Downtown Manchester Butterfly Stroll
Kick Off Our Summer 2nd Saturday Weekends
Join Downtown Manchester as we kick off our Summer 2nd Saturday Weekends with the Annual Butterfly Stroll and celebrate Manchester's recent designation as a Cultural District!
Stroll along Downtown Main Street and enjoy the butterfly creations, build a flower bouquet, enjoy and create art, shop, eat, and more!
Activities and hours vary by location, see details below!
Butterfly Stroll & Bouquets - Hosted by Downtown Manchester
10 am to 2 pm
- Butterfly Stroll
Stroll along Downtown Main Street and view the butterfly creations that will be on display in the planters! This year's butterfly-inspired displays have been created by: The Angry Egg, Lutz Children's Museum, Wildwood Tattoos, Kids Arts & Crafts Club of Manchester, Dragon's Den Art Gallery & Tattoo Shop, Manchester Women's Club, Odyssey School, The Cornerstone Christian School, and Manchester Knit, Crochet & Crafts, and UR Community Cares. - Build a Butterfly Bouquet: As you stroll, visit designated locations to gather flowers to build your own bouquet! Begin by selecting an upcycled 'vase' at either The Market at 1115 Main or at Silk City Coffee. Then, follow the Butterfly Stroll map to collect your flowers! This event is limited to one per adult/household and is available while supplies last.
Downtown Manchester Butterfly Stroll Station and Celebration of Manchester's Art & Culture District
Hosted by the Galleries at WORK_SPACE, 10 am to 2 pm, at 903 Main Street
Visit the Official Downtown Manchester Butterfly Stroll Station
- Children's Butterfly Crafts & Temporary Tattoos
- Door Prizes (no purchase necessary -stop by to enter!)
Celebrate the Town of Manchester's New Arts & Culture District at WORK_SPACE
- Live Art with Artist Nick Morrett
See Nicholas Morrett in action creating wearable art! - Create a Mother's Day Card
- Snap a selfie at the photo booth with characters from CAST children's theatre
- Enjoy a stroll through the Gallery featuring the exhibit, "Healing Expressions" and more!
- Shop at the Gallery Shop
- Butterfly Scavenger Hunt in the Art Exhibit (with prizes for children!)
- Silk Painting ($15) Activity
- ChatGPT Basics for Business at 11 am
- Verses & Voices, Community Poetry & Songwriting Session at 12 pm
The Market at 1115 Main - Hosted by The Firestone | art studio & cafe
10 am to 4 pm at 1115 Main Street
- Outdoor Makers Market - larger than ever!
- Live Music
Community Butterfly Decorations - at Silk City Coffee
View the butterfly decorations that have been created by community members!
(Decorate your own butterfly before May 10th!)
Youth Art Show & Art Sale at The Little Bird Clay Company
- View and purchase art created by students.
- Shop the Moving Sale
Mother's Day Plant Sale at Perennial, 867 Main St.
2nd Saturday *Indoor* Sidewalk Sale at the Manchester Mall at 811 Main (10 am to 5 pm)
Visit the first of what will be monthly a monthly 2nd Saturday Sidewalk Sale all summer long! It's rain or shine because this sidewalk sale is INSIDE the mall!
$10 Village Punch at Mulberry Street Pizza at 981 Main Street (11:30 am to 9 pm)
Special Menu & $10 Togosas (To-Go Mimosas) at The Main Course at 981 Main Street (11:30 am to 9 pm)
Butterfly Themed Cocktail at Urban Lodge at 47 Purnell Place (12 - 11 pm)
One Day, One Dollar Off Select Wine at Forest Street Wine & Liquor at 1069 Main Street (8 am to 10 pm)
Select Prestige White & Rose, normally $11.99.
Summer Book Chat at The Mary Cheney Library, 2:30pm
Join Reader’s Advisor Barbara and Head of Reference and Adult Services Jenn as they chat about the books they are most excited about at t for May-August 2024. Get the latest scoop and buzz about the books that you won’t want to miss placing on hold and reading! Participants will receive some free swag at the event. at
Kids' Craft with Kids Arts & Crafts Club of Manchester outside the Mary Cheney Library (10 am to 2 pm)
The Sculpture Project Information Booth at Center Memorial Park (the location of the next sculpture!)
Learn about Emily Cheney Neville, the subject of the next sculpture!
History Walk Hosted by Susan Barlow, Town Historian, 12 pm at the corner of Linden and Myrtle
Susan Barlow will lead a history walk through part of the Cheney Brothers National Historic Landmark including the History Center and onto the Elisabeth Bennet statue on the lawn of Bennet School and back. During this 2 mile/75-min walk, we'll encounter the work of artists and architects and discuss their contribution to the culture, aesthetic, and economy of Manchester. This will be a somewhat hilly walk contained mostly to sidewalks. Cameras and questions are encouraged. Rain or shine; extreme weather cancels.
Downtown's Dragon's Den at The BeaHive Salon Grand Opening at 295 East Center Street (12 pm to 4 pm)
The Dragon's Den Art Galler & Tattoo Studio will be just up the street helping The BeaHive Salon celebrate its new location. RSVP to join them for fun, shopping, beauty - and tattoos!
More Arts & Culture District Activities
Stop by these nearby locations!
- The Lutz Children's Museum at 247 Main Street (12 pm to 4 pm; Advance Tickets Required)
- Day in the Park by Manchester Elks Lodge #1893 (8 am to 12 pm)
- Concert at Cheney Hall: Night Shift (7 pm)
- Wit & Wisdom Poetry Club of Manchester Meeting (1 pm to 3 pm)
- Manchester History Center (12 pm to 4 pm)