downtown – Deanna Bonn

Trick or Treat Down Main Street

Pumpkins and decorations dotted the downtown and businesses lined the streets in El Dorado’s historic district on Main and Central lending a festive Halloween air for the annual Trick or Treat Down Main Street.

The streets were lined with costumed characters out trick or treating down Main Street.

The event is organized each year by El Dorado Main Street.

Miss Butler County 2022 Sierra Marie Bonn with El Dorado Main Street Executive Director Emily Connell enjoyed the view at Main and Central.

According to the El Dorado Main Street organization, the purpose of the non-profit is to “enhance our downtown identity and heritage, to foster a center of activity for both business and recreation and to ensure economic stability for the heart of El Dorado through concentrated efforts of design, promotion, organization and business enhancement.”

A family affair with dad dressed as Peter Pan, one child dressed as his shadow, mom as Wendy and the youngest dressed as Captain Hook being eaten by the crocodile.

By all indications, more than a thousand children, with parents in tow, paraded up and down the streets in costume from 4 – 6 p.m. Friday, October 29th all while collecting candy.

Andrew Tipton of W Investments prepared to hand out over 450 bags of cotton candy.

In addition to candy, some businesses choose to offer other goodies. W Investments handed out over 450 bags of cotton candy while SunGroup Real Estate grilled over 1,250 hot dogs.

Linda Baines helped SunGroup hand our 1,250 hot dogs.

Farmers Insurance Stephen Mills Agency had bike giveaways for two lucky winners, in partnership with Walmart. In order to enter, they had to try and guess the correct number of candy corn filling a glass pumpkin.

A costume contest for ages 0-12 was held at Intrust Bank and hosted along with Kelly’s Etc. and Trunk2Treasure. The children were divided into age categories 0-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12 with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each category receiving a bag filled with treats from Intrust Bank.

Thankful Thursday

There’s much to be thankful about in downtown El Dorado, and downtown merchants as well as out of district pop up businesses want everyone to know about it.

Artist Vicki Cooper with her pop-up shop in Great Beginnings.

Therefore, on the first Thursday of each month through October, the downtown district is decorated with large sandwich boards and balloons announcing “Thankful Thursday.”

Sandwich boards and balloons decorated the downtown district.

With extended hours, special discounts and exclusive offers, there’s something for everyone to be thankful for.

Coach Al and a friend playing Cornhole in front of Kelly’s ETC.

This month the beautiful, sunny weather provided a perfect backdrop for shoppers as they strolled through downtown.

Shoppers were treated to walking tacos, provided by Trunk2Treasure and vendors like Christina Starr Kreations held a drawing for a free candy bouquet.

TCG Services Chaplin Wade Graber shared information about the Kindness Matters campaign.

Wade Graber and Mike Ward with TCG Services greeted people with the “Kindness Matters” campaign. In a partnership with USD490, they want to encourage citizens to take the kindness pledge and help create a summer of kindness.

The next Thankful Thursday will be July 1st.

Sweet Success

El Dorado Chamber Hosts Chocolate Crawl

The El Dorado Chamber of Commerce planned the first ever Chocolate Crawl for February 13th but due to the extremely low temperatures brought on by the Polar Vortex, the event was rescheduled for March 6th and crawlers were not disappointed.

Wade and Peggy Graber shopping downtown while chocolate crawling.

With a bright, clear day and temperatures climbing into the 60’s, downtown El Dorado was alive with pedestrian traffic as participants made their way into local businesses to sample the chocolate treats.

A family take a break to enjoy treats in District 142.

Twenty-one (21) business locations throughout El Dorado volunteered to be “chocolate stops” and each provided sweet treats with several businesses handing out gift bags with their treats. Participants were given a passport-like ticket that had the names and locations of chocolate stops printed on the back. As they went from location to location, the ticket would be checked off by each business.

Stephen and Lindsay Mills, owners, Famers Insurance

“I thought the Chocolate Crawl was a success,” said Cameo Rector El Dorado Chamber of Commerce Director. “It not only provided the Chamber with additional operating funds but as I was crawling myself.”

Roxanne Jones of Flour Power Bakery hosted a pop-up in District 142

According to Rector, the goal of the Chamber Chocolate Crawl was to increase exposure of El Dorado’s business community and show what they have to offer.

Chocolate Crawlers with their passport tickets.

“My hope for this event was to provide community involvement that was enjoyable while also bringing value to our businesses owners,” said Rector.

Janell Crenshaw, left, owner of Shelter Insurance with her Assistant Lindsey Stalker.

“After the event, a participant reached out to me and said she had so much fun with her daughter and granddaughter,” said Rector. “Not only did they get to spend time together and gather lots of great chocolate items, they found some new businesses they didn’t know existed.”

“I would like to thank both the businesses owners and chocolate crawlers for their participation and involvement,” said Rector. “I am excited for the potential this event has to offer and we hope to continue it.”

BrewCo Coffeehouse & Dilly Deli Birthday Celebration

BrewCo Coffeehouse & Dilly Deli, located in downtown El Dorado, invited the public to their 6th birthday on Friday, February 6, 2021.

The business was established in 2015 and celebrated the anniversary with an offer to buy one specialty drink, and get one half off. Free mini birthday cupcakes were given with each purchase and customers were given the opportunity to enter a drawing to win a $100.00 gift card.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Hours on Saturday are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Window Decorating Contest Winners

As part of the holiday festivities downtown, El Dorado Main Street hosted a window decorating contest where businesses were asked to help light up the downtown district. Over thirty businesses joined in the merriment that helped El Dorado get into the spirit of the Christmas holiday.

City streets are decorated each year beginning in November, by the City of El Dorado but the El Dorado Main Street organization along with its members wanted to help light up the downtown.

A panel of judges visited every business at nighttime while the storefronts were lit with festive displays and shoppers made their holiday purchases amid the festive atmosphere.

Additionally, a Facebook contest was held for the public to vote on their favorite window display.

According to El Dorado Main Street Director Emily Connell, “I knew [the Facebook poll] would have different results than the official judging panel but honestly, we are all winners this year because our downtown was stunning.”

The window lighting contest winners, as decided by the public were:

1. BrewCo. Coffeehouse & Dilly Deli