Rain or shine, the show will go on today for the May on Main festival, which will kick off at 11 a.m. today in downtown El Dorado and will be held in conjunction with the Mayhaw Festival, which starts at 8 a.m. two blocks away near the Newton House Museum, 510 N. Jackson Ave.
Scattered rain showers are expected to move through the area today.
However, earlier this week, Holly McDonald -- executive assistant for Main Street El Dorado, who is presenting May on Main -- offered assurances that a little rainy weather will not put a damper on the third annual festival.
"We might have scattered thunderstorms or whatever but we're going to roll. There might be some pieces that may not happen because of the weather, but both events as a whole will go," McDonald said during an El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission meeting on May 3.
Activities for May on Main will take place between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. in the area of Jefferson Avenue and Elm Street. City crews were in the area early Friday afternoon setting up for the one-day festival.
The 31st annual Mayhaw Festival, also a one-day event presented by the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society, will last until 2 p.m.
Registration for the May on Main Poker Run will be held from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. in the northeast corner of the Murphy USA parking lot in the Mayhaw Festival perimeter.
Both festivals have planned schedules that are filled with family-friendly activities. Admission is free for both events, while some activities are paid.
For more information, visit mainstreeteldorado.org or soarkhistory.com. Also, go to the groups' Facebook pages.
Farmers Market and Soul Fest
Today is also opening day for Farmers Market at MAD.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. until noon in the open-air market of the MAD Amphitheater, 105 E. Locust.
The Union County Master Gardeners' annual plant sale will begin an hour earlier at the Farmers Market.
Visitors are invited to check out the plant sale and plenty of other vendors/sellers, including Mike Senn Family Farm, Angels by Design, Oh How Sweet Cotton Candy, Sweet Surprises by Mandie, Four Points Coffee and more.
Admission is free for the Farmers Market.
The second day of Soul Fest is also set for today, with gates opening at 3 p.m. at the Union County Fairgrounds, 1430 E. 19th.
The show starts at 8 p.m. with performances by Wendell B, Marcellus The Singer, the PC Band, Roi Chip Anthony, Sassy D, Lil CJ, Ghetto Cowboy and Suga.
Tickets are $40 at the gate.
Soul Fest is a live-music event that celebrates blues and Southern soul music. The event, which was launched 22 years ago, is presented by Mr. Mike's Productions.
For more information, call promoter Michael Jackson at 870-866-7441 or send an email to [email protected].
Alex and Max Biernacki shake mayhaw berries loose at a local orchard. The berries were used to make the famous mayhaw jelly, which will be on sale during today's Mayhaw Festival near downtown El Dorado. (Courtesy of Steve Biernacki/Special to the News-Times)