First Friday Meets America 250: Celebrate July 3 in Downtown Middlebury
Summer is in full swing, and July’s First Friday is shaping up to be one of the biggest and most festive evenings of the season.
On Friday, July 3, Town Hall Theater will host a free America 250 Block Party from 3:00–8:00pm at the Maloney Public Performance Plaza on the Tilly Stage. The event is part of Town Hall Theater’s America 250: Expressions of Liberty initiative and also serves as July’s First Friday celebration in downtown Middlebury.
The festivities begin at 3:00pm with 5 Above, the woodwind ensemble from Vermont’s Own 40th Army Band,presenting Heroes: A Musical Journey of Courage.
At 4:30pm, families are invited to join a festive bike parade, complete with prizes for the best-decorated bicycles. Bring the streamers, flags, and creativity!
Then at 5:30pm, Knoxville, Tennessee’s Redd & The Paper Flowers take the stage with their lively Appalachian folk-grass sound, featuring upright bass, cello, mandolin, guitar, and rich harmonies that are sure to get the crowd moving.
Throughout the afternoon, visitors can enjoy readings of original student poetry exploring the theme “What Does Freedom Mean to Me?” Young artists are also invited to create artwork on-site and participate in the America 250 Poetry & Art Contest.
Food and refreshments will be available throughout the event, including offerings from Gene’s Chili Hut, Good Times Co., sweet treats, and beverages from the bar.
And because it’s First Friday, the celebration doesn’t stop at the plaza. Downtown shops, restaurants, galleries, and businesses will be joining in, creating one of those classic Middlebury summer evenings where music spills into the streets, friends bump into one another, and there’s something happening around every corner.
Wander downtown and pop into:
* Little Seed return 5-8pm “ADULT RECESS” with wine by Lincoln Peak Vineyard and snacks by Little Seed
*Henry Sheldon Museum is open late 5-7pm with six new fantastic exhibits and their Artists in the House Auction
*PhotoPlace Gallery — Open late/gallery viewing of After Dark; Night, Sky and Shadow Opening Reception 4-7pm
*Cookie Love in Midd is offering a free Chocolate Chip Cookie with every purchase!
• Edgewater Gallery open late on Merchant’s Row
*Swift House Inn for Serena Kim DJing from 6-10pm
• Middleton
*The Vermont Book Shop for late-night browsing
Retro Realm open until 10pm plus Green Peppers until 9pm
• Sparrow Art Supply
*Flora — special 50% off THC infused lemonade from 3pm to close
Flora’s new store in store called NEXT DOOR will be running a 10% off store wide sale all day *The Middlebury Shop
• Adagio Chocolates
*Cobweb Antiques
• Parlour
• The Herbal Connection (Route 7 South) — Open late
• Vermont’s Own *
• Danforth Pewter — Open late with 20% off purchases of $75+ (some exclusions apply)
Plus Sabai Sabai, Taste of India, Crooked Ladle, Mr Ups, Mad Taco, The Middlebury Inn, Rosies, Fire & Ice and Two Brothers are open and waiting for you!
We’re especially grateful to Town Hall Theater for creating this wonderful community celebration and for continuing to make the Maloney Plaza such a vibrant gathering place. Events like this remind us how fortunate we are to live in a town where arts, culture, community, and local businesses come together so naturally.
Bring your family, decorate a bike, enjoy some great music, and spend the evening downtown with friends and neighbors.
Come wander, sip, shop, and connect. See you downtown 💛