Scene by Carson: Get your holiday cheer going!

Editor’s note: Amanda Carson recently graduated from Ole Miss where she wore a cocktail dress and high heels to football games at which tailgating was conducted in a tent adorned with a chandelier. Prior to this she attended a private school in Memphis at which Southern manners and etiquette was stressed — which does not explain her football game decisions. With several regular features a month, Amanda will attempt to infuse her Southern experiences, exposure and education into the arts and entertainment scene in the Fort Smith/Van Buren region.

During the Holiday hustle and bustle, it’s hard to handle the small things, much less keep up with the Merry must-go-to’s. That’s why I’ve gone through and decided what social Holiday celebrations and events you may want to attend in the Fort Smith region. Some of these may be long standing events for you, others of you may lock yourselves away during the Holidays, but I say get out there, be social, make some memories and be darn Merry doing it! After all, that’s what the Holidays are all about.

Dec. 3-5
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The Living Faith Missionary Baptist of Fort Smith displays the Living Nativity Drive-through. This eight-minute drive features an array of live animals and actors and is FREE. This is a good way to mix up the regular light display routine and experience something different. The show runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and is located in south Fort Smith, (exit 14 off Interstate 540, go south on U.S. 271 to Living Faith Missionary Baptist; look for the red and white signs).

Dec. 5
7:30 p.m.
Dec. 5 also is the day the Fort Smith Symphony performs Handel’s “Messiah” at the Fort Smith Convention Center.

Dec. 10
8:00 p.m. to Midnight
The Night of Giving Charity Event is happening at Central Mall. The fashion show starts at 8 p.m. with events to follow 9 p.m. to midnight. It is $5 per person, but you get store discounts, gifts with purchase, prize drawings and more. You know you still have gifts to buy so this is a great chance to get some shopping done, be a little selfish, get a thing or two for yourself, and feel good about it and have a little less shoppers remorse because the proceeds go to charity. All in the name of charity, right ladies?!

Dec. 12
8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
The Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce presents the first annual Christmas Honors to honor Veterans in the community. From 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. families are welcome to come to the Fort Smith National Cemetery to place wreaths on gravesites of loved ones and family members. From 9:30 to 11 a.m. friends and citizens are welcome to place wreaths on the remaining gravesites. In addition, there will be a candlelight vigil at 5:30 p..m, Dec. 14 for friends, family and the community.

Dec. 12
3:00 p.m.
The Fort Smith Christmas Parade kicks off on Garrison Avenue (Parade route: from 10th to 3rd on Rogers, then to 3rd and 10th on Garrison Avenue). What more can I say. It’s a country parade. You must go.

Dec. 12
10:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Do not miss out on a Christmas classic, “The Nutcracker,” presented by the Western Arkansas Ballet at the Fort Smith Convention Center. Love or hate the ballet, this is a timeless piece that would be foolish to miss in your lifetime and just wrong to never let your children experience.

Dec. 13
6:00 p.m.
Harvest Time Tabernacle is putting on the Sleigh Bells Swing — said to be Fort Smith’s Best Christmas show. The 1940s big band night of Christmas tunes features the talents of Don Bailey and Deron Freeman, accompanied with the band from University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and Harvest Time. The holiday jiving starts at 6 p.m., and admission is FREE.

Dec. 31
7:00 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The Tinsel and Tails New Year’s Eve Gala benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association is at the Holiday Inn downtown Fort Smith. The event features the party band, Mr. Cabbagehead and the Screaming Radishes, and with a name like that they just have to be good. Tickets are a $100, but you can say you rung in the New Year on a generous note.

Dec. 31
8:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
If the Screaming vegetables get to be too much for you, you can dance to the Nearly Famous Band. They are playing right next door at the Fort Smith Convention Center for the Mayor’s New Year’s Eve party. The admission is FREE, so you can go party there after you’ve given all your money to charity. Or vice versa, if you got a wild hair in ya, you could party crash on the Gala and Screaming vegetables after you rock out with the Mayor.

Of course you have your own wacky family functions, rowdy (or boring, depending on your co-workers and alcohol intake) office parties and holiday kid recitals to attend, but these are a few events to sprinkle in between those. This time comes but once a year, so there is no such thing as spreading yourself too thin. Just suck it up, throw back a glass of eggnog and put on the Holiday cheer!

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Even though she graduated from Ole Miss, Amanda is comfortable using e-mail. You can reach her at [email protected]