It took Main Street Sykesville staff and volunteers more than six years to gain a spot on the official "Main Street Maryland" list, and now it's time to celebrate. 

On March 27, the Town of Sykesville is hosting a "happy hour celebration" from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at E.W. Beck's on Main Street.

The event will give local residents the chance to meet Sykesville committee volunteers and learn what the new Main Street Designation means for Sykesville. 

On Monday, Feb. 27, three additional towns and streets, Centreville, Ocean City, and Sykesville, were added to the list of 23 Main Streets across Maryland  recognized as official "Main Street communities." 

Mayor Mike Miller said it's the Main Street staff that made this dream a reality. 

"This designation could mean that grants and other funding opportunities could be made available to the town to improve Main Street," said Miller. "The town staff has worked very hard to make this happen, so I give them the credit."

"Strong main streets with thriving business districts and neighborhoods are the foundation for healthy, sustainable communities," said Gov. Martin O'Malley in a Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development press release. "These three towns will be great additions to the Main Street Maryland program due to their strong commitment to downtown revitalization, and they will surely serve as great examples of Smart, Green & Growing communities."

Created in 1998, Main Street Maryland is a comprehensive downtown revitalization program that is recognized nationally as a model for Smart Growth, according to the press release. 

Find more information about Main Street Maryland and Sykesville's addition to the list here.