Christmas in Little Rock Arkansas: Your Ultimate Guide
Christmas makes everyone busy as they shuffle with many ideas, and one factor that tops the list is where they should spend their festive season. While browsing through different places, most often, they zero in on Little Rock because of its extravagant features. It is tough to find a city that offers everyone a nice mix of accessibility, charm, and festive traditions. A vital feature of Little Rock that contributes to its popularity is it is affordable to reach and convenient.
We can assure you that your Christmas in Little Rock Arkansas, will continue to remain unforgettable for you due to numerous reasons. Let’s get real and explore some of the fascinating things you can do while spending your Christmas in this magnificent city:
Reaching Little Rock, Arkansas
Fly into LIT (Little Rock) airport to reach Little Rock, and then drive past the highway system of the city. Alternatively, you can opt for a train too through the Amtrak station. Some people prefer to drive, as this city is a transportation hub, and they can access it through major highways, including I-40 and I-30.
Little Rock Zoo
The Little Rock Zoo, too, is a perfect place to visit during Christmas in Little Rock Arkansas. During this time, it hosts GloWild, a yearly holiday lantern festival that features elaborate and bright displays of mystical creatures and animals. You can experience this event on select nights, where you can walk through the park having interactive installations of lights.
The illuminated display of lights can also be idyllic for you to take pictures here. The GloWild event runs throughout the festive season. The best thing about this event is that it caters to people of all ages, as adults can buy beverages for themselves while indulging in the light show.
Museum of Discovery
The MOD (Museum of Discovery) is another important event that attracts visitors to spend Christmas in Little Rock Arkansas. It hosts a holiday event known as Merry Moments that offers families hands-on and creative activities, including customized ornament making for celebrating Christmas.
The event mainly concentrates on gratitude, community, and creativity. For the sake of donation, visitors create ornaments with a heartfelt message to symbolize their participation in the celebration. Post the event, either the ornaments are left hanging on the holiday tree or people take them home as a memento.
Pinnacle Mountain State Park
You can visit this park daily during Christmas in Little Rock Arkansas, and it is the best place to explore a huge range of trails, like the well-known East Summit Trail that is ideal for people of different competencies. Some people try their luck at the stocked pond of the park, whereas some opt for mountain biking on the trails that are dedicated to this purpose only.
Some water activities in which you can involve yourself are paddleboarding and kayaking. You must not miss visiting the Arkansas Arboretum, which is a 71-acre collection of trees.
Things you need to be mindful of while visiting the park
Though the park will provide you with several entertainment facilities, you need to be mindful of a few things:
Weather – To protect yourself from the cold temperatures of Little Rock, dress in layers. Commonly, it is advised to wear a waterproof outer layer.
The conditions of the trail – Sometimes, trails can be either icy or muddy, especially after snow or rain. So, check the conditions of the trail before you set out.
The hours – Generally, the park remains open regardless of the day it is, but to stay on the safe side, confirm the holiday operating hours of the park.
The visitor center – This center has a gift shop, and it offers exhibits too. Nonetheless, you ought to verify its hours during the holidays.
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The Arkansas State Capitol
The Arkansas State Capitol becomes worth watching during Christmas in Little Rock Arkansas because of its out-of-this-world decorations. This tradition dates back to 1938, when it was done for lifting children’s spirits at the Children’s Hospital. However, with time, it has expanded into a momentous event that features a fireworks show. The decorations catch the attention of both locals and visitors, as they include more than 40 wreaths, 75,000 Christmas lights, multiple Christmas trees, 1,000 ornaments, and more than 1,000 feet of garland.
You need not shell out money or buy tickets to attend the ceremony, as it is open to the public. Visitors are allowed to take a look at the decorated Capitol and watch the displays that adorn the fourth and first floors. They can also click pictures with Santa when the event is over.
Santa at the Center
Little Rock also allows its visitors to witness the hosting of special Christmas-themed events like the celebration called “Santa at the Center.” This event is hosted by the William J. Clinton Presidential Center; hence, when you attend this event, you can learn a lot about the Clinton family’s holiday traditions while they lived in the White House.
It would be a wiser decision to go through their website to know about any Christmas-specific exhibits or programming.
Big Dam Bridge
While spending Christmas in Little Rock Arkansas, take out time to visit the Big Dam Bridge, as it will give you an opportunity to see glorious holiday lights with some seasonal colors, including green and red. You can visit this bridge anytime, as it remains open to the public every day and offers them a vantage point to enjoy various festive displays.
The Big Dam Bridge has also earned its name as one of the longest bicycle and pedestrian bridges. Hence, trains or motor vehicles do not use it. Visiting the bridge offers everyone lots of photo-taking opportunities, as they can view the Murray Lake, the Arkansas River, and the breathtaking natural surroundings.
Fortunately, you need not pay any fee to walk across the bridge. Another important aspect of this bridge is that it has handrails, public restrooms, and is pet-friendly.
To make the holidays of visitors special, the Capitol remains open for extra hours, which suggests that you will find it open till 9 pm. A few parts of the festivities include “Santa’s Workshop” and “Fallen Heroes Holiday Tree.” Besides the traditional lights, you can see some peace lights too in the Capitol, and this tradition started in 1986.
Visit River Market District
Those who visit Little Rock during Christmas find the River Market District to be offering many options like dining, holiday shopping, and events, including the BIG Little Rock Holiday Parade. Visitors get immersed in the beautiful holiday decorations and lights around downtown, and they habitually comprise festive displays. Thus, they create a lively surrounding where they can spend the best Christmas of their life.
Browse Through the Local Markets
Lots of locally owned shops flood Little Rock. The walkable area of downtown is popular for its locally made gifts as well as the cheerful surroundings. You can also visit South Main, which is a trendy neighborhood that offers a huge array of locally owned shops.
The Bernice Garden
The Bernice Garden holds a tree lighting event that accompanies cookies, free hot chocolate, and lots of entertainment opportunities during Christmas in Little Rock Arkansas. While visiting this place, you are bound to get soaked in the unique surroundings and decorative trees in the garden, as it is a part of the bigger festive decoration of the neighborhood.
You can also meet the star of the show, “Santa Claus.” Other than the events mentioned above, the garden hosts a farmer’s market and art sculptures.
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Spending a worthwhile Christmas
No one repents spending Christmas in Little Rock Arkansas, as this city never disheartens anyone. Instead, it makes their festive holiday events enjoyable and memorable for numerous reasons. During your stay in this city, you can enjoy numerous events and seasonal light displays.
Again, you can also visit some attractions, including the Little Rock Zoo. You can also take a scenic walk and get involved in special holiday performances. This city spoils everyone with a choice of many concerts, festivals, and holiday events. However, you must check the local event calendar to know the exact dates and times.
