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Community Spotlight: FestivICE Connects York County Trail Towns
This weekend, residents and visitors in York, PA, enjoyed a unique winter wonderland experience. For the eighth year, downtown York was filled with beautiful, detailed ice sculptures. FestivICE also featured an ice slide, a live reindeer, fire pits with smores, a DJ, and other fun attractions. Eleven tons of ice were required to bring the spectacle to life, artfully carved into 20 sculptures along Cherry Lane in York. Another 20 sculptures were featured along the York Heritage Rail Trail, part of the York County Trail Towns Program. FestivICE was hosted by York Revolution, Traditions Bank, and the York County Economic Alliance. Each ice sculpture was sponsored, and $100 of each sponsorship was added to the York County Community Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund.
Downtown Inc, York’s Main Street organization, collaborated with the organizers to promote the event. Downtown Inc posted multiple times across their social media channels and outreach to the merchants of Downtown York through their newsletter and Facebook group. Jonathan Desmarais, Director of Downtown Inc, noted that collaboration is a key component of their work. “We are more than willing to assist in the promotion of such an event that brings visitors to our downtown,” said Desmarais. Downtown Inc’s website brands Downtown York as ‘Historically Edgy,’ a theme that fits well with FestivICE’s brilliant ice displays. Events like this play an important role in emphasizing York as a cultural destination in the region.
The inclusion of the York Heritage Rail Trail this year significantly expanded the event and brought new benefits, including improving connections between York and its neighboring towns. “FestivICE is just one of the many new efforts going on in our Trail Town communities, and this event will give a glimpse to visitors on what is going on throughout the county,” Pennsylvania State Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill said to Traditions Bank. David Gonzalez of the York County Economic Alliance sees the partnership as a win for all communities, saying that the “asset based economic development approach considers each town’s existing resources, character, and local businesses to develop a memorable and inviting trail experience for residents and out of town visitors alike.”
Johnathan Desmarais predicts good returns on the event, saying “with the additional foot traffic that the event brought, the businesses of Downtown York saw increased customers as well as additional exposure in hopes that customers who visited for the first time will return.” David Gonzalez also touted the economic benefits, saying “Downtown York had a winning program with FestivICE, and our ability to find an opportunity to expand the success to boroughs that typically don’t receive the same economic development attention has spurred a more cohesive York County and cross promotion that we believe will pay dividends in years to come.”
FestivICE is a great example of a program that emphasizes the power Main Streets have in promoting local and regional cultural and economic development, as well as the role that community partnerships can play in elevating an event. The event provided safe, outdoor recreation in a beautiful community setting while showcasing local businesses and supporting arts and culture. “In the age of COVID and the typical first quarter slow down, FestivICE provides an opportunity for increased foot traffic and an incentive for residents to get out of their homes and into the community,” said David Gonzalez.
At Fort Vancouver in Vancouver, Washington, Native Hawaiians played a critical role in the success of the Hudson Bay Company. Today, Vancouver’s Hawaiian history and heritage plays a crucial role in efforts to reenergize the city’s historic downtown.
Whether you're preparing your community for a surge of visitors, traveling as a visitor yourself, or looking for a glimpse from outside the path, there are many opportunities to be experience this unique event.
Learn how the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta uses this unique mural program to celebrate Valentine's Day and raise important funding for their work.
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Learn how Hendersonville, North Carolina launched their first annual Earth Day Festival to celebrate their local environment and educate residents about ways to get involved with regional environmental sustainability efforts.
Jessica Morgan and Hayley Isbill from the City of Sweetwater (Sweetwater, Tenn.) explain how they prepared their community for the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse and give useful tips and tricks for those who are preparing for the next eclipse coming in April 2024.
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Love Letters for Local is a new initiative that encourages community members to write letters of appreciation and support to small businesses as they persevere into the new year
Promotion positions the downtown or commercial district as the center
of the community and hub of economic activity, while creating a positive image
that showcases a community’s unique characteristics.
Too often, as we’re strolling our favorite Main Street, we pass empty or dark shop windows that make us want to hurry home a little bit faster. Imagine instead, a charming streetscape adorned with vibrant, lively window displays, showcasing retailers’ favorite products and seasonal gift ideas.
From authentic comfort food to farm-to-fork fresh and everything in between, these restaurants, bars, and cafes are key to the thriving social, business, and residential life in the historic commercial districts in Main Street Iowa communities.
Located in southeast Kansas, Independence (pop.8,799) is home to Fab Lab ICC, which is on track to be the world’s leading innovator in combining entrepreneurial mindset education with a fab lab maker space.
Last year, Main Street Selma created the Jeffrey the Ghost Project to honor the late Kathryn Tucker Windham, a celebrated author, folklorist, and Selma resident.
What if someone asked us for some quick marketing ideas that any Main Street town could use for more visibility, especially online? Here is what we’d say.
Oklahoma's Main Street Guymon Director Melyn Johnson found more than just an innovative way to engage nearby college students in Main Street activities.
Carbondale Main Street, established 1989, is located at a “sweet spot” for watching the total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21—it’s just a few miles north of the point of greatest duration within the path of totality
Fritz the dog has made his way into the hearts of the residents of LaBelle, Florida, and helped our Main Street Community find a way to make what we do more noticeable.
The Easton Main Street Initiative, established just a decade ago and serving the riverside city of Easton, Pennsylvania, decided it was time to give ourselves a pat on the back.