One Month Out: Make Music Vermont 2026 Is Taking Shape

Your checklist for June 21st is here — register, get matched, and help us spread the word.

Sunday, June 21st — the summer solstice and the global day of music — is just one month away. With a little over four weeks to go, this is the stretch where it really matters: get registered, get matched, and start promoting. Here's everything you need for an unforgettable Make Music Day 2026.

Make Music Vermont is growing

Across the state, musicians and venues are matching up and locking in plans. Here's where we stand right now:

• 28 confirmed performances
• 79 registered performers
• 30 registered venues — from porches and parks to libraries and Main Streets
• Across 14 Vermont towns and counting

More events are being registered every day. In the meantime, browse what's happening near you at makemusicday.org/vt/listings.

Registered but still looking for a spot?

Start reaching out and find a place for June 21!

If you've registered as a musician but haven't been matched with a venue yet, don't wait for one to find you. Take it into your own hands:

Spread the word

Help us reach every corner of Vermont. Whether you're playing, hosting, or just excited about the day, there are three easy ways to amplify Make Music Day.

📱 Promote your event on social media

• Post your event details, set times, and location
• Share rehearsal clips, behind-the-scenes prep, or just your excitement as a reel or post
• Use #MakeMusicVT #MakeMusicDay #June21
• Tag @MakeMusicVT on Instagram and Facebook so we can repost

The more we share each other's work, the bigger this day becomes.

🎨 Grab promo assets from our public drive

• Poster templates (add your details and print)
• Artist picture frames for social media
• Instagram and Facebook graphics
• MMVT logo files

Access the folder here →

📰 Tap your local press connections

We're sending press releases to media outlets across the state. If you have connections to your local newspaper, radio station, or community blog, please help us get the word out. We're happy to provide quotes, photos, and event details — just reach out.

👕 NEW: Make Music Vermont tees — pre-order now!

They're live! The official Make Music Vermont tees are here, in partnership with Omm Apparel, available for pre-order through Friday, June 5 at 3 PM.

Celebrate music, community, and Vermont creativity while supporting the future of this incredible statewide event. Profits from these t-shirts will help support Make Music Vermont 2027.

These ultra-comfy unisex tees are made from a premium 55% hemp / 45% organic cotton blend — a sustainable choice that uses less water, fewer chemicals, and offers long-lasting durability with a soft, lived-in feel.

This year's print run is limited, so pre-ordering is the best way to make sure you get yours. Support local music. Wear something sustainable. Help keep Make Music Vermont thriving.

👉🏼 Visit:

omm. Make Music Vermont Tee

Consider a participatory event

Some of the most memorable Make Music Day moments come from participatory "play-along" activities — group music-making anyone can join, no experience needed. If your town is looking for ways to get more people involved, consider:

• 🥁 Drum circles or rhythm workshops
• 🎤 Community song circles or sing-alongs
• 🎹 Instrument petting zoos for kids
• 🎺 Kazoo parades or other fun, low-barrier activities

These are entirely town-driven. Get creative and make it your own.

Mixer recap — now on video

Thank you to everyone who joined us! Over 30 people from towns all across the state showed up for our April 25th Statewide Informational Mixer at Chandler Center for the Arts. The energy in the room was a great preview of what June 21st is going to feel like statewide.

Thank you to Orca Media for filming the event. The full video coverage is now available to watch and share.

📺 Watch the recap on YouTube

MMVT on Vermont Talks

Make Music Vermont was featured on the latest episode of Vermont Talks, released this week. The conversation covers Make Music Day, our statewide vision, and how Vermonters can get involved. Give it a listen — and share it with anyone who'd be curious.

🎧 Listen to the episode

We're just over two months from Make Music Day on June 21st — and in 10 days, we're hosting a statewide mixer to bring the community together. Here's what's happening and how to get involved.

MMVT Statewide Mixer — April 25th

Join us on Saturday, April 25th from 1:00–3:00 PM at the Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph, VT for a free statewide informational mixer. It's open to anyone interested in participating in Make Music Vermont: musicians, venue hosts, business owners, community organizers, and curious newcomers alike.

