In three decades since the Old Lyme Midsummer Festival began, it's become a hugely popular event.

It all started modestly, as a way to celebrate the local arts during summer. Jeff Andersen, director of the Florence Griswold Museum, approached neighboring institutions including the Lyme Art Association and the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts about starting a festival. That inaugural fest highlighting Old Lyme's cultural identity boasted art shows and artist demonstrations, a "Stars and Stripes" concert, and a "Turn of the Century Fair" with lawn games and a Victorian ice cream cart.

The Midsummer Festival has grown to feature 13 community partners and a multitude of offerings, as you'll notice at this year's event, which runs Friday and Saturday and is centered along Lyme Street in Old Lyme.

Braiden Sunshine of "The Voice" and his band Silver Hammer will perform at the free Friday kickoff concert from 7 to 9 p.m. on the Florence Griswold Museum grounds. Before that, from 5 to 7 p.m., Flo Gris is open for free.

Things will get into full swing on Saturday at 11 locations along Lyme Street. Expect art exhibitions and sales, sculpting and painting demonstrations at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, artisans selling their wares, a French-styled market, food vendors, and children's activities.

And more activities: a fashion show featuring the designs of Susan Hickman and Anna Lucas at noon and 2 p.m. at Studio 80; a concert by singer-songwriter Jim Lampos, whom Newsday has called "an affecting storyteller," 1-3 p.m. at the Old Lyme Historical Society; Simply Enchanted presenting "Jedi Training with Rey" 10 a.m.-noon at the Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library; yoga on the Town Hall lawn with Laura Kokoska. 10-10:45 a.m.; and the Parading Paws Dog Show at Flo Gris (registration 9-10 a.m., judging starts at 10:30).

Old Lyme Midsummer Festival, 5-9 p.m. Fri. at Florence Griswold Museum, 96 Lyme St., Old Lyme, and most activities 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., Lyme Street, Old Lyme; for a full schedule, visit OldLymeMidsummerFestival.com.