Circle the Square Kicks Off Thursday, June 20

SPRING into SUMMER with CIRCLE the SQUARE! Our new season kicks off on the 3rd Thursday of the month, June 20, from 3-7 pm, with a wide variety of free music, dance, artwork, and activities for all ages throughout Medford Square, as well as activities and discounts at many area businesses. Join in the fun! There is so much to do and see at our first event of the season!

Come enjoy musical performances at the Salem Street Burying Ground from Michael Allen & Friends, Gus and Georgia, Out with the Cat, and an ensemble from GS Music Center. At Shipyard Way, there will be pizza and music from the Gentlemen Outfit, as well as a Beer Garden with beer and appetizers on the patio by the footbridge, all provided by Salvatore’s Restaurant (proceeds from the sale of pizza and appetizers to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Medford). In Sloane Square, join in All Hands Drumming from Century Bank and Sumi-e Brush Painting with Artwork In2Shades. Over by City Hall, bounce in the moon bounce provided by Brookline Bank, learn to hoop dance with Pinto Bella Hoops, and enjoy athletic play with Knucklebones. On Salem Street, performers will give you a taste of Peter Pan the Musical by Spotlight Production, which will be playing at the Chevalier Theater. At Members Plus, we’ll have the music of Alastair Moock, circus fun with Open Air Circus, plus magic with Joe the Magician. Bestsellers Café will feature their Music Coffeehouse with Vicky Tamburini and Jagia Tamburini, Sound Pilot, and Jacob Taejin, and author events with Christine Koh and Mary Jane Begin.

We’ll have local artists and artisans displaying and selling their work, including photography by Claire Ghiloni, oil paintings by Bob Marcellino, quilted accessories by Beverly Hinckley, beaded jewelry by Jeanette Dion, handbags by Chikako Mukai, and goats milk soap by Andrea Corkum. And stop by the Mystic Art Gallery to make a beaded bracelet, with proceeds to benefit One Fund Boston. At the Medford Historical Society, make an origami crane to participate in the 1,000 Crane Project for the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima, Japan sponsored by the Medford Public Library, Medford Family Network and the Rotary Club of Medford.

Get ready for summer by relaxing with massages from Elements Therapeutic Massage and Sea Spa, exploring the Square by walking a mile with Fitness Together, planting your own “Teddy Bear” sunflowers with Medford Family Network, and picking up fresh fruits and vegetables at the Medford Farmers Market accompanied by music from the Party Band.

Enjoy Island Creek Oyster shucking at Carroll’s, summer solstice beer tasting and a cocktail demo at Grapevine Travelers, VESTA Mobile Wood-Fired Pizza at Hyatt Place, cupcake decorating at Modern Pastry, and summer treats from Medford Square Diner. And catch a performance by The Ways and Means Committee at Mystic Coffee Roaster while sampling their new smoothie flavors and coffee.

There will also be a Zumba demonstration, as well as demos of martial arts from Oom Yung Doe and Xtreme Ninja, demos of energy saving options from Next Step Living, and numerous discounts at Medford Square eateries and shops.

Sow the seeds of summer fun with our scavenger hunt. We’ll be hiding packets of flower and vegetable seeds all around the Square. Find the packets with the silver stars to win fun gardening accessories, and find the packet with the gold star to win a $25 gift certificate to John Brewer’s Tavern. Either way, you’ll go home with some seeds to start your own summer garden.

Schedules, maps and scavenger hunt game cards will be available at the Circle the Square Welcome Table at the corner of Riverside Avenue and River Street. Visit our web site www.circlethesquare.org for more information about our schedule of events, or visit us on Facebook or Twitter. Public transportation, walking, and biking to the square are encouraged. Parking can be found in the commuter lot by Springstep, behind City Hall, along Clippership Drive and the adjacent parking lot, and the lot off of Governor’s Avenue.

Circle the Square is supported in part by the Medford Arts Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and by the Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund, as well as the sponsorship of RE/MAX Andrew Realty and Carroll’s Restaurant.

– Information from Circle the Square