2017 Year in Review

Dear Friends,

As 2017 draws to a close, all of us at Wildwood Park want you to know how thankful we are to be part of your central Arkansas community. We’ve loved seeing you, entertaining you, exploring music and the arts with the next generation of artists and audiences, and sharing the great outdoors with more than 45,000 visitors this year.

We look forward to 2018 and hope that you will join us as a member of the Wildwood family! It’s a great way to take advantage of 2017 tax deductions. Visit www.wildwoodpark.org/support/donate/, mail your contribution to:

Wildwood Park for the Arts

20919 Denny Road

Little Rock, AR  72223

or give us a call at 501-821-7275 – we would love to hear from you!

2017 has been a wonderful and invigorating year at your Park.

Here are just a few reasons why:

• Wildwood produced the annual LANTERNS! Festival to the delight of more than 6,500 people who came to the Park to enjoy the music, crafts, art, food and beverages of vibrant cultures from around the world. [The 10^th Annual LANTERNS! Festival is March 2 – 4, 2018.]

• The Jr. Naturalist Spring Break Camp and WILDKids Cook! classes kept children going and growing strong. [WILDKids Cook! convenes again in January. The Jr. Naturalist Spring Break Camp in 2018 is March 19 – 23.]

• Gilbert and Sullivan’s charming operetta THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE fired up the Lucy Lockett Cabe Festival Theatre in the spring, and the knockout production of ANNIE added extra family focus to the year. [Get your tickets soon for INTO THE WOODS, onstage April 13 & 14, 2018.]

• The Wildwood Academy of Music & the Arts (WAMA) provided access to the highest standards in music and arts education to youth ages 6 – 18 during sessions for beginning to advanced vocal and instrumental students. [Enrollment for WAMA 2018 is underway! Visit wama.wildwoodpark.org for more information.]

• House Concerts continued, including the Will and Peter Anderson Jazz Trio in an anticipated return to Wildwood for an intimate concert.

• Wildwood’s collegiate initiative featured the fine arts, music, theatre and dance departments of Arkansas colleges and universities, including Lyon College, Henderson State University and University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

• Art in the Park visual arts exhibitions continued in the Galleries at Wildwood with Nature in Print featuring local female printmakers, 2016 National Audubon Photography winners, and the works of three universities.

• Father’s Day Fishing and Hay Days in the autumn encouraged families to get outdoors together.

• Thousands of people enjoyed the Park’s botanical gardens, Swan Lake, and miles of paved and woodland trails traversing Park grounds.

• Eagle Scouts chose Wildwood for several projects, including four Little Free Libraries awaiting guests in various locations throughout the Park.

• In the spring, Wildwood thrilled an adult gathering with exceptional wine, spirits, live entertainment, and food from more than a dozen local restaurants at the best-ever Wine and Food FEASTival. [FEASTival 2018 is scheduled for April 27.]

• And the ever popular Vine and Dine Wine Reserve Dinner rounded out Park events in November, 2017.

These life-affirming artistic experiences and adventures in the natural world are possible only through support like yours. Your contributions keep the gates open and provide free public access every day to gardens, green space, and Art in the Park exhibits.  Because of you, Wildwood has a reputation for excellent educational programs, delightful festivals, and high-quality theatrical productions in the 625-seat Cabe Festival Theatre.

With much gratitude for you and your support,