Visitors Mingle For Trades Day

PRAIRIE GROVE — Back in the day, Trades Day was held on Saturdays one day a month and downtown Prairie Grove was so crowded that it was hard to walk on the sidewalk.

“All the people in the country came from around here,” said Ralph Dotson of Prairie Grove.

For every dollar patrons spent in the stores, they were given one ticket. These tickets went into a big barrel and later in the day, tickets were drawn for cash prizes that totaled $100.

“On Saturday, you couldn’t walk up and down this street,” said Ralph Hollinsforth. “There were a lot of benches to sit on and people would sit on their cars. People would come in the morning and stay all day.”

They said Trades Day was held in the 1930s, 1940s and stopped sometime in the 1950s.

A committee of Prairie Grove women trying to bring back Trades Day to downtown Prairie Grove sponsored their first event Saturday afternoon.

The sidewalks were not crowded Saturday but still many people showed up to see what it was all about.

Amanda Shertzer has spearheaded efforts this year and said the idea started with a photo seen in the magazine “Southern Living.” In the photo, the town’s Main Street was closed and a long table set up for a community meal.

Some in Prairie Grove wondered about doing the same thing here, Shertzer said.

From that idea, the committee decided to revitalize Trades Day and hold a Harvest Dinner later in the evening.

Trades Day was held 2-4 p.m. and included live music played by Prairie Grove High jazz band, free popcorn and balloon animals, a small petting zoo, children’s activities and a tour of historic downtown Prairie Grove.

The Harvest Dinner followed at 6 p.m. and was held in the vacant lot next to Luginbuel’s Funeral Home and Prairie Grove Chamber of Commerce building.

Shertzer hopes the event will grow each year.

“We’re hoping to encourage the whole community to come out and mingle and have fun,” she said.

Olivia Peck, 1, of Prairie Grove, was not too sure about the bunnies and chicken at Trades Day. She liked looking but did not want to touch.

PHOTOS BY LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Ralph Hollingsforth, left, Ralph Dotson and Charles Smith enjoyed Trades Day by sitting on a bench and visiting with each other. Dotson brought his 1949 Mercury coupe for people to see.

Emma Shertzer, 6, of Prairie Grove, makes a bracelet out of colored macaroni. Several craft activities were set up outside Prairie Grove Children’s Library.

Prairie Grove High jazz band set up outside next to Daisies & Olives and entertained visitors downtown for Trades Day.