TEXARKANA, Ark. - Friday and Saturday bring two different sorts of unique entertainment for Texarkana, yet organized by the same folks.
On Friday night, catch a Hopkins Icehouse comedy show featuring local jokesters who aim to bring folks a laugh in this tough, tumultuous year. Performers lined up for this night are Amy Johnson, Freedom Wright, Geary, TC Chapman and Heather James, the organizer.
It's an adults-only show, titled "S**t Show 2020 Comedy Show," start time 9 p.m. with no cover charge. Comedians will share the humor they've mined during this wild year.
"It's just a bunch of amateur local comedians coming out. And 2020 has been a really, really down year for everyone, and we just want to make people smile again," James said.
She'd love to see the local community attend and share in the laughter. Her performers have some experience, but for her it's the first time on stage. "This will actually be my very first show," James said.
She's excited but nervous, mostly because family will attend and if something goes awry she'll hear about it forever, she admits with a laugh. Of course, this Friday is not just any Friday.
"We got Hopkins on board to do it for Friday the 13th," James said about this stand-up comedy, cautioning they planned it for a later hour because it won't be rated PG. Although it's free to attend, the jokesters will be joking for tips.
"Just come out and have a good time, and get everybody's mind off of 2020," James said, adding, "We've got to laugh to keep from crying at this point."
Then on Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. at Camp Karlton Kemp in Texarkana, Hombre Rana and Eclectic Events by an Eccentric Soul partner to present Universal Vibe, a holistic health workshop with live yoga and meditation, local vendors, live music and more.
Yoga and meditation are provided courtesy of Joel Wright, Amber Samuelson, Leslie Reason, D.C. Gomez and others. Live music will be performed by Droop Method, Qwilla, Noah Rock, Robbiebadboi, Novagawd, Patty.Caked and Enthused. Local vendors include Crystal Moon, Moderne Primitives, Pretty Dead Things, Clurations, Stones by Amber and others.
Face painting, live arts and crafts, fire spinning, flow arts, door prizes and other sorts of family-friendly fun will be part of this event. James organized Universal Vibe with Colton Foltz, and she says in addition to outdoor space there's indoor space, too.
Vendors will be selling products, while crafters and artists will be working and selling their work. Games, candy, bounce houses for the kids and, possibly, food trucks will all add to the festive occasion.
"Kind of in the later evening we're doing the concerts," James said, adding that all are welcome. "We welcome people from all walks of life. We do not judge," she said, noting Eclectic Events is an extension of her interest in party planning.
James said the holistic workshop angle reflects a commitment to working on mind, body and soul with different means, such as yoga and meditation.
(Hopkins Icehouse is located at 301 E. 3rd St. downtown. Camp Karlton Kemp is located at 674 Miller County 15; parking there is limited and masks will be required indoors at Universal Vibe.)