Image: Ocala Main Street.
Ocala Main Street Offers an $18.85-a-Month "Friends of Downtown" Membership for Residents
This is a community news article published on 2026-10-21 covering local Marion County, Florida news. Ocala Main Street, the nonprofit that works to revitalize downtown Ocala, offers a residential "Friends of Downtown" membership at $18.85 a month, alongside a $250-a-year business membership. Both sign up through Square checkout links on its membership page.
Image: Ocala Main Street.
At a Glance
- What: "Friends of Downtown," Ocala Main Street's residential membership
- Price: $18.85 per month
- Benefits listed: Ocala Main Street member decal; newsletter and social welcome message; access to members-only events; advocacy and community event support
- How to join: the "Residential" graphic on ocalamainstreet.org/membership, which links to a Square checkout
- For businesses: merchant and corporate membership, $250 per year
- Who runs it: Ocala Main Street, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; Sara Lambert is listed as executive director
What Does the Friends of Downtown Membership Include?
The residential graphic on the membership page lists four benefits: an Ocala Main Street member decal, a newsletter and social welcome message, access to members-only events, and advocacy and community event support. The page does not list a sign-up fee, a minimum term or the dates of members-only events. The page gives only the monthly rate; by Only In Ocala's own arithmetic, twelve monthly payments would total $226.20.
The membership page pitches the program to residents, business owners and investors alike, calling membership "an investment in the vitality of our downtown."
How Is the Business Membership Different?
A second graphic on the same page describes the merchant and corporate business membership at $250 per year. Its listed benefits are a directory listing on OcalaMainStreet.org, a new member feature in the email newsletter, a Main Street member window decal, and a discounted ad in The Main Street Guide. Businesses join through their own Square checkout link on the membership page.
What Is Ocala Main Street?
The organization's About page describes it as a volunteer-driven nonprofit working to revitalize downtown Ocala. It says Ocala was designated in 1985 as one of the first five Main Street communities in Florida, that the program is part of both the state and national Main Street networks, and that it uses the National Main Street Four-Point Approach to downtown revitalization. A board of directors runs it locally; Ted Schatt is listed as board president.
According to the membership page, Ocala Main Street works in the City of Ocala's Community Redevelopment Area, which takes in the Downtown, Midtown and Tuscawilla zones. The home page refers to the Brick City District of downtown and an art district in Midtown, and links to Main Street America.
What Is on the Ocala Main Street Calendar?
The organization's events calendar lists downtown and Midtown happenings, including the Ocala Downtown Market on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., plus weekly trivia, music bingo and comedy nights at downtown and Midtown venues. As of Oct. 21, the calendar's current listings do not include any members-only events.
More on Downtown Ocala
The downtown Ocala guide covers shops, restaurants and things to do around the square, and the Ocala downtown square page covers the historic square and its shops, galleries and community events. For a visit, see downtown Ocala parking. Local artists can find current City of Ocala arts calls, including the Chalk Walk, in our arts calls roundup.
Sources: Ocala Main Street membership page (ocalamainstreet.org/membership), including the residential and business membership graphics, prices, benefits, 501(c)(3) status, service area and sign-up links; Square checkout pages for both membership links, titled "Friends of Downtown - Ocala Main Street Inc" for the residential link; Ocala Main Street About page (ocalamainstreet.org/about), including the 1985 designation, state and national network membership, Four-Point Approach, board and executive director; Ocala Main Street home page and events calendar (ocalamainstreet.org/events), including districts and listed events. Checked Oct. 21, 2026.
Related Ocala Guides
More context and planning resources from Only In Ocala.