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Director's Message
Amanda Everitt
A new year is upon us, and with it brings many new and exciting things! We have outgrown the space at Maria's Ballroom so make sure you join us at our Annual Gathering on January 23rd at The Mill Event Center; this event ALWAYS sells out fast so if you have not yet reserved your tickets, grab them now! A link and member discount code are available in the newsletter below. NEW THIS YEAR: Silent auction of amazing products and experiences you won't want to miss!
Our first snowfall of the season hit HARD and while Kirkbride was quick to address the first wave on the 6th, the 7th was frustrating as many of us traipsed our way into our businesses through far too much snow. Thank you to those of you who called and snapped photos. I believe Kirkbride may have overcommitted and couldn't keep up with the demand - I have expressed the importance of downtown Lancaster being a priority, and if challenges continue we can, as some of you have suggested, go with a different contractor in the 2025/2026 snow season. For now, they have been paid for this snow season so be sure to reach out if ever the service is unsatisfactory so that I can keep track and manage the contract as needed.
January is a time of rest and renewal for many of our small business owners and we hope that your vacations and shop closures have been restful and rejuvenate your entrepreneurial spirit. Still haven't taken that time off but have plans? Make sure you let us know so that we can share it with the general public and manage expectations. We can also help you with updating your hours temporarily on google so that customers are not caught unaware.
Are you a property owner that invested in their building in 2024 or do you have plans to invest in 2025? Sometimes great expense must be taken with the "unsexy" things nobody can see. Call me and let me know to help us keep track of the care and pride our property owners take in their buildings!
We look forward to seeing you downtown!
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Join us, along with local business owners, community leaders, and community members at The Mill Event Center on Thursday, January 23rd to celebrate all the things we've accomplished in 2024.* Be the first to hear about our visions, goals, and future of Downtown Lancaster. Awards will be given to individuals and businesses who have had a great impact on our district. Hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available.
Click the link below for more information and to reserve your spot at the Annual Gathering!
To apply your member discount for the Annual Gathering, please use the promo code "MEMBER" when completing your purchase.
If you are not a member and would like to become a member, click here!
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Our annual gathering is quickly approaching. We've moved the location of the event this year to The Mill Event Center. We're going to have so much room for activities!
We’re excited to announce that with all the extra space, Destination Downtown Lancaster will be hosting a silent auction during our Annual Gathering! This is a wonderful opportunity to raise funds for DDL and make a meaningful impact. We’re reaching out to our valued members to ask for donations of items, gift cards, or services to feature in the auction. Your generosity helps make this event a success and directly benefits our mission. You will be thanked at the Annual Gathering and this gives you an opportunity to showcase your business to the community.
If you’re able to contribute, please click the button below to sign up! If you have any questions, please contact Alex at alex@destinationdowntownlancaster.com or call the office 740-277-6607.
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Downtown SID Board Meeting | |
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SID Board Meeting
January 14th | 3pm | Park National Bank Conference Room, Downtown Office 143 West Main Street
The Downtown Lancaster Special Improvement District Board meets quarterly on the second Tuesday of the month at 3pm. These board meetings are open to all SID property owners. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 14th at 3:00pm. Email Amanda at amanda@destinationdowntownlancaster.com with any questions or concerns.
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Downtown Business Meeting | |
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Next Downtown Business Meetings
January 16th | 9:00am Art & Clay on Main/Square 7 Coffee Shop
January 16th | 4:30pm Double Edge Brewing Co.
Thanks to your feedback, we continue to offer two different opportunities for you to participate in the Downtown Business Meetings, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Mark your calendar now to join us at either 9:00am on Thursday, January 16th at Art & Clay on Main/Square 7 Coffee House or later on the same day at 4:30pm at Double Edge Brewing Co.
The Downtown Business Meeting is a way for DDL to bring all the businesses of the district together. The purpose of the meeting is to provide a space for you to stay connected and up-to-date on things happening downtown. We use this time to share important information and resources to all member businesses in the district.
The calendar invite has already gone out, if you did not receive the google calendar invite, please reach out to alex@destinationdowntownlancaster.com.
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2025 Membership- Renew Now! | |
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It is time to renew your 2025 membership with Destination Downtown Lancaster. If you are a tourist destination, please ensure you have your 2025 Membership in by Friday, January 17th to be included in our Downtown Brochures in the new year. If you are unsure what membership level will best fit your business, please reach out to us so we can help!
Special Improvement District Property Owners receive a 50% discount on DDL Membership.
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2025 Sponsorship Opportunities | |
Support the heart of your community!
We believe that revitalization comes through fostering a sense of community, attracting and retaining businesses, and planning for the future. With your help, we can ensure the vibrancy of our city for generations to come. Be a part of the story... invest in Destination Downtown Lancaster today!
Your contribution to our events and programming is far more than a sponsorship, it’s an investment in building community. We are excited to continue to build community and bring Lancasterians together in the heart of our city, but we can’t do it without you.
Below, please find our 2025 menu of sponsorship opportunities. How would you like to partner with us? Whether you’re using your advertising dollars to maximize your co-branding power with events that reach your target audience, or looking to achieve your corporate social responsibility goals with a non-profit that impacts us all, we can help. With your support, we can continue to work to enhance Downtown’s business climate while preserving and promoting our heritage as a center for cultural activity.
