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Havre de Grace Main Street Receives Award

HAVRE DE GRACE, MARYLAND - Havre de Grace Main Street, Inc., was presented with the Pride in Place Award for their "Graw Days Festival & Graw Gala" at the Maryland Downtown Development Association's Annual Award Luncheon on December 2 in Annapolis. The Maryland Downtown Development Association (MDDA) Pride in Place Awards Program is designed to showcase the best revitalization and economic development programs implemented to meet the challenges of downtowns throughout the State of Maryland.

The Graw Days Festival commemorates a colorful time in the City's history beginning in 1912 with the construction of the Havre de Grace Racetrack, affectionately called "The Graw." The track was considered one of the best racing strips of the American turf and was the main training ground for owners who hoped to win the Kentucky Derby.

The timeframe of the Festival is the Roaring Twenties, with jazz and ragtime music in the streets. Additionally, there is a wide variety of local food, a beer garden, historic displays and presentations, elegant horse-drawn carriage rides, street performers, a silent auction, arts and crafts vendors, sidewalk sales, and activities and contests for kids of all ages. Approximately 5,000 visitors enjoyed the first Festival, which took place downtown in streets closed to traffic.

This is the 2nd award received by Havre de Grace Main Street, Inc. for their signature event. Main Street is now planning the Third Annual Graw Days Festival to be held on October 9, 2010. Further information is available from Havre de Grace Main Street, Inc., at 410-939-1811, or hdgmainstreet@verizon.net.

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About Havre de Grace Main Street, Inc.

The Havre de Grace Main Street program is one of a network of more than 2,100 Main Street programs in cities and towns across the country. All have been chartered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Center to revitalize their commercial districts and preserve their historic character.

A revitalized downtown benefits everyone, from residents to merchants, financial institutions, schools, religious institutions, and community groups. In May 2005 Havre de Grace received its Main Street designation from the Main Street Center; in 2008 the program was accredited. Havre de Grace Main Street, Inc., is a nonprofit volunteer organization guided by a 19-member Board of Directors.

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