November makes way for Holiday festivities

Black Friday shopping isn't the only thing to look forward to in late November.

International Games Day
Gamers will rejoice on Nov. 16 as the Fort Smith Public Library hosts the sixth annual International Games Day. FSPL will join thousands of libraries around the world in celebrating the American Library Association's International Games Day by hosting activities at each of its four locations. Families are invited to drop-in at any branch to play board games and check out materials.

Activities at the main library on Rogers Avenue will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Dallas, Miller and Windsor Branches will host activities from noon to 5 p.m.

For more information, call 479-783-0229.

Taste of Trinity
Trinity Junior High School in Fort Smith will host its annual "Taste of Trinity" on Nov. 16 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The event will feature food from a variety of cuisines, including Vietnamese, German, Hispanic and many others. The school's band, cheer team, dance team and drama club will also perform.

"Taste of Trinity" will be held in the school's activity center located at 1205 South Albert Pike in Fort Smith. Tickets are $18 for adults or $30 per couple. Admission for children 16 and under is $8. All tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling the Trinity office at 479-461-7990.

Junior League's 20th Annual Holiday Market
Junior League of Fort Smith will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its famed annual fundraiser, Holiday Market on Nov. 21-23.  Dozens of vendors will be on-hand selling clothing, jewelry, food, home decor and much more. In addition to the shopping extravaganza , this year's event will also pay tribute to the organization's past and will include special events for ladies and their families.

General shopping will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Admission for general shopping is $5 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

The organization will begin its anniversary celebration with a special "Sip-and-See" on Thursday (Nov. 21) morning from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The brunch will include demonstrations by "inspiring women of Arkansas," including special guests photographer Wendy White, makeup artist LeAnn Nolewajka, quilter Jane Hartfield and painter Stephanie Lee. Coffee, pastries and wine will be served. Admission to the "Sip-and-See" is $15.

Thursday evening will include a "Blast from the Past," as organizers take shoppers down memory lane to see the impact Junior League has had on the community.

Samples from local restaurants will be served and dozens of items will be up for grabs in both a live and silent auction. Prize packages will include prize a day of pampering, a tropical vacation, a hunting trip to Kansas, and a princess-themed birthday party. Live entertainment will be provided by Brandon White. The "Blast from the Past" Preview Party will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are $40.

Friday night (Nov. 22) is Girls Night. Festivities will include a fashion show, a live dj, signature cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and exclusive shopping. Ladies will also have the chance to enter to win a $3,600 gift certificate from Newton's Jewelers. "Girls Night Out" will get under way at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30.

Saturday (Nov. 23)  is all about Santa, and kids will have the chance to tell Santa what's on their wish lists and have their picture taken with the big guy. There will be two sessions, with the morning event taking place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the afternoon session lasting from 1 to 3 p.m.. Both will include live musical entertainment from the Brian Kinder Band, as well as a holiday arts and crafts tables, and a visit from "the balloon lady." Cost is $15 per child.

All activities, including general shopping, will be held at the Fort Smith Convention Center. General admission tickets are $5. A three-day general shopping pass can also be purchased for $10. Tickets can be purchased through the Holiday Market event page.

6th Annual Community Thanksgiving Service
Sixteen area churches will come together on Nov. 21 to host the sixth annual Community Thanksgiving Service at the Van Buren Fine Arts Center. The service will begin at 7 p.m. and will include a special time of worship, prayer and giving thanks.

Each year, attendees are invited to take part in a special love offering to benefit an area faith-based non-profit organization. This year's offering will support the "Hearts of Hope" restoration ministry in Alma.

Admission to the service is free and all are invited to attend. For more information call 479-474-6424.

Gaslight Gala
The Clayton House in Fort Smith will kick-off the Christmas season on Nov. 22 with a special holiday gala celebrating the home's historic past. The "Gaslight Gala" will give guests the chance to  tour the beautiful structure arrayed in its "holiday best," as local designers and florists will decorate the home specially for the Christmas season and gala. The evening will include heavy hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, live music, and an appearance by a few Clayton household characters.

The gala will begin at 7 p.m. and last until 10 p.m. Proceeds from the event will support the continued preservation of the 1882 William Henry Harrison Clayton House located in Fort Smith's Belle Grove Historic District.

Tickets are $50 per person and corporate tables are $350. Both can be purchased online or by calling 479-783-3000.

University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Holiday Lighting Ceremony
The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith will celebrate the start of the holiday season with the lighting of its campus on Nov. 25. The annual Christmas lighting ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. at the Reynolds Bell Tower in the center of campus.

In addition to the debut of the UAFS lights, this year's ceremony will include the announcement of winners in the school's Christmas tree decorating contest. Twenty UAFS clubs and organizations will compete for the top prize as they trim their tree located in the Bell Tower. The decorated trees will be donated to needy families in mid-December.

Students, faculty, staff and members of the community are all invited to the ceremony. Hot chocolate will be served and campus light tours will be given following the official ceremony. There is no cost for admission.

For more information, contact the UAFS Box Office at 479-788-7300.