Now is your chance to ‘Wig Out!’ and ‘Dig In!’

Northwest Arkansas isn't letting a little winter weather get in the way of a good time. The coming weeks will include "The Great Reveal" at Crystal Bridges, a Wig Out! event supporting cancer research, Soup Sunday, a SoNA concert, and the return of the Dig In! Food and Farming Festival.

"The Great Reveal" @ Crystal Bridges
In anticipation of the completion of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Bachman Wilson House installation on museum grounds, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will host a special close-up look at two of the famed architect's portfolios on Feb. 23.

Dr. Kirk Dandridge, who gifted the portfolio's to the Crystal Bridges' library, will speak. Dandridge is a retired surgeon, architecture buff, and avid fan of Frank Lloyd Wright and his architecture since he was a teenager. The featured works will be two large “elephant” portfolios, each containing drawings of Wright’s buildings along with the architectural plans.

The presentation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. at Crystal Bridges' Bellows & Cassatt. Admission is free and open to the public, but participants must register online. For more information, call 657-2335.

Wig Out 2015
Guests are invited to come and "Pig Out for Wig Out" to help defeat Ovarian Cancer on Feb. 28.

The third annual "Wig Out"  event will be held at the Chancellor Hotel in Fayetteville, from 7 to 10 p.m. Founded by Jo Ann Johnson, the fundraiser is held in memory of her daughter Kristen Madsen, who lost her battle to ovarian cancer. All proceeds benefit ovarian cancer research and the wig shop at UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

Guests will enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres and drinks, while listening to the always popular Boom Kinetic. A live and silent auction will also be held. Items up for grabs will include beautiful artwork, jewelry, a trip to the Caribbean, and other lavish prizes. Wig Out participants will also have the chance to win big in the 50/50 drawing. Tickets for Wig Out are $50 and can be purchased online. For more information, call (501) 526-2277.

2015 Northwest Arkansas Soup Sunday
Folks looking to sample soups of all kinds can head over to the 2015 Northwest Arkansas Soup Sunday fundraiser on March 1.

Hosted at the NWA Convention Center in Springdale, the 14th annual event will offer guests to the chance to dine on delicious soups and stews, all in support of local children and families. Festivities will also include a silent auction with an array of items for guests of all ages.

New to this year's event will be a VIP room with special soup prepared by Chef Alan Dierks of Vetro 1925. VIP tickets also include dessert and complimentary beer and wine.

Soup Sunday will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Adult tickets are $25 in advance (before Feb. 27) and $30 at the door. Admission for children ages 5-12 is $5. Children ages four and under are free. VIP Tickets are $50. Guests are encouraged to bring their own muffin tins to help cut down waste and also assist in carrying numerous soup samples at one time.

Proceeds benefit Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, which strives to "ensure that all children and their families have the resources and opportunities to lead healthy and productive lives and to realize their full potential." For more information, call (501) 371-9678.

Symphony of Northwest Arkansas "Masterworks III Concert"

The Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA) will continue its 60th Anniversary Season with its Masterworks III concert on March 7.

The concert will be held at the Walton Arts Center’s Baum Walker Hall beginning at 7:30 p.m.  Entitled “Surf and Turf,” the concert is inspired by the idea of going out to sea and returning home, featuring works by Smetana, Debussy and Respighi.

Ticket holders are also invited to attend a "Creative Conversation' with Maestro Pau Haas in Starr Theatre, 45 minutes prior to the concert. Individual ticket prices range from $28 to $50, with special discounts for students and children available. For more information, call 443-5600.

Dig In! Food and Farming Festival
Gardeners, foodies, and outdoor lovers will gather in Springdale March 6-7 for the Dig In! Food and Farming Festival. Celebrating local food, farms, and gardens, the event will include film viewings, classes, discussions, local food, a vendor fair, workshops and more.

Dig In! will kick off on Friday with an opening reception at Fairlane Station, located at 108 Graham Street in Springdale. Held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., the evening will include tastings from local farm-to-table restaurants and local breweries, special presentations, and a film. Festival keynote speaker Douglas Gayeton  will give a brief presentation.

Gayeton is an artist, filmmaker, writer, photographer, director of the "Know Your Food" series for PBS, and author of "LOCAL: The New Face of Food and Farming in America."

Saturday’s activities will take place at The Jones Center. Class sessions will include topics such as backyard fruit, cooking, fermentation, seed starting, backyard chickens, food preservation, home brewing, and yoga. Gayeton will be the featured speaker.

Children’s workshops, organized by Fayetteville Public Schools’ Seed to Student program (the district’s Farm to School program), will take place throughout the day, as well. Classes and other activities will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Registration can be done on-site or completed online. Costs range depending on days attended. For more information about the festival and to register, contact Cheri LaRue at [email protected].