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11th Annual Main Street Car Show
12TH ANNUAL CAR SHOW
2021 Car Show Wrap Up
2021 Event Schedule
2022 Report to Our Community and Annual Partnership Campaign
2023 Report to Our Community
2025 Illinois Main Street Awards Recognition
2025 Schedule of Events
A Holiday Message
Applications now being accepted
Calling all Photographers!
Downtown Needs Leaders. Could That Be You?
Flower Basket Raffle to Support Downtown Beautification
Help support mural restoration efforts
Here comes 2023!
Join Us in Revitalizing Downtown Sterling
July 13th Pop Up Shoppes @ Grandon Plaza!
July Happenings!
Live Music Lineup for Street Fest!
Looking back…
Meet our Shoppe Owners
Mural Restoration
Never stop learning…
New First Avenue Bridge Banners
Sauk Valley Under 40: New Name, Same Mission
Sights & Sounds 2025
Sip into Spring Wrap Up
Sterling Main Street Announces 2024 Pop Up Markets in Dale Park
Sterling Main Street Announces the Return of “Rally on the Rock” Event Series
Sterling Main Street Launches 2026 Annual Partnership Campaign
Sterling Main Street launches its 2021 Partnership Campaign
Sterling Main Street Officially Designated as an Accredited Program for 2024 by Main Street America
Sterling Main Street Recognized for Outstanding Revitalization Efforts at 2023 Illinois Main Street Conference
Sterling Main Street Welcomes New Members to Board of Directors
Sterling Main Street Wraps Up Summer with Final Rally on the Rock Cruise In September 4
Sterling Street Fest Set to Bring Music, Makers and Family Fun to Downtown July 25, 2026
Summer in Downtown Sterling: Thanks for Making it a Great One!
T-Mobile Hometown Grant
Team Up 2 Clean Up
Upcoming Meetings!
What’s Up Downtown!

Thank you to our 2026 Partners! Contact us to learn more on how you can Partner with Sterling Main Street and invest in your community!

Working together for the betterment of the community at large

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15 E 3rd St
Sterling, IL 61081
815-626-8610
info@sterlingmainstreet.org

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As a Main Street America™ Accredited program, Sterling Main Street is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. All Main Street America™ Accredited programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by the National Main Street Center.

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🍻 SURPRISE — TICKETS ARE LIVE! 🍻 We said Septembe

🍻 SURPRISE — TICKETS ARE LIVE! 🍻
We said September 1… but after a gloomy weekend, the sun is shining ☀️ and that feels like a pretty good reason to kick things off a day early!
🎟️ Hops on the Rock 2026 tickets are ON SALE NOW!
🇺🇸 Red, White & Brewed is coming to the Sterling Marketplace on Saturday, October 10, and we’re looking forward to another great afternoon of craft beer, good people and plenty of fun.
⭐ VIP tickets are limited — and this year’s VIP tee is a good one!
🍺 We’ve got several homebrewers joining the lineup this year, alongside breweries and other favorites.
🎉 And there’s plenty more to come as we get closer!
Grab your tickets, round up your tasting crew and get ready to raise a glass with us!
🎟️ GET TICKETS: https://givebutter.com/hops-on-the-rock-2026-xed1zb
#HopsOnTheRock #RedWhiteAndBrewed #DowntownSterling #SterlingIL #CraftBeer

🛍️ POP-UP VENDORS WANTED! Th@shoppesatgrandonplaz

🛍️ POP-UP VENDORS WANTED!
Th@shoppesatgrandonplaza are planning a Fiesta Pop-Up on Saturday, September 19, with more pop-up opportunities in the works as we head into the holiday season!
We’re looking for retail-forward vendors, makers and small businesses interested in setting up shop for a day, reaching new customers and getting a feel for the Shoppes.
Already selling at markets or online? Have a retail concept you’d like to test? Curious about what it might be like to have a space at the Shoppes? A pop-up is a great way to check it out!
Interested in September 19 or future dates? Contact Sarah at Shoppes@sterlingmainstreet.org, or stop into Amber + Smoke at the Shoppes and chat with her about upcoming opportunities.
Come pop up with us! 🛍️

