- Need Technical Assistance? info@mainstreet.org
From inspiring plenaries and immersive mobile workshops to engaging education sessions and interactive activities, the Main Street Now 2025 schedule features 100+ opportunities for local leaders to strengthen networks, gain new skills, and find solutions to issues impacting their communities. Meet new people and connect with colleagues from across the Main Street network and tap into the expertise of your peers, industry professionals, and supporters.
Keep scrolling to learn more about this year's agenda.
Sunday, April 6
Monday, April 7
Tuesday, April 8
Wednesday, April 9
*Additional registration required.
**Included in Civic Leader registration.
In addition to perennial Main Street Approach content, the Main Street Now 2025 agenda will highlight one core theme and three related sub-themes:
A Healthy Main Street Movement
Main Streets are the hearts of our communities. They are hubs of innovation and creativity, where the dreams of entrepreneurs become local institutions serving vital community needs. They are gathering places, bringing together people from across the street and across town. They are places of shared memory and cultural expression that carry the stories of generations through permanent public art installations and temporal events. In these ways, and so many more, Main Streets both reflect and shape individual and community health. And just like people, Main Streets require care, nurturing, and attention to reach their full potential. To foster healthy Main Streets, we must bring people together to encourage deeper connection, drive future-focused solutions by exploring innovative approaches, and create a sustainable Movement where everyone can fully participate and thrive.
Connect
Connection is a powerful tool that can help us name and achieve shared goals for our Main Streets. Philadelphia's focus on active transportation and unparalleled public art program provides a rich backdrop for exploring the importance of designing people-centered districts. Accessible infrastructure, welcoming public spaces, and arts programming are examples of proven ways to help create vibrant, inclusive communities. Cultivating these ways to connect not only nurtures social bonds, but also promotes healthy, cohesive Main Streets where everyone feels supported, represented, and valued.
Innovate
We need fresh, creative ideas to meet the new and longstanding challenges impacting our communities. Innovation can take many forms, from using new technologies to thinking outside of the box. Whether creating accessible spaces and getting people involved or supporting grow-from-within economies and building resilient communities, innovation champions healthier Main Streets—ensuring that our communities thrive physically, socially, and economically for generations to come.
Sustain
Sustainability weaves together many threads of Main Street work. It means taking care of our local leaders by providing them with the support, resources, and work/life balance they need to be happy and successful. It means protecting our environmental health by investing in green technology and preparing for the impacts of climate change. It means supporting entrepreneurs and small business leaders to promote resiliency, equitable growth, and strong local economies. From our people to the planet, a holistic approach to sustainability secures a healthy present and future for our Main Streets.
Main Idea Session: Keynote session that provides thought leadership, explores our education themes, and celebrates the accomplishments of Main Street communities.
30-Minute Tactical Solution Sessions: Succinct sessions focused on key examples from Main Street communities and partner content through sponsors.
45-Minute Crash Courses: Topic-specific courses that provide quick information or skill-building.
75-Minute Classroom Sessions: Panel discussions or conversations on a topic with opportunities for audience engagement.
Deep Dive Sessions: Highly interactive 1.5 to 3-hour workshops on topics that require detailed instruction or discussion.
Mobile Workshops: Off-site, ticketed excursions to Philadelphia neighborhood districts, and Main Street communities in Pennsylvania and Delaware. All mobile workshops will depart from the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown.
Education sessions provide time-tested and leading-edge educational content on a wide range of topics relevant to commercial district revitalization professionals, civic leaders, board members, volunteers, and supporters of place-based economic development efforts. Preview the education sessions below—stay tuned for the full schedule coming in early February!
Led by expert guides and packed with tangible examples of locally-powered community preservation and economic development efforts, Main Street Now mobile workshops are the ultimate immersive learning experience. Space is limited! Reserve your spot on a mobile workshop during registration.
Note: For all mobile workshops, transportation costs and arrangements—including transit passes and bike rentals—are included. To inquire about accessibility accommodations, please email info@mainstreet.org by March 1, 2025—we will do our best to respond within 72 and to fulfill requests.
