2014 NOMINEES ★ Best of the Rest


Readers share what makes these 14 downtowns special.


1 CORINTH, MISS. Pop. 14,870 Corinth’s Fillmore Street offers a charming blend of the old and new, thanks to historic buildings— including the Generals’ Quarters inn, a Victorian home turned bed and breakfast—mixed with boutiques and galleries that “always keep their doors propped open.”


2DELAND, FLA. Pop. 28,237 This “once sleepy” southern town has become “an artistic and cultural hub”—the center of which isWood- landBoulevard, home to theMuseum of Art, the scenic campus of Stetson University, and a full yearly calendar of festivals and parades.


3ELLICOTT CITY, MD. Pop. 65,834 Running through the center of this 18th-century milling town, Main Street combines a “storied history” with an “eclectic mix” of businesses. Visitors might stumble upon events ranging fromCivilWar reenactments to the free Main Street Music Fest, featuring local bands.


4EXCELSIOR, MINN. Pop. 2,397 Excelsior’s aptly named Water Street is a shop- and restaurant- lined avenue that leads pedestrians directly to “TheCommons,” a 13-acre park and beach separating the town from gorgeous LakeMinnetonka.


5FLAGSTAFF,ARIZ. Pop. 68,667 Two decades ago, Flagstaff expe-


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rienced a rebirth after the city con- verted an abandoned lot into a new downtown centerpiece, dubbedHeri- tageSquare, featuring an amphithe- ater, winding brick paths, outdoor movies, arts festivals, and more.


6GALENA, ILL. Pop. 3,429 Galena has over 1,000 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, and strolling through itsMain Street is like “taking a step back in time.” In addition to colorful restau- rants and shops, visitors can enjoy ghost tours, trolley rides, wine tast- ings, and street festivals.


7GEORGETOWN, TEX. Pop. 54,898 The heart of this “quintessential Texas downtown” is “picture-perfect” Georgetown Square, a vibrant gath- ering place ringed by beautifully re- stored buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Full of mom-and-


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10MONTPELIER, VT. Pop. 7,755 A mix of craft-beer bars and “ex- quisite” restaurants make the area near the intersection of State and Main streets a magnet for foodies. With the town’s many shops owned by locals, residents enjoy a small- town camaraderie where “almost everyone knows your name.”


To see more photos of all of our nominated towns,


go to parade.com/main.


pop shops where the owners person- ally greet you, the community offers “a glimpse of an earlier era.”


8GREENVILLE, S.C. Pop. 61,397 Year round, the tree-lined Main Street is strung with twinkling lights that give it a “fairy tale” feeling. A free trolley makes it easy to explore Greenville’s large number of locally owned restaurants and shops, plus Falls Park, which features a 345-foot- long suspension footbridge spanning theReedyRiverWaterfalls.


9HOLLAND, MICH. Pop. 33,481 Residents say you’d be “hard pressed to find a more vibrant” main drag thanWestEighth Street, a four-block stretch ending near LakeMacatawa. A “snow melting system” allows for wintertime strolling, and in the spring the town celebrates itsDutch heritage with theTulipTimeFestival.


HOW WE DID IT: AfterParade readers nominated more than 2,000 Main Streets, editors selected 16 based on the criteria for a successful downtown, according to our research. Then in June, readers voted for their favorites in a bracket on parade.com.


10 | AUGUST 17, 2014 © PARADE Publications 2014. All rights reserved


11PLACERVILLE, CALIF. Pop. 10,464 Founded during the 19th-century gold rush, Placerville’s “beautifully restored” downtown—with monthly stagecoach rides, an iconic bell tower, and 160-year-old Placerville Hardware Store—was home to the late artistThomasKinkade, who often depicted its bucolic setting.


12RIDGEFIELD, CONN. Pop. 24,638 With a classic steepled church at one end and a “beautiful library” at the other,Main Street is a “Norman Rockwell painting come to life.” Pace the creaky floorboards at the local hardware store, take in an exhibit at theAldrichContemporaryArtMuse- um, or nosh on homemade chocolate atDeborah Ann’s Sweet Shoppe.


13ROCKLAND, MAINE Pop. 7,209 Picture “a quaint New England vil- lage” combined with a trendy art scene and you’ll get an idea of this homey town. On a stroll down its MainStreet, you can buy lobster bait, catch a concert, or tour the Maine LighthouseMuseum.


14SILOAMSPRINGS,ARK. Pop. 15,856 Ten years ago, locals say,MainStreet here was dying. Since then, citizens have restored historic buildings and opened new businesses—and to- day, this authentic town where folks “greet you with a smile” is “alive with new energy.”


PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: KIM KARPELES/ALAMY; JEFF GREENBERG "0 PEOPLE IMAGES"/ALAMY; ANDRE JENNY/ALAMY


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