What to expect:

• A panel of Make Music leaders from across the state sharing ideas, past experiences, and best practices
• Learn how to get Make Music Day started in your community
• Connect with other participants and register on the spot
• Refreshments, and good conversation
• Bring an instrument for an after-mixer-jam-session

Already hosting Make Music events in your town? We'd love to have you share about your projects. Reach out and let us know!

Registration Update

Musicians and venues are signing up on Gemini and the matchmaking is underway! The platform connects performers with locations so everyone has a place to play (or host) on June 21st.

Not registered yet? Now's the time:

• Musicians: Create your profile and share your style so venues can find you
• Venues & Hosts: List your space and browse available performers

The sooner you register, the better your match — don't wait until May!

Already registered but haven't been matched with a venue yet? Don't worry, we're actively working on connections. Reach out and we'll help find the right spot for your sound.

Show Us Why You Make Music

We're launching a social media campaign and you're the star. Record a quick reel on Instagram or Facebook telling us:

• Why you're excited to be part of Make Music Vermont this year
• A favorite memory from a past Make Music Day
• Why your fellow musicians and venues should sign up

This isn't a contest or giveaway — we just want to celebrate the people who make this event happen and spread the word through real voices in the community.

Here's how to participate:

• Record a short video (30–60 seconds is perfect)
• Tag @makemusicvt and use #makemusicvt so we can find it

We'll share your reel to our pages and help amplify your voice across the state Whether you've been part of Make Music Day for years or you're joining for the first time — we want to hear from you. 🎤

Spread the Word

Help us reach more people across Vermont:

• Share this email with musicians, businesses, and community groups in your area
• Post on Front Porch Forum — mention that Make Music Day is coming to your town
• Tag us on social media — we'll share and amplify your posts

What's Coming Next

• Late April: Mixer recap, registration deadline push, and ideas for chapter-led activities
• May: Event preview, chapter planning tips, and the full schedule starts taking shape
• June: Final countdown with the complete program and day-of details

Let's make some noise, Vermont.

The Make Music Vermont Team makemusicvt.org

Last time we shared the big news — Make Music Vermont is back for 2026, with a new team building on a decade of music-making across the state. We're back with some exciting news: you're invited to our first-ever statewide mixer — plus registration is officially open for Make Music Day 2026.

Join Us at the Make Music Vermont Mixer

We're kicking off the 2026 season with an in-person informational mixer — and we'd love to see you there.

This is your chance to:

• Learn how Make Music Day works and how your community can participate
• Meet other musicians, venue hosts, and organizers from across Vermont
• Get a live demo of the registration platform and sign up on the spot
• Hear from fellow Vermonters about their Make Music Day experiences (more on that below!)
• Ask questions and connect with the MMVT team in person

Whether you've been involved for years or you're curious about joining for the first time, this mixer is for you. We'd love to have a rough idea of attendance, so please RSVP to let us know you're coming!

RSVP for the Mixer

Share Your Make Music Vermont Story

Make Music Day has been happening in Vermont since 2016 — that's a decade of music, community, and celebration across the state. We know many of you have been part of it, and we'd love to hear about your experience.

Have you participated in Make Music Vermont in past years? Whether you performed on a porch, hosted musicians at your business, organized your town's events, or just showed up to enjoy the music — we want to hear from you and would love to feature your photos and stories on our website and socials.

Here's how you can share:

• Reply to this email with your story — tell us what you did, what it meant to you, and what made it special
• Send us your photos here! We'd love to see pictures from past Make Music Days across Vermont
• Interested in being on a panel? We're putting together a short panel at the April 25th mixer where past participants can share their experiences with newcomers. If you'd be willing to talk about your involvement — even briefly — let us know!

Your stories help inspire new communities to get involved and remind all of us why this event matters. Don't be shy — we'd love to hear from you.