Sterling Main Street is pleased to announce the ap

Sterling Main Street is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors: Parker Valdez, founder of Dealer Activation, and Brick Boss, owner of Boss Roofing-Siding Experts and a longtime local entrepreneur.
The addition of Valdez and Boss brings two energetic business leaders with different perspectives and experiences to the organization as Sterling Main Street continues its work to strengthen Downtown Sterling, support local businesses and encourage continued investment in the community.
Read more -->>https://sterlingmainstreet.org/2026/08/21/sterling-main-street-welcomes-new-members-to-board-of-directors/

It’s been a little quiet here on the socials this

It’s been a little quiet here on the socials this week… but definitely NOT quiet behind the scenes! 😅
The Sterling Main Street office has been buzzing with Hops on the Rock planning, Sights & Sounds prep, committee meetings, welcoming some new board members (more on that soon! 👀), and even starting to dream up some fresh ideas for 2027.
Lots happening, lots to look forward to, and plenty more to share soon. Stay tuned — fall is shaping up to be a busy one in Downtown Sterling! 🍂

Rally on the Rock with GED! #sterlingil #Downto

Rally on the Rock with GED!
#sterlingil #DowntownSterling #RallyOnTheRock #CommunityStrong #MainStreetMatters

📸 HELP US CAPTURE HOT DOG DAY! 🌭 We’ll be a littl

📸 HELP US CAPTURE HOT DOG DAY! 🌭
We’ll be a little short on our usual volunteer photographers at Hot Dog Day today, so we’re calling on YOU to help us capture all the fun!
Take photos while you’re out enjoying Hot Dog Day — the hot dogs, the games, the shopping, the kids, the crazy deals, the friends you run into… whatever makes your Hot Dog Day great!
Then share them with us! Tag Sterling Main Street in your social media posts, share them in the Hot Dog Day event, post them to our page, or send them to us via DM.
🎟️ EVERY PHOTO WE RECEIVE = AN ENTRY FOR YOU!
On Monday, we’ll put all the entries in a hat and draw winners for Twin City Farmers Market gift certificates and movie passes to the Sterling Theater! 🎬🍅
And here’s the fun part: the number of prizes we give away will depend on how many entries we receive. The more Hot Dog Day photos you send us, the MORE prizes we’ll give away!
So keep those phones handy, snap away, and help us document Hot Dog Day 2026! 🌭📸❤️
Make sure we’re tagged or the photo is shared directly with us so we can see it and get your name entered!

The countdown is on! 🌭 Today was Hot Dog Day Supp

The countdown is on! 🌭
Today was Hot Dog Day Supply Delivery – Round 1, and we're one step closer to serving up 7,000 hot dogs this Friday!
A huge THANK YOU to Walmart Distribution Center #7024 for once again donating the bottled water for the day. As they celebrate 20 years in our community, we're incredibly grateful for their longstanding commitment to supporting local events like Hot Dog Day. Congratulations on this milestone, and thank you for continuing to invest in Sterling!
A special shoutout also goes to Mike Dettman and Carver Grummert (and their trucks! 🚛🚛) for doing the heavy lifting and getting supplies where they needed to go.
Lori & I followed behind as today's deliveries also included all the napkins, ketchup & mustard (generously donated by the Sterling Walmart Supercenter), and LOTS of potato chips.
We'll see you this Friday, August 7, from 11 AM–2 PM (or until we sell out)! Thank you to the many businesses, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners helping make this Sterling tradition possible.
All the hot diggity dog details can be found here --->> https://sterlingmainstreet.org/events/hot-dog-day/

Hot Dogs, Cool Cars, Live Music and More!

Hot Dogs, Cool Cars, Live Music and More!

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