Emporia Main Street's PROMOTION programs are run by a committee of volunteers along with Main Street staff. Our promotion activities are focused on drawing visitors through year-round events, promoting local shopping, and marketing Downtown Emporia as a destination.
Emporia Main Street hosts or supports over 40 events each year. Our largest event, the Dirty Kanza Finish Line Party, brings over 10,000 visitors to downtown Emporia. Our Midnight Madness shopping event boosts sales at retailers throughout Emporia. All of our events promote a positive image of our community to both visitors and residents.
Whether we're putting on an event or reaching out through marketing, our promotion activities are designed to encourage economic activity and investment in our community.
Promotion Programs
Events
Emporia Main Street and the Promotions Committee host some of Emporia's biggest events, drawing thousands of visitors and locals each year. View our event calendar to see what's next.
Traffic Builders
Our events are designed not only to elevate the community, but also to provide exposure and foot traffic to our member businesses. Learn more here, and then contact us to register for an event!
Marketing Opportunities
Let us help promote you! Get your business in front our followers and other members.
Gift Certificate Program
Our gift certificate program is free for member businesses and encourages local shopping.
Promotion Committee Volunteers
Adam Eimer
Uncommon Threads
Brad Harzman
USD 243
Kelly Mayer
Emporia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Becky Smith
Twin Rivers Winery & City Commissioner
Patti Canson
Kim Redeker
Sweet Granada
Michele Boyce
KVOE
Kristy Bayer
Emporia State University
Interested in joining the Promotion Committee?
The Promotions Committee is great for those who like to help to plan events! Click the button below if you'd like to join!
Promotion Education
Valentines Day is a Month Away!
Your first shot to make some money in 2020 It seems like we all just survived the holiday season, but the calendar marches on! Valentines Day is coming up in a month, and the holiday serves as a major revenue driver for many retailers, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Instead of our normal bullet business tips,…
Continue Reading >2019 Year In Review!
A brief look back before we begin 2020! Emporia Main Street doesn’t spend a lot of time looking backward in time. We’ve found that too much time looking behind you causes organizations to miss the opportunities in front of them. However, the change of a year (or decade in this instance) gives us the opportunity…
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Finish Strong During The Holidays
If you are in the world of retail or some service based businesses, you are scanning this article with glazed over eyes. You are probably a little exhausted with the season, but your efforts over the next few days can make a huge sales difference for your business. In the interest of brevity, we are…
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Sharing is Caring
During a college leadership activity, a mentor gathered a group at a local park to talk about strength in numbers. In some instances, it was important to understand that you may need to “go it alone” to get things done, and “group think” often results in bad decision making, but when people of a like…
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Freedom Fest: Rights and Responsibilities
Honoring sacrifice goes beyond pomp and circumstance During this time of year, the Emporia Main Street staff has significant contact with veterans and active duty military. Active duty personnel are critical in the planning and execution of Freedom Fest, and our veterans (and their families) often stop by the office to relay stories of their time in military service. …
Continue Reading >You Can’t Catch if You Don’t Cast
Over the next few weeks, downtown Emporia will fill with several thousand visitors from all over the world. These people will shop, eat, and partake in entertainment options that will result in a significant boost for our local economy. For businesses that work at converting visitors to spenders, the next few weeks could be a…
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