LIVEMUSIC

For live music, Texarkana hosts well-known artists, as well as many local bands that play parties, weddings, events, restaurants, and bars. Following are a few of the venues that often showcase live music on the weekends:

1923 BANANA CLUB

67 LANDING

CROSSROADS BAR & GRILL

CROSSTIES EVENT AND WEDDING VENUE

FAT JACK’S

HOPKINS ICEHOUSE

THE PEROT THEATRE

RAILYARD SALOON

REDBONE MAGIC BREWING

TWISTED FORK

WHISKEY RIVER COUNTRY

THE WILD HARE the West,” the Perot Theatre is a landmark and continues to attract tourists to downtown Texarkana. Purchased and fully restored by the City of Texarkana, Texas, in 1979-80, the building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and features gold leaf, scenes and designs on the ceiling and walls created by hand, original marble floors, and more. Texarkana natives H. Ross Perot and his sister, Bette, through the Perot Foundation, contributed the final funds needed to complete the restoration; in recognition of this contribution, the Texarkana Texas City Council renamed the building the Perot Theatre. The Perot Theatre is the home theatre of the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, Texarkana Community Ballet, and Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council, and also hosts dance recitals, community events, and other production opportunities. Tours of the Perot Theatre are provided MondayFriday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours for large groups can be held after hours or weekends if schedules permit. Call 903-792-4992 for more information. Tours are free, but donations are encouraged. (www.perottheatre.com)

Regional Arts Center

The building now known as the Regional Arts Center opened in 1911 as Texarkana’s first Federal District Courthouse. Bowie County acquired it in 1933 and made Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council, Inc. (TRAHC) the new lessee in 1985. Extensive renovations uncovered the early-century architecture and made them available to the public in 1992. The Regional Arts Center presents free, year-round art exhibits, offers rental space for special events and meetings, provides a unique shopping experience at For Arts’ Sake Gift Shop, and houses offices for TRAHC’s administration and ArtsSmart staff. Tour the latest exhibit, enjoy the latest performance by regional and national artists, or come to a stellar event put on by TRAHC at the historic Regional Arts Center. (www.trahc.org)

Scott Joplin Mural

Located on the south wall of the building at 311 Main Street, the Scott Joplin Mural pays tribute to the “King of Ragtime.” Joplin was born November 24, 1868, near what would later become Texarkana. (Texarkana was not established until 1873, but there were people living in the immediate area.) The family lived in the 600 block of Hazel Street during his childhood. This unique landmark, which was completely updated in 2015 by local artist Arthur Pletcher, depicts the life and accomplishments of Scott Joplin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer.

SILVERMOON CHILDREN’S THEATRE

Silvermoon Children’s Theatre began in 2014 to provide entertaining, professional-quality theatre, performed by children for audiences of all ages. They educate, challenge, and inspire youth, support the learning environment, and build strong community values by encompassing all aspects of theatre, both technical and artistic. The group produces three main stage shows per calendar year and offers other fun opportunities for area kids, including acting classes, “mini shows,” “turbo days,” and “drama camps.” (www.silvermoonkids.com)

The Silvermoon On Broad

The Silvermoon on Broad is a beautiful event venue developed in four historic buildings in downtown Texarkana on West Broad Street. Its unique and adaptable facility offers multiple spaces that can be mixed and matched for most any occasion, including receptions, performances, meetings, dinners, weddings, and fundraisers. (www.silvermoononbroad.com)

TEX*REP (TEXARKANA REPERTORY COMPANY, INC.)

Formed in 1990, Texarkana Repertory Company, Inc. is a nonprofit community theatre group that uses area talent in all aspects of its productions, on and off the stage. Tex*Rep performs a full season of four shows each year. Several memorable shows include: Legally Blonde, Grease, The Secret Garden, Proof, Steel Magnolias, Charlotte’s Web, A Christmas Carol, Nunsense, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia!, The Odd Couple, and Young Frankenstein. Some shows are done in collaboration with Texarkana College’s Department of Drama. (www.texrep.org)

Texarkana Community Ballet

Texarkana Community Ballet brings together the very best of the region’s classically-trained dancers for annual ballet performances. Texarkana Community Ballet holds company auditions each August, and performances of The Nutcracker are held each December in the historic Perot Theatre in downtown Texarkana. Its mission is to educate dancers and audiences in the art of classical ballet.

Texarkana Public Library

The Texarkana Public Library is located at 600 West Third Street, providing free services to all residents living within the city limits of Texarkana, Arkansas, and Texarkana, Texas. The library has over 100,000 materials available for check-out including books, CDs, videos, DVDs, magazines, and downloadable audio books. Patrons can also utilize print and electronic reference resources, access the Internet, check out a laptop in-house, enjoy free Wi-Fi service, make copies, send a fax, participate in computer and internet training, or attend a library event. The Friends of the Texarkana Public Library Bookstore, featuring new and renewed books, is located at 2024 North State Line and is open the second Friday and final weekend of each month. (www.txar-publib.org)

Texarkana Regional Chorale

The Texarkana Regional Chorale (TRC), under the direction of conductor Marc-André Bougie, is the premiere large choral ensemble of the Ark-La- Tex. TRC includes participants from a variety of backgrounds, and the group performs regularly in a number of regional, national, and international venues. Its repertoire ranges from classical to Broadway, gospel, and patriotic music. For more information, email txkregionalchorale@gmail.com.

Texarkana Symphony Orchestra

The Texarkana Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is a professional symphony orchestra, dedicated to bringing great symphonic music to the Texarkana area. Performing primarily in the beautiful, historic Perot Theatre, TSO presents a series of classical masterworks, symphonic pops, and educational concerts during its September–May season. For more information about the TSO or the latest schedule of concerts please see the advertisement on page 14 or visit www.texarkanasymphony.org.