'On The River' Entertainment District

What an Entertainment District Means for Ozark

A Letter from Main Street Ozark CEO

This November, voters in Ozark will have the opportunity to make a meaningful decision for the future of our downtown: whether or not to adopt a designated entertainment district. While it may sound new to some, entertainment districts have become successful and celebrated in many towns across Arkansas and could offer Ozark an incredible chance to grow our economy, celebrate our heritage, and support our small businesses in a smart, safe, and community-driven way. Cities like Russellville and Fort Smith have forged a path to downtown revitalization through establishing designated entertainment districts.

Franklin County has long been recognized for its viticulture. We are, after all, the proud home of Arkansas Wine Country. For more than a century, local wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms have drawn visitors from across the state and beyond. Creating an entertainment district downtown supports this legacy, making it easier to highlight our wine culture during festivals, tasting events, and heritage celebrations. It aligns with who we already are, a community with deep roots in hospitality, agriculture, and tourism.

An entertainment district designates a specific area where patrons can walk with beverages purchased from licensed businesses, during set hours and in approved containers. This district wouldn’t turn our town into a party scene but rather formalize and regulate something we already see during events. In fact, as a wet county, Franklin County allows alcohol to be served and consumed at festivals and special events downtown with or without an ordinance in place. The current system however has less oversight or structure than an entertainment district requires. Without a district, there are no consistent expectations around open container use, security coordination, or vendor responsibility. An entertainment district would tighten regulation, not loosen it.

Other Arkansas communities have shown us how beneficial an entertainment district can be. Cities like Bentonville and Conway have seen 20–30% increases in downtown business sales, especially at restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, and retail stores. Tourism spikes during festivals and weekends, often boosting local lodging, dining, and tax revenue. This is money that will go straight back into infrastructure and public services. Even modest gains for Ozark could result in tens of thousands of dollars in additional annual revenue, strengthening our city budget without raising taxes.

There are understandable concerns from some about crime or misuse. However, communities across Arkansas have consistently reported no significant increases in crime after adopting entertainment districts. In fact, the regulations around approved cups, boundaries, hours, and police visibility often lead to safer, more organized public events. Compare this to where we are today: festivals and Friday markets still allow alcohol because we are a wet county - but without the added structure or boundaries an entertainment district would provide. This vote is about creating a safer, smarter system, not removing safeguards.

In recent months, the Franklin County Quorum Court approved taxpayer funds for signage, extra patrol, and even temporary fencing just to keep people from enjoying a beer or glass of wine on the courthouse lawn during local events. That’s public money spent to fight a problem that could be solved with common sense - and a single vote in November. Imagine those funds going instead toward downtown lighting, holiday decorations, park improvements, or youth programs - investments that enrich lives, not limit them. Main Street Ozark has already started working with grant funders to pay for signage, containers, wristbands and other necessary information for the district, funds that would not have required our local government to waste taxpayer funds on a problem that we had already worked through. Clear and accurate communication is key when making these decisions. 

Downtown Ozark is coming alive again. With new events, community partnerships, and energy from local entrepreneurs, we’re seeing a long-overdue revival. Let’s keep that momentum going. An entertainment district allows us to highlight what makes Ozark special - from our wineries to our music and arts scene - while giving small businesses a fair shot to succeed.

This November, we hope that you to vote YES for an Ozark Entertainment District. Let’s honor our heritage, grow responsibly in our wet county, and keep building a community we’re proud to call home.

In community, 
Justin McCormick
Executive Director