More than 20 downtown Downers Grove shops will haul their merchandise onto the sidewalks starting Thursday, July 23, kicking off the district's annual three-day Sidewalk Sale with deals on fashion, gifts, and home decor.

The sale runs through Saturday, July 25, opening at 10 a.m. each day along Main Street and surrounding blocks. The Downtown Downers Grove Management Corp. organizes the event, which returns for at least its second consecutive year in the same late-July window.

Early-bird swag bags

Shoppers who show up right at 10 a.m. on Thursday or Friday, July 24, have a shot at a free swag bag. The first 25 people to stop by the Downtown Downers Grove office each morning will receive a bag containing a Downtown DG Gift Card worth between $5 and $50, according to the organization's Facebook page. The pickup location has not been posted for 2026; check downtowndg.org before heading out.

That's 50 bags total across two mornings. Once they're gone, they're gone.

Loyal to Local program

The sale doubles as an entry point for the district's Loyal to Local rewards program. Shoppers and diners who participate during the three-day event are entered into a weekly drawing for a $50 Downtown DG Gift Card, according to the event's Patch calendar listing. The program runs year-round, but the Sidewalk Sale concentrates foot traffic enough to remind residents it exists.

Saturday overlaps with Farmers Market

The sale's final day, Saturday, July 25, overlaps with the Downtown Downers Grove Farmers Market at 5001 Main St., which opens at 7 a.m. Residents can grab produce early, then browse sale racks when merchants set up three hours later.

Floral workshop Thursday evening on Ogden Avenue

Separately, Walden Floral Design Co. at 744 Ogden Ave. hosts a "Provence Blooms" Flower Girl Workshop on Thursday, July 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The shop is owned by Denise Walden. Details and registration are available at waldenfloral.com or by calling (630) 353-0570.

A full list of participating Sidewalk Sale merchants and a downtown map are available at downtowndg.org.