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Elgin Main Street Program’s annual event showcasing local arts and culture has been transformed into a yearlong initiative to better engage the city’s residents and accommodate area talent, officials said.
Previously held the second weekend in May, Explore Elgin Arts and Culture will now feature events throughout the year. Monthly themes will tie events together and encourage community participation, a shift Main Street Manager Kristina Alvarez said was driven by feedback on the single-weekend format.
“The biggest complaint was that, ‘I couldn’t do this because I was busy,’ or ‘I couldn’t go see that because there was just too much going on,’” she said. “That’s when we thought that it’s really not just for a weekend — why don’t we break it up into something that we can really enjoy the whole year?”
Community events include musical performances, art exhibitions, farm tours, competitions and more.
Each month, under the expanded format, a theme will be posted on the city’s website and social media accounts. Elgin organizations are encouraged to host accompanying activities, shows or celebrations and share them online using the hashtag #ExploreElginTX.
Alvarez said the yearlong approach helps the city hit its broader target of tourism promotion and downtown engagement.
“It’s really about how we can enjoy and explore Elgin culture all year long,” she said. “We’ve got some really awesome businesses and everyone’s working together so symbiotically.”
According to the Main Street manager, many residents are still unaware of downtown Elgin’s recent development.
“I’ve met people who’ve been here eight years and don’t even know we have a downtown, so that’s always our challenge,” Alvarez said.
Explore Elgin’s “Picture This!” photo promotion invites residents and visitors to submit themed snapshots each month on the Visit Elgin Facebook account. The photo with the most likes will be featured on the city’s website and the photographer will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card for downtown shops.
“It’s about getting people involved and excited about their community,” Alvarez said.
According to the city, the expanded program looks to give Elgin talent more room to breathe in the spotlight while drawing attention to what’s happening locally.
“What was once this high energy and crazy weekend is now something that we can celebrate all year,” Alvarez said. “We have so much to offer and we can’t cram it into one weekend.”
This month’s photo theme is Spring into New Beginnings, with a focus on color, movement and growth. City-sponsored events include a St. Patrick’s Day festival at Things Celtic, plant swaps with Elgin Plant People and a Dr. Seuss celebration at the library.
A full schedule and list of themes is available at elgintexas.gov/1399/ Explore-Elgin-All-Year-Long.
