What's Happening At Old Lyme's Midsummer Festival?

Old Lyme's annual Midsummer celebration got off to a terrific start last night with fine art and some really fine bluegrass from Poor Old Shine, a Connecticut band with a national reputation. The BBQ chicken and biscuits from Gourmet Galley at the Florence Griswold Museum were finger-licking good too! 

There's a ton of stuff going on at the Midsummer Festival in Old Lyme today, beginning with breakfast and ending with fireworks. 

Here's a look at what's happening throughout the day at venues along Lyme Street in the heart of town. Click here for parking information and a map. Go to the event website for more details at http://www.oldlymemidsummerfestival.com. 

Florence Griswold Museum

• 8:30am - 3pm: Gourmet Galley serves breakfast and lunch overlooking the river.
• 9am - 11:30am: Parading Paws Dog Show! Registration from 9- 10am.  Judging begins at 10:30am.  
• 9am - 3pm: Market En Plein Air (Lyme's Farmers Market has more or less relocated for today, and even more vendors are coming.)
• 9am - 3pm: Crafted-by-Hand: The Midsummer Artisan Fair
• 9am - 3pm: Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce Festival Information 
• 10am - 1pm: Book Signing and Meet and Greet with Master Potter Guy Wolff and Author Suzanne Staubach.
• 10am - 3pm: Hands-On, Minds-On Education Area. 
• Dig into Reading Dirt Cups - provided by the Old Lyme PGN Library
• Equine Learning Station - provided by High Hopes Therapeutic Riding
• Mystery Craft Bags - provided by Lymes' Youth Service Bureau
• 10am - 5pm: Reduced Admission to Gallery $5 (no further discounts)
• 11am & 2pm: Dave Fry Concert
• 11am - 3pm: Z's Face Painting and Glitter Tattoos

• 8am - 3pm: Zest Fresh Pastry and the Lyme-Old Lyme Lions Club
• 9am - 3pm: Member artists on view, including Old Lyme Landscapes: A Salute to Our Founders and maritime art by Yves Parent.
• 9am - 3pm: Lyme Garden Club
• 9am - 3pm: Old Lyme Historical Society Inc. Information on the activities of the Society, books and pamphlets for sale pertaining to history of Old Lyme.
• 9am - 3pm: Nearly New Shop
• 10am - 2pm: Artists and Animals! Oxen and donkeys and llamas model for artists. LAA members will give drawing and painting demonstrations throughout the day. Bring your own art supplies and join in the fun!

• 11am - dark: Light Bites and Live Music! Live music played by renowned Jazz musicians offers visitors a taste of the "SideDoor" - the Inn’s highly anticipated Jazz Club opened May of 2013.

• 10am - 11am: Author Talk and Book Signing by Colleen Plimpton. Colleen's multi-honored garden memoir, Mentors in the Garden of Life was a finalist for the 2011 Connecticut Book of the Year in the Memoir category. Organized by Old Lyme PGN Library.
• 10am - 4pm: Selected Student Work, Chauncey Stillman Gallery
• 10am - 4pm: College Information Table

A day full of New Orleans goodness! Start your day off with a cup of New Orleans Joe and some pastries. Then stop by for a New Orleans feast of:

• FRESH SHUCKED LOCAL OYSTERS!
• The College Café's famous hot or cold LOBSTER ROLLS
• Roast Pork Po' Boys
• Traditional Muffaletta Sandwiches
• Coleslaw and Potato salad – Cajun chips from Deep River Snacks
• Hotdogs for the kids
• Ginger lemonade and orange Iced Tea
• Homebaked desserts and more ...

• 11am - 11:45am: Kala Farnham (jazzy blues pianist)
• 12pm - 12:45pm: River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs
• 1pm - 1:45pm: The Modern Riffs (youth horn band)
• 2pm - 2:45pm: Dan Stevens & The Young Beauregards (blues)
• 3pm - 3:45pm: The Sugarfoot Youth Jazz Band

• Artists, authors, sculptors, selling art and items for the home, plus a student art tag sale. 

• 9am - 5pm: Open Studio, Demonstrations, and Sculpture Park. The outdoor sculpture collection is exhibited on 4.5 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds adjacent to The Lieutenant River and The Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. Enjoy artist videos and lectures, live music & refreshments.

• 9am - 4pm: The Plein Air Fence Show Artists

• 10am - 5pm: Lyme Street Merchants Sidewalk Sale, 10-60 Lyme Street. Follow the yellow balloons down Lyme Street to the heart of the village where nine unique shops and galleries will offer an array of beautiful treasures. Visit the Partner's page for merchants' websites and more info.