Ladybug Music Festival returns to Milford Sept. 21

Downtown Milford Inc. and Wilmington-based Gable Music Ventures will sponsor the 2nd Annual Milford Ladybug Music Festival Saturday, Sept. 21. Rain date is Sunday, Sept. 22.

A portion of downtown Milford will be closed to vehicle traffic. Main stage entertainment will be centered on Walnut Street at Park Avenue, and the Richard Johnson Amphitheater at Milford Public Library will host a second main stage. Live entertainment will continue between the main stage and amphitheater from 3 to 9 p.m.

Local businesses serving as live entertainment venues include Dolce Bakery and Coffee Shop, Irish Rose, Mispillion Art League, My Sister’s Fault, the Music School of Delaware, Nancy’s Café, and Park Place Restaurant and Lounge. Artists will be hosted outside Arena’s Milford, Causey Mansion B&B, Gallery 37-A Destination for Artful Living and Lifecycle.

Downtown Milford will boast 13 venues to see live music during the event with a little something musical for everyone to love. More than 40 artists will perform, traveling from as far as Canada, Connecticut and Nashville to entertain music lovers.

The 2019 headliner is Willow Hill, a husband-and-wife country pop act from Nashville. Willow Hill spent a decade building a dedicated following in the region with their former band Lovebettie. Willow Hill will perform from 8 to 9 p.m. on the main stage.

Rachael Sage, a New York City-based singer/songwriter, producer, and owner of MPress Records, will headline the library amphitheater stage.

Other notable performers this year include Hoochi Coochi, Nalani and Sarina, and Christine Havrilla.

The event is appropriate for all ages. There will be craft vendors, food trucks, and cash bars sponsored by Dogfish Head, easySpeak, Mispillion River Brewing and Second Street Players at Riverfront Theater available for those with proper ID.

“It’s so exciting to be able to continue to celebrate women in music across the state of Delaware,” said Gayle Dillman, Ladybug Music Festival co-founder. “The feedback we got from attendees last year was that Milford was such a beautiful and charming location for the event, and we can’t wait to see everyone Sept. 21.”

“We’re excited to bring the Ladybug Music Festival back to Downtown Milford,” said Sara Pletcher, DMI board member and festival co-chair. “Last year we saw so many new faces walking our streets, enjoying our stores and restaurants, and relishing in the free entertainment. It was a great day to be a Milfordian and I can’t wait to see our city shine once again!”

For more information, go to www.downtownmilford.org, www.theladybugfestival.com and www.experiencemilford.com or find the event on Facebook. 

The Ladybug Music Festival is free to all patrons, thanks to the generous sponsorship of several local businesses as well as numerous individual contributors. The project is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Sponsorships and services also provided by the City of Milford, Milford LIVE, the Delaware Lottery, Hebron Savings Bank, Sussex County Council, Tax Chicks, Gallery 37-A Destination for Artful Living, Kent County Fund for the Arts, The Chronicle, Silicato Development, Southern Delaware Medical Group, Causey Mansion B&B, DEMEC, Dover Tents & Events, Perdue, and John Mollura Photography.

For more information and a full list of all artists, go to www.theladybugfestival.com.