Nearly 40 recreational vehicles will begin rolling into downtown El Dorado Thursday for the fourth annual Airstreams on the Square.
The event, which is set for Oct. 21 - 24, is presented by MSE and the Arkansas Razorback Airstream Club as part of a campaign to stage Main Street/urban camping events across the country in order to promote the Airstream lifestyle and help stimulate economic development and vitality in small-town America.
El Dorado is the first and only city in Arkansas to host such an event and since 2018, Airstreams has drawn campers from several states, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida and Ohio.
The inaugural event won Best New Event for the ALFiE Awards (Arkansans Love Festivals and Events), which are presented by the Arkansas Festivals and Events Association.
Skull and Bones/Pirate is the theme of this year's Airstreams event, which will include a street dance, movie night and chili cook-off sanctioned by the International Chili Society (ICS).
During a Main Street El Dorado board meeting Oct. 12, Holly McDonald, MSE administrative assistant, said 37 airstreams are expected to begin arriving in town on Thursday.
McDonald said that a record 45 participants had initially signed up for Airstreams 2021 but a few canceled due to illness.
"We've got two more who are trying to come," McDonald said.
Eighteen cookers have entered the ICS Skull and Bones Chili Cook-Off so far, said Beth Brumley, executive director of MSE.
She added that most of the entrants are from out of state.
"For our sanctioned events, we get a lot of visitors and we have invited our cookers to other events that are going on that weekend," Brumley said.
Airstreamers will be welcomed into town Thursday with a Downtown El Dorado Passport which will be stamped upon the user making a purchase in participating downtown businesses for a chance to win prizes.
The group will also be treated to "karaoke night" on Thursday and other activities throughout the weekend -- some of which are open to the public.
The street dance is set from 8 until 10 p.m. Friday in the area of Washington and Elm, with live music from Shreveport, Louisiana, band Identity Crisis.
Attendees are encouraged to wear pirate-themed attire. Concessions will be on site.
The Murphy Arts District (MAD) has booked classic American rock band Styx for a performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the First Financial Music Hall. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.eldomad.com or call 870-444-3007.
Brumley previously said cookers are invited to come to town early and participate in the Friday night activities.
"That's one way we can promote (the chili cook-off). If you're going to compete, come early for the street dance on Friday night," she said.
Setup for the chili cookoff will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday on Cleveland Avenue.
Cookers will have their choice to enter traditional red, homestyle or Verde recipes or participate in all three categories.
Tickets for chili-tasting will be on sale from 1 until 3 p.m. Saturday for $10, which comes with all-you-can-eat samples. Ticket-buyers will also have a chance to pick their favorite cooking team and recipe for the People's Choice Award.
The competition includes $2,000 in cash and other prizes for the winners. To register, visit www.chilicookoff.com/skullandboneschili.
Also, visit www.mainstreeteldorado.org for more information.
Saturday's movie night will feature the classic 1991 swashbuckling film "Hook", starring the late Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman and Julia Roberts.
The outdoor movie will be shown at 8 p.m. in the Mahony parking lot, next to Merle Norman, on Washington Avenue.
The event is open to the public. Attendees are asked to bring their lawn chairs and observe social distancing.
Concessions and a cash bar will be available.
Other Airstreams activities that will be open to the public include:
• 9 a.m., Friday, Beignets and Bloody Marys.
• 9 a.m., Saturday, Spudnuts with Main Street. A local church youth group will also be selling coffee as a fundraiser.
• 10 - 11 a.m., Saturday, tour of the Newton House Museum, 510 N. Jackson, presented by the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society.
For the second consecutive year, an open house and tours of the RVs have been pulled from the activity lineup because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Brumley said.
Those who are interested in touring the campers are typically asked to pay an "admission fee" with non-perishable foods that are donated to local food pantries.
Brumley has said the Arkansas Razorbacks Airstream Club is exploring other ideas for the annual food drive.
McDonald said Airstreamers are expected to begin setting up at noon on Thursday. Washington, Elm and Jefferson streets will be closed to traffic for the multi-day event.
A courtesy cart will be available for downtown customers from 10 until 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday. More details are forthcoming.
For more information about Airstreams, call the Main Street El Dorado office at 870-862-4747.