OLD LYME—The Old Lyme Arts District has announced two of the town’s premier summer celebrations: the Midsummer Kickoff Concert on Friday, July 25 and the Old Lyme Midsummer Festival on Saturday, July 26.
The Arts District in a press release said the family-friendly events showcase the town’s rich artistic heritage and welcoming community spirit in a weekend of art, music, and family fun.
Midsummer Kickoff Concert at the FloGris Museum, July 25
The Florence Griswold Museum, 90 Lyme St., is once again hosting the kickoff concert the night before the Midsummer Festival. This year the Mighty Soul Drivers will entertain. Bring your chairs or blanket and get ready for this favorite party and dance band. Bring a picnic or enjoy food vendor fare.
Special thanks to Concert Sponsors AllPro Automotive and Mercer Advisors/Benchmark Wealth Management, LLC.
More information can be found at FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org.
- 5 to 7 p.m. Free admission to exhibitions Nancy Friese: Living Landscapes and Cow Tales, plus early access to the FloGris Shop’s Midsummer Super Sale.
- 7 to 9 p.m. 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, July 26
Find art, music, food, and family fun at the 38th Annual Old Lyme Midsummer Festival. The day’s events begin with a 5K road race and then continue with festivities at the Lyme Art Association, Florence Griswold Museum, Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, and the Old Lyme Inn. More information can be found at ExploreOldLyme.com/MidsummerFestival2025.
Midsummer 5K Run hosted by Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau, 59 Lyme Street
- 5K Run/Walk (8 a.m. start): A morning run that winds through the beautiful streets of the village. Pre-registration online or onsite beginning at begins at 6:45 a.m.
- Kid K (9 a.m. start): Takes place on the high school running track. Check in at LYSB.
Lyme Art Association, 90 Lyme St.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Outdoor Activities (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.): 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 (9 a.m. to noon) and Kipp Sturgeon (12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
- 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
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Free Admission: Explore exhibitions and the historic Griswold Boardinghouse for artists, c. 1910
- Food Truck Court (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.): Delicious offerings for all ages
- Dog Show (10 a.m. to noon): Parading Paws returns—every dog’s a winner!
- Gallery Tour (2 p.m.) and hands-on crafts. Face painting, fairy hair, and more throughout the day
- Café Flo (11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.): Seated riverside dining (reservations recommended)
Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, 100 Lyme Street
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Kelsey Family Discovery Center: Science experiments, crafts, and wildlife watching
- Special Appearances:
- 10 a.m. 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
- Environmental presentations by the Old Lyme Land Trust, Old Lyme Open Space Commission and Old Lyme Harbor Management Commission
Lions Club Classic Car Show (9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.):
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
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Browse fine arts and crafts from the Fence Show Artists, Lyme Artisans Guild, and other vendors.
Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, 84 Lyme Street
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- De Gerenday’s Fine Art Materials & Curiosities (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.): 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: (12 to 4 p.m.): Annual Student and Faculty Exhibition.
*There is also an exhibition of Jac Lahav’s paintings of iconic record covers at Nautilus Architects at 9 Halls Rd. Admission is free and light refreshments will be offered. There will be live music between by Eggshell between 2:30 and 4:30pm*
There will be a concert by the Old Lyme Town Band starting at 7:30 p.m. on the lawn behind Center School, which will be followed by the traditional fireworks display.
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.
The Midsummer Festival is 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, Mercer Advisors, the Nancy Mesham Team at Coldwell Banker Realty, and LymeLine.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.