Summer on Square looks for volunteers
Summer on the Square, presented by Main Street El Dorado is still a-go for Aug. 22 — that’s if the group sign up enough volunteers to host the event.
Beth Brumley, executive director of MSE, said that, per an event plan that has been submitted to and approved by the Arkansas Department of Health, approximately 15 volunteers will be needed for an event that would typically call for about five.
Summer on the Square is an annual event that offers a host of family-oriented activities to help boost customer traffic for downtown businesses.
Presented by Main Street, with assists from the Downtown Business Association and the Murphy Arts District, the 2020 event will include the Summer Concert Series, Grill Wars — a cooking competition — games and more.
The activity roster usually includes Showdown at Sunset, a historic re-enactment of a deadly gunfight that took place on the streets of El Dorado on Oct. 9, 1902.
The shooting was a flashpoint in a long-running feud between the Parnell and Tucker families, the latter of which are antecedents of former Gov. Jim “Guy” Tucker.
Three men, two Parnell brothers and a constable, were killed in the gunfight.
Brumley previously explained that due to coronavirus (COVID19) restrictions, the Showdown cast and crew were not able to get together to rehearse as needed; plus, she said, an actor and a producer/ scriptwriter moved away.
COVID-19 also forced the cancellation of the June and July installments of Summer on the Square. The event is typically held the fourth Saturday in June, July and August.
Now, MSE is hoping to get in at least one installment in before summer turns to fall, but the Aug. 22 event hinges on volunteers, Brumley said.
She explained that some MSE board members who regularly volunteer for events will not be able to attend because of COVIDrelated job mandates.
“As far as we know, everything is still going on but the current struggle is we have to have a lot more volunteers than normal to watch out for face masks and hand-sanitizing stations because of safety measures that are required by the (Arkansas Department of Health),” Brumley said.
Brumley and Greg Withrow, president of the MSE board, said the group wanted to ensure that attendees have fun and stay safe.
“With the uncertainties that come with COVID, we wanted to be ultra-conservative. Even though we had a plan with the Arkansas health department, we had 18 cooking teams that were mostly coming from out of state and we wanted to be prudent,” Withrow said previously.
“There was a lot involved with the procedures that we had to put in place. It took a lot of effort to document people, cookers, on the date of the event and spread them out on the (downtown) square with markers,” he continued.
Temperature screenings must also be conducted at each entrance and attendees must wear face masks.
Families and friends who arrive together may be sectioned off into groups and each group must social-distance by at least 6 feet.
“You can take your mask off while you’re sitting with your family but you have to put it back on if you get up,” said Withrow.
“Usually, we need about five volunteers to turn out that event and now, we need about 15,” Brumley reiterated, adding that the MSE is holding off on advertising for the event until the group secures enough volunteers.
The schedule of activities for the day will start at 8 a.m. with setup for the third annual Grill Wars Steak Championship.
MSE is once again partnering with the Steak Trail of Champions to present the popular cook-off with teams competing for more than $2,000 in cash and prizes and year-long bragging rights.
Grillers will set up around the Union County Courthouse square. Steaks must be turned in for judging between 1 and 1:30 p.m. Awards will be announced at 2 p.m.
The top prize of $800 cash will go to the team that finishes in first place.
Cash and other prizes will be awarded to secondthrough 10th-place winners.
Teams may also compete in an ancillary food challenge featuring appetizers.
The team who presents the winning appetizer will take home $200 cash. Cash prizes of $100 and $50 will go to the secondand third-place teams, respectively.
A first-place, cash prize of $50 will go to the team that displays the best showmanship and hospitality.
Registration is open for Grill Wars. The entry fee is $150 per team for the Grill Wars, Appetizer and Hospitality/Showmanship categories. A $20 fee is required per add-on appetizer entry.
Music on the Square will begin at 10 a.m. with a performance by Jimmy Lewis and the 8 Second Ride, who will be followed by Identity Crises at noon.
The bands were booked by MAD.
Several downtown shops will also offer special promotions throughout the day.
To volunteer for Summer on the Square or for more information, send an email to Brumley at director@ mainstreeteldorado.org or visit the MSE Facebook page or website at www. mainstreeteldorado.org.