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What to do and where to go in NWA to get in the Christmas spirit. NWA Sat. Dec. 9 9am – 11am - Pioneer Christmas Craft Workshop - Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park Sun. Dec. 3 Christmas Open House in Prairie Grove – Battlefield State Park Sat. Dec. 23 Holiday Open House Devil's at Den State Park Butterfield Tues. Dec. 12 9am – 12pm, Holiday Tour of Homes Eureka Springs Through Dec. 28 Great Passion Play Sat. Dec. 2 1pm – 3pm –Santa in the Park – Basin Spring Park Sat. & Sun. Dec. 2 & 3 3pm – Christmas Tour of Homes on Armstrong, Douglas and Steelle Streets. Sat. Dec. 9 7:30pm - Ozarks Chorale Holiday Concert at Eureka Springs Auditorium Fri. Dec. 1 6pm - Eureka Springs Christmas Parade of Lights Fayetteville Fri. Dec. 1 & Sat. Dec. 2 Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, Walton Arts Center Through Dec. 31 Light of the Ozarks Fayetteville Square 5pm – 1am, Nightly Sun. Dec. 3 Voces8 at Walton Arts Center Thurs. Dec. 7 7:30pm - A Child's Christmas In Wales Holiday Concert UofA Schola Cantorum Thurs. & Fri. Dec. 7 & 8 Martial Artists of Tianjin, Peoples Republic of China. Two shows, Walton Arts Center M argaret Rost is already in the Christmas spirit. "I just think near Christmas you are always getting ready for a big family event," she said. "It's the biggest gathering of the year." For Margaret, who handles advertising for Wishing Springs Gallery in Bella Vista, it's the perfect time to get in the giving spirit. "It's a great time we give to each other," she explained. "We don't always do that the rest of the year." Wishing Springs got it's start in 1982 when a group of artists and arts supporters leased a native oak and stone barn on County Road 40 just east of highway 71. It took more than two years of hard work and fundraising to restore the former live stock barn and turn it into a gallery sponsored by the Bella Vista Village Art Club. Today, dozens of local and regional artists and crafters exhibit there. The 501(c) (3) non-profit organization contributes to the community by donating Fine Arts and Applied Arts scholarships to local graduating high school seniors. "We're a gallery that's been in operation for about 35 years," Margaret said, proudly. "Were made up of about 50 some local artists who exhibit here. There are crafts and two dimensional art and we have woodworkers, several potters and weavers. You name it." The gallery itself is ready for the Christmas holiday, too. In fact, the gallery will kick off the Christmas season with a special event. "We have a holiday open house beginning on the 24th of November," Margaret said. "Those are three days to come by the 24th, 25th and 26th. We are open all day on the weekend after Thanksgiving. We do lots of promotions. We have lots of food and holiday beverages and lots of free things to win. We have three floors of artists. There's a lot here to see." Throughout most of the year, the galleries offerings are traditional. However, during the holidays many artists who sell their wares at Wishing Springs get into holiday mode and embrace the season. "A lot of our illustrators do Christmas art," she said. "We have several artists who paint Christmas art. We have a lot of crafters that do Christmas, too. One of our woodworkers just came in with a display of hand turned ornaments. Everybody tries to do something for the season. Upstairs we have an entire section that's just Christmas items. We do a lot for Christmas and a lot of people contribute. All of our gifts are hand made. Christmas is the perfect time of year to give a hand made gift and we have lots of those here." Margaret already has her gift giving plan ready to go. She plans to put a very personal spin on her Christmas gifts. "I love to cook," she said. "I love the baked goods. Giving those as gifts is important." Sunday, November 19, 2017 Christmas Activities, Events & Shopping NWA Democrat-Gazette • 3 D on Overstreet knows why people love to get jewelry at Christmas. "The best reason is that it makes people feel good," Don said. "When we talk with our customers they are happy and planning special events and looking forward to being with their loved ones at the holidays. It's just a fun business to be in." Don, who joined the family jewelry business in 1977, has celebrated more than a few holiday seasons standing behind the counter at Overstreet's, his popular jewelry store in Bentonville. His jewelry has put smiles on many faces around Northwest Arkansas on Christmas morning. Decorating the store for the season, he said, is part of the fun. That's part of it, the decorating," he said. "Just getting into the sprit with decorations. But more than anything else, it's interacting with our clients. They make our season." Don remembers Christmas at his parents store when he was a younger man. He said his view of the Christmas holidays has changed some since then. "When your a kid it's all about what you are going to get for Christmas," he said, laughing a bit. "When you have kids and grandkids and your helping make a customer's Christmas a happy one, you become very much aware of how meaningful the Christmas season is to so many people." As the holidays approach, gift ideas start coming to mind. Jewelry is always a winner. "Jewelry is such an individual thing," Don said. "For a man it could be a nice watch. A lot of guys wear solid gold chains that were given to them by their significant other. It's special just because it came from them. It's important to them." "The idea of a gift," Don stressed, "Is sometimes more important than what the gift actually is." While the gift of Jewelry is great for the guys, he always sells more jewelry for the ladies around the house. "There are staples that are always popular with women," Don explained. "Anything in diamond jewelry is good.. rings, pendants, dinner rings, bracelets, earrings. All good gifts." Some folks, he said, pick Christmas to pop the question. "Christmas is a very romantic season," Don said. "A lot of people get engaged over the Christmas season. And we sell a lot of engagement rings." At Overstreet's Don has followed the same yule rule for years: "We just try to treat everybody with the joy and spirit of Christmas they bring to us" Well said, Don. Well said. A diamond is forever Overstreet's Jewelry getting in the Christmas spirit By Dave Woods NWA Democrat-Gazette More on page 4 Christmas EvEnts & aCtivitiEs Wishing for the perfect gift? Wishing Springs Gallery a great place to get gifts, gift ideas By Dave Woods NWA Democrat-Gazette IGNITE SOMETHING O N L Y T H E P E R F E C T C U T C A N U N L E A S H A D I A M O N D ' S B R I L L I A N C E . 479.273.5424 • On The Downtown Bentonville Square 103 N.E. 2nd Street • (Just fi ve minutes from the Hwy 72 Exit) Member American Gem Society • www.overstreetsjewelry.com Overstreet's Jewelry Since 1948. I N C. Sometimes the best gifts arrive when all the excitement is over and you fi nally have time for yourselves. Sunday, December 10, 2017 11:00 AM A Christmas Concert Presented by the Sanctuary Choir & Festival Orchestra What Kind of Thr e?