Main Street El Dorado and the Downtown Business Association are gearing up for the holidays, starting this month with Scare on the Square.
The Halloween event is set from noon until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, in downtown El Dorado and will include new activities, as well as the return of an old favorite, MSE board members said.
Families with children, of the human and furry persuasions, are invited to trick or treat in downtown businesses and participate in a host of other activities, including a children's costume contest -- new this year to Scare on the Square -- and the Mutt Strut, which will be presented by UCAPS (Union County Animal Protection Society).
Admission for Scare on the Square is free and the event is open to the public.
Beth Brumley, executive director of Main Street El Dorado, said the event has grown within the past few years, attracting an average of 600 trick-or-treaters to downtown El Dorado throughout the day.
Brumley said MSE is adding a children's costume contest this year for children ages 12 and under.
The contest will begin at 2 p.m. on Jefferson Avenue between Main and Elm streets and will include girls and boys' divisions.
The entry fee is $10 and participants may register on-site, prior to the start of the contest.
UCAPS is bringing back the Mutt Strut, a fundraiser in which pet lovers dress up their furry friends and parade them for judging in a costume contest.
The Mutt Strut was a popular local event that was last hosted in 2014, which marked its seven-year anniversary.
Proceeds from the Mutt Strut were used to support nonprofit organizations, including HOPE Landing and the Arkansas Department of Corrections' Paws in Prison program.
This year, the event will serve as a fundraiser for its host, UCAPS.
UCAPS' board members have lauded the creativity they have seen with pets and pet owners who entered the costume contest.
They are hoping for the same creativity with the return of the event and are encouraging pet owners to don their pets in imaginative, "cute or spooky" costumes.
The Mutt Strut will begin at 1 p.m. The entry fee is $5 and all pets must be on a leash.
Brumley said First Baptist Church on Main Street will join Scare on the Square with carnival games, free hotdogs and popcorn.
MSE board members said First Presbyterian Church will also host carnival games and have prizes near the church in the area of Main and Hill.
Scare on the Square will also include on-site vendors.
"We are super excited for Scare on the Square this year," Brumley said.
Portions of Jefferson and Hill avenues will be closed to traffic during the event.
For more information, call the MSE office at 870-862-4747 or visit the MSE Facebook page or website at mainstreeteldorado.org.
Also, call UCAPS at 870-862-0502 for additional information about the Mutt Strut.
First Thursday
Following Scare on the Square will be the monthly installment of First Thursday at 4 - 7 p.m. on Nov. 4.
The theme will be "Tailgating."
Downtown shops will remain open later with specials and tailgating-themed activities. Outdoor vendors will also be onsite.
"For First Thursday in December, they probably won't do vendors that month because it coincides with the (El Dorado) Christmas parade and there will already be tons of people downtown," Brumley said.
The Christmas parade and First Thursday are scheduled for Dec. 2.
The parade will begin at 7:30 p.m. Downtown El Dorado is a popular observation spot along the parade route.
Christmas
With Christmas not far around the corner, Brumley and Holly McDonald, MSE administrative assistant, said MSE is lining out activities for the season.
McDonald said MSE is finalizing details to provide horse-and-carriage and holiday train rides throughout downtown streets.
She noted that the street train formerly known as the PJ's Coffee Express Train has been purchased by Queen City Train Rides in Camden.
The Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony is set for 5:45 p.m. on Nov. 18 on the east side (Jefferson Avenue) of the Union County Courthouse.
Special guest will be NBA legend and businessman, Karl "The Mailman" Malone.
The Summerfield, Louisiana, native will conduct the ceremonial flipping of the switch to illuminate the Christmas lighting display around the Union County Courthouse.
Brumley and Steve Biernecki, executive director of the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society, will emcee the event.
The grand marshals of the El Dorado Christmas Parade will be announced by the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce and the Salvation Army of Union County will kick off its annual Red Kettle holiday fundraiser and Angel Tree gift drive.
There will also entertainment for the evening.
Other holiday activities
• The Holiday Open House will be held from 1 until 4 p.m. on Nov. 21., during which visitors are invited to begin their holiday shopping in downtown retail shops.
Brumley said MSE is organizing a Baggo tournament for the day.
McDonald said a motorcycle toy run is also expected to roll through downtown on the day of the open house.
• Shop Small Saturday on Nov. 27 will provide another opportunity for visitors to shop locally for the perfect holiday gift.
Santa will also make an appearance from noon until 4 p.m.
• Brumley said downtown merchants are on alert and preparing for the filming of a holiday special that will air Nov. 22 on KTBS 3, a Shreveport, Louisiana, TV station.
El Dorado is one of five cities in the ArkLaTex that will be profiled this year as part of KTBS 3's annual "The Spirit of Christmas" series.
The KTBS team is expected to begin filming in El Dorado today and return on Nov. 5 and Nov. 18 to capture more footage, including the Downtown Lighting Ceremony.
Brumley said downtown merchants have been asked to put up holiday decorations to be taped for the show.