Bennington Joins Make Music VT with Parade and Downtown Music-Making!
Words by Vermont Arts Exchange.
This coming Wednesday, June 21st at 4:00pm join in with your Bennington neighbors for international Make Music Day. Gathering at the downtown four corners, community members and musicians of all ages will make music, hold a short parade and end up at Harvest Brewing for more lively performances.
Vermont historically joins 120 countries in simultaneously celebrating music across the landscape, participating in the annual international ’Make Music Day’ celebration on the summer solstice. Representing the southwest corner of Vermont, Benningtonians are welcomed to bring drums, instruments as we celebrate.
Founded in France in 1982 as ‘Fête de la Musique,’ it is brought to Vermont as ‘Make Music VT’ by Big Heavy World. A free day-long public celebration of music in all its forms, Make Music VT encourages Vermonters of all ages to join together and play at porches, sidewalks, stores, and stages. Make Music VT includes everyone from high school bands to marquee names, and people who have never touched an instrument, playing and learning alongside experienced musicians.
This year, more than 50 U.S. cities are organizing Make Music Day celebrations, creating thousands of music making opportunities nationwide. Vermont joined this worldwide festival in 2016 as the first entire U.S. state to participate — more than 700 cities have led the way, including New York, Brisbane, Prague, Edinburgh, and Vienna.
If you can’t make it downtown, get out on your porch or go to your closest park and make music! The event is meant to help Vermonters experience the joy of live music, making it free and festive during a day of sharing. Make Music VT is hosted by Big Heavy World, Vermont’s independent music office — a nonprofit organization promoting and preserving the original music of the state, bigheavyworld.com. Big Heavy World is a member of the Make Music Alliance, www.makemusicday.org, the national coordinator of Make Music Day in the U.S. For more information on the Bennington event, please call Vermont Arts Exchange at 442-5549. More about Make Music VT can be found at https://www.bigheavyworld.com/