Check out first 3rd Thursday of 2026

Editor's note: Sandy Coe, the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce's executive director, gave some background and history on the 3rd Thursday: Music, Flowers & a Sunset series in Vermilion, which kicks off the 2026 installment tonight. The first 3rd Thursday takes place from 5 p.m. until sunset throughout downtown Vermilion. Others will follow on the third Thursdays in June, July, August and September. VERMILION — On summer evenings in downtown Vermilion, music drifts through the streets as families stroll past flower baskets overflowing with color, restaurants fill with visitors, and residents gather along the Lake Erie shoreline waiting for sunset. For many along Ohio's north coast, 3rd Thursday: Music, Flowers & a Sunset — known for its music, flowers and sunset celebrations — has become one of the traditions that defines summertime in Vermilion. What began years ago as a grassroots idea — centered around flowers, music, beautification and community pride — has grown into one of the region's most recognizable summer events while still holding onto the small-town charm on which it was founded. It's far more than just an event in Vermilion: It is part of the heart and identity of our community. A grassroots beginning The event traces its roots back to the years following the closure of the Lorain Ford Plant when local resident Ed Rhinehart, who died in 2015, wanted to help bring optimism, visitors and energy back into Vermilion while supporting local merchants and creating something positive for the community. Rhinehart drew inspiration from a similar event he had seen in Florida, then helped shape the idea into something uniquely Vermilion. Rhinehart had a deep love for flowers, gardening, music and community involvement, and many of the event's earliest ideas focused on beautification efforts throughout downtown Vermilion. Rhinehart approached then-service director Eileen Bulan and mayor's assistant Anne Maiden about placing hanging flower baskets throughout the downtown district and discussed whether city crews could help maintain them during the summer season. Around that same time, Rhinehart met with Barb and Terry Brady inside their home where the music portion of the event was first discussed around the couple's kitchen table. I truly believe Ed Rhinehart would be incredibly proud to see what his vision has become. What started with four bands and a handful of businesses staying open late gradually evolved into something much larger. Over the years, numerous volunteers and community leaders helped shape the event, including the late Moe Coe, Bulan, Maiden, Dana Corogin, Sid and Sandy Jordan, Nan Gregory, Barb and Terry Brady, the late Diane Chesnut with Friends of Harbour Town 1837 and many others who contributed behind the scenes. During the event's early years, organizers focused heavily on creating a welcoming downtown atmosphere that encouraged people to spend time in Vermilion while supporting local businesses and celebrating the lakefront community. That mission remains at the center of the event today. A tradition that still draws crowds Barb and Terry Brady chaired 3rd Thursday for 14 years and helped guide the event through years of steady growth. As attendance and participation continued increasing, the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce eventually assumed a larger organizational role, providing logistical coordination, promotions, liability coverage and operational support while helping preserve the hometown atmosphere that defined the event from the beginning. At the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, leadership responsibilities were passed to longtime musician and volunteer Sid Jordan, who continues serving as the event's chair today. Jordan coordinates musicians, band placement, electrical needs and performer communication throughout the season. Many of the musicians also volunteer or donate their time because they believe in what the event represents for the community. At any given event today, roughly 25 bands perform throughout downtown Vermilion during each 3rd Thursday event from May through September, drawing residents, visitors, boaters and families into the city's historic downtown and waterfront areas. Despite its growth, organizers say the event has never lost the feeling that made it special in the first place. On warm summer evenings, children dance to live music near downtown sidewalks while boaters walk up from the harbor, restaurants buzz with activity and crowds slowly gather along the waterfront as the sun disappears into Lake Erie. It is small-town America at its best. Nearly two decades later, the original purpose behind 3rd Thursday remains unchanged: bringing people together, supporting local businesses and celebrating the community spirit that continues to define Vermilion today.