First Thursday, holiday-themed events to continue downtown this year

On Prancer: The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdale Horses pranced along North West Avenue as the featured attraction in the 2019 Christmas Parade. The iconic show horses last visited El Dorado in 2014. Main Street El Dorado and other city officials are considering ways to continue the annual Christmas parade safely this year. (News-Times file)
On Prancer: The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdale Horses pranced along North West Avenue as the featured attraction in the 2019 Christmas Parade. The iconic show horses last visited El Dorado in 2014. Main Street El Dorado and other city officials are considering ways to continue the annual Christmas parade safely this year. (News-Times file)

Several local groups are discussing how to present upcoming events to celebrate the holiday season in the face of the ongoing public health crisis.

During a Main Street El Dorado board meeting Tuesday, board members launched a conversation about how Halloween and Christmas events will be coordinated amid predictions of a second wave of the coronavirus (COVID-19) this fall.

The talks coincided with the first day of autumn.

Beth Brumley, executive director of Main Street El Dorado, and Jaren Books, membership and events coordinator for the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce and MSE advisory board member, said other communities around the state have been checking in with El Dorado to ask how the city will handle holiday events, such as the El Dorado Christmas Parade, which is set for Dec. 3.

“We’re currently trying to figure out what the Christmas parade looks like. We definitely want to put it on. We don’t know how people will be able to attend and if they do attend, what that will look like and how to keep within (COVID-19 safety) guidelines,” Books said.

“We don’t want to cancel the Christmas parade. We’re reaching out to other people,” he continued. “Everybody’s reaching out to each other to see what their Christmas parade looks like and we don’t have an answer.”

Brumley said she had also heard from other Main Street cities in the state, noting that if the local parade goes on as scheduled, an event plan will have to be submitted to and approved by the Arkansas Department of Health.

The parade, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, draws hundreds of spectators each year and averages more than 100 entries, including floats, cars, trucks, marching bands, walking groups and horses.

A main attraction is included in the parade lineup each year. The iconic Budweiser Clydesdales headlined the 2019 parade.

The discussion extended to the Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony, which is slated for Nov. 19.

Pamela Griffin, MSE board member and president and chief executive officer of MAD, said the pair of events go hand in hand.

Brumley said the event will also require a plan that will have to be approved by the state.

She said the Downtown Business Association wanted to move ahead with its Christmas Open House on Nov. 22, adding that Shop Small Saturday will follow on Nov. 28.

Discussions will continue about how to present the Christmas-oriented events, as well as the annual Scare on the Square for Halloween, Brumley said.

Downtown merchants have also said they will proceed with the Scare by handing out bags of candy to trick-or-treaters from noon until 4 p.m. Oct. 31.

“Since they’re individual businesses, they don’t have to have (an event) plan,” Brumley said.

She reminded board members that MSE provided hot dogs during the Scare in 2019, but COVID-19 has changed the rules on distributing prepared food during such events.

MSE treasurer Sarah Walls noted that COVID-19 guidelines call for pre-packaged food, noting that she has worked in concession stands for local sporting events.

“I would recommend that we not do hot dogs,” Miller said.

“I think we can do something, maybe have some water and some candy — do something simple that doesn’t cost a lot but still get our presence out there and do something to help downtown businesses and the kids,” he continued.

Greg Withrow, president of the MSE board agreed, saying that candy may not be as big of an expense as hot dogs and the treat is pre-packaged.

Brumley said downtown merchants plan to move forward with its First Thursday events by staying open until 7 p.m. on Oct. 1, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3.

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