2025 Main Street Now Conference

Registering for Main Street Now 2025 is quick and easy through this website. You can register online by clicking the “Register” button at the top of any page. To secure the best rate, reserve your space on capacity-capped experiences, and purchase limited-edition conference t-shirts, we encourage you to register online and ahead of the conference.

While we strongly recommend that attendees complete their own registration, we understand this may not always be possible. If you would like to complete registrations for others (staff, volunteers, board members, etc.), click the “Register” button at the top of any page to begin. Please make sure to use the attendee's contact information for all fields.

Important note: A separate registration and unique email address is required for each attendee. When completing a registration for another person, make sure to use an email address that belongs to them and that they check regularly. This will ensure they receive the confirmation email and important updates.

The early bird registration rate expires on Tuesday, February 4, at 12:00 p.m. ET. Online registration at the regular rate will close on Monday, March 31, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Save up to $300 by registering early!

Yes! We are offering limited on-site registration, on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning Sunday, April 6, at 7:15 a.m ET. A credit or debit card will be required to complete payment.

Please note: Although unlikely, there is a possibility that we may need to close on-site registration due to limitations related to venue capacity. To guarantee admission and to secure the best rate, we strongly encourage you to register in advance.

Main Street Now 2025 is a phenomenal experience, offering an abundance of learning, network-building, and celebratory events that can only be fully achieved in person. While virtual attendance elements are not available, we may offer encore webinar presentations of select popular sessions after the conference.

We have several registration types available. Keep reading for details!

Member: Staff, board members, and volunteers attending on behalf of an organization that has an active Main Street America membership. Make sure to enter your Member ID during check out to receive a $100 discount.

Non-Member: Individuals attending on behalf of an organization that is not currently a Main Street America member. Join today to save on conference registration!

Civic Leader: Elected officials and senior government staff, including mayors, county executives, city councilmembers, elected municipal leaders, staff at the director level and above in Main Street-related departments (i.e., economic development, planning, historic preservation, etc.). This rate includes access to a special invite-only lunch session on Tuesday, April 8, programmed with content tailored for civic leaders. Main Street managers and Coordinating Program staff are not eligible to receive the Civic Leader rate.

Student: Individuals currently enrolled full-time in a degree program and not employed full-time.

Exhibitor: Companies specializing in products, services, and resources designed to assist downtown and commercial district management professionals take their efforts to the next level.

For questions about qualifications, please email info@mainstreet.org.

Yes! Main Street America members receive a $100 discount when registering online. Not a member yet? Join today for as little as $95 to save on registration and unlock dozens of additional members-only benefits! Click here to view rates. (Please note: This discount only applies to Main Street America memberships; National Trust for Historic Preservation or Preservation Leadership Forum memberships are not eligible.)

Conference volunteers are eligible to receive a registration discount. These positions are managed by our co-host partner, Pennsylvania Downtown Center. If you are interested in volunteering, please email info@mainstreet.org, and we will connect you with the conference volunteer coordinator.

At this time, we do not have scholarships available, however we encourage you to check with your Coordinating Program and to subscribe to receive conference updates for any opportunities that may become available.

You can locate your member ID number by logging into your online account or on any of your membership renewal reminder emails. You can also contact us at membership@mainstreet.org or 312.610.5613.

Please note: Due to the high volume of requests, it may take up to 72 hours to receive a response.

To ensure a smooth online registration and onsite check-in process, we strongly recommend credit card payment. A “pay by check” option will be available for a $20 fee via online registration until Monday, March 3, and all checks must be received no later than Monday, March 17. Please note that checks will not be accepted during on-site registration. Checks should be mailed to the address below:

National Main Street Center
c/o Main Street Now 2025
53 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 350
Chicago, IL 60604

Yes! You can modify your registration through Monday, April 1, at 2:00 p.m. ET. To make changes, please log into your registration record by clicking the link at the bottom of your confirmation email. Then, follow the prompts to add items and complete check out. Keep an eye out for a confirmation email.

To view or update your profile only: After clicking the link at the bottom of your confirmation email, scroll to the bottom of the form and click the “Proceed to add details” button, update all applicable fields, and click the “Submit” button. Alternatively, you can view your profile via the website by clicking on any “Register” button, then click on "Click here to edit your profile" link and enter the email address that you used to register.

