El Reno Main Street to Rebrand and Relaunch in 2026

Organization to engage community in shaping the future of downtown revitalization

El Reno, OK — The El Reno Main Street Board of Directors has voted unanimously to begin a comprehensive rebranding and restructuring process in 2026. This next chapter will focus on listening, learning, and rebuilding, ensuring that the organization reflects the needs, values, and goals of the El Reno community.

“Downtown El Reno is the heart of our city, and our organization’s work has always been about keeping that heart beating strong,” said Board President, Casey Trejo. “As we look ahead, our goal is to build something that continues that mission with renewed focus, flexibility, and community input.”

Over the next several months, the board will work closely with local residents, business owners, and civic leaders to assess community priorities and determine how the program can most effectively serve El Reno’s historic core. This will include public surveys, stakeholder discussions, and strategic planning sessions designed to shape a refreshed organizational model and vision for the future.

Looking Ahead

Community First: The restructuring will be guided by information obtained from the people who live, work, and invest in El Reno. Input from residents and stakeholders will help define future goals, initiatives, and partnerships.

Preservation & Progress: The organization remains committed to preserving the charm and history that make downtown special, while embracing opportunities for growth, entrepreneurship, and revitalization.

Burger Day’s Future

The Fried Onion Burger Day Festival has been a cornerstone of El Reno’s identity for nearly four decades, an event that has brought tens of thousands of visitors downtown and stands as a testament to the city’s creativity and community pride. It is, without question, one of El Reno’s greatest traditions.

However, as the festival has grown, it has also come to overshadow the broader purpose of the organization: revitalization, preservation, and economic development. Burger Day remains an important piece of the puzzle, but it cannot be the only measure of success.

“We want to be very clear, Burger Day matters to us,” said Trejo. “It’s a source of pride for the entire community and a celebration we hope to continue. But our mission is bigger than a single weekend. We’re here to strengthen downtown year-round, not just one day a year. That requires partnership, shared investment, and a long-term vision for El Reno’s future.”

Moving forward with Burger Day will require collaboration and support from the City of El Reno, along with a shared understanding that the festival is one part of a much larger effort to keep downtown thriving. 

While some aspects of the organization may evolve, the mission remains steadfast: to strengthen and celebrate downtown El Reno as the heart of the community, honoring its history while embracing its future.

The board expresses sincere gratitude to the many volunteers, business owners, and citizens who have dedicated their time, energy, and financial support over the years. Their continued engagement will be vital as the organization embarks on this new phase of growth, collaboration, and community building.

For additional information, please contact:

El Reno Main Street

📞 405-262-8888

✉️ director@elrenomainstreet.com

El Reno Main Street Update | September 5, 2025

Did you eat or shop Downtown El Reno in August?

• YES!
• NO

Crowds packed the 100 block of South Rock Island in July 1901 for the El Reno Land Lottery. More than 100,000 people passed through our city that summer, making El Reno a gateway to settlement in western Oklahoma. Today, this same block is still the heart of our historic downtown—full of stories worth remembering and streets worth walking.

There’s something special about fall downtown—let’s make the most of it together.

Maybe it’s the fall menu at Iron Tree or the crisp mornings as merchants sweep their sidewalks, but Downtown El Reno always feels especially alive this time of year. There’s something about the shift in seasons that reminds us why this district is so special—the history in the bricks beneath our feet, the friendly wave from a shopkeeper unlocking their doors, and the excitement of neighbors gathering together.

This fall, Main Street is channeling that energy into a season full of community traditions. We’ll kick things off with our Downtown Spooktacular, a day that brings families together for costumes, candy, and lots of laughter. In November, we’ll pause to honor our veterans with banners and remembrance downtown, reminding us of the strength and sacrifice at the heart of our hometown. And of course, we’ll close the year by welcoming the holidays with lights, music, and celebrations that turn our streets into a place of joy and belonging.

Each of these moments is more than just an event—they’re opportunities to connect, to invest in our small businesses, and to keep our historic downtown thriving. Your support—whether through volunteering, shopping local, sponsoring, or simply showing up—makes this all possible. We are so grateful for each of you who continues to believe in the future of our Main Street.

We can’t wait to see you downtown this season.

Heather Brothers, Executive Director

From the birth of our state to Route 66 road trips, every block in Historic Downtown El Reno has a story. Help us preserve yours—share photos and memories on our new

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Magic Downtown

On Saturday, December 14 the El Reno Main Street Program hosted The Downtown El Reno Christmas Experience with great success! We were very excited to team up with the City of El Reno to expand on their existing event, The Holly Jolly Trolley, by bringing in several of our Community Partners and additional activities.

The City of El Reno and The Canadian County Historical Museum manned the Holly Jolly Trolley operations where the City sponsored free trolley rides with Santa and the museum sold hot chocolate to help raise money for their many ongoing projects. Santa spent the evening visiting with trolley riders of all ages. With the Heritage Express being the only rail-based trolley in the state, this is obviously an experience you can only have in Historic Downtown El Reno. We have been incredibly fortunate to have Santa in Downtown El Reno two weekends in a row but the real magic on Saturday came from our Community Partners. In addition to the trolley rides Wesley in ACTSion was on site with their Bookmobile providing free Christmas books, El Reno Fire Department made smores in Youngheim Plaza, the Lincoln Children’s Choir entertained attendees with Christmas carols, Iron Tree provided families with gingerbread house kits to decorate and take home, Redlands Community College hosted Elf University where elves in training were invited to work on crafts and Reindeer food. The El Reno Main Street office was transformed into Santa’s Workshop where you could decorate and build a wooden toy to take home, Cultivate Real Estate opened their office to give attendees a warm place to draft their letters to Santa before dropping them into our special North Pole direct mailbox. Downtown businesses Fringe, Make It Sew, Cocobella’s, Local Trends, and Bronze Seal also all hosted their own individual events/activities as well as offering sales and promotions to encourage downtown shopping just before the holidays.

The event ran from 4pm-7pm and saw well over 400 attendees, made up of both El Reno residents and out of town visitors of all ages. We had incredible weather, and downtown was bustling with activity.  We had a great time, received a lot of wonderful feedback, and are looking at ways to expand and improve the event in 2025. Keep an eye on the El Reno Main Street Program’s website (www.elrenomainstreet.com)  and our social media pages for a post event survey!