Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival is a town-wide celebration of the arts, which this year will be held Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26. Since the early 20th century Old Lyme has been known to artists and art lovers alike 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.  Festival sites include the Florence Griswold Museum, Lyme Art Association, Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, the Old Lyme Inn, the Bee & Thistle Inn, Studio 80 + Sculpture Park, Center School, the Old Lyme – Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, and a variety of Lyme Street merchants.

Visitors to the Festival enjoy art, food, performances, hands-on activities for children, a dog show, a French-styled market, artisan vendors, book signings, and so much more!  For more information visit  www.OldLymeMidsummerFestival.com

This photograph of a Great Egret by Diana Atwood Johnson taken in Orlando, Fla., is the signature work of the ‘Bird’s Eye View’ exhibition on view during the Festival at Lyme Academy College.

On Friday, July 25, the evening begins with three receptions from 5 to 7 p.m., all with free admission.  At the Lyme Art Association, enjoy a great selection of affordable art by Association members.  At Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, visitors can view the exhibition Bird’s Eye View, Photographs of the Natural World by Diana Atwood Johnson in the Sill House Gallery.  A selection of student work is on view in the Chauncey Stillman Gallery. Most works in both exhibitions is for sale with funds benefiting the College and the students.  Atwood Johnson is generously donating all proceeds from the sale of her photographs to the College.  New York Times best-selling author Luanne Rice will also be visiting the exhibitions during the evening.  Refreshments will be available at both galleries.

At the Florence Griswold Museum, visitors can view the special exhibitions Art of the Everyman: American Folk Art from the Fenimore Art Museum and Thistles and Crowns: The Painted Chests of the Connecticut Shore.

The annual free concert from 7 to 9 pm at the Florence Griswold Museum is always a favorite and makes for a perfect summer evening.  This year’s band is The Mighty Soul Drivers.  Find your spot along the Lieutenant River and enjoy classic Southern Soul (think Percy Sledge, Otis Redding).  Folksinger Al Denty performs from 6-8pm. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner or let Gourmet Galley prepare a delicious meal.  Reservations can be made at www.Gourmet-Galley.com.

Walk from one free concert to another.  From 9 to 11pm, the Bee & Thistle Inn hosts ***New to the Festival Down by the River Rhythm N’ Blues DJ Dance Party.  Dance under the stars on the banks of the Lieutenant River.  Specialty cocktails and late night nosh are available for purchase.

The festival continues on Saturday, July 26, with activities at many locations along Lyme Street. Festivalgoers may park at 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 Library. A shuttle bus runs 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 craftsmen.  These events open at 9am and close at 3pm.

At 10am, local cultural organizations provide creative projects for 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 closes at 3pm.

Four-legged friends can participate in the Parading Paws Dog Show hosted by Vista 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.

Visitors enjoy a reduced admission of $5 to the Museum from 10am to 5pm, including the historic Florence Griswold House and the special exhibitions Art of the Everyman: American Folk Art from the Fenimore Art Museum and Thistles and Crowns: The Painted Chests of the Connecticut Shore.

At 11am and 1pm enjoy an interactive, energetic concert by Dave Fry, guaranteed to make all ages smile.

Next door to the Museum, at the Lyme Art Association, activities begin at 8am with the Lyme Garden Club’s exhibition of flowers and design.  Many items are for sale.  This event closes at 4pm.  From 9am to 5pm visitors can enjoy a great selection of affordable art by Association members.

Once again this year, the Lyme Art Association presents a festival favorite, the Oxen of Cranberry Meadow Farm, from 10am to 2pm. Learn more about these gentle giants, whose ancestors appeared in many original Lyme Art Colony paintings! ***New to the Festival, Tea at the Gallery from 10am to 4pm. Enjoy a respite from the heat of midsummer with tea or lemonade and light fare in our air-conditioned galleries.

At Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, visitors can enjoy two gallery exhibitions, the best current work by students in all the College’s major programs and Bird’s Eye View, Photographs of the Natural World by Diana Atwood Johnson.  For lunch, there is LobsterCraft’s fresh, hot-buttered lobster rolls, lobster kielbasa, macaroni and cheese, and lobster bisque and the College Café will provide a variety of delicious summer salads, along with orange iced tea, ginger lemonade and coffee. Specialty vendors entice visitors with jewelry, art, linens, and more. These events take place from 10am to 3pm.

NYT best-selling author Luanne Rice will discuss her 31st novel, “The Lemon Orchard,” and then sign copies at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts starting at 11 am.

At 11am, New York Times bestselling author of 31 novels, Luanne Rice shares her latest book The Lemon Orchard, an unexpected love story of two people from different worlds.  People Magazine calls the book “Entrancing” while Kirkus Reviews calls it “Lovely and compelling, with quiet yet brave social commentary.”  Books will be sold by R.J. Julia Booksellers and Rice will be signing copies.

From 11am to 3pm, the Midsummer Festival Music Stage offers continuous music on the lawn.  Don’t miss the music stage with a variety of bands provided by Bring Our Music Back, Inc.  At 11am, A Moment of Fearless (Soulful Blues duo), at noon, St. Albans (Youth Folk/Rock), and from 1 to 3pm, School of Rock (Youth All-Star House Band, all genres).

***New this year, live music by Musicnow Foundation, Inc. from 11am to 3pm at Nightingale’s Cafe and the Bee & Thistle Inn.

Located next to Lyme Academy College, visitors can explore Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds from 9am to 5pm.  Stop in to meet the sculptors and learn about their work.  The outdoor sculpture collection is exhibited on beautifully landscaped grounds adjacent to the Lieutenant River.  Enjoy lectures, music, dance, and refreshments.

From 11am to dark, visit the Old Lyme Inn for Light Bites and Live Music.  Cool your heels and tap your toes to the sounds of funk band, Mass-Conn-Fusion under the big tent on the Old Lyme Inn front lawn.  Light bites and refreshing drinks available for purchase.

From 9am to 4pm on the Center School lawn, meet the Plein Air Fence Show Artists.  Thirty-six of some of the area’s most accomplished local artists display their works for sale.  All mediums, styles, and prices are available.

From 10am to 5pm, the Lyme Street Merchants feature a sidewalk sale.  Follow the yellow balloons down Lyme Street to discover unique shops and galleries.  A musical cafe, designer linens on sale, homemade ice cream, exotic gems and designer jewelry, eclectic mix of galleries and an art studio, topped off with decadent chocolates and confections.

***New this year, offerings at the Old Lyme – Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library.  From 10am to 2pm, half price children’s and adult’s books in the Bookceller.  From 10am to 3pm, all ages are welcome to make a paper bag puppet!  Materials provided.  From 11:30 to 2pm, indulge in some delectable mini-cupcakes by Cupcakes and Flying Hearts.

From 1 to 2pm, meet Tony Award winner, trainer, actor and author, Bill Berloni.  Bill will sign his book Broadway Tails and share heartfelt stories of rescue dogs that became showbiz superstars.  Bill was a 20-year-old apprentice at the Goodspeed Opera House when a producer offered him his big break: a chance to act professionally and gain his Equity Card. In return, all Bill had to do was find and train a dog to play Sandy in the original production of Annie.

The Old Lyme Town Band will strike up at 7:30 pm on the Middle School lawn and then to round off the evening, there will be the usual fabulous fireworks display visible from the same lawn.