Central Pine Bluff was alive with energy and community spirit Thursday as Pine Bluff Downtown Development hosted its first-ever Downtown Easter Egg Hunt. Led by newly appointed Executive Director Angelisa Henry, the event aimed to showcase the city’s downtown area, support local businesses and foster a sense of community engagement.
The event drew families and individuals eager to participate in the festivities. Children and adults, with baskets in hand, eagerly searched for hidden eggs, while adults explored the local businesses and resources that make downtown Pine Bluff unique.
Participants included the Jefferson County Alliance and Pine Bluff Chamber of Commerce, FBT Bank, Pops Beauty and Barber Shop, The Generator, Underwater Seafood and Unique Cakes by Miss Margaret, to name a few.
“This event is all about fun, connection and showcasing the amazing people and places that make downtown Pine Bluff so special,” Henry said. “Whether you’re here to hunt for eggs, explore local businesses, grab a bite at a food truck or just enjoy the sunshine, thank you for being part of it!”
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The event was made possible through the support of sponsors like MK Distributors and Liberty Utilities, both of whom reached out to offer assistance after seeing promotional materials for the event. Henry emphasized the collaborative spirit of the community, noting that many downtown partners were enthusiastic and ready to participate.
“All of our community partners downtown pretty much were on board,” Henry explained. “I just hit the pavement … boots on the ground. I went to the different businesses, introduced myself and shared with them what we’re trying to do.”
The Easter egg hunt served as an opportunity to highlight the diverse offerings of downtown Pine Bluff, including restaurants, resources for home and family life, the Arts and Science Center, the Chamber of Commerce, the Pine Bluff Public Library and the UAPB Business Incubator. Henry emphasized the wealth of resources available in the downtown area that many people may not be aware of.
“We want to showcase our people, we want to showcase the good that we have here in the city, and we want to encourage other people to come partake and be a part of all the good things we have,” she said.
Looking ahead, Henry shared her vision for downtown Pine Bluff, which includes revitalizing the area, increasing foot traffic and encouraging new businesses and resources to come downtown. She envisions downtown as a walkable place where people can spend their lunch breaks, shop, eat and enjoy entertainment on weekends.
“I think everyone shares the vision of seeing downtown as a walkable place,” Henry said. “Somewhere you can go on your lunch break and walk around and go shopping, and eat and drink on the weekends.”
Henry said her background as the interim director of the business support incubator at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff has fueled her passion for supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, whom she considers the foundation of the city’s ecosystem.
“I have a heart and a passion for our small businesses and our entrepreneurs because they are truly the heart of our ecosystem here in the city, and we want to help them thrive and help them grow,” she said.
Pine Bluff Downtown Development is working in partnership with the city, meeting weekly to collaborate on plans for the downtown area. Henry encouraged the community to stay tuned for more events and initiatives and to follow Pine Bluff Downtown Development and her personal Facebook page for updates.
“I want everybody to just stay on the lookout for all the different things that downtown development has coming its way,” Henry said. “If you have any ideas or ways that you would like to get involved, please feel free to reach out to me.”