Stormy weather may have affected turnout at June's First Thursday this week, but it didn't dampen mobile vendors' enthusiasm for the event.
Lined up along Washington Avenue, several local small business owners joined health care and nonprofit representatives to converse enthusiastically throughout the early evening with shoppers who visited downtown El Dorado.
Almost all the mobile vendors on Washington said it was their first time setting up shop during a First Thursday event.
The Downtown Business Association introduced pop-up merchants to the monthly event last August, and DBA President Rexayn Tribble said earlier this year the arrangement has been advantageous for both brick-and-mortar shops and the pop-ups.
Andrea Wooten, owner of and lash specialist at Pure Bliss Salon -- which has a storefront on Peach Street --, had a tent set up with her co-workers, Janna Epperson, a hair color specialist, and Adrianna Sloan, a skincare specialist.
Wooten originally opened Pure Bliss Salon on March 2, 2020. Two weeks later, she was shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic, and didn't reopen until June that year. Luckily, she said, she had a number of clients who were willing to wait for her, Epperson and Sloan's services.
First Thursday, she said, was an opportunity to promote her business to potential new customers.
"This is actually our first one, but we're planning on making it a regular occurrence," Wooten said. "(We want) to promote ourselves... (People) don't know we're here, so obviously we had to get out there more."
The salon was offering sign-ups for a raffle to win a prize basket during First Thursday. Wooten detailed a long -- and unique -- list of services offered at Pure Bliss as well.
Nearby, Nurse Angela Roberson was offering COVID-19 vaccines and other health care information, along with promotional materials for Medical Center of South Arkansas, where she was recently recognized with the national 2021 Nursing Excellence Award.
Joanna Benson and Jimmy Martinez also had a booth representing the Murphy Arts District. Nearly everyone who came downtown for First Thursday filled out a form to enter a raffle for the chance to win four Willie Nelson tickets for his concert scheduled at MAD for later this month.
Jenn Purinton, who recently purchased what is now Purely Creative, the custom framing shop on the Square, also had a booth set up Thursday. She was painting a specialty gift, a new addition she's offering at the shop.
Down the street from Purinton was Crystal Wall, a Color Street nail representative. Wall explained that the nail strips are made from real nail polish and can be stuck onto nails similar to press ons but without glue. It was her first time at First Thursday, too.
"It's a very unique opportunity because people work and then they can come and shop," she said. "I've had a good crowd."
Wall offers the Color Street nail supplies online at colorstreet.com/crystalwall.
Sarah Saffold also attended to represent Topanga Scents, a locally-founded soap company that offers everything from laundry detergent and fabric spray to car air fresheners. She said she thinks the weather might have slowed foot traffic at this month's event.
Following First Thursday, Main Street El Dorado presented a special "VIP" party where MusicFest headliners were announced.
During the party, Mason Halstead, JT Lee and Blackstrap performed covers, some hearkening back to past iterations of the flagship festival, as attendees munched hors d'oeuvres, danced along and waited for nightfall, when a video announcing this year's performers would be played.
"One of my favorite parts (of MusicFest) are the local, regional bands, so we can give them an outlet and you can see how good they really are," said MSE Executive Director Beth Brumley.
Former MSE President Paul Choate purchased the first two tickets to MusicFest 34, and later in the evening, Benson drew two winners of Willie Nelson concert tickets, Cherry Govan and Brian Crittendon.
Shortly before 9 p.m., it was finally dark enough to project the MusicFest performers announcement on a large, inflatable screen. Top billing for this year's festival includes Shenandoah, Chayce Beckham, Mitch Rossell and Mae Estes, along with a host of local and regional artists and other performers.
As the video played, excited "woos" were shouted by party attendees.
MusicFest is scheduled for October 7-8. Tickets are available now at mainstreeteldorado.org. Call 870-862-4747 for more information.
Mobile vendors line Washington Avenue during First Thursday. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Jenn Purinton paints a specialty gift while talking to Michelle Mosby during First Thursday. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)