The stage is set, literally, to ring in 2024 tonight in downtown El Dorado.
Hosted by The Haywood Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, the New Year's Eve Block Party is set for 9 p.m. at the intersection of South Washington Avenue and Locust Street.
The party is the first community New Year's Eve celebration to be held in the city in nearly 25 years. The event is free and open to the public and will include live music, a DJ, a New Year's countdown and ball-lighting, 360 camera, prize drawings/giveaways, food trucks and more.
Party attire is black, gold and sequins.
Lance Jonio, operations manager for The Haywood, said organizers have spent the past few days decorating, setting up the stage and shoring up details for the event.
Jonio said the community's support of the New Year's Eve Block Party has been "overwhelming."
"We're just excited to get this going," he said.
The Haywood is working with several other groups -- including Main Street El Dorado, the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce, the city of El Dorado and local businesses -- to pull off the event.
Jonio noted that a local company donated a lift from which the New Year's ball will hang. He said organizers had a last-minute change of plans Friday.
Due to logisitical concerns and how cold weather -- temperatures are expected to dip into the low 40s Sunday night -- might affect the hydraulic system on the lift, a ball-drop that had been scheduled for the block party will now be a ball-lighting, he explained.
"We found out yesterday that the ball-drop wasn't going to happen so we had to come with a backup plan. I know it's disappointing for people who were expecting a ball-drop but we know that people are expecting a ball, so we will be lighting the ball at midnight instead of dropping the ball," Jonio said.
The party will feature the same ball that was dropped during the last community-wide New Year's Eve celebration that was held in 1999 in downtown El Dorado.
The event was presented by Main Street El Dorado. MSE had planned another downtown New Year's Eve celebration in 2000 but the event was canceled due to snow.
The seven-foot ball from the 1999 event was recovered storage, dusted off and modernized it by adding more lights -- a total of 4,000 -- and making a few other changes, Jonio previously explained.
Kyle & Co Lash and Skin Studio and Pure Bliss Salon and Massage have both donated gift packages for prize giveaways.
Kyle & Co is offering a couple's massage and Skin Studio Pure Bliss, a $300 gift basket.
Each of the gift packages will be coupled with a free night's stay at The Haywood in drawings for the prize giveaways.
The Haywood is also offering rooms at a discounted rate of $129 for tonight.
Jonio previously explained that Hilton corporate officials agreed to the "Holiday Cheer" rate plan as a safety measure to help prevent revelers from drinking and driving.
The special rate comes with a complimentary bottle of champagne and patrons who book a room under the rate plan -- corporate number 2970080 -- will be entered into the prize drawing five times. By 2 p.m. Saturday, fewer than 20 rooms of 70 were still availble, Jonio reported.
The prize drawing will take place and the winners announced 11:45 p.m., just before the ball drop.
Starting at 11 p.m., champagne will also be available for $5 per serving from The Haywood bar, The Well Bar.
Drinks and bar appetizers, including cheeseburger sliders, will be on sale at The Well Bar from 9 until 11 p.m.
Two portable bars will also sell drinks throughout the night.
Patrons must be at least 21 years old to enter the bar.
Party-goers will be able to bring their alcoholic beverages that are purchased at The Haywood outside of the hotel to participate in outdoor party activities, including watching the ball drop.
Streets will be closed to traffic in the area of South Washington and Locust, which is a part of the city's entertainment district, which, per city ordinance, allows for the open-carry and consumption of alcohol within the district.
The district is roughly bordered by Pony and Locust Streets on the south end; Cleveland and West avenues on the west end; Hill Avenue between Pony and Oak streets on the east side: and Oak Street between Hill and Cleveland avenues to the north.
The western border runs primarily along Cleveland Avenue, with the exception of an area between Cedar and Locust streets that juts out to South West Avenue.
The boundaries of the district are marked by signage and yellow crosswalks.
Alcoholic beverages that are purchased outside the district are prohibited within the district.
Local band Black Strap will kick off a live music performance at 9 p.m. and DJ Carter will provide entertainment "on the ones and twos" from 11:30 p.m. until 1 a.m.
From 10 p.m. until 1 a.m., photographers and videographers will be on hand with a 360 camera and photo and boomerang video opportunities, with materials tailored to the 2024 New Year's theme.
Announcements will precede the New Year's Eve countdown and ball-drop. The ball-drop will be shown on TV screens inside The Well Bar, Jonio said.
Tonight's hosts will be Karen Hicks, vice president of membership and events for the chamber of commerce, and Steve Biernacki, executive director of the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society.
Jonio said organizers are hoping to make the New Year's Eve Block Party an annual event and are looking forward to local entities coming together to plan more community-wide events downtown.
"It makes me happy about next year. We want to get as many people from all walks of life down there to enjoy the entertainment district and enjoy downtown," he said.