Your Ultimate Guide to Weekend Fun: Entertainment Highlights for January 30, 2025!

FUN

Celebrate Black History Month with the Black Family Expo this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Dunbar Community Center, located at 1001 W. 16th St., Little Rock. Enjoy free admission and participate in activities like sharing family memorabilia, digitizing personal archives, and capturing family portraits. There will also be arts and crafts, plus giveaways. It’s a great way to connect with your history!

Anime fans won’t want to miss the Little Rock Anime Fest on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Statehouse Convention Center, Markham and Main streets. The event features celebrity Q&A sessions, panels with cosplayers and fans, costume contests, and tournaments for video and board games. Vendors and artists from all over will showcase their work. It promises to be an exciting gathering!

MUSIC

Jazz lovers can enjoy René Marie and her band, Experiment in Truth, at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts tonight at 7:30 p.m. Experience the smooth sounds reminiscent of legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington.

This Sunday at 3 p.m., catch a concert titled “Merging Ideas” at the Steinway & Sons Piano Gallery in Mayflower. Local classical musicians will delve into collaborative works by renowned composers, including Mendelssohn and Mahler. It’s a wonderful opportunity to appreciate classical music in a unique setting.

THEATER

Don’t miss “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations,” a captivating national tour at the Robinson Center Performance Hall this weekend. Showtimes are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. This musical features iconic songs like “My Girl” and tells the story of the legendary Motown group.

This weekend also marks the end of “How Black Mothers Say I Love You” at The Weekend Theater, with performances on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. This heartfelt play promises to resonate with audiences.

Murry’s Dinner Playhouse will close out its production of “Ripcord” by David Lindsay-Abaire this weekend, with shows at 7:30 p.m. through Saturday. Enjoy a buffet dinner before the show for a complete night out!

FILM

Catch a screening of Stanley Kubrick’s classic dark comedy “Dr. Strangelove” on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Ron Robinson Theater. This satirical look at Cold War fears promises laughs and thrills as characters navigate a nuclear crisis, all for free!

ART AND EXHIBITS

Don’t forget to visit “Commanding the Screen: The American Presidency in Film and Television” at the Clinton Presidential Center through March 23. This exhibit showcases material from over 30 films and shows that portray U.S. presidents, blending entertainment with history.

Also, check out works by Iris Eichenberg at the Brad Cushman Gallery through March 9. Her pieces combine sculpture and personal stories, exploring themes of identity and memory.

At the Argenta Library, Andy Huss’s sculptures are on display until Feb. 7. The exhibit features intriguing 3D works open for viewing during library hours.

Lastly, the Arkansas Arts Council presents “Small Works on Paper” at UA Little Rock’s Windgate Center, running until Feb. 16. Enjoy 40 pieces from 35 Arkansas artists, all with a maximum size of 18-by-24 inches.