Looking for a product or service? Visit one of our locally owned, shops and small businesses.
Feeling hungry? Enjoy a beverage, meal, or light bite at one of our varied food and beverage establishments.
Ready for some fun? Enjoy a wealth of seasonal special events from the iconic Manchester Road Race to monthly 2nd Saturdays Downtown.
If a little relaxation is what you seek step into our beautiful Center Memorial Park, visit the Mary Cheney Library or just take a leisurely stroll down our walkable Main Street, admire our seasonal planters and discover our quaint side streets.
We hope you will enjoy discovering all Downtown has to offer.
With nearly 900 FREE parking spaces there is always a space for you Downtown.
Timed Parking
On-street parking has a two-hour limit from 7AM to 5PM Mon. thru Saturday. Downtown public parking lots have a 3-hour limit from 7AM to 5PM Monday thru Friday.
Want to stay longer? No problem! You can park in one of our 3 All Day Parking Lots (see map) for free or you can pay $2 for all-day parking in any other colored lot. Be ready to pay-to-stay by downloading the mobile parking app now.
You will find a sequence of Pedestrian Wayfinding signs along Downtown sidewalks. These signs have a “You are here” feature, show locations of various Downtown assets, and walk times to key destinations. You will also find convenient bike racks located on the sidewalk outside many downtown businesses.
There is plenty of parking downtown! Main Street parking spots are perfect for short trips, while our 7 public parking lots provide plenty of parking for longer stays. See the parking information above for details.
You may pick up a CT Transit bus schedule at Town Hall Customer Service Center, 41 Center, Manchester, CT during regular business hours (Mon. thru Fri. 8AM to 5PM) or visit https://www.cttransit.com/
Think of the Downtown District as a "Home Owners Association" for businesses that are within a defined boundary that reaches approximately from Center St. to Hartford Road. As part of this community, the businesses are able to join together in efforts such as maintaining clean parking lots and sidewalks, managing parking, beautification projects, promotional efforts, and group events. The District is governed by a volunteer board of commissioners. The day-to-day operations are handled by the Downtown Manager.
Great question! Some downtown events are organized by the District on behalf of the businesses in the district. These typically include 2nd Saturdays Downtown, The Spring Butterfly Stroll, Downtown Scarecrow Festival, Halloween Happenings, and Holiday on Main. Other events are organized by the Town of Manchester or local organizations. These events include Cruisin’ on Main, The Manchester Road Race, Silk City Fest, Beller's Summer Concert Series, and more. View our Annual Events for more information about these annual events.
Check out our calendar to view downtown events. Be sure to subscribe to our e-newsletter, WHAT’S UP DOWNTOWN, for monthly updates and reminders.
Claim your free Locable account so that we can cross-promote events, news, and more with each other. For more information, click here.
The Town fo Manchester's Economic Development Specialist would be happy to help you with your search for the perfect downtown location for your business. For more information check out our Open a Business page.
