With MusicFest just a day away, some downtown streets will begin closing to traffic Friday morning as Main Street El Dorado prepares for the setup of attractions, vendors' booths and grilling areas for the inaugural Pupp's BBQ Rib Cook-Off.
Residents are reminded to take detours Friday if they plan to travel downtown along:
• Main from Hill to Cleveland.
• Jefferson from Oak to Cedar.
• Elm between Hill and Cleveland.
• Washington from Cedar to Oak.
• Cleveland between Cedar and Oak.
Headliners
The "music" portion of the festival, which is presented by the Murphy Arts District, gets underway Friday night with a performance by headliner Frank Foster, with special guest Pryor and Lee.
Live performances will continue Saturday with legendary rapper/actor Ice Cube. MAD announced Wednesday afternoon that rapper and DJ Paul Wall would be stepping in as Ice Cube's opener; previously, hip-hop star Warren G was slated to open Saturday's show. MAD officials did not respond to a request for more information about the lineup change by presstime Wednesday.
Both shows will be held in the First Financial Music Hall and the doors will open at 6 p.m.
For more information or to purchase tickets for the concerts, visit www.eldomad.com or call 870-444-3007.
Festival
The Miss MusicFest Pageant kicked off the 33rd annual festival on Sept. 26 and now Main Street El Dorado, who launched MusicFest in 1988, is ready to bring on attractions, other activities and more live music.
The "festival" portion of MusicFest is set for Saturday. The schedule for the day is:
• 7 - 8 a.m., check-in and final setup for Pupp's BBQ Rib War, 111 W Main, El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce
• 7 a.m., late registration for Medical Center of South Arkansas 5/10K, 214 N Washington Ave. The race begins at 7:35 a.m.
• 9 a.m., Information and T-Shirt Booth opens, location to be announced; MCSA 5/10K awards will be announced on the Mac's Tree Service Stage, Jefferson Avenue. Craft and food vendors open
• 10 a.m., School performances, including choirs, bands and orchestras, Karl Malone Auto Group Stage, Main Street. KidsWorld will also open with free attractions in the Mahony parking lot next to Merle Norman on South Washington Avenue.
• 11 a.m., attractions (a rock-climbing wall, four-man bungee jumping, a zip line, mechanical bull, vertigo ride and laser tag) open at the intersection of Washington and Elm. Attractions are $5 each. Wristbands may be purchased for $20 for all-day access.
• Noon, beer sales begin and tickets go on sale for the public-tasting in the rib cook-off.
• 1 p.m., registration begins for the El Dorado Metals Cornhole Tournament at Main Street Antiques and More, 112 W. Main. El Dorado students Carmelo Brown and Mason Halstead will perform on the Mac's stage.
• 1:15 p.m., Miss MusicFest Pageant queens will be recognized, Karl Malone stage.
• 1:30 p.m., Jacob Flores, Karl Malone stage.
• 2 p.m. Cornhole tournament practice.
• 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. (or while supplies last), rib cook-off public tastings begin in the competition area, Cleveland Avenue.
• 2:45 p.m., TuneSmith, Mac's Tree Service Stage.
• 3 p.m., Cornhole Tournament begins.
• 3:15 p.m., Soulpranos, Karl Malone stage.
• 4:30 p.m., Awards announced for Rib War, Karl Malone stage. Eric Meadows will perform on the Mac's stage.
• 5 p.m., Militia, Karl Malone stage.
• 6 p.m., attractions and Kids World close.
• 6:15 p.m., Brody McKinney, Mac's stage.
• 6:45 p.m., Trey Gauthreaux, Karl Malone stage.
• 8:30 p.m., Cody Cooke and the Bayou Outlaws. Karl Malone stage.
Admission into MusicFest is free.
Shuttle service
Main Street has also released information about a free shuttle service that will be available throughout Musicfest to ferry visitors to and from their vehicles to downtown activities, retail shops and restaurants.
Beth Brumley, executive director of Main Street, reiterated that the purpose of MusicFest and other downtown events is to help increase foot traffic for merchants within the Union Square District.
The request the shuttle service, call 870-828-1691 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Friday and 870-814-9300 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information, call the Main Street El Dorado office at 870-862-4747.
PJ's Coffee block party
Washington Avenue between Main and Elm streets will close at noon today in preparation for a block party to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of PJ's Coffee in El Dorado.
The free event is set from 6 until 9 p.m. and the public is invited to attend.
The celebration will include "dancing in the street," music and karaoke by DJ J. Taylor, drink specials, free hot dogs and giveaways.
PJ's, which is located at the intersection of Main and Washington, will also offer a 10% discount on purchases throughout the day.