Open Streets are a nationwide movement to encourage healthy activities such as walking and biking and the use of streets for outdoor dining, shopping, activities, and more.
An all-volunteer DIY Lowell Project Team is organizing Lowell’s very own pilot Open Streets event. It’s free fun – family and student friendly! For one afternoon, Merrimack Street between Kirk and Central will be closed to vehicular traffic and open to you!
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: Noon – 4 pm
Location: Merrimack Street, between Kirk and Central (Parking and transit)
Come for:
- Sidewalk Sales
- Arts & Crafts Vendor Fair
- Music and Dance
- Interactive Crafting
Our Vision
Our long-term vision is to revitalize downtown through increasing foot traffic. We hope this will establish downtown as a friendly and popular destination for patrons to spend time, thereby attracting more businesses, creating a virtuous cycle for a thriving downtown core. This is a pilot: we’ll learn from this event with the hope that each year, it will come back with changes that make it stronger and more successful.
Arts & Crafts Market
Check out the great vendors at our Arts & Crafts Market:
- Ashleigh McKoy Jewelry
- Bunker Hill Studios
- CFourCreatures
- Chez Claire Art School
- Dali of the Dogs Embrodiery
- Dye Hard Vintage
- Follow the Line Design
- HNTRSVG
- Lolita’s Potters Creations
- Makmahon Jewelry
- NAAM (New American Association of Massachusetts) Artisans
- No Puckers Crafts
- Scott Paul Stephens Artworks
- Specialbunny Knits
- Strung Together by Kellie
- Takes Two
- Tallow Touch By Alina
- Tangerine and Jade Press
- The Pretty Pirate
- The Sunset Aura
- Wicked Pictures
Community Street & Creative Experiences
We’re including a special area for community nonprofits and organizations to share special activities and resources. Another area is for creative experience – participate in a short art or craft, get your face painted, get a live sketch, or more! Creative experiences may have small costs to cover materials and artist costs.
Artists
- Brush Gallery Artists – Take home crafts
- 12 – 1 pm: Lolita’s Potters Creations leads clay tile decoration
- 1:10 – 2:10 pm: Chez Claire Art School leads watercolor bookmarks/small paintings
- 2:20 – 3:20 pm: Amber leads creation of poms
- Bunker Hill Studios – Live Art and Print Sales
- Jewels by Nani – Permanent Jewelry
Community Organizations
- Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell – TBD
- Cambodia Town Lowell, Inc – Caricature drawing, Cambodia Town Lowell merchandise, free handouts
- DIY Lowell – Giveaway Spinner & Others TBD
- Lowell Center for the Arts – Face painting and coloring
- Lowell Makes – TBD
- Lowell National Historical Park – TBD
- Library Watchers of Greater Lowell – Thames and Kosmos Rocket Car
- New American Association of Massachusetts – Flag Game
- Pollard Memorial Library – Bookmobile and Book Giveaways
We’re still accepting community partners and creative experiences!
Creative Experiences Zone: We are seeking artists, crafters, or other vendors interested in selling a live “experience” to event attendees for a small fee. For example, face painting, customizing phone cases or photo frames, art demonstrations, or other simple and fun activities for kids, college-aged people, and adults.
Community Partners: We’re providing an opportunity for community based organizations to share information and present fun activities for the event. Because this is the first year, the opportunity is free for organizations based or primarily serving Lowell residents! All we ask is that you bring something interactive or eye-catching to make it a memorable time for visitors. We’re expecting at least 500 attendees, and doing special marketing working with student groups.
Email us at activities@diylowell.org when you apply so we can respond quickly!
Downtown Businesses
We want businesses to join in on the fun! If you’re downtown, please use the form here to tell us how you want to be involved. We’ll include a list of businesses, business logos, and what they’re doing (specials, sidewalk sales, etc) here when we have all the information!
Cobblestones – 91 Dutton Street
A chance to win $25 gift cards at Open Streets Lowell
Café Eclipse – 12 Cardinal O’Connor Parkway
A chance to win a $25 gift card at Open Streets Lowell
El Potro – 124 Merrimack Street
Discounts to students upon presentation of a student ID
Fuse Bistro – 45 Palmer Street
Special: $.75 wings and $10 cheese flatbread pizzas
Lala Books – 189 Market St
10% off with student ID
Lowell General Store – 53 Market Street
10% off with student ID
Naturel Juicing – 120 Merrimack Street
A chance to win one of twenty 15% off coupons
The Social Pup – 34 Jackson Street
Visit the pet-friendly photo booth at Open Streets Lowell!
Tea-Do – 127 Merrimack Street
Free samples of thai milk tea, brown sugar milk tea, and a mystery drink and a chance to win one of three $10 gift cards at Open Streets Lowell
Worthen House – 141 Worthen Street
One-day drink special: “American Pie” Cocktail and a chance to win a $25 gift card at Open Streets Lowell
Volunteer with Us!
We would greatly appreciate anyone who can spare some time to assist with Open Streets Lowell on October 4 from 9 am to 5 pm.
It’s not just a fun event; it’s a volunteer-led initiative to infuse interest in the revitalization of downtown Lowell. We’re creating an all-ages destination and serving as a showcase for other downtown business. Your support is invaluable in ensuring the success of this event.
- All ages and abilities
- Volunteers needed from 9 am to 5 pm
- Sign up for one or more 2-hour shifts
- Sign up individually or as a group
Use the button below or visit https://diylowell.org/osvolunteer
Buy a “Brick” and support Open Streets
We’re selling paper “bricks!” Donate $25 or more and leave a message on a paper brick. The bricks will be displayed along a path on the street the day of the event. Donations offset the costs of city permits, equipment, insurance, and other expenses to keep Open Streets Lowell free!
Coalition for a Better Acre is our fiscal agent, so you know your donation is secure. Sponsor us today!
How to get to Open Streets Lowell
Take Public Transit!
- From MBTA Lowell Stop/Gallagher Terminal Station, take any of the following LRTA bus routes:
- #6 or #7 to Merrimack St & Dutton St
- #1, #8 or #10 to French St & John St or Dutton St & Market St
- #9 to Leo Roy Parking Garage (Market St)
- #18 (Downtown Shuttle) to Dutton St & Market St
- (For UML students only) Ride the UML Orange or Red Line Shuttle, every 10~20 mins from all campuses. Simply request to be dropped off at “Downtown Lowell” once on the bus!
Driving Directions
- From Route 3
- Northbound: Take Exit 80 for the Lowell Connector, then Exit 5B for Thorndike St. Continue straight on Thorndike St. into Dutton Street until Merrimack St.
- Southbound: Take Exit 81A for Lawrence, Exit 89C for the Lowell Connector, then Exit 5B for Thorndike St. Continue straight on Thorndike St. into Dutton Street until Merrimack St.
- From Highway 495
- Eastbound/Westbound: Take Exit 89C for the Lowell Connector, then Exit 5B for Thorndike St. Continue straight on Thorndike St. into Dutton Street until Merrimack St.
Parking
- Joseph Downes Garage on John St. and Leo Roy Garage on Market Street are both within walking distance to Open Streets Lowell. You may also park at the HCID Parking Garage and take the COOL bus shuttle. Garage rate details here.
