El Dorado, Arkansas

==Arts and culture==
{{More citations needed|section|date=January 2022}}

===Venues===
[[File:El Dorado, AR, Conference Center IMG 2633.JPG|thumb|El Dorado Conference Center]]

The Murphy Arts District (MAD) opened in 2017 in downtown El Dorado.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-03 |title=High marks greet new Arkansas entertainment district; 21,000 people attend 4-day festival |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/oct/03/high-marks-greet-el-dorado-venue-201710-1/ |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Arkansas Online |language=en}}</ref> The district includes a music hall, outdoor amphitheater, farmer's market, musical performers, restaurant with performance stage, the largest playscape in the state, and a water park.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/murphy-arts-district |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=www.architectmagazine.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Murphy Arts District Calendar {{!}} Murphy Arts District |url=https://eldomad.com/ |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=eldomad.com}}</ref>

The South Arkansas Arts Center (SAAC) is a {{convert|22500|sqft|m2|adj=on}} facility with three visual art galleries, a ballet studio, a theatre, educational classroom space, and an open art studio.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Arkansas Arts Center and Theatre - El Dorado, AR - Events, Entertainment |url=http://www.discoverourtown.com/AR/El-Dorado/Events/south-arkansas-arts-center-and-theatre/136821.html |access-date=2012-08-19 |publisher=Discoverourtown.com |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718231824/http://www.discoverourtown.com/AR/El-Dorado/Events/south-arkansas-arts-center-and-theatre/136821.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>  SAAC hosts stage events and art exhibitions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-07-29 |title=South Arkansas Arts Center {{pipe}} El Dorado, AR |url=http://www.saac-arts.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729131940/http://www.saac-arts.org/ |archive-date=2010-07-29 |access-date=2012-08-19 |publisher=Saac-arts.org}}</ref>

The El Dorado Municipal Auditorium is a multi-purpose auditorium with a large lobby, grand hall seating, and multi-tiered sloping balcony. It has featured musical acts, entertainment shows, school productions, dance recitals and was formerly the location of the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, which was founded in 1956.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Venue |url=https://www.southarkansassymphony.com/venue |access-date=2024-01-13 |website=SASO |language=en}}</ref>

The El Dorado Conference Center is a {{convert|50764|sqft|m2|adj=on}} multi-purpose facility opened in 2011, which features an assembly hall
main hall, small meeting rooms, the student services for [[South Arkansas Community College]], and bookstore, and café.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-07-19 |title=El Dorado Conference Center |url=http://www.southark.edu/conference/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719094521/http://www.southark.edu/conference/ |archive-date=2011-07-19 |access-date=2012-08-19 |publisher=Southark.edu}}</ref>

===Annual events===
The [[Mayhaw]] Festival occurs in May.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mayhaw Festival - South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society & the Newton House Museum |url=http://www.soarkhistory.com |website=soarkhistory.com}}</ref> The official event name is "Bugs Bands and Bikes".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bugs Bands & Bikes - Main Street El Dorado |url=http://www.mainstreeteldorado.org/bugs_bands_bikes.html |website=mainstreeteldorado.org |access-date=July 15, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093038/http://www.mainstreeteldorado.org/bugs_bands_bikes.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> It coincides with a crawfish boil, a "Battle of the Bands", a bike show/one day motorcycle rally, a motorcycle parade, and pool tournament.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
  
The "SouthArk Outdoor Expo occurs in September<ref>{{Cite web |title=SouthArk Expo - South Arkansas Outdoor Expo |url=http://www.southarkexpo.com/index.php |website=southarkexpo.com}}</ref> with activities for anglers, hunters, children, and families.

MusicFest occurs in October in an eight-block area, featuring over 30 acts on five stages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MyArkLaMiss - MusicFest El Dorado Named Festival of The Year |url=http://www.myarklamiss.com/story/d/story/musicfest-el-dorado-named-festival-of-the-year/23400/fttCxrC-CkqF53VxXmzzFw |website=myarklamiss.com |access-date=July 15, 2015 |archive-date=July 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715113704/http://www.myarklamiss.com/story/d/story/musicfest-el-dorado-named-festival-of-the-year/23400/fttCxrC-CkqF53VxXmzzFw |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Winter events include the "Festival of Lights" and the "largest Christmas parade in Arkansas".{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

===Attractions===
[[File:Rialto Theater, El Dorado, AR IMG 2629.JPG|thumb|Rialto Theater]]

*The [[Union County Courthouse (Arkansas)|Union County Courthouse]], opened in 1928.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Union County, Arkansas: History and Information |url=http://www.e-referencedesk.com/resources/counties/arkansas/union.html |access-date=2012-08-19 |publisher=E-referencedesk.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1983-06-30 |title=Union County, Arkansas |url=http://www.arkansasties.com/Union/CourtHouse.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321184820/http://www.arkansasties.com/Union/CourtHouse.htm |archive-date=2012-03-21 |access-date=2012-08-19 |publisher=Arkansasties.com}}</ref>
*The [[South Arkansas Arboretum]], opened in 1965, is Arkansas's only state park located within a city. It includes more than {{convert|2|mi|km|abbr=on}} of paved trails.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Arkansas Arboretum is adjacent to El Dorado HS on west gulf coastal plain |url=http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/southarkansasarboretum/ |access-date=2012-08-19 |publisher=Arkansas State Parks}}</ref>
*The Rialto Theater, listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]], opened in 1929 with seating for 1,400, and presented live stage shows and films.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rialto Theater |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theater/8715/ |access-date=2012-08-19 |publisher=Cinema Treasures}}</ref>