Downtown Manchester Butterfly Stroll

Join Downtown Manchester as we kick off our Summer 2nd Saturday Weekends with the Annual Butterfly Stroll and celebrate Manchester's recent designation as a Cultural District! 

Stroll along Downtown Main Street and enjoy the butterfly creations, build a flower bouquet, enjoy and create art, shop, eat, and more!

Activities and hours vary by location, see details below!

Butterfly Stroll & Bouquets - Hosted by Downtown Manchester
10 am to 2 pm

• Butterfly Stroll
  Stroll along Downtown Main Street and view the butterfly creations on display in the planters! This year's butterfly-inspired displays have been created by: The Angry Egg, Lutz Children's Museum, Wildwood Tattoos, Kids Arts & Crafts Club of Manchester, Dragon's Den Art Gallery & Tattoo Shop, Manchester Women's Club, Odyssey School, The Cornerstone Christian School,  Manchester Knit, Crochet & Crafts, Greater Hartford | Alzheimer’s Association, CT Chapter, and UR Community Cares. (Learn More)
• Build a Butterfly Bouquet:  As you stroll, visit designated locations to gather flowers to build your own bouquet! Begin by selecting an upcycled 'vase' at either The Market at 1115 Main or at Silk City Coffee.  Then, follow the Butterfly Stroll map to collect your flowers! This event is limited to one per adult/household and is available while supplies last.

Downtown Manchester Butterfly Stroll Station and Celebration of Manchester's Art & Culture District
Hosted by the Galleries at WORK_SPACE, 10 am to 2 pm, at 903 Main Street

Visit the Official Downtown Manchester Butterfly Stroll Station

• Children's Butterfly Crafts & Temporary Tattoos
• Door Prizes (no purchase necessary -stop by to enter!)
• Suggestion Box & Survey – Share your ideas for future Downtown events (and earn a ticket to the door prize drawing!)

Celebrate the Town of Manchester's New Arts & Culture District at WORK_SPACE

• Enjoy Art
• Live Art with Artist Nick Morrett
  See Nicholas Morrett in action creating wearable art!
• Help create a Collaborative Mural with artist Julie Bergeron of CT Murals
  
• Stroll through the Gallery featuring the exhibit, "Healing Expressions" and more!
• Live Music with Imagine Main Buskers (tips welcome!)
• Bring art home when you shop at the Gallery Shop!
• Create Art
• Verses & Voices at 12 pm
  Create poetry together and then put it to music!
• Create a Mother's Day Card (Free)
• Paint a Silk Scarf for $15
• Fun for the Young & Young at Heart
• Get your photo taken with characters from CAST children's theatre at the Candid Clicks Photo Booth Co.
• Butterfly Scavenger Hunt in the Art Exhibit (with prizes for children!)
• Free Crafts & Temporary Tattoos by Downtown Manchester & Manchester Women’s Club
  

• More at WORK_SPACE
• ChatGPT Basics for Business at 11 am
• Relax with a Chair Massage ($1/min, First 5 min FREE) by Maureen O'Connell

(ACTIVITIES BELOW LISTED IN ORDER WALKING NORTH FROM SCHOOL ST. TO CENTER ST.)

The Market at 1115 Main - Hosted by The Firestone | art studio & cafe
10 am to 4 pm at 1115 Main Street

• Outdoor Makers Market - larger than ever!
• Live Music

One-Day SALE at Forest Street Wine & Liquor at 1069 Main Street (8 am to 10 pm)
Select Prestige White & Rose for $10.99 (normally $11.99)

$10 Village Punch at Mulberry Street Pizza at 981 Main Street (11:30 am to 9 pm)

Special Menu & $10 Togosas(To-Go Mimosas) at The Main Course at 867 Main Street (11:30 am to 9 pm )

Mother's Day Plant Sale at Perennial, 867 Main St. (10 am to 6 pm)
Shop the unique collection of herbs and flowers. While you are there, pick up a wreath, tea, candles, and cards for the women in your life.

Magic by Kody Hildebrand (Purnell Place)

Manchester Cheesecake Company (Purnell Place)

Butterfly Themed Cocktail at Urban Lodge at 47 Purnell Place (12 - 11 pm)

Second Saturday *Indoor* Sidewalk Sale at the Manchester Mall at 811 Main (10 am to 5 pm)
Visit the first of what will be monthly a monthly Second Saturday Sidewalk Sale all summer long! It's rain or shine because this sidewalk sale is INSIDE the mall!

Celebrate Community at Silk City Coffee at 763 Main (7 am to 6 pm)
View the butterflies that were decorated by community members in preparation for this event.

Learn about the CHR Therapeutic Foster Care Program and how you can support our local children and families.  Be sure to purchase this month’s Give-Back Cookie and $1 will be donated to CHR Foster Care.

Author Tammy Gerhard will have a pop-up featuring her children’s book, Cocoa Hugs and Coffee Mugs (and her character doll!) that celebrates simple ways to Love Coffee (or cocoa) and Love People in the community.

Youth Art Show & Art Sale at The Little Bird Clay Company at 29 Bissell Street (10 am to 2 pm)
Support some of Manchester’s youngest artists by viewing and purchasing art at the Youth Art Show & Sale!

Book Buzz Summer Book Chat at The Mary Cheney Library, 2:30pm
Join Reader’s Advisor Barbara and Head  of Reference and Adult Services Jenn as they chat about the books they are most excited about at t for May-August 2024. Get the latest scoop and buzz about the books that you won’t want to miss placing on hold and reading! Participants will receive some free swag at the event. at 

FREE Kids' Craft with Kids Arts & Crafts Club of Manchester outside the Mary Cheney Library (10 am to 2 pm)
Create a card using recycled egg cartons!

The Sculpture Project Information Booth at Center Memorial Park (the location of the next sculpture!) 
Learn about Emily Cheney Neville, the subject of the next sculpture!

Summit Music Center Musicians at Center Memorial Park (10 am to 12:30 pm)

History Walk Hosted by Susan Barlow, Town Historian, 12 pm at the corner of Linden and Myrtle

Susan Barlow will lead a history walk through part of the Cheney Brothers National Historic Landmark including the History Center and onto the Elisabeth Bennet statue on the lawn of Bennet School and back. During this 2 mile/75-min walk, we'll encounter the work of artists and architects and discuss their contribution to the culture, aesthetic, and economy of Manchester. This will be a somewhat hilly walk contained mostly to sidewalks. Cameras and questions are encouraged. Rain or shine; extreme weather cancels. 

Downtown's Dragon's Den at The BeaHive Salon Grand Opening at 295 East Center Street (12 pm to 4 pm)
The Dragon's Den Art Galler & Tattoo Studio will be just up the street helping The BeaHive Salon celebrate its new location.  RSVP to join them for fun, shopping, beauty - and tattoos! 

More Arts & Culture District Activities
Stop by these nearby locations!

• The Lutz Children's Museum at 247 Main Street (12 pm to 4 pm; Advance Tickets Required)
• Day in the Park by Manchester Elks Lodge #1893 ( 9 am to 12 pm) 
• Concert at Cheney Hall: Night Shift (7 pm)
• Wit & Wisdom Poetry Club of Manchester Meeting (1 pm to 3 pm)
• Manchester History Center (12 pm to 4 pm)