Downtown Elizabethton Main Street Program focuses on continued growth for 2026

ELIZABETHTON – The 2026 year is looking up for downtown Elizabethton. While the Main Street Program hasn't been active very long, Courtney Bean, Main Street director for the City of Elizabethton, said the program's growth over the past six years is already leaving impacts on the downtown community. "A lot of what we're doing is building and growing those programs that we established recently to adapt them and to work them into our community," Bean said. One of the newer, nearly completed projects Bean has been working on is the Wayfinding Signs Project. Bean explained it established street signs throughout the downtown area, aiding in showing pedestrains on where to go. "Wayfinding signs are signs that help you find your way," she said. "Our project specifically focused on parking as well as directional signs." Bean said with close to 1,000 parking spaces within downtown Elizabethton's district, parking isn't necessarily a problem, but "parking perception" is. The Wayfinding signs project established 36 signs for anyone to know the layout of downtown parking, as well as signs pointing to landmarks within the district – such as the Covered Bridge, library and hotel. "We now have signs – really large, beautiful signs – at the parking lots, and the parking lots are named," Bean said. "Naming creates a sense of place and a sense of identity, and so it's all about strengthening our community. Yes, the signs are to help our tourists, but they're also to help our locals." Alongside the Wayfinding project, another new art mural will be added to the downtown scenery. Bean said the mural, painted by Virginia artist Jon Murrill, will be called "The City of Power." "It's going to be all about the industrial history of Carter County and Elizabethton and how it's impacted our community and who we are today," she said. First Friday's will also be making its annual return to downtown this summer. Bean said as one of the biggest events spanning over four months, First Fridays in Elizabethton allow downtown shops and businesses to have extended hours and play around with different themes for each month. "The shops try to have something fun, engaging and different that people can't expect on a typical Friday or a typical day," Bean said. "There's usually some elevated aspect to it." Bean added downtown also has three different "zones" for people to enjoy during First Fridays, with different activities and businesses to visit in each one. "We have a community zone, a fun zone and a mobile food zone, and each of those zones are located throughout downtown," Bean said. "They just provide different fun opportunities for people – like the community zone is a spot where we highlight some of our community non-profits, and they provide fun and engaging activities for the community." The Firefly 5k and Christmas Parade, as the fundraising opportunities for the Main Street Program, will be returning to the downtown area as well. Bean said the Firefly 5k is the biggest fundraiser, with people having the chance to explore the district during the evening hours. "It's a really fun time because you typically get to run through downtown and through the Covered Bridge," Bean said. "It's very family-friendly, very walkable, very pet-friendly – it's a really fun time." While many events are making a return, Bean said she's most excited to see the growth downtown will continue to have as the Main Street Program continues to grow itself, wanting to continue elevating the district and create an environment that reflects Elizabethton's community connections. "There's a lot of work going on behind the scenes, and I think it's really incredible to see the growth that we've accomplished in a short amount of time," she said. "Working together with the community and our businesses and our city to do that is just really beautiful…I think moving forward into this next year and the next few years, I think it's about continuing that trajectory and continuing to work together with strategy and a data-driven mindset to grow and elevate our downtown district."