Blab Music
St. J Final Fridays Returns July 31 with All-Together-Now Theme and Free Street Fair
St. Johnsbury, Vermont – The town’s long‑running summer street‑fair series, St. J Final Fridays, will resume on Friday, July 31, 2026, on Railroad Street and Depot Square Park. The event’s theme, “All Together Now,” encourages residents to move, groove and share space with neighbors in downtown St. Johnsbury.
The July 31 program follows the format that has defined the series since its inception five years ago. According to Discover St. Johnsbury, the fair will feature more than 30 free activities and free food. Highlights include a dance demonstration and party by the West African dancing and drumming group Shidaa Projects, a “neighborhood connections map” from Blue Spruce Health, live music from the all‑female band Chickweed, a kids‑moving activity from NEKCA’s Early Childhood Team, qi‑gong posture demos from SunDo Meditation & Movement, and returning favorites such as SHINE fitness classes from Creative Healing & Fitness and tango from Phil Ciotti’s Dancing in the Northeast Kingdom.
The evening’s music program will continue with the Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series. At 7 p.m., the free concert will feature Kyshona on the Catamount Arts mobile stage. Kyshona blends roots, rock, R&B and folk, and the concert turns Railroad Street into a summer‑concert venue.
Discover St. Johnsbury, the Town of St. Johnsbury and Catamount Film & Arts produce the event through a partnership that began in 2020. The series is supported by street‑fair participants, sponsors, the Levitt Family Foundation, an Art & Social Cohesion Grant from the Vermont Community Foundation, a Rural Business Development Grant from USDA Rural Development and special support from presenting sponsor Little Dippers Doodle Children’s Center. Little Dippers provides funding for free goodies such as ice cream and complimentary food‑truck meal passes for those who need them.
The series is part of a broader effort to promote the town’s cultural, commercial and community vitality. Discover St. Johnsbury, founded in 2002, promotes regional marketing, events and small‑business support. The Levitt Family Foundation, which also supports the series, funds free, live music in under‑used public spaces in towns and cities nationwide.
The July 31 event is the second of the 2026 series and follows the same format as past events. According to the event’s website, visitors can find more information at discoverstjohnsbury.com/finalfridays, at the Welcome Center (51 Depot Square), or by calling (802) 748‑8575.
The “All Together Now” theme underscores the series’ mission to bring people together. Gillian Sewake, director of Discover St. Johnsbury, said the theme celebrates the ability to share space through collective song and movement. The event’s programming reflects this mission by offering a mix of cultural dance, fitness, music, and community‑focused activities.
The fair’s free‑food and free‑activity model has become a hallmark of the series. The Levitt Family Foundation’s support of free music in public spaces aligns with the series’ goal of making cultural experiences accessible to all residents. The Rural Business Development Grant and the Art & Social Cohesion Grant provide additional funding that supports the event’s community‑building objectives.
St. Johnsbury’s population of 7,364, according to the 2020 census, makes the town the largest in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. The downtown area, centered on Railroad Street and Depot Square, is a focal point for community gatherings. The Final Fridays series has become a staple of the town’s summer calendar, drawing residents and visitors alike.
The July 31 event will conclude with the Levitt AMP concert, after which the street will return to its normal traffic pattern. The series will continue through the end of August, with the final Friday of the summer scheduled for August 28.
In summary, St. J Final Fridays on July 31 offers a free, community‑focused street fair with dance, music, fitness, and early‑childhood activities. The event is supported by local sponsors and national foundations, and it continues a tradition of bringing residents together in downtown St. Johnsbury.
The July 31 program follows the format that has defined the series since its inception five years ago. According to Discover St. Johnsbury, the fair will feature more than 30 free activities and free food. Highlights include a dance demonstration and party by the West African dancing and drumming group Shidaa Projects, a “neighborhood connections map” from Blue Spruce Health, live music from the all‑female band Chickweed, a kids‑moving activity from NEKCA’s Early Childhood Team, qi‑gong posture demos from SunDo Meditation & Movement, and returning favorites such as SHINE fitness classes from Creative Healing & Fitness and tango from Phil Ciotti’s Dancing in the Northeast Kingdom.
The evening’s music program will continue with the Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series. At 7 p.m., the free concert will feature Kyshona on the Catamount Arts mobile stage. Kyshona blends roots, rock, R&B and folk, and the concert turns Railroad Street into a summer‑concert venue.
Discover St. Johnsbury, the Town of St. Johnsbury and Catamount Film & Arts produce the event through a partnership that began in 2020. The series is supported by street‑fair participants, sponsors, the Levitt Family Foundation, an Art & Social Cohesion Grant from the Vermont Community Foundation, a Rural Business Development Grant from USDA Rural Development and special support from presenting sponsor Little Dippers Doodle Children’s Center. Little Dippers provides funding for free goodies such as ice cream and complimentary food‑truck meal passes for those who need them.
The series is part of a broader effort to promote the town’s cultural, commercial and community vitality. Discover St. Johnsbury, founded in 2002, promotes regional marketing, events and small‑business support. The Levitt Family Foundation, which also supports the series, funds free, live music in under‑used public spaces in towns and cities nationwide.
The July 31 event is the second of the 2026 series and follows the same format as past events. According to the event’s website, visitors can find more information at discoverstjohnsbury.com/finalfridays, at the Welcome Center (51 Depot Square), or by calling (802) 748‑8575.
The “All Together Now” theme underscores the series’ mission to bring people together. Gillian Sewake, director of Discover St. Johnsbury, said the theme celebrates the ability to share space through collective song and movement. The event’s programming reflects this mission by offering a mix of cultural dance, fitness, music, and community‑focused activities.
The fair’s free‑food and free‑activity model has become a hallmark of the series. The Levitt Family Foundation’s support of free music in public spaces aligns with the series’ goal of making cultural experiences accessible to all residents. The Rural Business Development Grant and the Art & Social Cohesion Grant provide additional funding that supports the event’s community‑building objectives.
St. Johnsbury’s population of 7,364, according to the 2020 census, makes the town the largest in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. The downtown area, centered on Railroad Street and Depot Square, is a focal point for community gatherings. The Final Fridays series has become a staple of the town’s summer calendar, drawing residents and visitors alike.
The July 31 event will conclude with the Levitt AMP concert, after which the street will return to its normal traffic pattern. The series will continue through the end of August, with the final Friday of the summer scheduled for August 28.
In summary, St. J Final Fridays on July 31 offers a free, community‑focused street fair with dance, music, fitness, and early‑childhood activities. The event is supported by local sponsors and national foundations, and it continues a tradition of bringing residents together in downtown St. Johnsbury.
