On October 1, 2016, Main Street Texarkana will set the table for what they hope to be the largest gathering on the state line in our shared downtown in the past 100 years.
A new fundraising concept introduced last year to take the place of a traditional banquet, Dine on the Line brings the community together for an evening of dinner and music outside in front of the Federal Courthouse & Post Office, right in the middle of State Line Avenue where half of the diners are in Arkansas and half are in Texas.
“It takes a lot of planning and logistics, and both city governments have been great about helping us,” says Main Street Texarkana Director Ina McDowell. “We also thank our presenting sponsor, Texarkana Emergency Center.”
The event is family-friendly and there will be fun for kids, including a sand area to dig in. “We want families to come out and know that there will be something for everyone to enjoy – parents and kids,” says Hollis Boyette, event organizer.
Better Block returns to Texarkana
In addition to musical entertainment and dinner on the state line, this year’s event will feature the return of Better Block TXK – a “pop-up” event that invites businesses to set up for the evening to sell their wares downtown. Organizers believe this will result in a truly unique, one night experience in downtown Texarkana.
The Better Block concept was introduced to this area in 2014 by Lee Medley, now the board president of Main Street Texarkana. Medley saw the opportunity to combine two events whose goals overlap – to bring awareness to the potential that downtown holds for business owners.
“Better Block lets business owners see what it’s like to actually set up shop downtown, and Main Street as an organization provides resources, including grants and loans, that businesses can use for the shop they are setting up, so it’s a great match,” said Medley. “We expect Dine on the Line to be bigger and better this year and can’t wait for October 1.”
