Shamrockin’ bringing back old favorites

Main Street El Dorado is ushering in St. Patrick’s Day with Shamrockin’ on the Square, which is set from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday in downtown El Dorado.

The day will be filled with live music, food, games and more, organizers said.

Beth Brumley, executive director of MSE, said an old favorite will be returning for the 2021 celebration: the Union County Rock Paper Scissors Championship.

Shamrockin’ is a revival of MSE’s former St. Patrick’s Day celebration, which was last hosted in 2012.

The inaugural Shamrockin’ celebration was held in 2019 but it was one of several events that MSE was forced to cancel in 2020 because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Rock Paper Scissors Championship (UCRPSC) had become one of the most popular annual activities of the former St. Patrick’s Day celebration, with multiple participants each year, and the winner taking home a cash prize and trophy.

During an MSE board meeting, held via Zoom on Tuesday, Brumley and MSE administrative assistant Holly McDonald held up the winner’s trophy that will be awarded to the winner on Saturday.

“You see, I’m sitting down and the trophy is almost as tall as me,” Brumley joked as McDonald handed her the threefoot tall trophy.

She also said former UCRPSC emcee Henry Frisby will return for hosting duties Saturday.

The contest is open to ages 10 and up and the entry fee is $5 per person. Registration will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday on

the steps on the west side of the Union County Courthouse. The game will start at 2 p.m.

A baggo tournament is also open to players ages 10 and up. The entry fee is $10 per player and the pot will be split 50/50 with the winner. Players may sign up at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and the tournament starts at noon.

Brumley said interest in an interactive Scavenger Hunt is starting to gain traction, with participation beginning to increase as the date for Shamrockin’ nears.

Clues for the hunt began dropping March 6. A total of 13 clues are included in the hunt, which is co-sponsored by the Downtown Business Association.

“The point of the event was to get them in (participating) stores and have them talk about the event on Saturday,” Brumley said.

Older clues will be re-released Friday and the final clue will be announced at 10 a.m. Saturday, she continued.

Participants who go the farthest in the Scavenger Hunt will be entered into a drawing to win a gift basket filled with items from downtown businesses and MSE gift cards, all valued at more than $600.

Instructions and clues may be found on the MSE Facebook and Instagram pages.

Crawfish and shrimp plates will be sold for $25, Brumley said. She noted that the incorrect price of $20 is listed on posters and other promotional materials.

Brumley said the plates will include two pounds of crawfish or a pound of shrimp with corn and potatoes.

Proceeds from the sale will go to the family of Amy Pridgen Thomason, who died in January at the age of 46 at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. Thomason was an El Dorado native and a nurse.

Fayrays and Pro-Med Ambulance are teaming up to host the fundraiser.

Hotdog vendor Colonel Mustard will also be on site and Pupp’s BBQ, the Smackover-based business, will set up its food truck in front of 101 E. Main, where Pupp’s is expected to open its new location soon.

King Kone Sno Cone will be selling icy treats during the day.

A beer garden will include beer, sodas and water and Brumley said downtown restaurants will be open, issuing a reminder that open-carry alcoholic beverages are permitted within the city’s downtown entertainment district.

The Kilt - South Arkansas Axe Throwing will be on hand for demonstrations and free tries for the public.

“I’ve had people say, ‘I don’t want to get hit in the head with an axe.’ The axe-throwing will be contained,” she said.

There will also be other games and activities for children, including face-painting.

MSE board members said they hope that some of the crowd who comes for Shamrockin’ will move two blocks south later in the day for the Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular, which is set for 8 p.m. in the First Financial Music Hall in the Murphy Arts District entertainment complex.

Pam Griffin, MAD president and CEO, said tickets for the show, which features the music of the legendary English rock band, are selling well, adding that MAD is opening up 30 additional mezzanine seats, bringing the total capacity to 330.

“The number of seats that were left was down to 29. Now it’s up to 59 seats. We’re trying to get as many in as we possibly can and still keep our social distancing,” Griffin said Tuesday.

COVID-19 restrictions will also be enforced during Shamrockin’, Brumley said, noting that MSE will be maintaining social distancing and the wearing of face masks.

Counters will track the number of people who enter the event area, Brumley said.

Shamrockin’ is free and open to the public. Attendees are also encouraged to bring their lawn chairs for the day.

Brumley said MSE will not set up bleachers as it typically does during its outdoor events.

Tables will be set up to provide attendees with a place to sit down and eat and the tables will be cleaned and sanitized throughout the day, she said.

For information, call the MSE office at 870-8624747 or visit its Facebook and Instagram pages or the www.mainstreeteldorado.org website.

To purchase tickets for the Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular, call MAD at 870-444-3007 or visit www.eldomad.com.