Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival is a town-wide celebration of the arts, which opened yesterday evening and continues today.

Since the early 20th century Old Lyme, Connecticut has been known as a haven for the arts.  The festival takes place in the heart of Old Lyme’s historic district, with activities spanning locations along Lyme Street – the Florence Griswold Museum, the Lyme Art Association, and the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. This year, the festivities continue at the Old Lyme Inn, Studio 80 + Sculpture Park, Center School with the Plein Air Fence Show Artists, and a variety of Lyme Street merchants.

For more information visit www.OldLymeMidsummerFestival.com

Today there are activities at many locations along Lyme Street. Festival-goers may park at the Old Lyme Marketplace, Florence Griswold Museum, Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, Lyme-Old Lyme High School, Lyme-Old Lyme Center and Middle Schools, and Old Lyme PGN Library. A free shuttle bus travels between these locations from 9am to 3pm.

At the Florence Griswold Museum, the day begins with breakfast at 8:30am. Gourmet Galley serves breakfast in the morning and lunch in the afternoon until 3pm. One of the highlights of the day is Market En Plein Air. This outdoor market features Connecticut-grown flowers, fruits, vegetables, breads, fine cheeses, herbs and specialty foods in a setting modeled after outdoor markets in French villages. Crafted-by-Hand: An Artisan Fair features noted jewelry designers and other artisans from across the state. These events open at 9am and close at 3pm.

Four-legged friends can participate in the Parading Paws Dog Show hosted byVista Vocational & Life Skills Center of Westbrook. Does your dog have the best smile, longest tail, biggest paws? Registration is from 9- 10am.  Judging begins at 10:30am. Special categories include Best Trick and Best Costume. The event is sponsored by Vista Vittles ~ 100% Natural Treats for Dogs.

At 10am, local cultural organizations provide creative projects for all children of all ages at the Hands-On, Minds-On area. Included are activities by the Old Lyme PGN Library, Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau, and High Hopes Therapeutic Riding. This event close at 3pm.

Visitors enjoy a reduced admission of $5 to the Museum from 10am to 5pm, including the historic Florence Griswold House and the special exhibition Animal/Vegetable/Mineral: An Artist’s Guide to the World.

Meet Master Potter Guy Wolff and author Suzanne Staubach from 10am to 1pm. Wolff is probably the best-known potter working in the United States today. In gardening circles, he is highly revered, a horticultural icon. Stop by to meet him and purchase the new publication Guy Wolff Master Potter in the Garden by Suzanne Staubach. Wolff demonstrates how he makes his hand-thrown pots. A selection of Guy Wolff Pottery is available to purchase, including a special limited edition pot designed for the Florence Griswold Museum.

At 11am and 2pm enjoy an interactive, energetic concert by Dave Fry, guaranteed to make all ages smile.

From 11am to 3pm visitors can get decorated by Z’s Face Painting and Glitter Tattoos. Cost: $5.

Next door to the Museum, at the Lyme Art Association, activities begin at 8am with hand-made indulgences from Zest Fresh Pastry in Stonington. Beginning at 9am visitors can enjoy hundreds of paintings by member artists on view, including Old Lyme Landscapes: A Salute to Our Founders and maritime art by Yves Parent. While visiting, enjoy lunch hot off the grill from the Lyme-Old Lyme Lions Club.

The Lyme Art Association also hosts a variety of community organizations beginning at 9am. The Lyme Garden Club sells locally grown floral arrangements, herb-infused cooking oils, and gifts for gardeners. Proceeds benefit the Lyme Garden Club. Old Lyme Historical Society features books and pamphlets pertaining to the rich history of Old Lyme. The Nearly New Shop sells gently used clothing, accessories, and household goods to benefit Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church of Old Lyme. These events close at 3pm.

Once again this year the Lyme Art Association presents a festival favorite, Artists and Animals, from 10am to 2pm. A variety of creatures (oxen, donkeys, and llamas) pose for artists and animal lovers of all ages. LAA members give drawing and painting demonstrations throughout the day. Visitors may bring their own art supplies and join in the fun!

The Old Lyme Inn presents Light Bites and Live Music on their front lawn from 11am to dark. Celebrate the summer season with a unique menu of locally grown and deliciously fresh cuisine. Live music played by renowned Jazz musicians offers visitors a taste of the “SideDoor,” the Inn’s new jazz club.

From 10am to 4pm at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, visitors enjoy a showcase of the best student work from all major programs.

Colleen Plimpton discusses her book, “Mentors in the Garden of Life.”

