Rockland was one of 16 communities selected for the Parade magazine “Where’s America’s Best Main Street” tournament.  The contest was announced in the June 29 edition of Parade, a national publication that is distributed via weekend and Sunday editions of large regional newspapers.

Rockland successfully made it through the first round when it collected the most online votes in its initial contest with Montpelier, the state capitol of Vermont, according to a news release from the nonprofit Rockland Maine Street. That vote narrowed the list down to eight Main Streets, pitting Rockland against Ellicott City, Maryland, in the second round.

With a population of fewer than 7,400 residents, Rockland was bested by Ellicott City, (population 66,000).  Rockland was the only town with a population of under 20,000 residents to advance to the second round, and was the only New England community to move forward in the bracket-style competition.

Rockland, which recently received accreditation for the sixth consecutive year from the National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is one of 10 Maine “Main Street” communities.  

Rockland Main Street, Inc.’s executive director, Gordon Page, said that he was thrilled that Rockland was chosen as a participant in the contest.

 “With so many beautiful places in the state of Maine and around the country, city residents and other stakeholders can be proud that Rockland was in the running,” said Page.

The city’s mayor, Larry Pritchett, said: “We sometimes take for granted what we have here in Rockland.  It’s wonderful when a national audience sits up and takes notice of our Main Street and our entire city,  whose residents, volunteers and employees  work every day to enhance the vibrant sense of place that people from around the country want to visit for a week at a time”.

In addition to its commitment to the historic preservation of, and economic development in the downtown district, Rockland Main Street, Inc., is the organization that produces the Summer Solstice Celebration and Street Party and other events like the annual “Midcoast Maine Has Talent – Or Not!” variety show; the “Rockland Has Style” fashion show; the “Festival of Lights Parade and Lobster Trap Christmas Tree”; and the “So You Think You Know Rockland” competition.