Decatur, Georgia currently enjoys a thriving downtown with hundreds of shops, restaurants & pubs; a variety of cultural opportunities; walkable, tree-lined streets filled with residents from nearby neighborhoods, downtown condos, colleges and visitors; and a year-round calendar of festivals, concerts and special events.

How did it evolve from a sleepy downtown filled with empty parking lots and vacant storefronts that rolled up the sidewalks at 5 p.m. and became a ghost town on the weekends?

Decatur made magic with a commitment to building community one festival and one collaborative partner at a time because Decatur believed its efforts would ultimately lead to positive economic development and an enhanced quality of life.  Decatur took a bold proactive step to work behind the scenes, to find partners to help produce community festivals and events designed to bring the community together to gather downtown on the Old Courthouse square.  The premise that guided Decatur was that once downtown became a safe, fun gathering place, economic development would follow.  It is part of the Main Street approach Decatur embraced and it worked for Decatur.