No sponsor for 2020 Railfest, Mardi Gras
City officials: It will be difficult to continue these popular events without sponsors, volunteers
TEXARKANA, Ark. — Financial backing has ceased for two popular downtown festivals, Railfest and Mardi Gras, in 2020, the city announced Monday.
Townsquare Media Texarkana, organizer of the events this year, will not sponsor them again, according to a news release from the city. Townsquare declined to comment.
“It appears that it will be very difficult for these events to happen next year unless some community group (s) or volunteers are willing to step up. It is still to be determined, but we hope there are organizations out there willing to take on both of these events that have been widely successful in the past,” a news release from the city stated.
In October, the Arkansasside Advertising and Promotion Commission allocated $5,000 to Townsquare for Railfest and $6,250 for Mardi Gras. The Commission collects and distributes a 2% restaurant and 3% hotel tax to support Arkansas-side tourism.
The A&P Commission has not actually given Townsquare any money. The Commission operates on a reimbursement basis, so if Townsquare would have produced Railfest and Mardi Gras next year, then it would have been paid back with the A&P funds allocated.
Though state law requires two A&P commissioners to be members of the city’s Board of Directors, the Commission operates separate from city government. The city’s only role in recent downtown festivals has been to provide public works support such as road barriers and garbage collection.
“It is disappointing because those are both great events in our downtown,” said Ina McDowell, executive director of downtown development advocacy group Main Street Texarkana. There is opportunity, however, for local groups to step in and keep the events successful, McDowell said.
In May, Townsquare announced it would no longer sponsor Sparks in the Park, Texarkana’s annual Fourth of July celebration and fireworks show. A pair of $7,500 donations, one from the A&P Commission and another from Cooper Tire and Rubber Co., rescued Sparks in the Park from being canceled.