Category Archives: Outdoors

Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival Offers Full Day of Fun, Food, Fireworks & Art, July 26

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Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival takes place July 26, with one of the venues being the Florence Griswold Museum. The antiques car in the foreground of this photo is a reminder that the Lyme-Old Lyme Lions host their Classic Car Show next door at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center during the Festival from 9:30am to 1:30pm

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

Come enjoy a free concert by the Mighty Soul Drivers on the lawn in this beautiful venue along the Lieutenant River.

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

A raised hand held the starting horn for the Kids’ Race at last year’s 5K Midsummer Run.
  • 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.

LYSB’s 5K Run Kicks off Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival, In-Person Registration Still Open, July 25

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Shortly before 8 a.m. when the 5K race is set to begin, a large crowd will gather at the starting line.

OLD LYME — Celebrate Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival Saturday, July 26, in historic Old Lyme Village with this family-friendly 5K run or walk, or a ‘Kid’s K.’

Registration fees for the 5K (run and walk) are $30 for adults, $15 for youth (18 and under). Registration for the “Kids K” fun run is $10. On-site registrations will be accepted up to shortly before races start on Saturday morning. Online registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 25.

The Midsummer Run benefits the Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) programs for youth and families in the areas of mental wellness, drug and alcohol prevention, positive youth development, juvenile justice, early childhood, and social services.

The LYSB Midsummer 5K Run features a fast and flat road with options for a 5K Run & Walk, and a Kids K. The race will begin at the LYSB located at 59 Lyme St. and wind through the beautiful streets of the village.

The race is being held on the morning of the renowned Old Lyme Midsummer Festival, kicking off a weekend of cultural, artistic and community events at multiple sites throughout Old Lyme’s Historic District.

The LYSB Midsummer Run is generously sponsored by numerous local businesses including Shoreline Web News LLC, owner of LymeLine.com.

Registration and race start times are as follows:
6:45 a.m. Registration Opens
8 a.m. 5 K Walk & Run
9 a.m. Kids K

CLICK HERE for online registration details.

Chip timing will be provided by Timing Plus New England for 5K participants only. Commemorative T-Shirts will be available for the the first 200 registered participants.

The overall top three men and women will be recognized as well as the top age group winner in the men and women divisions. Divisions will be broken down as follows: Youth 14 and under, 15 to 19, 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59 and 60 plus.

Volunteers are still needed for this event. Email lysb@lysb.org to volunteer.

Read more about LYSB’s mission on the LYSB website.

UPDATE: Swim Advisories Lifted at Hawks Nest, Point O’ Woods in Old Lyme

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OLD LYME–On July 17, Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) announced, “There are currently no swimming advisories or closures in effect at any LLHD-monitored beaches.” 

The health district website explains the agency conducts weekly sampling from Memorial Day through Labor Day in Old Lyme as well as East Lyme, Groton, Ledyard, New London, Stonington, and Waterford. 

Water quality is measured by the presence of enterococcal organisms, which are a group of organisms that may indicate the presence of potentially harmful bacteria.

The State of Connecticut has issued water quality guidelines to determine if a bathing area needs to be resampled or posted with an advisory. A concentration of enterococcal organisms exceeding 104 colonies per 100 ml of marine water and 235 colonies per 100 ml of freshwater is considered unsatisfactory for bathing.

An advisory is triggered when two consecutive samples exceed the state threshold, according to the health district. The advisory is removed once levels are safe.

Bat Tests Positive for Rabies in East Lyme, Ledge Light HD Urges Public to Refrain From Wild/Stray Animal Interactions

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EAST LYME—On July 10, a bat found on Boston Post Rd. in East Lyme was tested and found to be positive for rabies on July 10.

A press release issued by Ledge Light Health District the same day urges people to refrain from feeding or approaching any wild or stray animals.

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that can infect all warm-blooded animals, including people. It is spread mostly by wild animals, but stray cats and dogs may also become infected and spread the virus.

The rabies virus lives in the saliva and brain tissue of infected animals. Rabies can be spread by scratches from infected animals or when infected saliva comes into contact with open wounds, breaks in the skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth, etc.)  

If you have any questions or concerns, contact Ledge Light Health District at 860-448-4882 or the Waterford/East Lyme Animal Control at 860-442-9451.

TOP STORY: New Champs Crowned at Rogers Lake July 4 Boat Parade

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Jim and Christine Levasseur and family floated away with the 2025 Rogers Lake Boat Parade trophy.

OLD LYME—There are new Independence Day champions on Rogers Lake.

Rogers Lake Boat Parade organizers Christina and Dave Evers in an email said this year’s trophy for the “most enthusiastic, patriotic, and best decorated” boat has been awarded to Jim and Christine Levasseur and family.

The Evers said the family’s enthusiasm put them over the top during Friday afternoon’s parade around the lake.

“They never stopped dancing,” the organizers said. “There was a close second place winner, but the Levasseur family really brought that energy!”

The Levasseur family was recognized for their enthusiasm during the parade, as well as for their decorations.

Judges were placed randomly along the water.

The winners keep the trophy for 12 months and then return it to be presented to next year’s winner. The Levasseurs took the title from the King family.

This year marked the sixth annual boat parade. The trophy added friendly competition to the festivities in 2022.