El Dorado Insider Spring 2023 - 16

MAD's Amphitheater plays host
to concerts, music festivals, and a
seasonal farmer's market.
Photograph by Greg Owens
world-class arts and entertainment district is not
typically the first thing that springs to mind when
visitors consider a trip to El Dorado - but it should
be! El Dorado is home to the Murphy Arts District
(MAD), a $100-million entertainment venue
created in 2017 to propel El Dorado onto the stage as a vibrant
destination for arts, culture, and music in the South.
With the city's recent selection as 'Best Small Town Cultural
Scene' by USA Today, it appears we are well on our way.
MAD has brought a new vitality to downtown El Dorado by
capitalizing on the unique character of the community and its
vibrant boomtown history, developing a brand that embraces
the offbeat and out-of-the-ordinary, and providing creative
outlets to explore music, dance, theater, art, and food in fun
and immersive ways that hold true to the people and culture of
El Dorado.
The idea for the Murphy Arts District evolved over several
years of dreaming, planning, and daring to create a new venue
that is a game changer for El Dorado. Home to a wide variety
of events, MAD maintains a calendar of concerts, festivals, and
family-friendly community events throughout the year.
The Murphy Arts District is located in a six-block area just
steps from the heart of historic downtown El Dorado and
provides non-stop entertainment for young and old alike.
MAD's crown jewels are two state-of-the-art concert venues:
the MAD Amphitheater and the 2,500-seat First Financial
Music Hall. The outdoor Amphitheater plays host to concerts,
music festivals, and a seasonal Farmer's Market. The spacious
lawn is open daily and is used for multiple activities including
family picnics, outdoor films, group exercise, or basking in the
sun with a favorite book.
The First Financial Music Hall, housed in the beautifully
restored Griffin Auto Company building, hosts a variety of
performances throughout the year including comedians,
stage performances, and dozens of concerts. The ornate,
Mediterranean-style façade has been restored to its former
glory and the lawn outside boasts a 110-foot oil derrick -
16 El Dorado Insider
A
complete with water bursting through the ground at its base
to resemble an oil gusher, an homage to the city's oil boom
heydays. The Music Hall is also a popular venue for weddings,
banquets, and parties.
Delighted children and their parents flock to the MAD
Playscape, a two-acre public playground with state-of-the-art
playground equipment selected for the evolving play styles
of different ages. Children can enjoy slides, ropes, tunnels,
ladders, a giant Razorback water slide, a splash pad, and a
concession stand.
The Farmer's Market at MAD is a place to enjoy the outdoors,
socialize, learn, shop, cultivate community, and get the freshest
food around. A variety of goods that are grown, made, or raised
in the region are available, including produce, meat, herbs,
bedding plants, baked goods, and local honey. The market is
also home to the Master Gardeners' annual plant and bulb
sales.
Embracing the spirit of southern arts and culture, MAD is
always seeking ways to branch out and create new audiences.
It's a MAD world indeed these days in El Dorado. Check out
www.eldomad.com for the latest updates to MAD's schedule
of events and come out and enjoy the fun - you're sure to find
something to entertain you! p
The MAD Playscape
offers two acres of fun.
Photograph by Dero Sanford
http://www.eldomad.com
El Dorado Insider Spring 2023

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