Celebrate Summer in Old Lyme with Three Signature Arts Events

The Old Lyme Arts District is proud to present three exciting community celebrations this summer: Make Music Old Lyme on Saturday, June 21, the Midsummer Kickoff Concert on Friday, July 25, and the Old Lyme Midsummer Festival on Saturday, July 26. These family-friendly events showcase the town’s rich artistic heritage and welcoming community spirit. Join us for a summer of art, music, and family fun.

Make Music Old Lyme: Saturday, June 21, 2025

Celebrate the summer solstice with Make Music Old Lyme, part of the international Make Music Day, where over a dozen musicians will perform along Lyme Street free of charge. Further details can be found at ExploreOldLyme.com/MakeMusic2025.

· 4pm Sunny Train Family Concert at Lyme’s Youth Service Bureau (59 Lyme Street): Sunny Train is back to entertain our youngest fans! Sunny Train will have little ones (and maybe even the grown ups!) up and dancing. Admission is free and open to the public.

· 5–7pm Music Stroll along Lyme Street (Congregational Church to Firehouse):

Enjoy more than a dozen performances by local and regional artists in a casual, come-as-you-are setting. Admission is free and open to the public.

· 7-9pm Stay for the After-Party (68 Lyme Street):

Head to Nightingale’s Acoustic Café for an intimate concert with the Sarah Mac Duo. Tickets are $15 and space is limited. Purchase online at musicnowfoundation.org or at the door.

Midsummer Kickoff Concert at the FloGris Museum: Friday, July 25, 2025

The FloGris Museum is once again hosting its kickoff concert the night before the Midsummer Festival! Come enjoy a free concert on the lawn in this beautiful venue along the Lieutenant River. (90 Lyme Street). More information can be found at FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org.

· 5–7pm: Free admission to exhibitions Nancy Friese: Living Landscapes and Cow Tales, plus early access to the FloGris Shop’s Midsummer Super Sale.

· 7–9pm: Midsummer Concert on the Lawn featuring The Mighty Soul Drivers—a high-energy Memphis-style soul band. Bring a picnic or grab food from local vendors. Free and open to the public.

38th Annual Old Lyme Midsummer Festival: Saturday, July 26, 2025

Join us for art, music, food, and family fun at the 38th Annual Old Lyme Midsummer Festival. The day’s events begin with a 5k and then continue with festivities at the Lyme Art Association, Florence Griswold Museum, Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, and Old Lyme Inn. More information can be found at ExploreOldLyme.com/MidsummerFestival2025.

🏃‍♀️ Midsummer 5k Run at Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau | 59 Lyme Street | 8am

· 5K Run/Walk (8am start): A morning run that winds through the beautiful streets of the village. Pre-registration online or onsite beginning at begins at 6:45am

· Kid K (9am start): Takes place on the high school running track. Check in at LYSB.

Info and register at www.lysb.org/5k

Lyme Art Association | 90 Lyme Street | 9am–5pm

• Outdoor Activities (9am–3pm): Meet local artists, enjoy craft-making, get refreshments from Del’s Lemonade, and explore booths from garden clubs and community groups.
• Live Music: The Wandering Fiddlers (9am–12pm) and Kipp Sturgeon (12:30–3pm)
• Gallery Exhibitions: 104th Elected Artists Exhibition, Red Hot Members Show, and New Haven Paint & Clay Club Select Members Exhibit

Florence Griswold Museum | 96 Lyme Street | 9am–5pm

• Free Admission: Explore exhibitions and the historic Griswold Boardinghouse for artists, c. 1910
• Food Truck Court (9am–3pm): Delicious offerings for all ages
• Dog Show (10am–12pm): Parading Paws returns—every dog’s a winner!
• Gallery Tour (2pm) and hands-on crafts. Face painting, fairy hair, and more throughout the day
• Café Flo (11:30am–2:30pm): Seated riverside dining (reservations recommended)

Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center | 100 Lyme Street | 9am–3pm

• Kelsey Family Discovery Center: Science experiments, crafts, and wildlife watching
• Special Appearances:
  • 10am: Michele Urban Music Show—a whimsical interactive concert for families made possible by the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Old Lyme Library
  • CT River Museum rope-making demos
  • Great Island Foundation oyster & mussel touch tank
  • Live birds of prey with Old Lyme Land Trust

Lions Club Classic Car Show (9:30am–1:30pm): Enjoy antique, exotic, and hot rod vehicles. Entrance fee of $5 gives attendees the chance to judge entrants. Trophies awarded after 1pm. The Lyme-Old Lyme Lions Club will also be offering its popular grill items onsite.

Peterson Collection on View: Artist proofs and signed prints in the Eleanor Robinson Center

Old Lyme Inn | 85 Lyme Street | 9am–3pm

• Browse fine arts and crafts from the Fence Show Artists, Lyme Artisans Guild, and other vendors.

Lyme Academy of Fine Arts | 84 Lyme Street | 9am–3pm

· De Gerenday’s Fine Art Materials & Curiosities (10am-4pm): Offering the finest art materials hand selected by our renowned faculty of professional artists and exquisite giftable objects from around the globe.

· Chauncey-Stillman Gallery On view: (12pm-pm) Annual Student and Faculty Exhibition.

Make Music Day and the Midsummer Festival are generously supported by Connecticut's Eastern Regional Tourism District, Pasta Vita, Essex Savings Bank/Essex Financial Services, the Herb Chambers Charitable Foundation, Inc, Bluewater Millwork & Construction Inc, and Mercer Advisors.

Mark your calendars, bring your friends and family, and make memories this summer in Old Lyme! Full schedules, maps, and updates available at ExploreOldLyme.com.

About the Old Lyme Arts District:

Located in the heart of Old Lyme, Connecticut, the Old Lyme Arts District is a collaborative cultural community that celebrates the town’s artistic legacy through exhibitions, events, and partnerships. Anchored by the Florence Griswold Museum, Lyme Art Association, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, Cooley Gallery, Side Door Jazz Club, Nightingale’s Acoustic Café, Musical Masterworks, Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, Lymes Youth Service Bureau, and Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, the District offers year-round programming that inspires creativity and fosters community.