Shop Safe Stafford!

We truly hope that this will be one of our shortest campaigns!

We are proud to say that our Arts on Main Shops will continue to remain vigilant to bring you the safest small shop experience we possibly can! We are continuing to monitor the State’s guidelines for each of our unique businesses, and we will continue to do this for as long as we need to (and probably quite a while longer).

In addition, many of our shops offer private shopping appointments. Please ask! We also have some contactless online options.

Please do not hesitate to ask any of your favorite shops what safety measures they are providing!

Shop Small All Fall!

Introducing our first Shop Small All Fall Gift Basket Shopping Event!

Details coming soon!

Opening Main Street

Main Street is starting to open up after a long, difficult winter. Bravo to our shops that are weathering the pandemic, and bravo to the town that continues to support them!

Our first Arts on Main (after the only break we’ve ever had!) will be June 12th. As we maneuver to do this as safely as possible, our plan is to start with our participating shops staying open until 8PM for an evening of shopping. We ask that you maintain the social distancing asked for at each venue.

Please note that our Main Street restaurants have converted to take-out, including our seasonal ice cream shop. :) Feel free to use any outdoor seating available near the shops and in the parks.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

November 9 & December 14 Arts on Main

It’s Fall and the Holidays are Happening! Coming this season: Holiday Markets and warm treats!

March 9th Arts on Main

GREEN!  Snacks and stuff!

February 9th Arts on Main

February Arts on Main will be Sweets & Swing Night!  

-Our highlight feature will be the Stafford High School Jazz Band from 6 to 7 at 64 Main!
-From 7-8 we are going to DJ some swing music, and you are invited to bring your sneakers and dance!
-Try some special honey beverages at BellaNess
-Check out the next Live Art Painting at ESP Pottery

January 12th Arts on Main

Something Hot!

Join our January tradition of keeping you hot and warm in spite of winter! Bright lights, warm shops, and fun things!

So far we have: 

- Arts on Main's first Live Art Painting: Come watch Stafford's artists create their magic! This one will be at ESP Pottery, but we have some really cool plans for a continuing series throughout the shops...

-64 Main Street will have Music with Monty, Fundraising for Stafford High School Safe Grad with Jeff's Kettle Corn and a new business, Cozy Corner Boutique, will have a display of what they have to offer!

- Surprises that fit with our "Hot Something" theme that will be up to the individual shops. What will they do??

- Live music, craft vendors, snacks, shops open till 8.

December 8th Arts on Main

Join us as we kick off the holiday season!!

Wear your ugliest Holiday sweater to all the shops for a special perk!

Look for SANTA as he strolls Main Street!

Listen to the Stafford High School Madrigal Singers at 6pm in 64 Main while you shop local vendors. Music with Monty too!

Sample cookie treats in all the shops baked by our OFFICIALLY-OPEN MIDDLE GROUND BAKERY! (Then head over to the bakery to pick up more of your favorite!)

Check the shops for the kickoff of our "Polar Train on Main" month-long event.

Sample each shop's hot cider and let us know whose is best! 

Help your kids look for the Garden Club's wintering Garden Fairies in the shops

November 10th Arts on Main

Fireside Friday!

Come out of the cold and get warm in our Main Street Shops!

Art, hot beverages, music, crafts and gifts.  More to come!

October 13th Arts on Main

Friday the 13th!

Spot the Scary Characters and join our photo scavenger hunt contest!

New Art Gallery Shows and Live Music!

View fullsize

August 11th Arts on Main

Film Noir Night!

Join us for an awesomely August Arts on Main! This month's festivities will include: 

A new colorful gallery show at Middle Ground Cafe
The Sara Ashleigh Band in Haymarket Park
A Film Noir screening at ESP Pottery
Acoustic Open Mic at 64 Main
Paintings and Henna Art by Shaiyan at Stafford Cidery

July 14th Arts on Main

Fire Night!

- Live Music by Redhead in Haymarket Square
- Slag Review Anniversary and Forge Demo in the Empty Lot Park
- New Flavor of the Month at The Ice Cream Depot
- Student Pottery Show & Sale at ESP Pottery
- Artwork at Stafford Cidery by StangeCandiez
- Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Stafford Cidery
- Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting at Artful Annie's
- Live acoustic showcase with Monty and vendors at 64 Main Street

June 9th Arts on Main

- New Flavor of the Month Strawberry Cheesecake at the Ice Cream Depot
- Grand Opening of The Community Family Pantry
- Good art at Middle Ground Cafe
- Live music by For the Grateful in Haymarket park
- Chamber Music Open Rehearsal by Voix des Bois at ESP Pottery
- Acoustic Showcase with Monty and craft vendors at 64 Main
- Arts and Crafts by Cosmic Moons at Stafford Cidery
- Peek into our newest shop addition in renovation and encourage Artful Annie!

