OLD LYME — After a two-year hiatus, Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival is back!
This celebration of art, music, food and family fun will be in full swing today offering events throughout the day at a variety of locations along Lyme Street from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m.
Things start up again at 7:30 p.m. tis evening when the Old Lyme Town Band gives a concert at 7:30 p.m., which is followed by a fireworks display hosted by the Town of Old Lyme, starting around 9 p.m., that will round off the Festival.
Here is a listing of most of the events being held today. Visit ExploreOld Lyme for more information and all the latest updates.
SATURDAY
Join LYSB’s popular 5K event when you can run, walk or simply cheer on the participants. Winding through the village streets, this annual run brings runners and their supporters from across the region. The 5K Run & Walk starts at 8am and he Kids K at 9am. Register on site beginning at 6:45 a.m.
Art and more will be on view and for sale at various locations:
- The Fence Show Artists are back on the lawn of the Old Lyme Inn all day Saturday.
- Works by the artists of the Lyme Art Association will be on sale across the street at their home gallery
- Works of art and fine crafts by the alumni of the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts will be on sale on their campus.
- Specialty pieces by local artisans will be on offer at various locations along the festival.
The Lion’s Club hosts their annual Classic Car Show celebrating the classics, the antiques, and the exotic. Once again on the grounds at 100 Lyme Street (now the CT Audobon Society’s RTP Estuary Center), the cars on display will soon have you thinking about your own future wheels.
Learn more about entering your car here. The suggested donation to view cars is $5.
The cutest, brightest, best-dressed pups are invited to come compete for their very own “Best of” Award in the Parading Paws Dog Show. Does your dog have the best trick? A great smile? Learn more about this annual favorite produced by Vista Life Innovations and held from 10 to 11:30am at the Florence Griswold Museum.
New this year, the Florence Griswold Museum expands its Hands On-M!nds On Children’s Activities along its Artist Trail. You’ll find on the Trail a variety of activities by local nonprofits that will have your younger family members thinking and doing.
Check out the American Art face cutouts for kids at the Lyme Art Association.
And from 11am-12pm children will have the chance to try wire walking at the OL-PGN Library.
A highlight of the Festival was planned to be an Author Talk on the lawn at the OL-PGN Library with bestselling author Luanne Rice, pictured above. Sadly this event has now been postponed until October due to unexpected circumstances.
There will be special sales at the Florence Griswold Museum’s Shop and at Patricia Spratt for the Home.
Free art exhibitions will be on view at all the art institutions on Lyme Street and at Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds.
There will also be live music performances throughout the day. Ramblin’ Dan Stevens and the Fiery Band will perform from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., and John Brown and the BackPorch Pickers from 1:30-4 p.m. outdoors on the Sounds on the Grounds Stage at Lyme Academy.
LymeLine.com is proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the Midsummer Festival.