Pledge your support today, and we can invoice you in the new year, or before year-end, depending on your corporate fiscal calendar and philanthropic goals. Destination Downtown Lancaster is a 501(c)3 organization and your contribution may be tax deductible.
Sponsorship opportunities are limited, so get your pledge forms back as soon as possible to get your first choice of events!
We can’t wait to see your logo Downtown!
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ArtWalk 2025 Artist Host Application | |
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Destination Downtown Lancaster partners with the Lancaster Festival to host the ArtWalk each year as part of the Lancaster Festival's ten-day celebration of the arts. The 2025 festival is July 24th - August 2nd, 2025. Our goal is to provide visual artists with a platform to share their talents and gifts to enrich the lives of the community members. ArtWalk is the biggest night in downtown where the crowds reach thousands and local businesses are paired with artists for this annual opportunity.
If you would like to host an artist, or multiple artists/group at your business for ArtWalk, you must submit an ArtWalk Host application.
Participation Fee: $75 for DDL Members or $100 for Non-DDL Members
Deadline to Sign Up: Friday, February 19th, 2025 at NOON
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We’re looking forward to everything the new year has in store, especially our upcoming events. If you and your business want to get ahead of the curve, now is the perfect time to sign up for the events we have planned this year. Sign ups for all events are avaliable under the "Business Resources" page on our website, CLICK HERE to view. | |
Shop Hop | March 6th-8th, 2025
Participate in Downtown Lancaster's Shop Hop to encourage people to get out of their winter funk and come downtown to support your business. Kicking off March 6th through 8th, 2025. We are asking businesses to be creative and think of an event, special, deal, or giveaway that will encourage folks to visit you during this three day event. DDL will market this event and share your promotions! As always, if you need help brainstorming promotion ideas, feel free to reach out to us.
Participation Fee for DDL Members: A gift card or product for your business valued at at least $25 (We will package up all the goodies of participating businesses as the grand prize for the drawing of shoppers)
Participation Fee for non DDL members: $50
Deadline to Sign Up: February 14th, 2025
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Chocolate Walk | April 4th, 2025
Be a host location for Chocolate Walk and entice people into your business to see what you have to offer. You will be included on the walking map with the description of your delectable chocolate offering. This year's event is on Friday, April 4th, 2025.
Each attendee will check in with DDL to receive a wristband, chocolate walk bag, map, and any additional event information. Participating businesses will need to come up with and prepare 450 chocolate treats to give away; feel free to purchase or make your own chocolate (if you purchase chocolate, please shop local)! Participating businesses will also need to be open from 4pm - 7:30pm. If you're not sure what your chocolate item will be, please sign up now and we will follow up with you closer to the event.
Participation Fee: Free for DDL Members or $25 for Non-DDL Members (After you submit the form, we will send you an invoice for your participation fee)
Deadline to sign up: March 1st, 2025
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Destination Downtown Lancaster's 2025 Calendar of Events | |
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Mark your calendars for our events this year!
We are working on distributing our 2025 Calendar of Events, feel free to stop by the office to snag some now, or we will have them available at the downtown business meetings.
*Please note that Winter BrewFest on February 15th has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, but we look forward to next year's event!
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Double Edge Brewing Presents: Women's Day Brew Collab Celebration | | |
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Dear Exceptional Female Leaders,
Join Double Edge Brewing Co. for their 2nd Annual Women’s Day Brew in celebration of International Women’s Day for March 8th, 2025.
Last year, they created the hit Hop Flashes, and due to its demand, they're brewing it again! Led by Head Brewer Dominic, this hands-on experience will guide you through every step of the process. A light lunch will be provided. We ask you to bring waterproof footwear.
Save the Date: February 12th @ 9am-1pm
Location: Double Edge Brewing Co 158 W Chestnut St
*They understand that this is a big time commitment. Please feel free to come and go throughout the day as your schedule allows.
RSVP: To secure your spot and be part of this exceptional collaboration, please RSVP to Max@double-edge.beer.
Let's create history together in the spirit of friendship, empowerment, and great beer. They look forward to raising a toast with you on International Women's Day!
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Thank You GlassTown Countdown Businesses! | |
Thank you to everyone who helped make Glass Town Countdown a tremendous success! Downtown was filled with families and friends celebrating the new year in the heart of our community. Events like these bring people together, drawing both community members and visitors to our city center and strengthening our sense of connection. By hosting events and showcasing our downtown businesses, museums, and restaurants as must-visit destinations, we create opportunities to attract new customers and support business growth in our district. Share your feedback in our short survey to help us make next year’s celebration even better! | |
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Small Business Development Center
FREE Virtual Training Events
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Click the link below to explore SBDC training events that are provided at no-cost to assist you and your business, and to register for any of those free trainings.
Follow SBDC on Facebook by clicking HERE.
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Destination Downtown Lancaster offers many resources to the businesses in the district*. Be sure to check out the link below to see a list of benefits and take advantage of them.
Click Here to visit the Resource Page
Click Here if your businesses is a Mover & Shaker+ member so you can explore your benefits!
*Must be a member of DDL to take advantage of business resources.
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