Posted on September 9, 2024

By Tia Lyons
El Dorado News/Times

MusicFest is less than a month away and organizers said plans are on track for the 36th annual event, which is set for Oct. 4 and 5 in downtown El Dorado.

Presented by Main Street El Dorado, MusicFest will feature three stages with more than 30 acts made up of local, regional and national/international talent.

Alternative rock band Vertical Horizon; Shreveport, Louisiana band Windstorm; the Little Rock-based The Rodney Block Collective; El Dorado native Brody McKinney: and Blacktop Mojo, an East Texas band are a few of the acts that will take the stage throughout MusicFest weekend.

Rock, pop, jazz/jazz fusion, R&B, rap, country and grunge are among the variety of musical genres that will be represented during the festival.

MSE announced the musical lineup and other details about the festival on Aug. 16.

Tickets went on sale the same day and within a week approximately 10 or 15 tickets were sold, said Beth Brumley, executive director of MSE.

By late afternoon on Aug. 30, $1,000 worth of tickets had reportedly been purchased.

On Friday, Brumley said ticket sales were beginning to gain steam, explaining that MSE began its regional advertising push across the ArkLaTex in late August.

She noted that the festival was advertised locally — including social media mentions — in the days following the MusicFest announcement in mid-August.

In addition to ads and other coverage on local TV station KTVE 10/MyArkLaMiss, Brumley said TV ads are running on stations in Central Arkansas and the North Louisiana/East Texas market.

Radio advertisements are promoting the festival in Monticello, Hot Springs, Texarkana and Ruston. Louisiana.

Brumley said word is spreading about MusicFest and MSE expects ticket sales and other activity to pick up, particularly with the start of the fall festival, fair and events season in El Dorado.

Along with a weekend of music, MusicFest will feature attractions, food and craft vendors, beer gardens, 5K/10 run/walk, Kidz World, a petting zoo and other activities.

“We’re in line with planning. Everything is pretty much planned and in place. We’re in fine-tuning mode right now,” Brumley said.

“With the (Union County Fair) fair next week — usually ticket sales pick up with the fair and entries from the 5K and 10K pick up when people will see our fliers at (the SouthArk Outdoor Expo) this weekend,” said Brumley.

The Union County Fair is feted for Sept. 10 – 14 at the Union County Fairgrounds, 1430 E. 19th St.

The Expo is set for 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. today at the El Dorado Conference Center, 311 S. West Ave.

“We already have 10 entries for the (5K/10K) race and five entries for the (Miss MusicFest Pageant),” she continued.

The Miss MusicFest Pageant, which is open to contestants from infant-age to 18 years old, is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium, 100 W Eighth.

Most of the MusicFest ticket sales so far have come from locals, Brumley said, adding that organizers have heard as much enthusiasm about festival emcee Nick Harrison — a social media personality from North Louisiana who is known as “The Professor” and for his family-friendly content — as they have about the musical lineup that is slated to perform at MusicFest.

“I know a group is coming from Hope to see ‘The Professor’ and we’ve had a few reach out from the Ruston, Louisiana, area,” said Brumley.

Harrison made an unexpected stop in El Dorado Thursday while on his way to a concert in Little Rock.

“He wanted to stop in a meet everybody,” Brumley said with a laugh, adding that Harrison mingled and took photos with people downtown and visited the downtown book exchanges.

Brumley said MSE and Harrison are collaborating to design a T-shirt denoting his appearance at Musicfest.

That shirt will go on sale to the public Monday.

The MusicFest VIP Weekend ticket, which is on sale for $100, includes a meet-and-greet with Harrison.

The VIP experience is available to attendees who are at least 21 years old and comes with access to temperature-controlled private restrooms, tables, chairs, MusicFest swag, hors d’oeuvres and two drink tickets (per night, per ticket).

Festival-goers will also be able to purchase tickets for a raffle to win the 2024 commemorative MusicFest necklace, which is designed by Murphy-Pitard Jewelers, one of the sponsors of MusicFest.

Brumley said the necklace, the third to be specifically designed and raffled for MusicFest, features a guitar, is made of yellow and white gold and is valued at $5,000.

“It’s the third commemorative necklace, so it’s one of a kind. It won’t be duplicated,” she said.

Tickets for the drawing are $10 each or $100 for 12 chances to win.

The drawing will be held on the Main Stage during the Saturday night leg of MusicFest. Ticket holders do not have to be present to win.

Tickets are available at the MSE office, 101 Main Street, Suite 410 (Cadence Bank building); Murphy-Pitard Jewelers, 201 N. Jefferson Ave.; The 1988 bookstore, 117 N. Jefferson; All About Flowers, 106 E. Elm; 211 E. Main; Kyle & Company Lash and Skin Studio, 115 S. Washington; and The Well Bar (inside The Haywood hotel), 210 S. Washington.

General admission for MusicFest is $40.

Admission is free until noon on Oct. 5.

Children 10 and under are admitted free on both days with the purchase of an adult ticket.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.musicfesteldorado.com. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the gate during the festival.