Dining will be on 2nd Street and near the dining area will be a beautiful photo opportunity thanks to photographer and owner of The Studio, Heather Clements. Thanks to the Hempstead County Historical Society, attendees will be delighted to see a historic photo of downtown Hope that will also provide another backdrop for a photo. Attendees will also be able to take a picture alongside a 1932 Hudson Essex thanks to the owner of the car, Tim McMullan.
The theme of the evening will be the Great Gatsby; therefore, the Hope Downtown Network building, located next to Vintage Girls & More Boutique, will be the location for a Speakeasy. Attendees can purchase delicious mocktails throughout the evening. The downtown Pocket Park will be the stage for event music.
A paint-by-number mural will be offered on the wall of the Downtown Market. Jennifer Block, director of the Southwest Arkansas Arts Council will design the mural that will be interactive in nature. All in attendance may drop by and pick up a brush and follow the instructions to help complete the mural that will face the pocket park.
Two pedestrian alleyways will be alive with art thanks to the SWAAC. The parking lot between Hebrews 11:1 and Western Auto will offer fun and games for the young and young at heart. The games will be provided by Rainbow of Challenges. The main stage for the evening will be in the intersection of 2nd and Main Streets. The following activities will take place on the main stage: a retail style show featuring local stores and models, LIVE Auction, and an Investor Motivational Moment.
Also included on the Main Stage will be the exciting announcement of the upcoming project for Hope Downtown Network. Event attendees will be able to vote on one of three projects that will be showcased on the corner of 2nd and Main. One project will be selected and announced before the event concludes at 8:00 PM. Upon announcing the project, HDN will launch “Fund-a-Project whereby attendees will be able to offer monetary support for the project.
Tickets are $30.00 for adults and $10.00 for children 12 and under. Tickets may be purchased at Bob’s Antiques, Sew Fancy, Vintage Girls Boutique & More, and Elm Street Marketplace. Tickets may also be purchased online on the HDN website, www.hopedowntownnetwork.org. The tickets increase by $10.00 the night of the event, so HDN encourages everyone to purchase tickets prior to October 7. Vendor (restaurant) and sponsorship participation forms are also available on the website.
“We are excited to bring the Taste of Hope to Historic Downtown Hope. The evening will be alive with various activities that will shine the light on all that downtown has to offer”, stated Barb Noble, Taste of Hope event chair.
All proceeds benefit the Hope Downtown Network, which is a program under Main Street Arkansas. The HDN exists for the purpose of downtown business revitalization and historic preservation. Hope Downtown Network became a program under Main Street Arkansas in 2018, and it follows the Main Street 4-Point Approach which covers the following areas of transformational strategy, Design, Organization, Promotions, and Economic Development.