Looking for something different to do in El Dorado this weekend?
Well, you have your pick, including an invitation to don your best country western attire and get ready to rumble in downtown El Dorado.
The Crank Up the Hank Lip-Sync Battle is set for 3 p.m. Saturday on the east side (Jefferson Avenue) of the Union County Courthouse.
In a nod to the June 19 Hank Williams Jr. concert, presented by the Murphy Arts District, Main Street El Dorado is teaming up with MAD and the Downtown Business Association to host the event.
Prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place winners, who will win prize packages that include cash awards, tickets to MAD concerts and other events — including Imperial Wrestling Revolution, which is set for 7 p.m. Saturday —, and concerts and gift cards from downtown businesses.
Wins also come with trophies and bragging rights, Main Street board members said.
Lip-syncers who register for the battle by 4 p.m. today will also be entered into a drawing for a $50 cash prize.
Those who aren’t quite up for lip-syncing will also have an opportunity to win big on Saturday.
Sign up at any participating downtown merchant between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. for a chance to win a prize package worth $100 cash, a total of $300 in gift cards and baskets and two tickets to see Shania Twain on June 12 in North Little Rock.
Holly McDonald, Main Street executive assistant, said those who sign up for the prize package will be required to submit only their email addresses, which will go into a drawing that will be held at 5 p.m.
The lip sync battle is open to participants who are 16 and older.
Participants must perform to songs by Hank Williams Jr. or Pat Green, who will open for Williams in the MAD Amphitheater.
Local radio station KIX 103 will be on hand for a live remote broadcast from 2 until 6 p.m.
McDonald said the event was organized on the spur of the moment as part of continuing efforts by Main Street and the DBA to draw people downtown.
The lip-sync battle will complement several other activities that will be going on downtown Saturday, including the grand opening of the MAD Playscape, Imperial Wrestling and Farmers Market at MAD.
“With all of the other things that will be going on that day, we want people downtown,” McDonald said.
She said downtown merchants have reported “an amazing increase in foot traffic” that has come with events that have been held in El Dorado within the past several months.
For more information or to sign up for the lip-sync battle, call the Main Street office at 870-862-4747 or visit the MSE Facebook page.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at [email protected].