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Main Street Morgantown reports 51 events in 2024, cites downtown ‘Dash’ as major traffic driver
Summary
Eric Carlson of Main Street Morgantown presented a 2024 review that said the organization ran or supported 51 events, launched an affiliate events program and staged the Downtown DASH scavenger‑hunt that Placer AI measured as drawing about 72,100 visitors on a weekend in December.
Eric Carlson, vice president of the Morgantown Area Partnership’s Main Street Morgantown program, told the Committee of the Whole that 2024 was the organization’s 40th anniversary and that the group ran or supported 51 events last year — a 45 percent increase over 2023 — partly because of a newly launched affiliate events program that provides equipment, permitting help and marketing support for community organizers.
Carlson highlighted the inaugural Downtown DASH, a coordinated set of pop‑up markets and a 20‑location scavenger hunt that the organization sponsored with Breezeline. Carlson said the organization used Placer AI data showing about 72,100 people downtown on the DASH weekend and that participants spent an average of 150 minutes in downtown on the event day. He told council Main Street Morgantown recorded 58 completed DASH cards and 379 participating store visits, and he quoted store owners who reported their busiest pre‑Christmas Saturday in decades.
Carlson outlined governance changes for 2025: Andrew White (Andrew White Guitars) will serve as president of the Main Street executive committee and Charlie McEwan (Tanner’s Alley Leather Design Studio) will serve as vice president; Jessica McDonald and Steve Bennett remain treasurer and secretary. He said Main Street will continue to run signature programming such as Small Business Saturday, the downtown trick‑or‑treat and the West Virginia birthday celebration while expanding affiliate support for outside event organizers.
The group said it received a grant from the state arts council that supported expanded Arts Walk activity — six events in 2024 instead of the two previously planned — and that the affiliate program helped lower barriers by lending equipment (tables, tents, sound systems), coordinating permits and assisting with advertising. Carlson said the partnership will also offer ad placement through the 501(c)(3) structure at reduced rates to help affiliates afford promotion.
Councilmembers thanked Carlson and asked few questions; he said new logos and a downtown reception survey summary are forthcoming and that Main Street staff additions and programming will continue in 2025.
