DeLand’s Next Chapter Starts Now

September was a month to remember as MainStreet DeLand Association celebrated 40 years of preserving our history, supporting locally-owned downtown businesses, and bringing our community together. Your participation in our anniversary events made this milestone truly special. Thank you for helping us keep the heart of DeLand beating for the last 40 years. Cheers to many more years!

This month, we’re thrilled for the return of Monsters on Main Street on Friday, October 31st. This annual family-friendly Halloween tradition draws thousands of costumed visitors to Woodland Boulevard from 6pm until 8pm. Thanks to our sweet partnership with Pat & Toni's Sweet Things, we’ll be giving out approximately 3,000 pounds of candy, ensuring a safe and festive experience for all. 

We are proud to provide this event free to the community, but it’s not possible without the generosity of sponsors and donors. If your business or organization would like to help bring Monsters on Main Street to life this year, please reach out to us at events@mainstreetdeland.org to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

October is also the perfect time to celebrate our community’s history. In this MainStreet Minute, I want to take a moment to recognize someone very special around here... This year marks the 27th annual celebration of the DeLand Craft Show, a remarkable legacy that began with a beloved downtown merchant Sandy Chavez, owner of Lace & Accessories. Sandy envisioned the Craft Show as a way to spotlight local artisans, makers, and small businesses while drawing people into the heart of DeLand. Sandy singlehandedly created this event and organized it for many years before MainStreet’s staff took over the operations and carried her vision forward. Her dedication helped establish this show as one of the region’s premier artisan events, attracting visitors from across Florida while strengthening our local economy. Today, the Craft Show continues to honor Sandy’s vision by filling downtown’s streets with creativity, community spirit, and one-of-a-kind finds … while also kicking off Downtown DeLand’s “fall shopping season”.

Supporting locally owned businesses like Sandy’s is not just a shopping choice; it’s an investment in DeLand’s future and ensures local dollars stay local. Studies show that for every $100 spent at a local business, roughly $68 stays in the local economy, compared to $43 at a chain store. Every dollar you spend locally helps support jobs, services, and the unique character of Downtown DeLand.

You can take that investment one step further by becoming a MainStreet Member, volunteering at our events and in the office, regularly donating, and sponsoring MainStreet events and initiatives. Your support directly funds the programs, improvements, and traditions that make downtown DeLand a thriving place to shop, dine, be entertained, work, and live. Visit our website and sign up for our regular newsletter to learn about what’s happening in Downtown DeLand and ways that you can join the movement.

Thank you for supporting local and investing in the future of Downtown DeLand. Together, we’ll keep our Main Street strong for the next 40 years and beyond.

See you Downtown.

Stephanie Garcia Mullins

Executive Director

MainStreet DeLand Association