ArtsWestCT announces the plans and lineup for West Haven Make Music Day on June 21, a third annual family-friendly event. Internationally, Make Music Day celebrations are held in nearly 5,000 places around the world, including West Haven’s Old Grove Park. Here, the focus will be on creating instruments from recycled materials and jamming outdoors with local musicians. West Haven families and agencies are asked to help collect clean, empty containers with lids to bring to the event.
The day’s schedule is free and open to the public as follows:
~~ 1 p.m. — Wellness Hour, courtesy of The Hut & AT Sangha Yoga – live cello music paired with the option to practice gentle, restorative yoga or just sit back, listen and relax. Bring a mat if you wish.
~~ 2 p.m. — “Songs of Summer”-themed community playlist by DJ Steve Wallace courtesy of Sounds Unlimited – submit requests on ArtsWestCT’s Facebook Page @westhavenarts. Chalk drawing, hula hooping, Bucket Drumming Village and Food trucks: Taste of Grill and More Than Dough.
~~ 3 p.m. ~- Make Your Own Instrument out of recycled materials collected by community organizations, sponsored by the West Haven Early Childhood Council with assistance from local musicians.
Instructors from Teach Kids Music will offer mini-lessons on various instruments.
Stop by the Welcome table to pick up a door prize ticket to win a free instrument. A number of organizations such as Surfside Veterans and the West Haven Library will be tabling and sharing community resources.
~~ 4 p.m. — Community Tap Dancing – courtesy of West Haven choreographer Zaneta Nicholson. Puma, certified therapy dog from Pet Partners, makes an appearance.
~~ 4:30 p.m. — Peace Jam with Elaine Kolb, Bring your freshly-made instruments or borrow one of hers.
~~ 5 p.m. — World Music Day remarks, followed by Elaine Braithwaite on electric violin.
~~ 5:30 p.m. — Young recording artist LeSaint teases out new releases.
~~ 6 p.m. — FATE – Fernanda & the Ephemerals, featuring jazz vocalist Fernanda Franco who led the Early Childhood Council’s Parents Cafe in May.
~~ 6:30 p.m. — Prize drawings, followed by Tad G’s Poundfit fitness class based on drumming. Transition to support Shaded Soul concert on the main stage.
~~ 7 p.m. — Make Music Day concludes.
West Haven’s Make Music Day celebration is supported in part by the West Haven Rotary.
Special thanks to the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, ArtsWestCT’s fiscal agent, and to the City of West Haven for co-presenting the event again this year. Make Music Day was featured in the Summerfest 2024 insert mailed to West Haven homes and businesses. Attendees are encouraged to stay on for the kickoff to the West Haven Parks and Recreation Department’s summer concert series, which will present Shaded Soul at 7.
Make Music Day is intended to be a rain or shine event. Unless there is a severe weather warning, organizers will still aim to gather under the shelter of the bathhouse to make instruments with families out of recycled materials and jam with local musicians from 3-5 p.m. Everyone is asked to please put safety first before venturing out that day and check the ArtsWestCT Facebook page @westhavenarts for updates.
There are still sponsorship opportunities available for West Haven Make Music Day, including a video loop that will play on site. Contact artswestct@gmail.com to sign up and be featured.