The event, from 6 to 9 p.m., includes a cocktail reception, seated dinner, silent auction and show.

Entertainment is produced by ACT co-founded and Artistic Director, Vincent Insalaco, and features performances by I Can Dance, AEDD’s new ACTS in the Rock drama troupe, and performances by soloists Emily Fenton, Brendan Higdem, opera singer Stephanie Smittle, Arkansas Festival Ballet, North Little Rock High School Dancers and Dramatists and a Jazz Trio number featuring pianist Dr. Alan Storeygard.

Individual Tickets are $100; VIP Individual Tickets are $150. A reserved table for 10 is $1,000; VIP reserved table for eight is $1,500; VIP Sponsorship and Reserved Table for Eight is $2,500.

Buy tickets here or call (501) 801-3646 or (501) 681-6644.

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The Rock Run 8K is one of the fastest race courses in the state, with only two turns and very flat topography. The course runs along the Arkansas River, with lots of scenic views and is USATF Certified. For more information, call (501) 227-3600 or click here to register.

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KidZone
Sponsored by Deltic Timber, the KidZone Playtime Promenade is located along the banks of the Arkansas River near the Peabody Playground & Water Park in the central area of Julius Brecking Riverfront Park. KidZone features crafts, activities and more. Be sure and stop by the Tag-A-Child Tent sponsored by the Office of Attorney General to ensure your child’s safety.

Crafts include butterfly finger puppets, paper bag trees, paper cup flowers and sun visors. Other activities include face painting and finger casts, bongo drums, dress up like a fireman, bean-bag toss, bubbles, chalk hula hoops and more. There is also a 20-foot rock climbing wall and bungee cord jumps.

Family Zone
Sponsored by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Family Zone, located on the east side on the grounds of the Clinton Presidential Center and Heifer International & Village, offers entertainment for families, including the Family Stage, Super Retriever Crown Championship Series, the Weenie Dog Derby, International Village and much more. Family Zone is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

At the International Village, kids can make wooden bead bracelets in Kenya, morocco in Brazil, Chinese lanterns in China, rain sticks while in Chile, shamrocks in Ireland and “crown jewels” in England. Kids can take their stamped passports to Customs for a surprise.

Riverfest Cheese Dip Classic
The inaugural Riverfest Cheese Dip Classic is Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. Attendees can help decide which cheese dip will represent Riverfest at the 4th Annual World Cheese Dip Championship in October in Little Rock. The cheese dip competition is divided into amateur and professional divisions. Cost is $5 for adults and $2 for children 10 and younger to join in the tasting.

Pooch Parade
The 2013 Ruff on the River Pooch Parade is Sunday. This year proceeds go to All About Labs, Canine Companions for Independence, Little Rock Animal Village and Out of the Woods.

The registration “PAWTY” is at 9 a.m. in the parking lot at the corner of 2nd and River Market Ave., the perfect drop off location for the escort and dog! Parade starts at 10:30 a.m. and ends at Heifer International. Immediately following the parade is the Weenie Dog Derby for all short-legged dogs. There are three different sized categories for the short-legged dog races. Prizes will be given for best costume. Register here.

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Speaking at the scholarship presentation, Thea Director and Founder Paul Leopoulos discussed the importance of the arts in young people’s lives.

“Arts help young people do a lot of things better,” he said.

Students submitted their films as part of the AETN Student Selects Showcase. Each of the four winners received a $2,500 college scholarship. Thea has partnerships with institutions of higher education all over the state, which match or exceed the scholarship awarded. The winners include:

• Zak Heald, Gravette High School – Cinematography for “Fatty in Wonderland”
• Robert Crisp, Har-Ber High School (Springdale) – Editing for “Saturday”
• Joseph Largent, Fayetteville High School – Screenwriting for “Vasudeva”
• Anna Thompson, Har-Ber High School (Springdale) – Directing for “The Illusion”

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These films, made by Arkansas students in kindergarten through 12th grade, were chosen for screening out of more than 100 submitted as part of the festival’s Youth Program (LRFF Youth!) and the AETN Student Selects showcase. Program director Casey Sanders said choosing what to screen was difficult, because so many great ones were submitted.

“These are the best student-made films in Arkansas,” she said. “Many had the passion to look beyond the taupe cinder-block classroom in creating their films.”

Many students were not able to attend the event at 610 Main St. because it conflicted with many graduation ceremonies, but students from Springdale, Cabot, Gravette and Little Rock were able to attend.

