All administrative offices of the city of El Dorado, including the police and fire departments and El Dorado Water Utilities, will close at 2 p.m. today, ahead of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
City offices will be closed Monday and Tuesday and will reopen at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
Fire and police services will operate as usual.
The city's garbage collection service will run a day behind schedule next week, sanitation supervisor Anthony Traylor said.
Traylor said sanitation crews will return to work Tuesday and start curbside pickups in Ward 1.
Main Street El Dorado is capping off a busy year with a much-needed break by closing its office today. The office will remain closed until Jan. 2.
MSE recently reflected on 2023, during which the group presented and assisted with several events and projects.
The group started off the year by helping to coordinate the 49th annual Arkansas Governor's Conference on Tourism, which was held Feb. 26 - 28 -- the first time the conference has been held in El Dorado.
MSE rolled through spring and summer with its own annual events, including Shamrockin' on the Square, May on Main and Summer on the Square.
The group lent its support and assistance to events that celebrated cultural diversity in downtown El Dorado, including a Juneteenth celebration with activities that took place over the course of several days in the downtown area, including the Murphy Arts District entertainment complex.
Also in June, MSE presented a $10,000 funding request to the El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission to implement a software program that helps MSE better track attendance for its events.
Placer.ai relies on cellular phone data to count the number of people within a designated radius and MSE has used the program for its events and other groups who have asked to use the software, including the Mayhaw Festival, SouthArk Outdoor Expo and the South Arkansas Arboretum.
Heading into fall, MSE helped out with Mi Tierra Fest, a Hispanic Heritage Celebration that was held Sept. 30 in commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
In October, MSE heralded 35 years of MusicFest, its flagship fundraiser; hosted the sixth annual Airstreams on the Square; and welcomed several volunteers and attendees for Scare on the Square, a Halloween event.
The following month, MSE launched a community survey, which invited area residents and out-of-town visitors to make their voices heard and assist MSE in setting priorities and assessing what they would like to see in the city's historic downtown, which is one of El Dorado's major tourist attractions.
MSE partnered with the University of Central Arkansas Center for Community Design and Development on the project.
UCACDD drafted the survey and is compiling the results.
Responses will be incorporated into a new strategic plan that MSE is preparing for 2024.
MSE kicked off the holiday season on Nov. 16 and rolled through the next few weeks by working with the Downtown Business Association to present the Downtown Holiday Open House, Black Friday Pajama Party and Shop Small Saturday.
MSE wrapped up its 2023 Christmas events Dec. 9 with Santa on the Square and Pancakes with Santa, an event that was introduced this year by new downtown business Barefoot Bistro, with assistance from MSE.