Event FAQ

Q. Is the Winter Wonderland a performance?

A. The Winter Wonderland is an outdoor experience that features elements of performance combined with visual art created by the Arkansas Arts Center with support from Tanarah Luxe Floral and Just Peachy. Think of the experience as a “reverse parade” where cars drive by and experience moments in various scenes from a production that takes place at that very time. This experience is designed to be brief and out of the box, and is not viewed as a substitute to our traditional performances of “The Nutcracker Spectacular.”

Q. Can I walk through the experience or is it only a drive-through event?

A. It is only a drive-through event and patrons must stay in their cars at all times. The sidewalks will be closed to pedestrian traffic between the hours of 6 am and 7 pm on Saturday, December 12th - for setup, performance, and tear down. This is to protect the performers, volunteers, and staff from both organizations, and to adhere to health mandates from the Arkansas Department of Health.

Q. Is the event free and how do I get a ticket?

A. Yes, the event is free and tickets were reserved through an RSVP process that is now closed.

Q. Why is the RSVP process closed?

A. To safely accommodate a high number of attendees during the times our performers are active and the street is closed, we calculated the number of vehicles we could safely admit per hour without reducing the patron experience. Due to high demand, the RSVP cap was reached within one week.

Q. If I don’t have an RSVP, does that mean that I cannot attend the event?

A. It means that we will prioritize RSVP entry, and suggest those without RSVP’s arrive at 3:15pm. Attendees without an RSVP will be admitted in the order of arrival. We will safely admit as many attendees as possible until close, but cannot guarantee we will have additional space. It is our hope to provide this experience to as many families as we can.

Q. Is it not possible to extend the hours of the event to accommodate more people?

A. Ballet Arkansas' performers will repeat short choreographic sequences multiple times while outside in the elements over the course of a 3 hour period, and for their health and safety we have placed a limit on the duration of their physical activities.

Q. Will there be photo opportunities?

A. Patrons are welcome to take photo and video from the inside of their vehicles but will not be permitted to exit their vehicles to take photos with the performers.

Q. Why can’t performers take photos with patrons?

A. Due to organizational COVID-19 safety measures and the guidance of public health authorities, patrons and performers are not permitted to mix and the traffic flow will be controlled for a smooth, enjoyable process for all.

Q. Is there a set time for RSVP attendees to arrive?

A. No, however we suggest an early arrival due to the high volume of RSVP attendees.

Q. Is there a specific traffic route?

A. Yes. If you are interested in attending the Winter Wonderland and do not have an RSVP, please email info@balletarkasas.org for directions. If you do have an RSVP, you should have received an email with instructions on December 9th. If you did not receive this email, please let us know!

Q. Will the route be marked on the day of?

A. Yes, volunteers and signage will assist patrons as they arrive and the LRPD will be on site to direct the flow of traffic.

Q. Anything else I should know?

A. We strive to provide the public with a vibrant and full holiday events calendar, despite the ever-changing complexities that make our work more challenging. Please keep an open mind as our teams work hard to reimagine our holiday programming and bring holiday cheer to the public at this unprecedented time!

Date & Time

The event begins at 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 12th at the intersection of 6th & Main St. - Downtown, Little Rock. Cars will be admitted until 3:55 pm and the event will close at 4:00 pm.

Arrival 

• Patrons without RSVP's should arrive after 3:15 pm. Reservations required before 3:15 pm. We will do our best to accommodate as many cars as safely possible.
• The Winter Wonderland takes place on Main Street between the corner of 6^th and Scott streets in downtown Little Rock.
• Line up for the event will begin on East 6^th Street, which is a westbound one-way street. We ask that cars line up in the right lane, to prepare to turn right onto Main Street.
• Traffic in the Left lane of 6th Street will be directed straight and will not be able to visit the Winter Wonderland. 
• Traffic on Northbound on Main Street will be directed to turn Left onto 6th Street and will not be allowed to proceed Northbound on Main. You will not be able to enter the Wonderland experience from Main Street. 
• Volunteers will be stationed along the route to assist with providing directions to attendees. Look for friendly faces and reindeer ears! 
• Additional directives will be provided on Friday of this week. Because of the highway construction and one-way streets downtown, we will be sending you directions with the best way to easily get to the event from various areas in Central Arkansas. 

If you have any trouble finding the event, please call (501) 223-5150 and someone will gladly help you!

Departure 

• At the end of the Winter Wonderland, you may continue straight on Main Street or turn Right to Capital Avenue.