St. Johnsbury's monthly summer street fair, St. J Final Fridays, returns for its fifth year on June 26, with additional events July 31 and Aug. 28. This year organizers have added a theme to each event, starting with "Rhythm & Ride," celebrating the intersection of outdoor recreation and creativity.
The June 26 event runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Railroad Street and in Depot Square Park, which will host a bike hub. Activities include free bike lessons for kids, a bike valet service from Ticket to Ride, a spoke card craft session with artist Cloe Ashton, bike spin art from the town recreation department, a group gravel ride from NEK Gravel, bluegrass music by Jason Bergman and Colin McCaffrey, and information on the Vermont AOT Rail Trail Ambassador Program. More than 30 free activities and free food will be available.
At 7 p.m., the Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series presents a free concert by Brass Queens, an all-female New York band blending New Orleans brass with jazz-inflected pop and reggaeton.
"Whether on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail or along the street, we want to encourage people to bike to the event. We are so excited to have the new bike valet service provided by Ticket to Ride to encourage bike commuting," said Gillian Sewake, director of Discover St. Johnsbury. She added that participants should dismount during the festival for pedestrian safety.
The series is presented by Discover St. Johnsbury, the Town of St. Johnsbury, and Catamount Film & Arts, and remains free thanks to grants from the Levitt Family Foundation, the Vermont Community Foundation, and USDA Rural Development, plus sponsors including Little Dippers Doodle Children's Center, which funds free treats and food truck meal passes for those in need.
Originally reported by North Star Monthly.
Photo: Renelibrary (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
Log in as a subscriber to comment, or become a member.