Good morning, Bentonville.

Bentonville will host its annual free Christmas parade this Saturday at Bentonville Square starting at 6 p.m. The event will feature over 100 floats and a Downtown Now TV show while local restaurants & shops welcome visitors despite heavy traffic, so early arrival is recommended.

Pea Ridge is inviting residents to donate food for 150 Christmas Blessing Baskets and unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots at City Hall (975 Weston St.).

Food box assembly starts at 1 p.m. Dec. 22 with a giveaway at 3 p.m., and toy donations are accepted through Dec. 15.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, who led the company through major tech and wage changes, announced that he will retire effective Jan.

31 with John Furner succeeding him while McMillon stays on as a consultant. McMillon credited early tough choices—like increased wages and e-commerce investments—for turning challenges into success.

Empathy Health Technologies of Bentonville raised $7.6 million for its Sober Sidekick sobriety app to help prevent relapse—it will use the funds to grow support teams, build value-based partnerships with U.S. payers, and boost real-time predictive capabilities.

The funding was announced Wednesday in a press release.

Walmart Inc. signed leases with the last three tenants for retail spaces in its new headquarters campus in Bentonville on Wednesday.

The final lease brings full occupancy as the company continues expanding its operations locally.

In November, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery raised $9.3 million for college scholarships, helped by a nearly $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot and a $700 million Powerball jackpot.

The amount exceeds last November’s $8.9 million and will support students statewide.

State and local law enforcement agencies are launching the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign starting Friday through Jan.

1 to curb holiday drunk driving. Officials urge travelers to designate a sober driver — or use rideshare options — to stay safe.

University of Arkansas football coach Ryan Silverfield reportedly hired defensive coaches Deron Wilson + CJ Wilford while former assistant Eric Mateos is set to join Wisconsin's Big Ten staff, reflecting adjustments after a season with a marked improvement in the Razorbacks' secondary.

Today, local high school basketball tournaments feature two Bentonville match-ups — the Bentonville team faces Mountain Home at Rogers at 8 p.m. while Haas Hall Bentonville takes on Pea Ridge at 7 p.m. Regional games will continue through Saturday.

Arkansas Lithium Technology Accelerator VIP Demo Day

5:30-7 p.m. — Record Downtown — Free entry — Witness innovative lithium tech pitches from Arkansas' emerging energy startups.

The Nutcracker - 13th Annual Production

7-9 p.m. — Arend Arts Center — Ticket information available — Experience the beloved holiday classic set to Tchaikovsky's enchanting score.

Noon Year's Eve Celebration

10 AM-1 PM — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art — Free entry — Celebrate the New Year with artmaking, live music, and a festive noon countdown for families.