2025 Main Street Now Conference

Act Fast: Mobile Workshops are Selling Out!

The largest convening of place professionals will take place at the 2025 Main Street Now Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from April 7-9. There, Main Street practitioners, civic leaders, and industry experts will find an agenda packed with incredible education sessions, thought-provoking presentations, and 24 curated mobile workshops. From illuminating walking history tours to in-depth explorations of grassroots initiatives, these unique excursions offer immersive learning experiences that you can only find at Main Street Now 2025.

But don’t just take our word for it—here’s what attendees are saying about Main Street Now mobile workshops:

“The mobile workshops are very beneficial in providing ideas from other cities and providing a relaxed networking experience.”
“The mobile workshops always add more interest, texture and in-person outcomes to applied strategies.”

Some have already sold out, but opportunities to enhance your Main Street Now 2025 experience and bring time-tested techniques and creative solutions back to your community abound with these great excursions.

Cultural History Comes Alive

Badass Women’s History Walking Tour

Sunday, April 6, 10:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.

Walk alongside the badass women who formed this city of sisterly love on this unique tour of Philadelphia. Uncover the incredible entrepreneurs, doctors, politicians, artists, and activists that have made the city what it is today. Hear the untold stories you won’t get anywhere else!

Philly Gayborhood & LGBTQ History Walking Tour

Monday, April 7, 2:45 p.m.-4:45 p.m.

Discover the hidden histories of Philadelphia’s Gayborhood. Learn about the evolution of our nation’s only formalized gayborhood. Visit historically significant places, including the mural tribute to civil rights activist Gloria Casarez and Giovanni’s Room, America’s longest continuously operating queer and feminist bookstore.

Note: These mobile workshops are 1.5-mile walking tours. Wheelchair accessible upon request; please email info@mainstreet.org by March 1.

Day Trips

Welcome to Mt. Airy!

Tuesday, April 8, 10:15 a.m.-4:15 p.m.

Join us for an exclusive tour of Mt. Airy and discover what makes this vibrant neighborhood in Northwest Philly so special. Explore its passionate small business community, public art, green spaces, and access to the Wissahickon, as well as its thriving food and beverage scene, renowned craft and maker spaces, and curated shopping with a focus on Black-owned retailers. Delve into the area's commitment to historic preservation, cultural diversity, and outdoor recreation, highlighting the unique blend of creative entrepreneurship and natural beauty that define Mt. Airy.

Tacony: Past, Present & Future

Tuesday, April 8, 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Explore the unique past, promising present, and envisioned future of Northeast Philadelphia’s Tacony neighborhood. Take a 30-minute train ride from Center City to arrive in Tacony for a walking tour showcasing High Victorian-style homes, banks, multi-denominational churches, and parks. Along the way, learn about the neighborhood’s rich heritage as a utopian factory town, its decline within the context of deindustrialization and Philadelphia’s history, and Tacony’s CDC’s current efforts to preserve its character while encouraging diverse growth!

Cultural Heritage Districts

El Tourism Cultura of the Golden Block

Sunday, April 6, 10:20 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Walk around “The Golden Block” of Philadelphia while hearing how Experience Eastern North Tours partnered with local leaders to create a tour program to establish stronger bonds between several historic Latinx neighborhoods and residents, develop resident leadership and job skills while providing supplemental income, and increase a sense of neighborhood pride, identity, and belonging. Experience first-hand how this unique program offers visitors and residents alike the chance to enjoy local food, music, art, and history, while supporting cultural preservation for years to come.

52nd Street Commercial Corridor Tour

Tuesday, April 8, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation (TEC-CDC) invites you to tour the 52nd Street Commercial Corridor, affectionately known as “West Philadelphia’s Main Street” and the primary artery of our Walnut Hill community. 52nd Street is home to a wide array of Black- and minority-owned businesses, many of whom are legacy businesses that have existed on the corridor for over 20 years. Hear how TEC-CDC has served as the corridor manager on 52nd Street for over a decade, fighting against decades of disinvestment and systemic exclusion to build a better community for the people who call it home.

Rails, Trails & Wheels

One More Block: Introducing Tourists & Neighborhood Business Districts

Tuesday, April 8, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Located adjacent to the front steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, “The Rocky Statue” is Philadelphia’s single most visited tourist site, attracting an estimated four million visitors each year. While all come to admire this iconic statue, far fewer make the short trip just one block further to visit the adjacent business districts and the unique public art garden and trail along the Schuylkill River. Explore these sites via bikeshare while discussing current projects and new ideas designed to help encourage tourism by leveraging these neighborhoods’ proximity to Philadelphia’s most popular attractions.

Second Story Collective: Arts, Affordable Housing, and Aging-in-Community

Tuesday, April 8, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Creating a rich, multifaceted awareness of local issues is the first step to solving problems in imaginative, human-centered ways. By starting with story, Writers Room — an organization dedicated to inclusive arts programming and community action — has developed an arts-centered model for intergenerational co-living as an affordable housing and aging-in-community strategy. Join us for an interactive workshop that will demonstrate how storytelling and sharing practice can bridge differences across divides and co-create a shared space to imagine new solutions.

The Main Street Now 2025 mobile workshops offer something for everyone! It may be difficult to decide which to choose, but combined with any combination of education sessions and network-building opportunities, you are sure to leave Philly equipped with the tools, resources, and inspiration to take your Main Street efforts to the next level. Conference registration is open, with early bird rates available through February 4. Reserve your spot on a mobile workshop during registration or, if you’re already registered, add it to your existing registration by clicking the link in your confirmation email.