Join the Fun at Anime Fest: Meet Renowned Cosplayers and Celebrity Guests in Northwest Arkansas!

Anime Fest

The Little Rock Anime Fest is back! This is Arkansas’s biggest anime gathering, happening Tuesday and Wednesday at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. Get ready to meet some amazing guests:

• Eric Vale: Known for voicing Yuki Soma in “Fruits Basket,” Sanji in “One Piece,” Tomura Shigaraki in “My Hero Academia,” and Future Trunks in “Dragon Ball Z.”
• Bill Farmer: The voice behind iconic Disney characters like Goofy, Pluto, and Horace Horsecollar.
• Stephanie Young: Voices characters such as Arachne in “Soul Eater,” Towa in “Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2,” Nana Shimura in “My Hero Academia,” and others.

You’ll also see more voice actors from series like “Jujutsu Kaisen,” “High School DxD,” and many more.

The fest promises fun with game tournaments, cosplay contests, and Q&A sessions with celebrities. There will also be vendors and artists showcasing their work.

Tickets are $30 for a single day or $45 for the weekend if purchased in advance. Prices increase at the door to $35 per day or $55 for the weekend. Kids 10 and under get in free with a paying adult. Check out littlerockanimefest.com for more details.

Music

On Sunday, don’t miss Kattam and His Tam-Tams at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville at 4 p.m. Kattam, along with his monkey Takoum, will take you on a musical journey featuring styles from Africa, the Middle East, and India. Tickets are just $10! For more info, call (479) 443-5600 or visit waltonartscenter.org.

Comedy

Comedian Tacarra Williams, known as “The Beautiful Beast,” will perform at the Starr Theater in Fayetteville on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. She’s the host of the CW show “Totally Funny Kids” and has opened for Katt Williams. Tickets range from $25 to $35. For details, call (479) 443-5600 or visit waltonartscenter.org.

Dance

The professional dance company Step Afrika! will be performing Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the University of Central Arkansas. This group showcases a unique blend of stepping, African dance, and storytelling. Tickets are $30-$50, and $10 for kids and students. For more information, call (501) 450-3265 or visit uca.edu/publicappearances.

Art & Exhibits

The exhibit “War Toys: Ukraine” opens Tuesday at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History in Little Rock. This project features photographs by Brian McCarty and drawings by children affected by war, aiming to tell their stories. The exhibit will be available until August 10, and entry is free. Call (501) 376-4602 or check littlerock.gov/macarthur for details.

On the Podium

Katrina Yeaw is set to speak about “Finding Girls in the Archives: The Case of Fekiriyeh and Renghi Sefa” at the Historic Arkansas Museum on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. This discussion is part of the Evenings With History series and is free to attend. Arrive early for refreshments!

The schedule for upcoming talks includes:

• March 4: UALR faculty will discuss “Playing With History: Community and the Contemporary Stage.”
• April 1: Assistant Professor Kyungsun Lee will share insights on the Arkansas River and climate change.

AI Ethics

On Thursday, join Jeffrey Carroll at Arkansas State University’s student union at 7:30 p.m. for his talk “Go Fast and Break Things,” exploring ethical concerns in artificial intelligence. Admission is free!