If you have any questions or issues with modifying your registration, please email info@mainstreet.org.

Please note: Ticketed agenda add-on items can be added online. For information about removing any ticketed add-on items, please see the cancellation policy.

Registrations may be cancelled for any reason by Friday, February 28, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. ET. These cancellations will incur a $25 cancellation fee. The cancellation fee will be waived if you opt to roll your registration over to the 2026 Main Street Now Conference or transfer your registration to another individual.

Cancellation of mobile workshops or special ticketed events will incur a $5 administrative fee.

All cancellations must be sent in writing to info@mainstreet.org. Refunds will be processed within one week of receipt of cancellation request. Cancellations will not be accepted after February 28, 2025.

Conference T-shirts are available for pre-sale during Early Bird registration (December 11, 2024-February 4, 2025). A limited supply of shirts will also be available for purchase on-site.

Please note: The deadline to modify conference T-shirt selections is February 4, 2025, and as these items are printed based on pre-sale orders, we are unable to accept cancellations after February 4, 2025.

Printed on soft, lightweight, and pre-shrunk cotton/poly blend, the official 2025 Main Street Now Conference T-shirt is available in unisex sizing (chest width measurements below based on the garment lying flat):
XS: 27" body length, 16.5" chest width
S: 28" body length, 18" chest width
M: 29" body length, 20" chest width
L: 30" body length, 22" chest width
XL: 31" body length, 24" chest width
2XL: 32" body length, 26" chest width
3XL: 33" body length, 28" chest width

Admission to conference venues, events, and activities is reserved for registered participants with valid conference badges. If space allows, we may be able to open sales of ticketed events to guests; availability will likely be determined in late March. To inquire, please email info@mainstreet.org.

The decision to receive correspondence from exhibitors is up to you! As part of registration, attendees may opt out of receiving marketing emails from exhibitors. Exhibitors are limited to one (1) email pre- and post-conference; phone numbers are not shared.

Please email your request to info@mainstreet.org. We will do our best to respond within 72 hours.

The conference will take place at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, conveniently located near the Philadelphia International Airport and Amtrak’s William H. Gray III 30th Street Station. Shuttles are not offered. Taxi, ride hailing, and public transit options are available. Find additional travel tips here.

Conference room blocks are available at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. Learn more about the hotel and how to make reservations here.

Please note: Conference rooms blocks are limited and available on a first-come, first-reserved basis. Information about all hotel options will be available here.

Monday through Wednesday, light breakfast items and coffee will be provided in the morning (locations and hours will be published in the conference app and printed program). Hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be available at the Welcome Reception (Sunday), Exhibitor Reception (Tuesday), and Big Bash (Wednesday; requires separate ticket purchase).

All education sessions will take place at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown.

The conference will kick off on Sunday, April 6, with mobile workshops, special sessions, and the Welcome Reception. Education Sessions will be offered Monday-Wednesday from approximately 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The conference will conclude with our Big Bash on Wednesday, April 9.

The 2025 Great American Main Street Award ceremony will take place at the Opening Plenary on Monday, April 7, and we will recognize the 2025 Mary Means Leader Award recipient and Main Street America Revitalization Practitioner graduates at the Closing Celebration on Wednesday, April 9.

You can view a schedule-at-a-glance here and preview the education content here. Full agenda details will be made available to registered attendees in February.

No, pre-registration is not required for education sessions. Seats will be available at sessions on a first-come, first-served basis. Registered attendees may save sessions to their personal agendas through the Main Street Now 2025 mobile app – available in Apple and Google Play app store in mid-March!

Our content addresses the broad range of issues that impact Main Street programs and their districts, including community and economic development, placemaking and design, marketing and promotions, organizational development and capacity building, and more.

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.

No, not at this time. However, speakers are strongly encouraged to share their presentations and handouts with attendees via the conference mobile app.

In addition to perennial Main Street content, the Main Street Now 2025 agenda will highlight one key 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.

Yes, we anticipate offering APA credits for select sessions.

Please send any additional questions to info@mainstreet.org.

Please note: Due to the high volume of requests, it may take up to 72 hours to receive a response.