Mayor Butch Berry told aldermen Nov.13 he had been approached by Main Street Eureka Springs Director Jacqueline Wolven about creating a Holiday Night Market on Spring Street in December in conjunction with the Second Saturday Gallery Stroll. He said the event would be from 4 – 10 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9, and Spring Street would be barricaded off to vehicle traffic from Center St. to the New Orleans Hotel.
Berry said there would be booths along the way with each storeowner getting first option for a booth on the street. He admitted some merchants spoke up against the idea claiming it would make business downtown even worse, but said galleries were willing to give it a try.
He also said he approved of the idea, which is within his authority as mayor, and is aware of what naysayers point out about the plan.
Alderman Mickey Schneider contended merchants had received conflicting information from Wolven and Berry, and there was much confusion circulating about the dates and times of the event. She claimed the City Advertising and Promotion Commission was responsible for closing Spring Street without even consulting council.
Berry assured her the CAPC cannot close streets but it can promote the event, and he had spoken with Wolven more than once and they were on the same page. He pointed out items on the application from Wolven that clarified some of Schneider’s issues.