Good morning, Fort Smith.

Riverboy Foundation Founder Rhyan Besco distributed Christmas gifts on November 29 to the Vivencio Family while selecting the Vicencio Family for holiday support after they lost their special needs son Angel; the effort was made possible by the foundation team and local artists Anella + James Charles.

On Dec. 1, the Holiday Express opened at Creekmore Park where Directors Kevin Settle and Neal Martin served hot cocoa along with Fort Smith City Director Lee Kemp and his family—riding a festive train amid a display of holiday lights and eager guests.

The event brought the community together with long lines of visitors enjoying the seasonal celebration.

The annual Christmas Honors tradition returns to Fort Smith National Cemetery as more than 17,000 wreaths will be placed on headstones, with family members beginning the ceremony at 11 and a short tribute to honor veterans.

Volunteers will be needed this Friday morning between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Fort Smith Convention Center+ to prepare and load the wreaths onto trucks.

Crafty Christmas lovers will join the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum at its annual Holiday Art Party to make free Christmas crafts and celebrate the season—bringing community members together through art.

The Fort Smith Chorale will launch the holiday concert season tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church with a program featuring Advent texts and traditional carols—audiences can also enjoy a lineup of performances by students from Fort Smith and nearby schools—running through mid-December.

Students from three local schools attended the Game and Fish Commission meeting at the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center on November 20 to share their experiences with the School of Conservation Leadership Program and the Generation Conservation Summit.

Teachers and participants said the programs made science real — sparking interest in environmental studies and outdoor leadership opportunities.

Hannah Seal, a dental hygiene student at UAFS, became the first in her family to go to college after losing her mother in elementary school (her uncle, grandmother, and sister provided daily support) and she covers tuition with scholarships and a payment plan while also studying business administration to widen her career options.

The University of Arkansas–Fort Smith will host its Long Night Against Procrastination event tomorrow from 4–9 p.m. at the Boreham Library—students will have access to tutoring, gaming, kitten cuddling and a themed mocktail hour with door prizes given every half hour.

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith men's basketball team won 86—75 against Northeastern State on Tuesday in Tahlequah, Okla as they opened MIAA play.

Kameron Johnson led with 18 points and the team rallied from a brief second-half deficit to lead by as much as 16 points — showing a promising start this season.

Safety Keivay Foster—a 3-star prospect from Muscle Shoals, Ala—announced on social media Tuesday that he was rescinding his pledge from Arkansas football after Silverfield’s hire, making him the fourth recruit to reopen his recruiting.

The Razorbacks now have 13 pledges for the 2026 class.

High school coaches who met Arkansas football coach Ryan Silverfield say he shows strong leadership and clear experience—he finished his 10th season at Memphis.

They expect his past success will help the team win games in the new season.

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.

$5 Movie Night at King Opera House

12-2 p.m. — King Opera House — $5 entry — Enjoy a budget-friendly movie screening in a historic venue.

Wiggle Worms Storytime

10-11 a.m. — Fort Smith Public Library (Main Library) — Free entry — Enjoy rhymes, songs, and stories in a delightful interactive storytime for babies and caregivers.