Make Music Bethlehem
Thanks to the efforts of Bethlehem Events, New Hampshire is now part of the national lineup for Make Music Day (MMD). Bethlehem Events is a 501(c)3 non-profit focused on enlivening the community with free, family-friendly activities.
The second annual Make Music Day Bethlehem event, scheduled for Friday, June 21, brings a day full of free music to the White Mountains. Multiple musicians are scheduled to perform throughout the town, and hands-on musical activities happen at 1 pm and 5 pm. More information can be found at www.makemusicday.org/bethlehem
Make Music Day
MMD is an international phenomenon that started in Paris in 1982. It now takes place in thousands of locations around the globe. Bethlehem is currently the only participating New Hampshire location. It takes a seat next to such giants as New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
“Music is a great unifier, and we can’t think of a better way to bring our community together than with a day full of free musical performances,” said Bethlehem Events board member, Casey Bonilla. “We are thankful to our sponsors for believing in our mission and helping us to become part of the national landscape.”
According to Bonilla, organizers from Bethlehem Events did a test run of the music festival last summer before becoming part of the national organization. “It was important for us to ease into this, and we are now prepared for a significantly larger event in 2020,” she said. “We anticipate accelerated growth with some unexpected venues coming on board down the road.”
At the 2018 MMD festival, Bethlehem Events welcomed the Jason Spooner Band to town. The festival successfully solicited several hundred dollars worth of food and cash for the local food pantries. “It’s important that we give back to the community in any way we can,” said Bonilla.
This Year
The 2019 event is scheduled for Friday, June 21. It welcomes nationally-touring duo, Megan Jean and the KFB. Local favorites include The Crunchy Western Boys and several other talented performers. They’ll play at Cold Mountain Cafe, Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network (WREN), and Reklis Brewing.
Megan Jean’s hurricane of a voice, which glides from baritone to mezzo-soprano without breaking a sweat, will be taking the stage at WREN Park on Main Street at 5:15 pm. Local Bluegrass legends, The Crunchy Western Boys follow at 6:45.
The public is invited to enter a mountain bike raffle hosted by WREN during their concert schedule from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $50 each – a maximum of 150 tickets will be sold, 100 minimum required for the prize. The winner can select either a Specialized Stumpjumper Mountain Bike valued at $3,000 or $1,000 cash. The winner will also get to pick his/her preferred bike size and color. Five percent of proceeds will be donated to the Bethlehem Trail Association. Tickets can be purchased at Cold Mountain Cafe or by emailingAylaQ@wrenworks.org
For the young and the young-at-heart, hands-on bucket drumming and piano sessions are available next to the town pool from 1 pm to 3 pm. The public is invited to take a dip in the pool between 1 pm and 6 pm. Unique to the Bethlehem Make Music Day lineup, a thirty-minute “Pound Class” session will return again for the second year.
Hosted by Reklis Brewery co-owner, Marlina Renton, Pound Class is designed to get your heart rate up as you dance with drumsticks. In essence, become a living musical instrument. Pound class will be held at 5 p.m. at the Bethlehem basketball courts on the corner of Main Street and Agassiz Street.
A complete schedule of events can be found at www.makemusicday.org/bethlehem.
Sponsors
The 2019 Make Music Day festival is generously supported by the following organizations; AHEAD, Casella, Mascoma Savings Bank, Tami Nason, Marilyn Johnson, David R. Wiley Architect, Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank, Passumpsic Savings Bank. Wayside Inn, Mulburn Inn, Bethlehem Earth Materials, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and P&S Equipment & Rentals.
About Bethlehem Events
Bethlehem Events is a completely volunteer non-profit organization. They work year-round planning and scheduling events that are fun for the whole family. The mission of Bethlehem Events is to promote pride and community spirit among residents. As well as enhance Bethlehem’s image, attract new residents, businesses and visitors, and improve the social and economic well-being of residents of Bethlehem.
They choose to accomplish the goal of strengthening the vibrancy and activity of the Bethlehem community by recommending, overseeing, and organizing an annual portfolio of cultural and recreational special events, programs and activities such as Summerfest, Bethlehem ArtWalk, Christmas in Bethlehem, Make Music Day, Light it Up Blue, First Fridays, and various town beautification projects.
To learn more or get involved, please visit www.bethlehemevents.org.
The images, and content contained within this article appear courtesy of the above mentioned organization. The content appears in part, or in whole, as a submission from the public relations department of the organization. For information on how you may be able to submit to our website for community events or press release news posts such as these, please visit our community bulletin board and public relations sections on our policy page.