From 10am to 11am, author Colleen Plimpton speaks about her garden memoir, Mentors in the Garden of Life. Trained at the New York Botanical Garden, Plimpton has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs including CBS, ABC, Good Morning America and PBS. She pens a prize-winning newspaper column for Hearst Media Group, coaches gardening, has taught at the New York Botanical Garden, and lectures widely. Her book was a finalist for the 2011 Connecticut Book of the Year in the Memoir category. Books can be purchased and signed. The event is organized by the Old Lyme PGN Library.

The rest of the actvities take place from 11am to 4pm, including the Midsummer Festival Music Stage, which offers continuous music on the lawn of the Lyme Academy. These activities are sponsored by Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau and Bring Our Music Back, Inc. The line-up features jazzy blues pianist Kala Farnham at 11am; River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs at noon; the youth horn band The Modern Riffs at 1pm; the blues of Dan Stevens & The Young Beauregards at 2pm; and The Sugarfoot Youth Jazz Band at 3pm.

Visitors can scout out a variety of vendors and activities, including Josh Chalmers, who read from their children’s book, Change the World Before Bedtime, which inspires the youngest among us to be kind, to share, and to give back in easy ways;  Patricia Spratt’s “Warehouse Sale” of her wonderful linens; Steven Evankow’s stone sculptures and demonstration; wooden jewelry by Dendocreations; and artwork by Lyme Academy students.

The best lobster rolls in town will be on sale at Lyme Academy College.

Always a big part of the festival…food! And the Lyme Academy offers a day of New Orleans goodness beginning with a cup of New Orleans coffee and pastries. For lunch, feast on fresh shucked local oysters, lobster rolls, roast pork po’ boys, muffalettas, kids items, desserts, and more.

Located next to the Lyme Academy, visitors can explore Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds from 9am to 5pm. The grounds feature 70 contemporary art sculptural works by Gilbert Boro and visiting artists on 4.5 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. Enjoy artist videos and lectures, live music and refreshments.

The Plein Air Fence Show Artists (formerly at the Old Lyme Inn lawn) have a new location on the lawn of Center School. From 9am to 4pm, 36 artists display their works for sale, offering everything from still lifes to landscapes of local scenes to pets. Browse works in watercolor, pastel, and oil.

From 10am to 5pm shoppers can follow yellow balloons to the heart of the village where the Lyme Street Merchants offer an array of  treasures. Beautiful art,  jewelry, home décor, chocolates, ice cream, spa gifts, artisans galore, and more! See OldLymeMidsummerFestival.com for participating merchants and addition festival information.

After a rousing concert by the Old Lyme Town Band starting at 7 p.m. on the lawn behind Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, the traditional fireworks return at nightfall in the usual location.

The Lyme-Old Lyme community is coming together today to honor the memory of the late Caroline O’Brien of Old Lyme when the Fourth Annual Caroline’s Miracle Foundation 5K Run, 5K Walk and Kids’ K are held.

Caroline was an 11-year-old girl, who passed away July 19, 2010, from Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) – a rare and inoperable form of brain cancer.

This event is being held once again to honor Caroline’s courage and bravery and also raise funds to support the charity she founded called Caroline’s Miracle Foundation (CMF).  The mission of CMF is to bring smiles to the faces of children battling DIPG and other inoperable brain tumors, as well as supporting safety initiatives in Old Lyme.

A committee of volunteers of all ages has planned the race, which will be timed and is very flat and very fast.  The race will start in front of Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, head down historic Lyme Street and weave its way through the historic downtown of Old Lyme.

New This Year: the theme is – Beach Bum!  Young friends of Caroline have made posters and decorations to line the race route, including the now familiar ‘smiley face’ logo (now adorned with sun glasses) shirts for the first 200 registered runners.

Emily (Caroline’s younger sister), Brynn, Kate and Friend’s Lemonade Stand will be at the event.

There will be a Dunk Tank to cool off.  Also, the Kids K route will include the Charles Niblack Memorial Track.

Prizes will be awarded to the top male and female finisher plus the top three male and female finishers of the 5K in each age group.

Registration on race day opens at 6:45 a.m. at the Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) at 59 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT.  There are three separate events as follows:

• the 5K walk starts at 8 a.m.,
• the 5K run starts at 8:15 a.m.
• the Kids’ K starts at 9 a.m.

Following the run, a party with music, food, free massages, and more will be held at LYSB.  After that, plan to stop by the Old Lyme Midsummer Festival, which is happening all day in Old Lyme.

For more information, visit www.carolinesmiraclefoundation.org

If readers cannot make the event, but would like to support the efforts of this wonderful Foundation, donations can be made in person or by mail to Webster Bank at 7 Halls Rd., Old Lyme CT 06371.