next day. Learn more here.
More foodie news: Team Behind George’s to Bring The Lady to The Heights
Third Friday Art Walk in Argenta // This monthly walk invites you to stroll through the Argenta Arts District’s lineup of special exhibits and events. Highlights include “The Creative Collective III” exhibit at the Thea Foundation gallery, hands-on fun at The Innovation Hub and an open studio with Bang-Up Betty and Lee Lee Arts + Design. The Art Walk starts at 5 p.m. Learn more here.
SoMa Squeeze Release Party & Beer Crawl // Let’s try this again, shall we? SoMa 501 and Stone’s Throw Brewing collaborated to create the custom saison SoMa Squeeze in honor of the neighborhood. The night (rescheduled from earlier this month because of storms) starts with a launch/tasting party at Few, then morphs into a beer crawl featuring your favorite local haunts. It starts at 5 p.m. Learn more here.
Saturday, April 19
Easter Festivities at the Market at Chenal // This WLR market is kicking off its 2025 season with springtime fun at 21 Rahling Circle. Along with fresh produce, pastries and local goodies, visitors can also get in on Easter fun, games, music, food trucks and more. Stop by 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Learn more here.
Earth Day Celebration at the Little Rock Zoo // Looking good, Mother Earth. To help celebrate Earth Day, guests can expect a plant sale, interactive conservation education, a chance to learn about local sustainability organizations and more. You can even bring some of your old electronics to recycle and help support gorilla conservation in the process. The good, green fun runs 9 a.m. – noon. Learn more here. Bonus: Visit The Green Corner Store for more hands-on activities and treats that celebrate the planet. More on that here.
Living Craft Saturday at Historic Arkansas Museum // Time travel, anyone? HAM’s monthly series gives guests an immersive, hands-on opportunity to learn about life in the early days of Arkansas. April’s event is all about growing and using herbs, plus some historic Easter activities. Stop by 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Learn more here.
More historic views: 60th Annual QQA Tour of Homes Comes to MacArthur Park + Mount Holly Cemetery Spring Picnic Returns to Historic Grounds
BoBrook Egg-stravaganza at BoBrook Farms // And now for the second straight weekend of fresh air on the farm. Along with egg hunts and bunny photos, expect food trucks, hay rides, lawn games, wine tastings and more. Stop by 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Learn more here.
The Market at Pettaway at Pettaway Square // This weekly market is getting an extra dose of hops this Sunday (and not just because Moody Brews is next door). It’s all about Easter fun this week with egg hunts, crafts, food trucks and more than 20 booths to peruse. Check it out noon – 5 p.m. Learn more here.
Easter Party at the Vineyard at Rusty Tractor Vineyards // The holiday fun continues at Sunset Lodge. Come meet the Easter Bunny, hit up The Prickly Pickle food truck, hunt for eggs and enjoy some live music from Ben Byers, not to mention the bloody mary and mimosa bar. Be there noon – 6 p.m. Learn more here.
Argenta Vibe Music Series at Argenta Plaza // Why, yes, the vibes are immaculate in Argenta this weekend. The NLR neighborhood’s (free!) outdoor concert series kicks off its 2025 season with live music from Southern Avenue, local eats, drinks and even some VIP views. The fun starts at 6 p.m. Learn more here.
More plaza, please: Dogtown Yoga Series Returns to Argenta Plaza
Thursday – Saturday, April 17-19
“For Colored Girls” Opening Weekend at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church // Next up in the Actors Theatre of Little Rock season is this Tony-nominated show depicting the complexity of contemporary Black women. Known for its unique mix of music, dance and poetry, the show is billed as a “spellbinding collection of vivid prose and free verse narratives about and performed by Black women.” Learn more here.
Save the dates: Little Rock’s Spring & Summer Performing Arts Calendar
Film Screenings in the Metro // There are multiple folks hosting special screenings this weekend, so we thought it deserved its own category. Pass the popcorn.
Sunday, April 20
Easter Eats in Little Rock // No matter how you plan to celebrate, there’s one thing we’re pretty sure makes everyone’s list: great food. From brunch buffets to make-at-home kits, we curated a list of Easter menus just for the foodie. Find it here.
Looking for more community Easter egg hunts? Check out these around the metro:
And remember to stay fresh, Little Rock: Your Guide to Farmers Markets in the Metro