But Riverfest is just one of several of the year’s signature events. The Little Rock Marathon is 6 years old and growing significantly as it attracts runners from throughout the U.S. The Arkansas Literary Festival draws noted authors to downtown Little Rock and the River Market for a weekend in April. And Alltel Arena in North Little Rock is the county’s chief concert site, seating up to 18,000 for certain concerts.
Here’s a list of big events coming up this year (other major theatrical and symphony shows are listed in the “Performing Arts” calendar):
JAN. 8-9: Tyler Perry’s “Ain’t Nothing Like Family. 8 p.m., Robinson Center Music Hall. $39.50-$42.50 through Ticketmaster (975-7575).
JAN. 10: Harlem Globetrotters. 7 p.m., Alltel Arena. $16-$86 through Ticketmaster (975-7575) or the arena box office (975-9000).
JAN. 12: Michael Feldman’s “Whad’Ya Know?” Live radio broadcast. 9:30 a.m., Robinson Center Music Hall. $25-$45 through Ticketmaster (975-7575).
JAN. 16-17: The Ten Tenors. 7:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. Robinson Center Music Hall. $10-$40 through Ticketmaster (975-7575).
JAN. 25-26: Monster Jam. 7:30 p.m., Alltel Arena. $5-$17 through Ticketmaster (975-7575) or the arena box office (975-9000).
FEB. 2: World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Alltel Arena. $19.50-$27.50 through Ticketmaster (975-7575) or the arena box office (975-9000).
FEB. 9: Saints and Sinners Masked Ball. 7 p.m., Statehouse Convention Center. Annual Mardi Gras fund-raiser for the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. $250 per person, $2,500 for tables, $3,500 for premier sponsorship table. 378-0405.
FEB. 12-14: “Annie.” 7:30 p.m. and 1 p.m., Robinson Center Music Hall. $15-$50 through Ticketmaster (975-7575).
FEB. 22-24: Arkansas Flower and Garden Show, “Gardening is Healthy.” Floral arrangements and sales of plants, seeds and gardening-related products, Statehouse Convention Center. 821-4000 or www.arflowerandgardenshow.org.
MARCH 2: 6th Annual Little Rock Marathon. The Capital City’s annual run kicks off at 8 a.m. and finishes in front of the Arkansas State Capitol. Half-marathon and other races also held in conjunction with the big race. Early entry, $70 through Jan. 15, $80 after Feb. 1 ($95 week of race). www.littlerockmarathon.com.
MARCH 4-6: Cirque du Soleil: Saltimbanco. 7:30 p.m., Alltel Arena. Through Ticketmaster (975-7575) or the arena box office (975-9000).
MARCH 7: Jeff Dunham. Comedian and ventriloquist. 7 p.m., Robinson Center Music Hall. $36 through through Ticketmaster (975-7575).
MARCH 7: Eggshibition 2008. 7 p.m., Jack Stephens Center, UALR campus. Major annual fund-raiser for Youth Home. Includes live auction of celebrity-designed eggs, art, champagne and desserts. 821-5500 or www.youthhome.org.
APRIL 4-6: 5th Annual Arkansas Literary Festival. Readings and events for all ages in the River Market district, including a poet’s pub crawl, sponsored by Arkansas Literacy Councils Inc. 663-4321 or www.arkansasliteraryfestival.org.
APRIL 4-6: 7th Ozark Foothills Filmfest. Screenings of independent features, shorts, animation and works by Arkansas filmmakers. Market Street Cinema. $3-$5. 870-251-1189 or www.ozarkfoothillsfilmfest.org.
APRIL 12: Blue Man Group. Alltel Arena. Details at www.alltelarena.com.
APRIL 15: “Movin’ Out.” 7:30 p.m., Robinson Center Music Hall. Musical featuring songs from Billy Joel. $15-$50 through Ticketmaster (975-7575).
APRIL 18-20: Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour. 7 p.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., Alltel Arena. $17-$50 through Ticketmaster (975-7575) or the arena box office (975-9000).
MAY 10: 35th annual Territorial Fair. Living history, dancing, 19th century crafts demonstrations, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Historic Arkansas Museum. 324-9351.
MAY 15-18: 2nd annual Little Rock Film Festival. Documentary and wide-release films at several venues in Little Rock. www.littlerockfilmfestival.org.
MAY 16-18: 24th Annual Greek Food Festival. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Food, music, folk dancing, art and children’s activities. Free admission and parking. 221-5300.
MAY 23-25: 31st Annual Riverfest. Arkansas’s largest annual music, food and arts festival at Riverfront Park and North Shore Riverwalk. 255-3378 or www.riverfestarkansas.com.
JUNE 7: “Pinnacle of Music” Festival. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Pinnacle State Mountain State Park picnic area. Local and national artists perform gospel, blues. Also children’s activities, food, 3-on-3 basketball contest. Free. 868-5806 or e-mail pinnaclemountain@arkansas.com.
JUNE 7: A Stars and Strips Celebration with the Little Rock Wind Symphony. 7 p.m., MacArthur Park. Musical celebration of Flag Day. Rain date is June 8. 666-0777 or www.lrwindsymphony.org.
JULY 4: Pops on the River. 6 p.m., Riverfront Park, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra plays patriotic music; fireworks follow. Free. 918-4539.
OCT. 10-19: Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show. 10-acre carnival midway, animal exhibits, professional rodeo, free concerts, motor sports. www.arkansasstatefair.com.
OCT. 18: 15th annual Susan Komen Race for the Cure. 8 a.m., downtown Little Rock 10K and fun walk raises money to fight breast cancer. www.komenarkansas.org.
OCT. 18-19: Rendezvous and Fall Festival. Annual Pinnacle Mountain State Park pioneer re-enactors event with food, music, demonstrations. Free, parking $7 per vehicle. 868-5806 or e-mail pinnaclemountain@arkansas.com.