May 12th Arts on Main

Join us for a SPECIAL FAMILY EDIITON of Stafford's ARTS-ON-MAIN! Bring the kids and enjoy special activities along with our usual array of art, music, and snacks.  

- ART by Students at Stafford Schools at Middle Ground Cafe!
- New Flavor of the Month: Toasted Coconut at The Ice Cream Depot!
- Kid's Games at Haymarket Common, including a hula-hoop contest, egg-on-a-spoon race, team tic-tac-toe, and tug-of-war!
- Live outdoor music by Special K on the makeshift stage at Haymarket Common!
- Meet Children's Illustrator Lois Kennedy and see her paintings at ESP Pottery!
- Acoustic Showcase with host Monty at 64 Main!
- Photography by Erica Fitzgerald at Stafford Cidery!
- And don't forget After-Hours Acoustic Night (and Open Mic) at J&D's hosted by Bob Wynn-Stanley at J&D's Pub and Grill starting at 8PM.

April 14th Arts on Main

New Art and Random Free Snacks at participating Main Street shops! 

- Cider (and Sidor?;) & JMS Grad Art Show "Psychedelic Vibrations" at Stafford Cidery

- Live music and artist Reena Allen by American Sleeve Bearing at 64 Main

- Guitarist Chris Tetro and paintings by Kevin Voisine at BellaNess

- Cold Hors d'oeuvres cooking demo by Chef Josh Guernon, and hiking trail photography by Jim Fritz at ESP Pottery

- Manchester artist Ellen Dougan at Middle Ground Cafe

- Flavor of the Month Opening Night: Fly Fishing Fudge! at the Ice Cream Depot

March 10th Arts on Main

- Artist Jeff Blazejovsky's watercolors at Middle Ground Cafe

- Guitar music, wine and snacks at Bellaness

- Basement tile making pot luck party at ESP Pottery

- Live Irish music by Rob Blaney at Stafford Cidery (no cider yet)

- Acoustic Night at J&D's (start time 8pm)

February 10th Arts on Main

Valentine's Week!

View fullsize

Photography by June McDonald at Bellaness

Artwork by Rich Longmore and embroidery by R&B Designs at 64 Main

Country blues music by Marylou Ferrante at 64 Main

The Stafford High School Madrigal Singers at ESP Pottery

Photographer Roger Ingraham at ESP Pottery

Folk art by Donna Gypsy Reed at Middle Ground Cafe

Acoustic Night at J&D's (start time 8pm)

January 13th Arts on Main

Art Opening at Middle Ground

The Slag Review Issue 3 at Middle Ground

Hot Winter Beverages at Bellaness & ESP Pottery

Live Music with The Coffee Grinders Duo at 64 Main

Artists Morgan Post and Angela Mancini at 64 Main

A Final Farewell to Windowbox Botique

Acoustic Night at J&D's (start time 8pm)

December 9th Arts on Main

Cider & Candlelight!

KICK OFF YOUR WINTERFEST WEEKEND WITH CIDER & LIGHTS AT STAFFORD'S DECEMBER ARTS ON MAIN!

- Stroll our historic Main Street and enjoy the beautiful lights and decorations courtesty of our dedicated and hard-working STAFFORD GARDEN CLUB!

- Stop by WINDOWBOX and visit with textile artist Maria Carroll, from Chipping with Charm, and check out her bags, Christmas stockings, and "Glamor Tool Belts!" And, while you're there, sya hello to Stafford's own perrennial green-thumb Charlie Guinipero and his fresh boxwood Christmas topiaries & wreaths for sale!

- Visit downtown's the shops as they offer a warm welcome and a hot cup of cider as local shops compete (informally) for bragging rights to the BEST CIDER downtown!

- Browse local vendor crafts at our first pop-up Arts on Main HOLIDAY MARKET hosted by American Sleeve Bearing at their 64 Main Street event space!

- Stop in and take a tour of the soon-to-open STAFFORD CIDERY! They're proud of thier progress and eager to share! There willl be Stafford Cidery and 'Crazy Cock' glasses and shirts for sale! And, in keeping with Cider Night, enjoy some free samples (over 21 only.)  

- Be sure to check out the all-new annual "Naughty or Nice" gallery show at MIDDLE GROUND CAFE, AND take a look at Stafford's NEW BAKERY!