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Friends,
Little Rock leads the way as a regional tourism hub, with our local businesses and institutions driving an industry that helps sustain our strong and growing economy. We attract more and more U.S. and international visitors every year to Arkansas’s capital city, and we are always grateful for the work of the team at the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau to support and encourage tourism.
 Last week, the LRCVB released its annual report, showing that visitors spent nearly $2,200,000,000 in Little Rock in 2025. This significant tourism investment in our City directly supports more than 12,000 local jobs and generates $139 million in state and local tax revenue.
We attracted almost 200,000 people for meetings, conventions and sporting events. We have more than 200 future meetings and events already scheduled in the weeks and months to come, meaning additional investment in our community.
To make sure Little Rock remains an attractive destination for visitors and convention-goers, we are consistently working to update and improve our facilities and quality-of-life amenities. This includes the renovations at B. Finley Vinson Plaza near the Robinson Center, upgrades and enhancements at the Statehouse Convention Center, creation of a new Visitor Experience Center downtown, and the planned renovation of River Market Hall. As the LRCVB notes, these improvements do not just benefit visitors, but also all of us who call Little Rock home.
Our tourism economy helps us all, so join us in making sure our guests are as “Big on Little Rock,” as we are in 2026. Start this week by supporting one of our largest annual tourism events, the Little Rock Marathon. We expect visitors from all 50 states and more than a dozen other countries for this year’s marathon and associated races. Learn more about this impactful weekend for visitors and residents below, or visit LittleRockMarathon.com.
I appreciate you!
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| | | Little Rock Marathon Set for Sunday
This weekend, join racers from across the country and around the world for the 24th annual Little Rock Marathon. This annual event brings thousands to the starting line in Downtown Little Rock for the weekend’s 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon and Marathon races.
Marathon officials expect more than 10,000 runners this year, including participants from all 50 states and more than a dozen foreign countries. This race is well-known and well-liked by athletes from around the world, with participants traveling an average of 285 miles to attend. According to Marathon officials, close to half of participants will stay in a hotel while here. Marathon attendees, their families, and friends support our local merchants and generate a significant economic impact.
There are multiple opportunities for Little Rock residents to either enter a race or cheer on participants this weekend. While the 5K race is sold out, there is limited in-person registration for the other races at the annual Little Rock Marathon Health and Fitness Expo, held Friday and Saturday at the Statehouse Convention Center. The Expo runs Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free event features more than 50 exhibitors offering products and services related to health and fitness. Participants may pick up their race packets at the Expo.
Races begin Saturday with the 5K and 10K at 7 a.m., the Little Rockers Kids Marathon at 11 a.m., and the All-Abilities Division at noon. On Sunday, the Marathon and Half-Marathon start at 7 a.m. All races begin on La Harpe Boulevard directly behind the Statehouse Convention Center.
Temporary road closures are expected throughout the weekend, and we appreciate your patience as athletes have the opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of Arkansas’s capital city. To view the course route, visit the Marathon’s website.
This year’s marathon theme is, “Every Mile Tells a Story,” and we would be unable to share such a successful story without the support and hard work of our sponsors and volunteers. We appreciate our City team members, as well, for their commitment to a great event that is safe for participants and spectators.
We will see you this weekend for the 2026 Little Rock Marathon! |
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| | Scenes from the start of the 23rd Annual Little Rock Marathon on March 2, 2025 |
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Parkview Cuts Ribbon on Renovated Arts Center
As a proud alumnus of Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, it was a privilege to join students, staff, faculty and Little Rock School District officials last week to unveil Parkview’s “Next Act,” the newly renovated Parkview Performing Arts Center.
The multimillion-dollar investment in lighting, audio/visual upgrades, curtains and overall improvements will further enhance Parkview’s reputation as a top-tier school and performing arts showcase. This newly renovated space will support learning, creativity and inspiration for the next generations of Parkview students, and we are excited about the future of my alma mater.
While attending Parkview, I learned that the arts helped instill confidence, discipline and a strong understanding of what it means to be part of a team. We are grateful to LRSD for the investment, which will help students to achieve goals that would otherwise be unreachable without a strong foundation in arts education.
The first performance at the renovated Parkview Performing Arts Center will be school’s spring musical, “Seussical the Musical,” running April 10 through 12. |
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Post-storm Pothole Repairs Continue
In response to the recent winter storm, the City of Little Rock Public Works Department has been actively repairing potholes. As of today, we have used more than 67 tons (134,000 pounds) of asphalt on pothole repair across Little Rock.
Potholes are extremely common after winter storms, and they are caused by water that seeps under pavement and turns to ice. Potholes form when the ice thaws.
Since the storm, the City has handled nearly 220 requests for pothole repairs on Little Rock streets. These do not include the repairs made because of our team’s proactive efforts to identify and repair trouble spots.
We encourage motorists to help identify potholes by reporting them to 311, either through the 311 app, visiting our website, or calling 311. If you do not already have the app, download it in the App Store or on Google Play. It takes several days for repair after a request is submitted to 311. |
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| | | Here’s a quick look at what’s going on this week in the City of Little Rock:
Tuesday, February 24: The Little Rock Board of Directors will set the agenda for its next regular meeting at 4 p.m. in the Board Room at City Hall, 500 W. Markham St. All board meetings are open to the public, and all meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
Wednesday, February 25: Learn hands-on skills to enhance civic engagement as part of the City’s “Let’s Get Digital” initiative. This workshop is from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Wakefield Resource Center, 7417 Doyle Springs Road. Learn more here.
Wednesday, February 25: The Little Rock Sustainability Commission meets at 3 p.m. in the Community Room at Centennial Bank, 1301 Rebsamen Park Road.
Thursday, February 26: The monthly meeting of the Little Rock Public Safety Commission is at 6 p.m. at the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th St.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 27-March 1: Little Rock Marathon weekend features activities and races culminating with the annual Little Rock Marathon starting Sunday, March 1, at 7 a.m. Click here for more information and a full schedule of events. |
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