The Central Arkansas Library System will hold its annual Food For Fines program Saturday, Dec. 16. Patrons may turn in overdue items and satisfy their ovedue book fine by returning the item with a non-perishable food item. The Arkansas Rice Depot in Pulaski County and Partners for Progress in Perryville will distribute the food.
Donations will be accepted for fines incurred on an item being returned only and may not be used to erase outstanding fines on items already returned. It is not necessary to have an overdue item to participate. Each of CAL’s twelve branches and the Cox Creative Center are collection sites.
Comcast Cable is airing the Jacksonville and Sherwood Christmas parades back-to-back at 4 p.m. Saturday and at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
The 20th annual Christmas Road to Bethlehem will be open from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. until New Year’s Eve. Homes along a four-mile stretch of Bethlehem Road in Lonoke County will feature lighted, life-size Biblical figures along with Bible verses to tell the story of the nativity and ends with the manger scene at Bethlehem United Methodist Church. There will be open house programs with music and fellowship from 7 to 8:30 p.m. through Jan. 1.
The Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department is offering bus tours of holiday lights from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18 through Thursday, Dec. 21. Tour cost is $2 per person. Pre-registration is required. No refunds. For more information call 982-0818.
The Central Arkansas Development Council (CADC) will have a savings account meeting at 5 p.m. Dec. 19 at 117 S. East St. in Lonoke. The program helps low-income working people who commit to saving $10 a month. When the saving goal is reached, CADC will match the savings $3 for every dollar saved up to $2,000 per individual or $4,000 per household. For more information, contact Angel Clingmon at 501-676-0019.
Any Jacksonville-area child can visit with Santa Claus and receive a toy from 8 a.m. until noon, Thursday, Dec. 21 at Fishnet Mission, 213 Marshall Road. Families can receive a bag of groceries.
Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, 1017 Ray Road in Jacksonville will present “Magnifying the Miracle,” a Christmas concert, at 4 p.m. Sunday. Victoria Woodard will be the director of the concert. The public is invited to attend. For more information, call 501-982-6215.
Holly Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church, 7007 Hankins Road, North Little Rock will be observing its First Quarterly Conference on Sunday. The Rev. Charles M. Cleaver, Sr., will be the presiding elder. Music will be provided by the church choir during the 11 a.m. services.
Jacksonville First Assembly of God will be performing the play “The Cobbler” at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17.
The Adult Choir and Drama Ministries of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville will present “One King” at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The musical depicts Christ as the one King who holds the hope of the world and asks the question, “What will we do with this King?” The church is located at 401 North First Street.
Pastor, Dr. Marck Gibson and Minister of Music Doug Moore invite everyone to come to this free presentation as we celebrate the birth of our Lord. A nursery will be provided.
For more information, call the church office at 982-1519.
The Santa Shack at the Cabot Walmart will be open from 9 to 11 a.m., noon to 2 p.m., and 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday; and from 1 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. From Dec. 18 through Dec. 23, the Santa Shack will be open weekdays from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m.