Hope Downtown Network Presents 2nd Annual Taste of Hope
Thursday, September 5, 2024, Hope, Arkansas, Hope Downtown Network is excited to present their 2nd Annual Taste of Hope event that will benefit downtown business revitalization and historic preservation.
Taste of Hope will take place on Saturday, October 5 from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM in downtown Hope. This year’s theme is Diners & Drive-Ins of Hope, which is a throwback to the 50’s and 60’s. Event ticket prices have been set at $25.00 for adults and $10.00 for children 6-12 years of age.
Hope Downtown Network greatly appreciates businesses, civic clubs, and individuals who graciously agreed to sponsor this year’s event. Thank you, Tyson Foods, Hope Tourism Commission, Ritter Communications, Brentwood Industries, Farmers Bank & Trust, Jerry & Twyla Pruden, Fulton Grass, John & Kim Hollis, Mike & Debbie Malek, Steve & Celia Montgomery, Cadence Bank, Dr. LaDell Douglas, Edward Jones Financial, Steven Mullins, Southwest Arkansas Title Company, Bobcat Freight, Kiwanis Club of Hope, First National Bank of Tom Bean, Drs. George & Debbie Garrett, Steve & Mittie Harris, Dolly Henley for State Representative, UAHT, Hope Rotary Club, Hope Civitan Club, and Funder America. Although additional sponsors might be added to the list, these outstanding community members are recognized at this time.
Taste of Hope will prove to be an outstanding time for the community to come together to enjoy “tastings” from local restaurants and eateries that will be set up at the HUB in Pavilion Park. The evening will also offer family fun & games, including BINGO with downtown retail gift cards as prizes, photo opportunities with period vehicles, jail & bail, cartoons for kiddos, DJ & street dancing, Hope Downtown Network building diner along with a pie baking contest, video retrospective of past diners & drive-ins in Hope, premier of the Restoring Hope video, Paint-by-Number Mural, Alleyway Art, ELVIS, sponsorship spotlight, and restaurant & eatery awards.
Barb Noble, President of the Hope Downtown Network & Event Chair, stated, “This year’s event has grown beyond our initial expectations. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone downtown on October 5. One of the highlights of the evening takes place as event attendees vote on the next Hope Downtown Network project. We cannot wait for you to see the outstanding and exciting project options! We encourage everyone to bring additional cash to the event in order to cast your vote.”
Hope Downtown Network is thrilled to announce that a movie will be shown in the Pocket Park at 8:00 PM as all other activities come to a close. Thanks to the Hempstead County Historical Society for being an amazing part of the Taste of Hope as they present the movie, Mary Poppins.
To purchase Taste of Hope tickets, please visit Elm Street Marketplace, Bob’s Antiques, or Vintage Girls Boutique & More in downtown Hope. Tickets may also be purchased online at hopedowntownnetwork.org. Event posters also have a QR code in place, so you may purchase tickets utilizing the code.
Hope Downtown Network is a program under Main Street Arkansas. Like all Main Street programs, Hope Downtown Network follows the Main Street Four-Point Approach for downtown development.
The Main Street Four-Point ApproachTM is a unique preservation-based economic development tool that enables communities to revitalize downtown and neighborhood business districts by leveraging local assets – from historic, cultural, and architectural resources to local enterprises and community pride. It is a comprehensive strategy that addresses the variety of issues and problems that challenge traditional commercial districts.
Since its founding in 1980, Main Street has been the leader than 2,000 programs and leaders who use the Main Street approach to rebuild the places and enterprises that create sustainable, vibrant communities. This approach has been implemented in over 1,200 cities and towns in 40 states across the nation with the help of the National Main Street Center and statewide downtown revitalization programs.
The success of the Main Street approach is based on its comprehensive nature. By carefully integrating four points into a practical downtown management strategy, a local Main Street program will produce fundamental changes in a community’s economic base.
Barb Noble of Elm Street Marketplace and Bob Erwin of Bob’s Antiques show off the tickets that are now on sale for “A Taste of Hope”.