Eiffel Tower Replica Lights Up in Paris, Arkansas

Editor’s note: The event featured in this article occurred in 2017, but you’ll find this and other great happenings for the current year on our Events page. Plus, the tower is there to enjoy year round.

Oh la la! The City of Paris celebrates the holiday season with extra flair this year with the installation of the Eiffel Tower Park on the town square. Don’t miss the lighting ceremony of the new tower at 5 p.m. this Sunday, Nov. 23.

Located on the southwest corner of the downtown square, the new attraction consists of a water fountain with a replica of the Eiffel Tower on top of it. The fountain base lights up and changes colors. The tower lights up as well. The tower with the base is 25 feet tall.

The replica tower is painted with the same paint used on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. It consists of three shades of brown from bottom to top. Ed Williams, a resident and business owner in Paris, Arkansas, researched the French tower and found the company that painted it. He contacted the company, which donated and sent the paint to him.

While the Paris tower is painted by hand, Williams painted the Arkansas replica with a paint sprayer. Paris Chamber of Commerce members are currently looking into the possibility of becoming a sister city to Paris, France. The current mural on the wall behind the replica tower will be repainted this spring with a scene that is a combination of Paris, France and the nearby, iconic Mount Magazine, which is the state’s highest peak.

The tower lighting ceremony is the first of many fun holiday events. Here’s a list of additional activities in Paris this holiday season:

Nov. 23

Mercy Auxiliary Benefit Holiday Dinner at St. Joseph Catholic School cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets, available at the door, are $6 for adults and $4 for children. The Merchants Open House is from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The tower lighting ceremony begins with entertainment at 4:30 p.m. with the actual lighting at 5 p.m.

Nov. 29

The official Trail of Holiday Lights lighting of the downtown ceremony is at 6 p.m. with pre-entertainment at 5 p.m. Enjoy the brilliant display of holiday lights and the parade. Santa arrives on this night as well to take up residence at his house, located on the north side of the courthouse. In fact, you’ll find Santa there ready to take pictures with you seven days a week until Christmas. Bring your own camera. All ages can climb on his lap to tell him their Christmas wishes. Santa is there weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on weekends from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. Last year the youngest person to sit on his lap was a two week old, and the oldest was 90 years old.

Dec. 7

The annual Tour of Homes is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It’s a fundraiser for the Logan County Old Jail Museum. You have to head to the museum the night of the event to buy a ticket and get a list of homes on the tour. No one knows what homes are on the tour until that evening. Rumors are already swirling though about a big house that people are dying to see inside of being on the list! The homes are decorated inside and out. It’s not just a tree and mantle decoration in the living room either – it’s bathrooms and all. Tour home owners go all out.

Dec. 13

The merchants association offers Dinner on the Square, a five-course meal with wine served al fresco. That’s right – outside. But I hear it just doesn’t seem that cold when you’re dining at tables on the lawn of the square surrounded by beautiful holiday lights and good food and drink as you watch horse and buggy rides go by. The meal is catered by The Lodge at Mount Magazine. Tickets are $40 and go toward the downtown revitalization project. Buy your tickets at the chamber.

Dec. 20

Join the Holiday Hog for pictures at Santa’s house from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

You can contact the Chamber of Commerce at 479-963-2244. Visit Facebook.com/ParisArkansasChamber to keep up with all the fun going on in Paris.