street vendors
distilleries
downtown visitors food vendors
The 2026 BBQ & Bluesfest in Downtown Washington, Missouri (April 24–26) drew strong crowds and featured beautiful weather all weekend. Attendees enjoyed a lively mix of food, music, and community spirit, with 41 street vendors offering a variety of goods while food vendors served up plenty of BBQ. The entertainment tent hosted acts including King Benny, Black Moon Blues Club, BagLunch Blues Band, Charles “Skeet” Rodgers, Duke Tumatoe, Soulard Blues Band, and The Brenton Sterling Band, while Dominic Knott performed fire shows on Friday and Saturday evenings at Main and Elm.
The festival’s mini events were also a success, with Deep Sleep Brewery of Washington, MO winning Best Brewery and Old Bridgeview won best BBQ at Friday’s BBQ & Brewsfest, and Old Ozarkian Distillery of Union, MO earning Best Distillery at Saturday’s Barrel Walk. Overall, the event delivered a smooth, engaging, and memorable weekend for attendees.
fire performer
FARMERS’ MARKET • 317 W MAIN STREET FRI 5PM-10PM • SAT 10AM-10PM • SUN 10AM-4PM
Grant Programs
The Club House
301 West Front Street
The Sign & Awning Grant program was established with the intent to encourage and provide financial assistance for improving the appearance, consistency, and overall effectiveness of merchant signage in the downtown area. Signs are as much a part of Main Street America as the buildings themselves. The primary function of signage is to identify businesses to customers. In addition, signs contribute to the branding of a business and the overall look of downtown and its buildings.
Downtown Investors in the downtown district can apply to be a recipient of Downtown Washington lnc.'s Sign & Awning Grant. This grant provides financial assistance to encourage improvements to the appearance, consistency, and overall effectiveness of signage in the downtown area!
Eight Nine Eight Cigar Lounge
20 West 2nd Street
Suite 110
The 2026 Main Street Now Conference was held in Tulsa from April 13–15. Natalie Cash, Maggie Hase, and Becky Pate attended on behalf of Downtown Washington, Inc.
The national conference featured sessions on topics such as “Telling Our Main Street Story,” “Durable Leadership,” and “Making the Case for Economic Development.” It provided a valuable opportunity to connect, collaborate, and learn from Main Street
Out of more than 1,800 attendees, over 70 represented Missouri Main Street Connection, a strong showing for the state!
