December is stacked, what are you actually putting on the calendar?

I know it's only the end of October and I'm already thinking about Christmas, but I was looking at what's lined up for December here and it's a lot for one month.

Craft Guild Christmas Showcase at the Fairgrounds Dec 4-5, Ballet Arkansas' Nutcracker Dec 11-13, the Symphony's Home for the Holidays Dec 18-20, and the free Muppet Christmas Carol down at the River Market on the 19th 🎄 That last weekend is already a scheduling fight, since the symphony and the Muppets land right on top of each other.

My plan so far is the Craft Guild thing for gift shopping (I always say I'll do that and then panic-buy on Amazon, so this is me holding myself accountable) and the Muppets because free + Muppets is hard to beat. Haven't done the Nutcracker or the symphony before and kinda want to this year.

Football's long over by then so I actually have free weekends for once 😅 Anybody gone to any of these before? Is the Craft Guild show worth braving the Fairgrounds parking? And are there other December things I'm missing, especially live music? I'm always looking for a good show in the Rock.

What's going on your calendar?

Craft Guild is worth it. Go Friday morning and parking is no trouble. Saturday afternoon is a zoo. I've been going for years, and the quilts and woodwork are the real thing, not the mass-produced stuff. Bring cash just in case a booth's card reader acts up.

Seconding the Friday morning tip. I went on a Saturday afternoon one year and spent longer hunting for a spot than I did looking at quilts. Cash is smart too. Signal inside those buildings can be spotty, and a few of the smaller booths get picky when the reader hangs.

On the scheduling fight, the symphony runs three days, Dec 18-20. You might be able to catch a Friday night or Sunday show and keep the 19th for the Muppets. Check times once they post them.

Good call on the Friday or Sunday symphony. If it's at Robinson like usual, that's only a few blocks from the River Market. A Saturday matinee followed by the Muppets that evening could work if the times line up, so I'd wait for the schedule before picking.

For the Nutcracker, buy early. The decent seats go fast once the weekend gets close. And Kyle, check the Hogs basketball schedule before you lock in any of these weekends. Football's done, but they'll have games in December.

Park once and walk is the way I'd do it. If the symphony has a Saturday matinee at Robinson, you can walk over to the River Market after and grab something to eat before the Muppets. Downtown parking on a December weekend is a pain, so not moving the car twice is worth a lot. If the movie ends up being outside, bring a blanket and a thermos of something, because it gets cold down by the river at night. I've froze through a few things down there and learned the hard way.

Kevin's right about the Nutcracker too. I took my niece a couple years ago and waited until about two weeks out, and all that was left was way up high and off to the side. Kyle, if you want to do it, I'd just buy as soon as tickets go on sale and not think about it.

Honestly the Craft Guild is the only December thing I look forward to as far as "shopping." My yard sale season is basically dead by then, so I'm a little desperate for something to dig through, lol. I agree on Friday morning. Wear comfy shoes, those buildings are bigger than they look and your feet will be done by lunch.

Good luck with the Hogs schedule. I will not be checking it, I'm on my own island with the Muppets.

Live a couple blocks from the River Market so I can back up the thermos advice. The wind comes off the river and doesn't care that it's the Muppets. Bring the good blanket, not the one you're attached to.

Kyle gets free weekends, must be nice. My December is rec basketball and whatever tournament gets scheduled at 7am on a Saturday, so the Muppets only happen if I'm not eating a gym hot dog for dinner. Maybe a Friday symphony if I can bribe a sitter.

Megan, the Craft Guild won't fix the yard sale withdrawal. Those quilts cost real money lol. Still go though.

Ha, fair. I spend every fall Friday on a metal bleacher eating a concession stand hot dog, so I know the gym hot dog dinner life 😂 Enjoy the Muppets if you can make it work, and good luck bribing a sitter for the Friday symphony.

Good to know on the "good blanket, not the one you're attached to" rule. I'm only bringing the expendable one.

Plan is shaping up now: Craft Guild Friday morning with cash and comfy shoes, Muppets on the 19th, and a Friday or Sunday symphony once they post times. Nutcracker tickets the second they go on sale like Megan said. I'll check the Hogs schedule too, Kevin, even though I'm pretty sure I'm gonna regret it 😅

Megan, you're on your own with the quilt prices lol