Four seniors were selected to receive $2,500 scholarships from the Thea Foundation. Most of the films were created by groups of students, but to be eligible for a scholarship, students had to solely be responsible for an aspect of the film, Sanders said.

The films screened include:

• “How We Never Met” (Rogers High School)
• “Killing Crime: The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year” (Cabot High School). This film is a sequel to their submission last year.
• “Confidence Commentary” (Rogers Heritage High School). This film was made by a student who led a no-makeup day at her school.
• “Life of a Giant” (Springdale High School)
• “Cups” and “Smoking Dead” (Springdale District TV). These two are anti-smoking public service announcements, as part of the Stamp Out Smoking campaign.
• “Dear” (Lake Hamilton High School)
• “Zombie PSAs” (Har-Ber High School in Springdale)
• “Saturday” (Har-Ber High School in Springdale). Robert Crisp won a Thea scholarship for editing on this film.
• “The Illusion” (Har-Ber High School in Springdale). Director Anna Thompson received a Thea scholarship.
• “Vasudeva” (Fayetteville High School). Joseph Largent received a Thea scholarship for screenwriting.
• “Little Lonely Girl” (Jefferson Elementary). This film was made by 8-year-old Hannah Alexander.
• “Fatty in Wonderland” (Gravette High School). Cinematographer Zak Heald received a Thea scholarship.

The films will be broadcast on AETN later this year, but an exact date has not been set, Sanders said.

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“Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Rodrick Rules” is based on the best-selling follow-up novel by Jeff Kinney about Greg, who’s entering seventh grade, and his older brother – and chief tormentor – Rodrick. They must deal with their parents’ misguided attempts to get them to bond.

Individual tickets for non-pass holders are $10. Buy them here.

At 2 p.m., the Little Rock Zoo will host an autograph and meet-and-greet with the stars. Zoo admission is $10 for adults and $8 for children (age 1-12).

Sunday: Free Family Fun Day
The Little Rock Film Festival’s Free Family Fun Day is Sunday May 19 at 2 p.m. at the Darragh Center Auditorium at the Main Library downtown. The event features family-friendly films throughout the day, as well as games, activities, balloons, face painting and a visit from Little Rock Zoo animals. Sponsored by the LRFF, Little Rock Zoo, Le Pops and Central Arkansas Library System.

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Little Beginnings is for children ages 2 to 4 with a parent. Each month the class focuses on a different topic and features hands-on activities, music making, movement and storytelling.

Admission is free. No day care or school groups. Click here or call (501) 324-9685 for more information.

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The event features the regular farmers’ market fare, including delicious Arkansas strawberries from Barnhill Orchards and North Pulaski Farms, along with music and family activities. Boulevard Bread Co. will also be on hand serving strawberry shortcakes, whoopee pies and other strawberry treats.

The Bernice Garden Farmers’ Market is located at Daisy Bates and Main Street in SoMa. Entry to the event is free, with food items available for purchase.

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SATURDAY: Lil’ Wild Ones: Nature Stories and Activities at the WSJCANC. Held the second Saturday of each month during the school year at 2 p.m., the event explores wildlife and habitats of Arkansas through nature stories and hands-on activities. Recommended for ages 4-8. Free. Registration is not required. For more information, call (501) 907-0636.

SATURDAY: Helping Hand’s Walk, Run and Wheel for Special Needs 5K/2K. Click here for details.

SATURDAY: International Migratory Bird Day at Holland Bottoms WMA in Jacksonville. Join Audubon Arkansas for family-friendly activities to learn more about birds in the area. Event includes morning bird walk with the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas at 7 a.m., a family bird walk with Dr. Dan “the Bird Man” at 11 a.m., and children’s activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free lunch at noon. For more information, contact Uta Meyer at (501) 244-2229, umeyer@nullaudubon.org.

SATURDAY: Magic Springs Water Park in Hot Springs opens at 11 a.m. It will be open on weekends until May 19 and seven days a week beginning May 25. The theme park opened last month. There are several ticket options available, including season passes starting at $74.99. Click here for more information.

SUNDAY: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Guild’s Mother’s Day tea party, Teapots & Toasts, as part of the Symphony Designer House XXII. Click here for details.

SUNDAY: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s Cirque de la Symphonie at Robinson Center Music Hall, 3 p.m. Children (K-12th grade) can attend free with a paying adult. Individual tickets start at just $14. Click here for details.

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