Good morning, Fort Smith.

Mercy Healthy Foundation will host the 21st annual Mercy Turkey Run—a Thanksgiving Day 5K starting at 8 a.m. on November 27th at The Barracks at Chaffee in Barling, where community runners are invited to do it for the pie.

Before the holidays, the Fort Smith Salvation Army saw more local residents asking for help with basic needs as many, including first-time visitors, turned to the agency amid a tough year.

The organization, which usually serves 200 people at its Thanksgiving meal, expects to serve about 300 this year + it is counting on community food donations and volunteer support to meet the demand.

United Way of Fort Smith Area released its 2025 Holiday Giving Guide to show what local agencies need—helping community members give gifts that benefit neighbors.

The guide lists essentials such as clothing, household items, and food pantry staples—advising shoppers to use Black Friday discounts to stretch every dollar.

Downtown Cocoa Crawl returns next weekend as over 30 businesses will offer free hot cocoa and holiday cheer from 2–5 p.m. on Nov.

29 — followed by a tree lighting ceremony at Cisterna Park from 5–6 p.m.; a digital map is released today to help visitors plan their route.

Southside High School Southern Belles will travel to New York this Thanksgiving to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade—where they will rehearse from Sunday through Wednesday and run a Tuesday NBC run-through before performing in front of Macy’s.

The seniors, who have participated in the parade since 2006 through the Spirit of America Dance Stars program, view the trip as a long-awaited opportunity.

Christmas Honors Wreath-Laying Event

8 a.m. - 11 a.m. — Fort Smith Convention Center — Free entry — Participate in a heartfelt wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the holiday season.

Hearts of Gold Classic 5K Run/Walk for Project Compassion

3-5 p.m. — Ben Geren Regional Park — Registration details available — Participate in a festive holiday run to support Project Compassion.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Systems Administrator II Training

Dec 8-11 — Fort Smith Adult Education Center — $1890 — Enhance your Linux skills with this hands-on, expert-led training course.

Velcro Pygmies Live Performance

7:30 PM - 1:30 AM — Majestic Fort Smith — Ticket prices vary — Experience a nostalgic musical journey with the World Famous Velcro Pygmies.

An Evening with Jane Austen

6:30-11 p.m. — Bonneville House — Ticket purchase required — Celebrate Jane Austen's 250th birthday with a Regency dinner, wine tasting, and dance lessons.

Candlelight Christmas Concert

6:30-8:30 p.m. — United States Marshals Museum — Ticket prices vary — Experience the magic of Christmas Carols performed by strings under candlelight.