OLD LYME–A popular live music stroll along Lyme Street, Make Music Old Lyme, returns Saturday, June 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. An international celebration of free music for all, the Old Lyme Arts District produces the town’s event in conjunction with the MusicNow Foundation.
With over a dozen performers, the seventh annual Make Music Old Lyme celebration takes place on Lyme Street, stretching from the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme where the Old Lyme Town Band will play, to the Old Lyme Firehouse where Colin Hallahan will entertain attendees.
Between these two locations, talented musicians from across the Northeast will give live acoustic performances on front lawns and sidewalks along Lyme Street.
Chris Gregor returns this year and will perform on the Center School lawn. Gregor’s mix of pop, Broadway tunes, and even operatic selections entertained audiences at the 2024 Make Music Old Lyme.
Braiden Sunshine will play for fans on the side lawn of Nightingale’s Acoustic Café.
Kelly Riley, home from Nashville, will perform in front of the Memorial Town Hall. New to Make Music Old Lyme, Riley has opened for Willie Nelson, the Steve Miller Band, and Lyle Lovett with country and folk songs including her own original works.
Genres this year include bluegrass, folk, indie-rock, American standards, and pop.
Musicians scheduled to perform include: Chris Gregor, Braiden Sunshine, Colin Hallahan, Rodney Brown, Two of Us, Barbara Harvey, Jack Hardesty, Kelly Riley, John Charland, Band of Friends, The Scoville Unit Jazz Duo, Howling Hound Dogs, The Celestials, Paul Loether, and the Old Lyme Town Band. Kipp “Kid Caviar” Sturgeon will perform while strolling the event as well.
Before the stroll, Sunny Train will perform a family concert at Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) from 4 to 5 p.m.
A children’s craft will be available in front of the Old Lyme Historical Society from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Lyme-Old Lyme Lions Club will also be in front of Center School with grill items including hamburgers and hot dogs for sale from 5 to 7 p.m. Nightingale’s Acoustic Café and The Chocolate Shell will also be open and selling refreshments.
For those wishing to sit and enjoy one location’s performer, lawn chairs or blankets are encouraged.
A ticketed performance by Sarah Mac begins at 7 p.m. following the music stroll. Tickets can be found at https://www.musicnowfoundation.org/event-details-registration/sarah-mac.
According to “Ramblin’ Dan” Stevens, one of the volunteer organizers of the event, “We’re excited for our lineup of incredible musicians for Make Music Old Lyme. We love the chance to showcase the amazing talent right here in Southeastern Connecticut as well as welcome home some of our great musicians, who are traveling and doing shows around the country.”
Launched in France in 1982, Make Music Day is an international musical festival open to all who would like to participate, and takes place in over 1,000 cities in 120 countries on June 21, the summer solstice.
The State of Connecticut Office of the Arts debuted the State’s effort in 2018 with 528 free musical performances at 224 locations across the state, including Old Lyme.
For a complete lineup of activities (including weather updates), see https://www.exploreoldlyme.com/makemusic2025.
A handout with musician locations will be available at the event or in pdf form on the website the day of the event.
The Old Lyme Arts District is a partnership of a dozen organizations and businesses promoting arts and culture on Lyme Street.
Make Music Old Lyme is supported by Connecticut’s Eastern Regional Tourism District and is sponsored by Pasta Vita, Essex Savings Bank/Essex Financial Services, the Herb Chambers Charitable Foundation, Bluewater Millwork & Construction, Mercer Advisors/Benchmark Wealth Management, and Shoreline Web News, LLC/LymeLine.com.
Additional Web Addresses:
Old Lyme Arts District: exploreoldlyme.com/artsdistrict
Cultural Coalition: culturesect.org
MusicNow Foundation and Nightingale’s Acoustic Cafe: musicnowfoundation.org
International Make Music Day: makemusicday.org
Lyme-Old Lyme Lions Club: lymeoldlymelions.org
Lymes’ Youth Services Bureau: LYSB.org
Old Lyme Historical Society: oldlymehistoricalsociety.org
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