Co-Founder & CEO, Resident Association of Greater Englewood
Main Idea – Tuesday
Executive Director, Weave: The Social Fabric Project at The Aspen Institute
Main Idea – Tuesday
Welcome Reception Sunday, April 6, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Free & included in registration – RSVP via registration add-on encouraged. Learn More
Join us for a party before the official kick-off of Main Street Now 2025! Meet up with old friends and make new ones while enjoying delicious bites and refreshing beverages. Whether you are a first-time conference guest or frequent attendee, the Welcome Reception is an ideal way to start your Main Street Now 2025 experience. Come to mix, mingle, and get energized for a fun night out experiencing Philadelphia’s dynamic dining scene with colleagues.
Pro tip: Check out the Main Street Now 2025 map for restaurant recommendations.
Opening Plenary Monday, April 7, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Marian Anderson Hall 300 S. Broad Street Free & included in registration – RSVP via registration add-on encouraged. Learn More
Meet up at the stunning Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts for the official start of the 2025 Main Street Now Conference! Hear inspiring welcome remarks from City of Philadelphia officials, Pennsylvania Downtown Center representatives, and Main Street America President & CEO Erin Barnes that will energize you for three action-packed days of education sessions, mobile workshops, and special events. Plus, celebrate the 2025 Great American Main Street Award winners, sponsored by The Hartford Insurance Group. Make sure to arrive a few minutes early to locate and secure a seat with peers from your state, region, or coordinating program delegation.
The 2025 Great American Main Street Award is generously sponsored by The Hartford Insurance Group.
Getting there: The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is located 4 blocks (approximately .5 miles) from the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. Transportation will not be provided; budgeting extra time to walk (about 15 minutes) or catch a ride is strongly recommended. Volunteers will be available to guide attendees who opt to walk.
Main Idea - Tuesday Tuesday, April 8, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Learn More
If you want to see the true health of a Main Street, you have to look beyond the economic, cultural, and built environment. You have to look at the people. Are they coming from every part of the community? Are they engaging with each other, enjoying public spaces, and caring for others? We’ll explore how to foster healthy downtowns and commercial corridors by weaving trust and connection in our communities, even when it feels like America’s social fabric is at risk of unraveling. Frederick Riley of The Aspen Institute's Weave: The Social Fabric Project will talk with three local leaders who are connecting their communities in innovative ways that build trust—from organizing neighbors to turn vacant lots into gathering spaces, to creating comic book corners for kids, to holding weekly walking tours with town leaders. Join us for this interactive, connection-focused Main Idea session!
Frederick Riley, Executive Director at Weave: The Social fabric Project at The Aspen Institute
Jackie Wolven, Executive Director at Main Street Eureka Springs
Asiaha Butler, Co-Founder & CEO at Resident Association of Greater Englewood
Dawn Arlington, Founder at Comics at the Corner
Civic Leaders Lunch Tuesday, April 8, 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Ticketed – Included in Civic Leader rate Learn More
The Civic Leader Lunch is an annual gathering of local officials committed to supporting Main Street redevelopment. This year, we are joined by partners from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Investment Corporation, and Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh for a panel discussion showcasing their work with communities to strengthen economic mobility, such as the Federal Reserve’s Reinventing Our Communities and FHLB’s Blueprint Communities programs. Join us for lunch, learning, and an understanding of the ways you can seek partnership with federal agencies to break down barriers, increase access to capital for entrepreneurs, support community development organizations, and strengthen the local economy.
The Civic Leader Lunch is an annual gathering of local officials committed to supporting Main Street redevelopment. This year, we are joined by partners from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Investment Corporation, and Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh for a panel discussion showcasing their work with communities to strengthen economic mobility, such as the Federal Reserve’s Reinventing Our Communities and FHLB’s Blueprint Communities programs. Join us for lunch, learning, and an understanding of the ways you can seek partnership with federal agencies to break down barriers, increase access to capital for entrepreneurs, support community development organizations, and strengthen the local economy.
