While out of towners plan their Diversity Weekends months in advance, the event has a way of sneaking up on busy business owners. So this is a reminder.

Spring Diversity Weekend is this weekend, April 3-6.

The earliest scheduled events offer gay and gay-friendly business owners the opportunity to meet and mingle with and hand out their business cards to visitors who will be shopping downtown later--and in the months and years to come.

Besides giving you the chance to get up close and personal with prospective customers, you can see old friends, make new ones and have a good time at any of these preliminary gatherings:

On Thursday, April 3:

Our regularly-scheduled weekly Rainbow Family gathering at Caribe Cantina y Restaurante, 309 W. Van Buren, starting at 6:30 p.m. is an opportunity to encounter early arrivals--along with 30-40 locals. Eureka Springs residents often bring their out of town visitors to these «prayer meetin's».

On Friday, April 4:

* Meet N Greet, Eureka House, 369 Onyx Cave Road. 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.. It's the traditional afternoon kickoff for Diversity Weekend. Bring a covered dish, munchies and adult beverages. There will be a raffle of fabulous prizes donated by local businesses. This is a very popular event for regular Diversity Weekend visitors. It gives them the opportunity to meet business owners in a casual picnic-like setting.

* Later that night, back to Caribe for the Diversity Weekend Welcome Mixer, 309 W Van Buren. Happy Hour Prices and Food Specials. 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Another Diversity Weekend tradition where you can actually meet and talk to weekenders one on one.

Other Friday, April 4 events:

* Diversity Karaoke Dance party with DJ TIC, Rowdy Beaver, 417 West Van Buren, 9:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. $3.00 Cover.

* Tiffany Christopher New Delhi Indian Buffet/Deli, 2 N Main Street, All ages welcome, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. FREE.

* Diversity Band, Chelseas, 10 Mountain Street, 9:00p.m. - close.

* Diversity Dance Party, The Tiki Torch, 75 S Main, Doors open at 5:00 p.m. New and Exciting Menu.

* «Midnight Teaser Drag», The Tiki Torch Club Club, 75 S Main St, Midnight

* Ashley McBride, Jack's Place, 37 Spring Street, 9:00 p.m. -1:00 a.m. FREE

* Karaoke with Tiny, Henri's Just One More, 19 1/2 Spring Street, 9:00 p.m. -1:00 a.m. FREE.

* Jump N' Jive N' Janice Price, LIVE performance, Underground, Eureka Live, 35 North Main, 10ish p.m.; NO COVER CHARGE. Dirty Disco Dancing B-4 and after the show, hosted by Heart of the Hills B&B.

* Drag in the Yard, The Lumberyard, 105 E. Van Buren, 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., DJ Dance Music ,10:00 p.m. - close.

The entire Diversity Weekend schedule is posted here: Spring Diversity Schedule

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