June 21, the Summer Solstice, also is international Make Music Day. Celebrating the beginning of summer, thousands of music making folks sing and play melodies throughout city streets and parks worldwide.
Silver City is just one of these locations. So, hum a tune, dust off your instruments, gather with friends and join in.
According to makemusicday.org, “In 1982 France’s Ministry of Culture dreamed up an idea for a new kind of musical holiday. They imagined a day where free music would be everywhere, all around each city: street corners, parks, rooftops, gardens, and store fronts.”
And unlike a typical music festival, anyone and everyone would be invited to join and play music on the Summer Solstice, June 21. Today, Make Music Day is celebrated in over 2000 cities worldwide.
Twenty years ago, France’s Fête de la Musique crossed the Atlantic with the debut of Make Music New York. As a grassroots initiative by a team of volunteers, the event quickly became a popular success.
Makemusicday.org continues, “In recent years, cities across the country have launched their own Make Music celebrations on June 21, making this musical holiday a truly national phenomenon. On June 21, 2025, 147 U.S. cities organized 5,471 free concerts, with over 100 each in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Fullerton California; Kansas City, Missouri; Madison, Wisconsin; Montclair, New Jersey; New York; Salem, Oregon; and San Jose, California; all on a single day. In 2014, to coordinate and expand their efforts, Make Music organizers from across North America founded the Make Music Alliance.”
Silver City is an “Art and Music Destination” and always has musical events happening daily throughout the downtown historic district. Make Music Day is a “pop-up” event open to everyone of every age and musical ability.
The idea of Make Music Day is that it not need to be organized, rehearsed, or professional. Gather some friends, or go on your own, grab a few instruments or kazoos. Pick a street corner, a park or stroll around downtown Silver City. Of course, all the many local choral groups and bands are encouraged to join in the musical fun. Just come out and enjoy Make Music Day.
Silver City has celebrated Make Music Day in the past. The Trout Fire in the local Gila National Forest cancelled many of last year’s events. This year numerous June 21 events are being planned in Silver City.
While there will be various surprise music happening up and down Bullard to Broadway, to Texas and Yankie, check out the planned events listed here and on the Community Calendar at visitsilvercity.org.
Gough Park, located at Pope and 12th Streets, starts the day with Beatriz Giraldo ‘s Community Circle of Sound celebrating the Summer Solstice at 11 a.m. Everyone is invited to bring an instrument and join in or just come and watch.
At Tranquill Buzz Coffee House, on Yankie Street, the June 21 Sunday music feature will be Danny Prater performing from noon until 2 p.m. Enjoy the musical duo, Aaron Lewis and Paula Manning-Lewis, at the Grant County Art Guild Blue Dome Studio on the corner of Yankie and Texas Streets. If you miss Danny Prater earlier, he will appear at the Grant County Art Guild Gallery on Bullard Street at 2:30 p.m.
If you want to create musically themed art stop by Otter Chaos on Yankie where Kate Kendig is teaching origami paper folding based on music. The Grant County Art Guild will be set up in a tent next to their Bullard Street gallery with a fiery outdoor craft. Make your own musical themed coaster using a branding iron. This will be available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Take a break from the street music and have lunch and a drink. The Little Toad Creek Brewery’s special music for June 21 will be Sugar Lime Blue from 1-4 p.m. Sugar Lime Blue “is the Cosmic Cowgirl sound — a little bit stardust, a little bit dirt, a sound for dreamers, a voice for the wide-open hearts and wandering spirits who never quite fit the mold because they were born to rise the edge of it.”
Make Music Day is a “pop-up”, spur of the moment event, so just plan to visit downtown Silver City to see and hear what is happening. Of course, more will be planned as it gets closer to the June 21 Summer Solstice. More info may be posted on visitsilvercity.org.