Register for Make Music Vermont 2026

Registration is officially open! Whether you're a musician, a venue, or a community organizer, the first step is signing up on our matchmaking platform.

• Musicians: Create a profile, share your sound, and get matched with a venue near you
• Venues & Hosts: List your space — a shop, porch, park, library, or stage — and connect with performers
• Organizers: Interested in bringing Make Music Day to your town? We'll help you get started as a chapter

The platform lets musicians and venues find each other, so the sooner you sign up, the better your chances of a great match.

Register Here

Become a Statewide Sponsor

Make Music Vermont is a free, community-powered event — and sponsorships are what make it possible. Your support helps us provide resources to chapters across the state, promote the event statewide, and keep participation free for everyone.

We have sponsorship opportunities at several levels, and every contribution makes a real difference.

👉 Learn more about sponsorship: makemusicvt.org/sponsors-partners

Interested? Just reply to this email — we'd love to tell you more.

What's Next

Our next newsletter will land in your inbox in April with more updates as we get closer to June 21. In the meantime:

• RSVP for the mixer at chandler-arts.org/makemusicday
• Register your event at vt.makemusicday.org
• Share your story — reply to this email with your MMVT memories and photos
• Spread the word — forward this email to anyone who might want to participate

Let's make this the biggest Make Music Day Vermont has ever seen.

With gratitude and good vibes,

The Make Music Vermont Team

makemusicvt.org

We are excited to share some big news: Make Music Vermont is gearing up for 2026 — and this year, we're growing.

Make Music Day takes place every year on June 21st, the summer solstice, when musicians of all levels and genres take to the streets, parks, porches, and stages across the world to celebrate the joy of making music. Vermont has been part of this global movement since 2016 — that's a full decade of Make Music Day celebrations across our state. We're proud to keep that tradition alive and thriving.

What's New for 2026

You may know Make Music Day in Vermont through the work of Big Heavy World, who did an incredible job championing and coordinating the event across the state since its Vermont debut in 2016. Starting this year, statewide coordination for Make Music Vermont has transitioned to a new team — and we're building on that strong foundation to make the event more connected, more supported, and more visible than ever.

Our goals for 2026 include:

• Supporting chapters across Vermont with resources, guidance, and coordination
• Strengthening statewide visibility through shared marketing and press outreach
• Making it easier for communities to participate — whether you're a longtime chapter or brand new to Make Music Day

Who We Are

The Make Music Vermont committee is made up of members from three Randolph-based organizations: The Underground — Recording Studio, Chandler Center for the Arts, and the White River Craft Center. We've been running Make Music Day in Randolph for the past six years, and we're now stepping up to coordinate the event statewide.

We're part of the global Make Music Day network — a celebration of music-making that takes place in over 1,000 cities worldwide every June 21st. Our job is to support chapters, connect communities to resources, and help make Vermont's contribution to Make Music Day as vibrant as possible. We're here to help — not to run the show in every town, but to make sure every town has what it needs to run their own.

Stay Connected

We've launched a brand new home for Make Music Vermont at makemusicvt.org — your go-to for resources, registration links, chapter info, and updates leading up to June 21. Bookmark it and check back often as we add more. Follow us on social media to stay in the loop and help spread the word:

• Facebook: facebook.com/MakeMusicVT
• Instagram: instagram.com/makemusicvermont

What to Expect from Us

We plan to send one email per month between now and Make Music Day, packed with:

• Timeline updates — key dates and deadlines so you can plan ahead
• Action steps — what you can do now to prepare, whether you're organizing a chapter or performing
• Resources — templates, guides, promotional materials, and support
• Statewide highlights — what's happening across Vermont leading up to June 21 Our goal is to make these emails genuinely useful — not just noise in your inbox.

Come learn how Make Music Day works, meet other participants, and get involved.

More details coming in our next email! We're thrilled to be part of this tradition, and we can't wait to see what Vermont's music community creates this summer. Stay tuned — more details coming soon.

With gratitude and good vibes,

The Make Music Vermont Team makemusicvt.org