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A Letter from our President
As we move through 2026, we are excited to share that the year is already off to a fantastic start for Downtown Washington! Our first two major events — BBQ & Bluesfest and the Art Fair & Winefest — were both tremendous successes, bringing our community together to celebrate everything that makes our downtown a Downtown for Everyone!
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who helped make these events possible. Thank you to our attendees, volunteers, staff, committee and board members for your time, energy, and dedication. Your support and enthusiasm continue to make Downtown Washington a destination our community can be proud of.
As always, thank you to everyone who continues to support Downtown Washington and help make it such a special place. We look forward to continuing the momentum throughout the rest of the year with many more successful events and opportunities to bring our community together.
-Natalie Cash
Downtown Washington Inc. Presents Our New Youth Advisory Board...
BLAST
BUILDING LEADERS ACTIVELY SERVING TOGETHER
The Downtown Washington Inc. Youth Advisory Board, B.L.A.S.T. — Building Leaders Actively Serving Together — is off to an incredible start.
“Our local youth have so much to offer and are not always given the opportunity to fully showcase their talents and leadership,” said Maggie Hase, Board Member. “This program allows our organization to grow its volunteer base through a true grassroots effort while investing in the future of our community.”
The response to the program exceeded every expectation. While we hoped for strong interest, they were overwhelmed to receive 38 applications from students representing multiple local public and private schools, ranging from 7th grade through senior year.
Since launching, the B.L.A.S.T. members have already made a major impact in the community. The group jumped in “all hands on deck” during BBQ & Bluesfest, assisting with setup, breakdown, and running the soda tent. They have also volunteered at Art & Winefest and are currently developing a merchandise project entirely from concept to sales — including a youth-created “fun drink” that will debut at Sunset on the River this August.
We are incredibly proud of these future leaders, entrepreneurs, and community-minded students who are already making a difference and helping shape the future of Washington.
The 2026 Art Fair & Winefest welcomed a fantastic turnout in Downtown Washington, with guests enjoying beautiful weather on Friday, Saturday evening, and Sunday despite a rainy start Saturday morning. The event featured 49 talented artists, with Hot Rods Glasswork earning Best of Show and Thompson Farms Soups & More receiving the Best Booth award.
Ten wineries participated in the weekend’s wine tastings and Sip & Savor Sunday. Adam Puchta Winery of Hermann and Clancy’s Marketplace of Rosebud won Best Sweet Pairing, while Small Batch Winery and Small Batch Bistro of Wentzville earned Best Savory Pairing. The weekend was a wonderful celebration of local art, wine, food, and community.
49 artists
22.3K
A huge THANK YOU to all of our committee volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to helping make BBQ & Bluesfest and Art Fair & Winefest such a success! From months of planning to event weekend coordination, your hard work and commitment helped bring these events to life. We are incredibly grateful for everything you do for Downtown Washington and our community. These events would not be possible without your support, passion, and teamwork — thank you for being such an important part of it all!
Interested in joining a committee or volunteering at future events? Email Sammy Adams at events@downtownwashmo.org for more information.