Special Sessions: Networking & Connecting Tuesday, April 8, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Learn More
Join us for an entirely new social networking and interactive learning experience at Main Street Now 2025! All attendees are invited to check out dynamic peer-to-peer learning and network-building sessions dedicated to exploring timely topics impacting every Main Street leader. Come ready to lean into conversations about mental health, disaster preparedness, and collaborative problem-solving, and leave with new ideas, pro tips, and a stronger professional network.
Join Mary Means, a visionary founder of the Main Street Movement, for an intimate and thought-provoking discussion with Main Street America President & CEO Erin Barnes, as she reflects on her remarkable journey and the lessons captured in her new memoir. This session dives into the critical role of mental health in community leadership, offering insights that resonate far beyond the page. Engage in a meaningful dialogue with Mary and connect with peers as we explore the human side of revitalization, followed by an audience Q&A.
Tap into the collective wisdom of the Main Street network in this engaging, peer-driven problem-solving session. Participants will gather in small groups, matched by shared challenges or complementary experiences, to collaboratively brainstorm solutions and share strategies for success. Whether you're navigating a tough issue or bringing lessons learned from your own triumphs, this session is a chance to connect, learn, and strengthen the bonds that make Main Street thrive. Come ready to engage, share, and leave with actionable ideas and newfound Main Street friends.
Disasters affect every community, but together, Main Street leaders can forge a stronger, more resilient future. Inspired by the Main Street Disaster and Resilience Toolkit, this interactive session is a can’t-miss opportunity for sharing stories, strategies, and solutions for disaster preparedness and recovery. Through real-world insights and stories from leaders who have faced crises, you'll connect with peers, exchange ideas, and discover how collective action can protect and preserve our shared spaces.
Exhibitor Reception Tuesday, April 8, 4:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Free & included in registration – RSVP via registration add-on encouraged. Learn More
Meet up with colleagues and friends to enjoy light refreshments while exploring the Main Street Expo! Find great services, products, and information you need to help support your organization's efforts to bring your community's vision to life. Make sure to complete and return your exhibitor raffle passport for a chance to win some fabulous prizes!
Main Idea - Wednesday Wednesday, April 9, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Learn More
Discover how creativity, storytelling, and connection can transform community engagement with James Rojas and John Kamp, co-authors of “Dream Play Build: Hands-on community Engagement for Enduring Spaces and Places.” Their innovative “Place It!” method—featuring hands-on model building, pop-ups, and sensory site explorations—has redefined how diverse groups find common ground. In this interactive session, James and John will share their transformative process and stories of their work with Main Street communities, showcasing how playful, tactile approaches inspire meaningful connections and unlock shared visions. Join us for an unforgettable experience and a chance to connect directly with the authors during a robust Q&A.
James Rojas – Urban planner, community activist, educator, artist, and Founder at Place It!
John Kamp – Facilitator and Landscape Designer, and Urban Designer at Prairieform
Closing Celebration Wednesday, April 9, 3:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Learn More
Join us for a celebratory conclusion to the 2025 Main Street Now Conference filled with community, joy, and music. Our closing celebration will include remarks by Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America; a graduation ceremony for Main Street America Revitalization Professional Credential recipients; and the presentation of the 2025 Mary Means Leadership Award.
Celebratory live music performance made possible with support from the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation.
Big Bash Wednesday, April 9, 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. FDR Park, 1500 Pattison Avenue Ticketed – Add-on at registration required Learn More
Let’s party! Celebrate the closing of Main Street Now 2025 at FDR Park, South Philadelphia’s largest park and one of its most important public institutions, reflecting the remarkable racial, cultural, and economic diversity of the area. Join friends and colleagues for hors d'oeuvres, beverages, entertainment, and dancing while you explore the American Swedish Museum, Boat House, and lawn connecting these two areas. Immerse yourself in this unique civic commons space filled with historic architecture, nature, and cultural expression. You don’t want to miss this Big Bash experience!
Getting there: Transportation is provided. Buses will depart Philadelphia Marriott Downtown from 6:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Return trips will run from 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
