Your Passport to Summer on MainStreet
As summer heats up, so does the energy in Downtown DeLand!
We’re halfway through 2025 and already seeing the fruits of collaboration bloom along our historic streets. This month, members of our board and staff will attend the Preservation on Main Street in Fernandina Beach, which is Florida Main Street’s annual conference. We’ll be joining downtown advocates from across Florida to share ideas, celebrate preservation wins, and bring back fresh strategies to strengthen our own district. Learning from our peers across the state keeps us inspired and informed as we plan for DeLand’s future.
Our two July events are our Where’s Waldo Scavenger Hunt, brought in part by Muse Bookshop, and Tropical Nights.
Throughout the month of July, find Waldo and his friends in your favorite downtown shops for chances to win all sorts of prizes. On Friday, July 11th, we’ll have our annual Where’s Waldo Night. Come dressed as your favorite Waldo character and hop around the shops on the Waldo Passport. And, of course, join us for the closeout party on Thursday, July 31st at 6pm at Muse Bookshop for all of the Waldo drawings. There are a few really great prizes that you must be present to win.
Our Tropical Nights block party is set for Friday, July 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. on West Indiana Avenue and throughout Downtown DeLand. Break out your brightest shirts and island vibes as our downtown transforms into a tropical escape with live music, shop open houses, and possibly a whole lot of water courtesy of our DeLand Fire Department. It’s the perfect evening to grab your friends, support local businesses, and soak up the summer fun.
July is also National Independent Retailer Month, and we encourage you to shop small and shop often. Every locally owned business in our district plays a role in shaping our identity, and your support feeds their families and fuels their dreams — and our economy.
And in the spirit of Independence Day, here’s a patriotic piece of local history: During World War II, DeLand was home to the DeLand Naval Air Station, where hundreds of Navy pilots trained—including Charles “Pete” Conrad, who would go on to become the third man to walk on the moon as commander of NASA’s Apollo 12 mission. Downtown DeLand welcomed servicemen with parades, patriotic storefronts, and community dances. That legacy of pride and service still resonates through our historic streets today.
Behind the scenes, we’re preparing for the return of our beloved holiday ornament program, expanding our Economic Vitality outreach, and fine-tuning the details of our 40th Anniversary celebrations this fall. (Yes, 40 years!) We can’t wait to share more.
Want to be part of it all? Join a committee, sponsor an event, or simply drop by the MainStreet office. Downtown DeLand thrives when our community shows up—and there’s always room at the table.
Stay cool, stay connected, and we’ll see you Downtown.
Stephanie Garcia Mullins
Executive Director
MainStreet DeLand Association