Join in the festivities at the Sheldon Museum and celebrate the 200th birthday of the Sheldon Museum’s founder Henry Sheldon on Sunday August 15 from 11 am to 2 pm. Henry’s Birthday Bash will be fun for all ages and will take place in the Sheldon’s garden and Cannon Park, and Park Street will be closed to allow for lots of open space. The event is free and open to the public. 

Middlebury portrait painter Katie Runde will demonstrate her exquisite sidewalk chalk drawing skills and encourage everyone to try their hand by drawing on the sidewalks surrounding the Sheldon Museum and Cannon Park. Images from the Sheldon’s collection will serve as inspiration. Lauren LaBerge Taddeo will offer beautiful face painting and there will be a birthday hat making station. A fun scavenger hunt will take families through the Museum in search of interesting and curious objects in the collection. 

Music will be provided by two local groups: Back Porch Jazz made up of Middlebury Union High School students will keep you moving with their tenor sax, keyboard and drums when they play from 11 am – 1 pm followed by the lively music of the saxophone quartet Dead Creek Reeds playing from 1 – 2 pm.  

A variety of culinary treats will be available for sale during the event from The Poutine Cart, lu•lu ice cream, and Pratt’s General Store. Cash is recommended for purchasing food. 

We encourage you to bring picnic blankets, lawn chairs, and lots of water!

Henry Sheldon was born on August 15, 1821 and opened his Museum in 1884, one of the  oldest community-based museums in the country. The Sheldon Museum will be open on August 15 from 11 am – 2 pm with free admission.