Lowell – Merrimack Street will once again become a place to walk, create, eat, shop, and connect when Open Streets Lowell returns Saturday, October 3, from noon to 5 p.m.
The free, all-ages event will close Merrimack Street between Kirk Street and Central Street to vehicular traffic, creating a temporary pedestrian-friendly public space in the heart of downtown Lowell.
Open Streets Lowell features more than 30 local artisans, caricature art, live performances, community organizations, free samples and discounts, gift-card giveaways, outdoor dining opportunities and activities for people of all ages.
The event is organized by an all-volunteer team with a goal of bringing more people downtown while giving community members and visitors a chance to experience Merrimack Street in a different way.
Last year’s inaugural Open Streets Lowell brought more than 1,000 people from Lowell and beyond to Merrimack Street. This year’s event expands on that experience with additional performances and activities in response to community feedback.
ONE CITY. ONE FABRIC.
One of the most distinctive new features of this year’s event will be “One City One Fabric,” an interactive community weaving wall created especially for Lowell’s bicentennial.
Visitors are invited to bring a piece of an old T-shirt, rag, or other scrap of fabric to Open Streets Lowell.
During the event, participants will weave, tie and stitch their fabric into a large temporary tapestry. The organizers don’t know what the finished piece will look like — because Lowell’s residents will create it together.
“What will Lowell look like when we weave it together?” asks the project. “We won’t know until you bring your scraps.”
The organizers envision the project as both a celebration of the city’s bicentennial and a representation of the many people, neighborhoods, cultures, and stories that make up Lowell.
Participants should bring one fabric scrap per person during the event.
A STREET FOR PEOPLE
Open Streets is part of a nationwide movement that temporarily transforms streets into places for walking, biking, outdoor dining, shopping, recreation and community activity.
Lowell’s event was launched in 2025 by a volunteer DIY Lowell project team as an experiment in what Merrimack Street could look and feel like when it is designed around people rather than vehicles.
The 2026 event expands on that experiment, now including the Lowell community bringing more activities for kids and adults. Notable activities include a drumming circle hosted by Lowell Center for the Arts, a mini-rocket car demonstration by Energy Explorers of Lowell, a book-signing event of “Murder Like Magic,” by Tricia Blanchet (a thriller based in Lowell) by the Revolutionary Valley Regional Tourism Council, and cultural cooking storytelling by Lowell City of Learning.
“We’re excited to see what happens when we give people the street for an afternoon,” said Chris Hayes of DIY Lowell. “Last year’s volunteer Project Team learned a lot, and they’re putting it to use this year. They’ve added more live performances, deeper business outreach including an El Potro beergarden, and creating the One City One Fabric installation.”
Open Streets Lowell is free and open to the public.
For event details, participating businesses, vendors, activities, performances, transportation information and volunteer opportunities, visit openstreetslowell.org.
