Twilight delights: Third Thursdays add evening spark to Acton Center

Rama Valianti was taking one of his treasured evening walks when he stumbled upon a live band outside the Visitor Center. 

“I didn’t know this was going on, but then I heard this music, and I had to stop and listen,” he said.

Valianti even joined in with a wooden block, and the musicians welcomed the spontaneous collaboration. “They said it was value-added, so I’m glad, because they are really seasoned musicians,” he said.

On August 21, Acton Center businesses stayed open until 8 p.m. for Third Thursday, a newly returned monthly tradition that encourages evening strolling and shopping with live music and activities.

As golden hour set in, a steady flow of people milled about the shops and stopped to listen to roots rock music by Ruth Rappaport and Joe Pete.

The next Third Thursday event is October 16.

Recipe for fun 

“What makes Third Thursdays special is the mix — shopping, dining, arts, and music all happening together,” said Mimi Graney, Acton’s economic vitality manager. 

“It’s not just about staying open later; it’s about creating vibrancy and giving people multiple reasons to come downtown and stay longer,” she said.

Many businesses have had special activities to attract visitors, such as Middlesex Bank, which hosted a kite-decorating table on its front lawn. 

“It’s so nostalgic, so I thought it would be a fun thing to bring families in,” said branch manager Melinda Gladden. “I like the community spirit of it and interacting with customers outside of the business and on a more personal level.”

Business benefits

Business owners were generally positive about the experience this summer, saying Third Thursdays attract a mix of Concordians and visitors from other towns. 

“Last Thursday, I went upstairs and looked, and there were a lot of people on the street, and they were here for it,” said Revolutionary Acton owner Marie Foley. “It’s finally catching on.” 

John Netzer, Acton Bookshop manager, emphasized how encouraging locals have been about the event. “I have had some comments from our regulars who say, ‘I’m glad you’re staying open Thursday night, I’ll be in.’ They’re very supportive,” he remarked. 

Netzer, however, was also a little worried about the coming winter months. “When it gets dark, it can be a gamble,” he said.

He also noted that business was already slower toward the end of the evening as darkness crept in.

Missing out 

Visitors who came out specifically for Third Thursday gave mixed reviews. 

“We’re a little disappointed because only a few shops were open,” said Jenny Horrigan, who came from Waltham with her friends.

“We were told things were closed this week, because people are on vacation,” she said. “We passed by some stores that we would have loved to go into if they had been open.”

Horrigan and her friends said they did enjoy the antique shops and the music. “If work brought me back up here again, I would certainly give it another go,” said her friend Rachel Ravitsky from Philadelphia.

Locals applauded the extended shop hours. “We’re working parents, so it’s nice to be able to come out here during the week with our kids and spend some time in town,” said Concordian Megan Cox. 

This was the family’s first time checking out Third Thursday — which is scheduled to run through December — and they were excited to return.

“The main challenge,” Graney said, “is reestablishing the habit of coming downtown in the evenings, since for several years most shops were closing earlier. But we’re seeing momentum build with each month.”

“I hope it will grow and evolve so it just keeps going year-round,” said Foley. “The more you’re open and the more stores and businesses join in, the more it becomes a constant for people to come down Thursday nights.”