MAD is inviting you to celebrate the holiday season with A Blane Howard Christmas, a concert that is set for Dec. 14 in the First Financial Music Hall, 101 E. Locust.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. with local Christian country music artist Joel Woollen opening for Howard.
An Arkansas native, Howard is known throughout the region for his "Arkansas Y'all" country song that celebrates his home state and song series, including "How 'Bout Those Chiefs", that pays homage to his favorite NFL team, the Kansas City Chiefs.
Howard was named the 2023 Male Vocalist of the Year by the Arkansas County Music Association. The awards ceremony was held in June in Conway.
Howard performs a limited number of holiday shows each year, according to a press release from MAD.
In 2022, Howard released a Christmas album, "Christmas in the Car", which is also the title single on the album.
"Christmas in the Car" features several holiday standards -- "White Christmas", "Jingle Bell Rock", "Silent Night" and "Mary Did You Know" -- that are sure to get audiences into the holiday spirit, MAD officials said.
Woollen, the son of a preacher/pastor, began singing with his mom and siblings in their church, as well as other churches and camp meetings, at a young age.
He began playing drums at the age of 4 and he was playing in his father's church by the time he was 5 years old.
Woollen's music releases include two albums, an EP and a Christmas song, according to the press release.
Tickets are on sale for the show. Prices range between $16 and $30.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.eldomad.com or call 870-444-3007.
MAD is also preparing for the opening of the Holiday Trail of Lights at MAD.
The new holiday attraction, presented by Murphy USA, is set to open at 5 p.m. on Dec. 5 in the MAD Amphitheater, which is adjacent to the First Financial Music Hall.
The Holiday Trail will feature giant inflatables (a bounce house and slide); a holiday train; a Santa chair that may be used for family photos; live and talking Christmas trees; traditional Christmas lights on decorated trees; and LED lights with pixel mapping throughout the amphitheater.
The event will run through Dec. 31.
Admission will be free and open to the public.