December E-Newsletter

Christmas Extravaganza in El Dorado EL DORADO - The holiday season for El Dorado has arrived! El Dorado, known for its award-winning festivals and events, is going into the Christmas season with the same zeal and tenacity it has done in the past. This year, Main Street El Dorado kicks off the Christmas season with the long-standing tradition of glowing Christmas lights filling the streets. On Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7:00 p.m. El Dorado will celebrate this year's parade theme "It's a Wonderful Life." The El Dorado parade annually draws thousands of spectators. Festivities do not stop there. El Dorado, the 2009 Great American Main Street Winner, is home to some of the most unique shops, boutiques and cafés in the area. Downtown businesses will remain open during the holiday to serve both locals and tourists. Cafés and restaurants provide a variety of homemade holiday treats, including pecan pies from the Olde Towne Store that were featured in Southern Living. Whether one is doing last minute Christmas shopping for dad at Sports Alley or having a girl's night out to look for name brand boots and heels at Shelly's shoes, the downtown shops offer an array of options. Pedestrian friendly, artsy and sophisticated, El Dorado has plenty of special attractions planned for the family to enjoy. Performances of It's a Wonderful Life will be presented by the South Arkansas Arts Center and The Nutcracker, by the South Arkansas Symphony. Horse and carriage rides will be offered every weekend through the holidays. A life-size snow globe makes a perfect backdrop for photo ops and an ice skating rink appeals to locals and tourists.

"Come Back for Christmas" Contest Winner Announced EUREKA SPRINGS - The Eureka Springs Downtown Network (ESDN) is proud to announce that the Hollis Family from Hominy, Okla., is the winner of the 3rd annual "Come Back for Christmas" contest. After a brief phone call to the Hollis household, Keith Hollis called back to confirm that they would be able to take advantage of the prize. Stunned that they had won, they were thrilled at the prospect of coming back to Eureka Springs during the holiday festivities. "We developed a twist on the contest this year," shares Jacqueline Wolven, ESDN Executive executive Directordirector. "We did the entire contest through the use of QR codes and digital marketing. The Hollis family scanned the QR code and was one of the thousand that entered the contest. We are thrilled that they used new technology to enter and are getting the opportunity to come back to Eureka Springs during the holidays." The "Come Back for Christmas" contest consists of a prize package valued at over $1000. It includes: 2 night stay at the 1905 Basin Park Hotel, gift certificates to Devito's of Eureka Springs, Mud Street café and Local Flavor, tickets to the Tour of Homes, reservations to Santa's Brunch at the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, entries into the Santas on Spring Fun Run, family portrait with Santa in Basin Spring Park, Eureka Springs Shopping Discount Card, and the Official Parade Guests in the Eureka Springs Downtown Network Parade Car during the Annual Christmas Parade. The Come Back for Christmas contest consists of a prize package valued at over $1000. The prize includes: 2 night stay at the 1905 Basin Park Hotel, Gift Certificates to Devito's of Eureka Springs, Mud Street Cafe, Local Flavor, tickets to the Tour of Homes, reservations to Santa's Brunch at the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, entries into the Santa's on Spring Fun Run, family portrait with Santa in Basin Spring Park, Eureka Springs Shopping Discount Card, and the Official Parade Guests in the Eureka Springs Downtown Network Parade Car during the Annual Christmas Parade. The Eureka Springs Downtown Network, in partnership with Main Street Arkansas and the National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street Center, strives to support preservation, business education, promotional programming, economic development and beautification in downtown Eureka Springs with the understanding that a vibrant downtown is in the best interest of the whole community. FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://eurekaspringsdowntown.com Russellville Semifinalist for Great American Main Street Award RUSSELLVILE - Russellville Main Street has been selected as a semifinalist for the 2012 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA). The award is sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Norma Miess of the National Trust said the competition was very close this year and Downtown Russellville should be commended for reaching this point. Main Street Russellville must now submit additional information for the GAMSA jury, composed of representatives from the commercial district revitalization field, to consider as they review all 10 semifinalist applications and choose the five winners for the 2012 Great American Main Street Award. It will be presented at the National Main Street conference in Baltimore, Md., April 1-4, 2012. Main Street Russellville's Executive Director Betsy McGuire said: "It is an incredible honor for our local Main Street Program and for our city as well, to receive word of our selection as a semifinalist for a Great American Main Street Award. This is one of the most sought-after honors among Main Street professionals. Every time I mention it I keep getting chill bumps...literally!" She added: "As we look forward to celebrating our organization's 20th anniversary in 2012 and as we move forward with the development of the Downtown Master Plan, this recognition would be the ultimate icing on the cake! But we are facing some incredibly stiff competition from nine other amazing communities located throughout the United States, and some seem to have the most enviable of resources to work with. We have approximately 30 days to mount this challenge with the help of our board of directors, our dedicated volunteers, and our supportive community, and as we have done over these 20 years of our program's downtown revitalization efforts, we will be tenacious in our efforts!" Each year, the National Trust Main Street Center recognizes exceptional Main Street communities whose successes serve as a model for comprehensive commercial district revitalization. Main Street Advisory Board to Meet on December 5 LITTLE ROCK - The Main Street Arkansas Advisory Board will meet Monday, Dec. 5, to review award nominations and discuss Main Street activities during FFY11. The board consists of nine members charged with providing advice and guidance to the Main Street Arkansas staff regarding downtown revitalization. Current members include Renee Doty, Melinda Faubel, Frances "Missy" McSwain, Mark Goodman, Antoinette (Toni) Johnson, HPAA; Vanessa McKuin, HPAA; Drew Pack, Federal Reserve; Tim Wooldridge, HPAA; and ex-officio Kathy Holt who is the Governor's Liaison to the Department of Arkansas Heritage.