LYNN — The Lynn Arts & Culture Festival will be held on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 12-5 p.m. It will start on Union Street and Exchange Street, and attendees can utilize the free trolley system that will make five stops across the city.
“The 2025 festival will be the most ambitious yet. We’re expanding the footprint to include more interactive art, pop-up performances, and spaces that showcase emerging creatives and entrepreneurs,” Festival organizer Samantha Wheeler McHugh wrote to The Daily Item.
“This year emphasizes deeper engagement — with hands-on workshops, immersive art, and stronger partnerships with local businesses and cultural organizations — creating more opportunities for people to connect with Lynn’s culture in real time,” Wheeler McHugh wrote.
“This year’s festival also integrates a wider range of grassroots-led cultural projects that feed into the day’s energy — from poetry workshops to music showcases — reflecting a deeper, more inclusive representation of Lynn’s creative community,” she added.
The festival is brought to life by Lynn Main Streets, who are leading the coordination of downtown vendors and activation spaces, and Lynn Museum/LynnArts, who are curating exhibitions and hosting artist-led programming.
Other partners include Beyond Walls, who are bringing live mural-making and public art tours to the streets, and RAW Art Works and Outside the Box Learning Co., who are offering interactive experiences for youth and families.
The Prime Building Vintage Shops, Lucille Wine Shop, and other small businesses are “helping to turn Exchange and Washington Streets into vibrant creative corridors,” Wheeler McHugh wrote.
The festival is also supported by the Creative Cities-funded MassDevelopment and the Lynn Cultural Council.
“In 2025, Lynn’s creative spirit is everywhere — you see it in murals, music, food, fashion, and the energy of people starting new projects or turning ideas into reality. It’s rooted in community pride and a sense that creativity doesn’t just live in galleries or studios — it’s in how people show up for each other, collaborate, and make things happen,” Wheeler McHugh wrote.
“Lynn’s creative scene is thriving because it’s inclusive, diverse, and constantly evolving. And festivals like this help increase awareness — not just of the talent that’s already here, but of Lynn as a growing cultural destination,” she added.
