3rd Thursday Street Fest
Press Release for May 15th, 2025
3rd Thursday Street Fest
Wow, this has been a dynamic and interesting year so far… and it is just rolling into May (seriously). Thankfully - this means that it is the first 3rd Thursday Street Fest for 2025! Now in our 22nd season, right on Main St in historic Willimantic, we celebrate our community’s diversity, welcoming spirit, and zest for life. It is our best opportunity to share our creative gifts, be social with our neighbors, make new friends, and join together to support each other- all while having a blast.
The vendors, Main St Merchants, entertainers, and food trucks/booths are all so excited to create joy and amazing things for you! Satiating your yearning for Kettle Korn, Quiet Corner Fudge, or fried pickles and elote- is our top priority! Fixing your desire to get permanent jewelry with a friend, or a caricature with Bill Dougal… be the coolest cat in town with an embroidered jean jacket from Elainethesun or start the summer smelling sweet with some new hand made soaps from Nonna. Feeling mystical? Get your palm, energy, or tarot read right on the spot. Try out some face paint, glitter optional. Learn some self defense with 360 Martial Arts or Crane’s Wing or give the gift of time to one of the amazing non-profits that share how they lovingly support the community. We have over 120 vendors registered right now, a record for a May fest and it will just grow through the season!
The entertainment will be stellar with EASTCONN’s Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT) school demonstrating their cool moves and coordinated dance numbers. Eminence Ink will host their stage with a fun second surprise set after ACT. The popular five musical stages throughout Main St. play simultaneously and will certainly hit all the right notes with many genres represented from blues, to rock, jazz, Latin, and more! Willibrew, right at the top of the fest, will have fantastic options for food and drinks out on their patio. It is front and center to the stage featuring opener Carlos Rivera and Enoch Robbins followed by the 10-piece Latin band, Arnaldo Rivera’s Benteu. So stop in for the BEST location to enjoy Way UpTown tunes and brews! Bruce John and D.A.D. will perform along with
Tweed Sugar, Ashlee Paradis, Jocelyn Hoagland, The Professors of Sweet, Sweet Music and more at the DownTown and MidTown Stages! New for this season, i98.3/WILI-fm will host their own cool stage right on North Street with DJ Chuck and DJ Keith C. Rice (or Wild Rice- as we like to call him). Keith will be spinning his prize wheel and demonstrating hip new dance moves!
The fabulous Pete and Chris Amusements will host a colorful bounce house right in UpTown for the kids and ambitious adults. We will have corn hole, giant jenga, and perhaps a few other yard game treats. The street will host multiple amazing local food vendors, 20 different options for your delight, ranging from pizza at Tony’s and Trigo, to Lemonade and Hosmer Soda, to coffee at Good Times and Grounded, and sweets at Willi Scoops, A Cupcake for Later, and Paula and Janes Boba! It is entirely possible and encouraged to have a cupcake while drinking boba tea.
There will be updates on how we are closing the road (where and when) available on our website and on social media closer to the fest. We are hoping if you drive into town, you utilize the nice new parking garage on Walnut! Access to other parking areas will be advised for your reference and planning, as well. 3rd is not able to use Jillson Square for parking in May due to the fabulous Thread City Hop Fest setting up in the field for the May 18th event! TCHF is a major supporter of 3rd Thursdays and WRI. Get your ticket today to help both events while they last… which will not be for much longer (it always sells out)! Proceeds benefit specially selected nonprofits in town, last year contributing over $50,000. Sample beer and make a difference.
Endless thank you’s this season to Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) for their very generous sponsorship, Berkshire Bank for their continued support with sponsorship and use of their courtyard for our beer garden and info area, Benders Oil for their amazing contribution to host a stage, and Willibrew for always donating a keg each month, every year, always. Thank you to the Windham Theatre Guild for allowing us to use their power and Eminence Ink for always contributing power and hosting a stage now for years. Thank you to the Willimantic Police Department, the Chronicle, WILI, CLiCK, Public Works, and
the Town of Windham. We appreciate all of you. Full list of Sponsors and Friends are on our website and advertised at the fest. We see you, care deeply, and thank you so much for your generous support.
We could not do it without YOU!
See you all May 15th from 6-9pm right on Main St!
Willimantic Renaissance, Inc. is a grassroots 501(c)3 non-profit organization formed to revitalize downtown Willimantic by celebrating diversity, building community and attracting consumers.
Willimantic Renaissance Inc. PO Box 866, Willimantic, CT 06226
860-450-0918
info@WillimanticStreetFest.com
www.WillimanticStreetFest.com