There’s always something happening in DeLand, especially this time of year. Special Events provide a great way for the community to come together like we did for this week’s “Monsters on MainStreet”.  Thousands of young and young at heart folks found their way Downtown to enjoy safe trick or treating and to make great, lasting memories.  How cool is that? For the next two and three generations parents and grandparents are going to be telling the story of how the celebrated Halloween growing up in DeLand.  For me, that’s what it’s all about.  Some people think preservation is about saving a building.  I think it’s about saving a town.  

A big thank you goes out to our downtown merchants who helped to make a safe place to trick or treat and to Stetson University Center for Community Engagement, students, and Stetson Athletics who helped us raise the bar big time with their participation this year.  Stetson is an important part of the success of our downtown. 

November features Stetson’s Homecoming and a huge music festival on the 4th, the Volusia County Veterans Day Parade on the 11th, The Fall Festival of The Arts on the 18th and 19th, and Small Business Saturday on the 25th.  Small businesses are the core of our downtown.  Community support makes our events successful and keeps our small businesses thriving.  Be sure to “Shop Local” this upcoming Holiday Season and “Shop Small” in Downtown DeLand to keep your award winning town strong.  Santa comes to town on December 1st. 

In addition to Special Events, we have smaller merchant events going on too.  Wine, Women, and Chocolate has grown into quite an exciting event.  This month’s theme is “Totally 80’s”.  On November 20th the “Mistletoe March” kicks off as the newly rebranded “Elf on the Shelf” game.  Instead of an elf we’ll all be looking for to a toy soldier, similar to the ones we have on our street corners.  

Visit the MainStreetDeLand.org website for information on these events and everything else going on downtown.  Sign up for our weekly email blast and “Like” us on Facebook.  Be sure to download the Distrx app on your smart phone and encourage your favorite downtown businesses to get online.  

See you downtown!

Wayne Carter

Executive Director

MainStreet DeLand Association