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The Holidays Have Arrived on Tennessee’s Main Streets

Released on Tue, Nov 25, 2008 - 1:00 am under

 Main Street Program Touts Special Events, Shopping to Promote Historic Downtowns

NASHVILLE – With the arrival of the holidays, Tennessee Main Street communities across the state are hanging their garland and dusting off their tree-toppers. Tennessee Main Street Programs are hosting multiple holiday events to support the downtown districts of communities across the state.
 
“Main Street Program holiday celebrations are an important part of community-building,” said Kimberly Nyberg, ECD Main Street director. “Many of our historic downtowns have an assortment of specialty goods and services, from candy stores to that one-of-a-kind art piece.  I encourage you to spend your dollars locally and support your downtown merchants and businesses this holiday season.”
 
“I salute the Tennessee Main Street Program for recognizing the importance of working with their local partners. This year, more so than ever, it’s important to buy from local businesses, since they put more back into the local economy than national businesses,” said Lauren Adkins, assistant director of Field Services for the National Trust Main Street Center, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. 
 
Main Street revitalization is a comprehensive, incremental, self-help economic strategy that also focuses on developing public-private partnerships to enhance community livability and job creation, while maintaining the historic character of the district.
 
“Downtown revitalization is an important, often unsung, factor in economic development,” said ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber. “The Tennessee Main Street Program brings the focus back to businesses and neighborhoods at the heart of a community. The holiday festivals give citizens a chance to support their historic downtown districts as they celebrate the season.”
 
Tennessee’s Main Street program provides communities with technical assistance and guidance in developing long-term strategies that promote economic growth and development. The program provides information and assistance in forging public networking and training opportunities for downtown commercial districts.
 
Holiday Main Street events throughout the state are listed below, and for more detailed information please visit: http://www.state.tn.us/ecd/whatsnew/. 

Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008
Main Street Lawrenceburg
Event: Downtown Christmas Open House
Place: Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
Time: All day

Monday, Dec. 1, 2008
Main Street Union City
Event: Community Tree Lighting
Place: Downtown Union City, Tenn.
Time: 5:30 p.m.
 
Monday, Dec. 1, 2008
Columbia Main Street
Event: The Annual Main Street Christmas Parade
Place: Historic Downtown Columbia, Tenn.
Time: 7 p.m.
 
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008
Main Street McMinnville
Event: Christmas in the Park
Place: Downtown McMinnville, Tenn.
Time: 5 - 8 p.m.
 
Friday, Dec. 5, 2008
Main Street Murfreesboro
Event: Celebrate Christmas
Place: Downtown Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Time: 6 p.m.
 
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008
Main Street McMinnville
Event: Celtic Christmas
Place: Downtown McMinnville, Tenn.
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008
Rogersville Main Street
Event: Christmas on the Square
Place: Downtown Historic District in Rogersville
Time: 12 - 6 p.m.
 
Friday, Dec. 12, 2008
Main Street Collierville
Event: Magic on Main Street Movie Night
Place: Historic Downtown Collierville, Tenn.
Time: 6 p.m.
 
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008
Rogersville Main Street
Event: Tour of Homes
Place: Downtown Historic District in Rogersville, Tenn.
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
 
Saturday, Dec. 13 – Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008
Downtown Franklin Association
Event: Dickens of a Christmas
Place: Downtown Franklin, Tenn.
Time: Dec. 13 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Dec. 14 – 12 noon to 5 p.m.

Tennessee’s 22 Main Street communities include: Bristol, Cleveland, Collierville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dandridge, Dayton, Dyersburg, Fayetteville, Franklin, Gallatin, Greeneville, Jackson, Johnson City, Kingsport, Lawrenceburg, McMinnville, Murfreesboro, Rogersville, Savannah, Tiptonville and Union City. For more information on the Tennessee Main Street Program, visit ECD online at http://www.state.tn.us/ecd/comdev_mainstreet.htm. 
 

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Contact: Laura Elkins
Office: 615-532-1910
E-mail: laura.elkins@state.tn.us