At Main Street Columbus, our mission is to breathe new life into downtown by fostering a vibrant community through local events and small business support.
Welcome to Downtown Columbus, MS
Upcoming Events
Sounds of Summer
Thursday, June 25th
6:30-8:30pm
At the Roger Short Soccer Complex
Join us for our last Sounds of Summer FREE Concert!
Enjoy live music by The Shane Tubbs Band!
Free and Open to the Public!
The Hitching Lot Farmers' Market
The Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market, a Mississippi Certified Farmers’ Market, is open May through October each year (Saturdays only in September and October). Tuesdays 4-6pm and Saturdays 7-10am.
Operated through a partnership between the City of Columbus and Main Street Columbus and overseen by an advisory committee of faithful volunteers, the Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market provides our community and visitors with locally grown, seasonal produce, baked goods and local crafts.
At The Corner of 2nd Street and 2nd Avenue North
In Historic Downtown Columbus, Mississippi
Join Us in Making a Difference
Become a part of our vibrant community initiatives and help us revitalize downtown Columbus!
Our Community Impact
Great American Main Street Award®
Main Street Columbus received the prestigious Great American Main Street Award® (GAMSA) in 2010. Recognized as a leader by following the Main Street Four-Point Approach®, embracing sound historic preservation ethics and building strategic partnerships, Main Street Columbus was honored at the Main Street Awards Ceremony during the National Main Street Conference in Oklahoma City.
Downtown Columbus recognized by Southern Business & Development Magazine
Southern Business and Development magazine recognized Historic Downtown Columbus in their central “Top 10’s” edition. The area was named in their Top Ten Wonderful Small Town Central Business Districts in the South ranking for 2013.
At Main Street Columbus, we are proud to showcase the tangible impact we've made in revitalizing downtown Columbus. Our commitment to fostering a vibrant community is reflected in these real-time statistics, highlighting our ongoing efforts and achievements.
Community Voices
Hear from those who make Columbus shine!
They were very helpful to us as visitors to the city, great source of information about what makes Columbus so wonderful!
Jim Wallace
Nobody works harder for the city of Columbus than Barbara Bigelow and her crew! Thanks to Main Street Columbus for all the amazing activities and events we get to enjoy! They also work hard to make sure our town looks beautiful every season. We appreciate you all!
Hope Harrington Oakes
Downtown Columbus is looking beautiful! My family and I really enjoyed Market Street today!!!
Allison Taylor
😍😍 beautiful
K.B. Taylor
Revitalizing Our Community
Our Mission and Vision
Founded on August 9, 1985, Main Street Columbus is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing and preserving the heart of our community.
Through the generous support of the City of Columbus, Lowndes County, local fundraisers, private donations, and valued community partnerships, we are able to create and maintain a vibrant, welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.
The Main Street Four-Point Approach is a comprehensive, preservation-based revitalization framework designed to strengthen local economies by focusing on four key areas: Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic Vitality. It fosters community-driven, long-term development to create vibrant, sustainable, and economically sound downtown or neighborhood commercial districts.
The four points are:
Organization: Builds consensus, partnerships, and a strong, sustainable foundation for revitalization by engaging stakeholders, volunteers, and public/private sectors.
Promotion:
Markets the district's unique characteristics and creates a positive image to improve consumer and investor confidence through advertising, retail promotions, and special events.
Design: Enhances the physical and visual assets of the downtown, including historic building rehabilitation, streetscapes, landscaping, and signage to create an inviting atmosphere.
Economic Vitality: Strengthens the existing economic base while diversifying it by focusing on business retention, recruitment, and converting underused space into productive, market-driven assets.
These four areas work together to support a "Transformation Strategy", which is a targeted, data-driven approach to creating a unique thriving downtown district.
