main street – 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

The first Thursday of each month through October, sees the El Dorado downtown district decorated with large sandwich boards and balloons announcing “Thankful Thursday.” In El Dorado there is something for everyone to be thankful for not only on the first Thursday but everyday of the week.

Shoppers at Trunk2Treasure enjoyed the evening in downtown El Dorado.

On August 5th, store fronts and pop-ups, hosting businesses from out of the district, welcomed shoppers with extended hours, special discounts and exclusive offers.

One young entrepreneur, Mahina Nesmith of Mahina Made, held a pop-up shop inside Robin’s. Her table was full of handmade items for sale. From beadwork to bath scrubs and jewelry hangers, Nesmith proudly explained ingredients in each of her products and how she started her business.

Entrepreneur Mahina Nesmith selling her hand crafted items at a pop-up inside Robin’s as a vendor on “Thankful Thursday.”

“I was given beads from an older teenager who said I could have them and I started making bracelets,” said Nesmith.

From bracelets to necklaces and earrings, to a line of organic sugar scrubs and chapstick, Nesmith is just one of the many vendors who have the opportunity to showcase their items during “Thankful Thursday” each month thanks to the generosity of store owners like Robin.

Angie Day with Walters’ Pumpkin Patch, left, and Emily Plummer, with Dilly Deli and BrewCo Coffeehouse, right. Day and Plummer conducted a drawing for a free pass to the Pumpkin Patch this fall. The winner was Leandre McClure.

Also located at Robin’s was Brenda Parks, Baked with Love. Other pop-up shops included Walters Pumpkin Patch hosted by Dilly Deli & BrewCo Coffeeshop, Advance America in front of Great Beginnings, Numana in front of Charley’s Appliance.

Shoppers, including Pam Miller, left, and Miss El Dorado Ambassador Kennedy Bables, center, helped Kelly North, of Kelly’s Etc, right, celebrate her birthday.

Shoppers were also treated to a BBQ dinner at the Trunk2Treasure and Kelly’s Etc. location on South Main. The dinner, provided by Tony with MisFit Kitchen, was not only to show appreciation to customers on “Thankful Thursday” but as a way to help Kelly’s Etc owner, Kelly North celebrate her birthday.

Businesses interested in holding a pop-up shop for remaining “Thankful Thursday’s” this year should contact El Dorado Main Street for more information. The next Thankful Thursday will be September 2nd.

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.