Are you ready to experience the beauty of nature, art, music, and the great outdoors? Do you want to learn about art by watching visual transparent watercolor artist, Pamela Harnois, hard at work? Or, would you rather go on an evocative Postcard Stroll of the historic Village Green, then explore the Freedom Trail? If your kids love the water… make sure to bring them to our famous water soccer event sponsored by the Norfolk Fire Department, or let their artistic spirit soar as they create colorful images on our Station Place sidewalks sponsored by internationally known artist Karen Rossi. There is so much to do and see in person at the 2021 Weekend in Norfolk (WIN) on Friday, July 30, Saturday, July 31, and, Sunday, August 1. To register for certain events and for up-to-the-minute information, check the WIN website Here are a few of our events that welcome everyone to come have a good time in Norfolk, Connecticut.
Roam Norfolk’s Great Outdoors
Explore the Historic District – Experiencing the historic heart of Norfolk is like stepping back in time to the turn of the 20th century when Norfolk was a summer resort. This self-guided walk lets you take in the beauty of Norfolk at your own pace. Highlights include the Norfolk Library with its fish-scale shingles and fluted terra cotta tiled roof, the granite 1868 Soldiers Monument, the imposing White House, home of the Yale Summer School of Music, the classic Church of Christ, the Battell Chapel built in the Romanesque Revival style, and the Norfolk Academy that now houses the Norfolk Historical Society. A favorite spot for photos is the Battell Fountain, constructed in 1898 with its trough for animals on one side and a fountain for people on the other. This is an easy walk that takes about an hour. Maps are available @ the Hub at Station Place.
Experience the Freedom Trail – On this self-guided walk, you will find the grave of James Mars (1790-1880) in the Center Cemetery on Old Colony Road. Mars was a Connecticut slave that refused to follow his master to Virginia where he would have been denied emancipation guaranteed to him at age 25 under Connecticut law. With the help of the citizens of Norfolk, he remained in Connecticut. Mars helped to organize meetings to promote freedom for slaves and to improve conditions for African-Americans. James Mars is buried next to his father, Jupiter Mars, who served in the American Revolution.
Take the Challenge – One of the most popular events of WIN is the Hike the Peaks Challenge that dares lovers of the great outdoors to hike six of Norfolk Land Trust’s peaks: Pine Mountain, East Summit Ridge, Beech Hill, Dennis Hill Gazebo Pavilion, and Haystack Mountain. For trail maps click here.
If you prefer a guided tour of the village green, reserve a spot for Friday, July 30 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. or Sunday, August 1, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. On Saturday, July 31, there will also be a Historic Postcard walk from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. All tours begin at the Norfolk Historical Society Museum.
For nature lovers, sign up for the 1.5 mile guided walk of North Swamp Trail on Sunday, August 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Keep your eyes peeled for beavers that are known to be active at the southern end of the swamp! To brush up on your photography skills, don’t miss your chance to shoot with the pros on Sunday, August 1 from 10 am to 12 noon. This session is limited to ten people, who will meet at the Battell Fountain at the south end of the Village Green.
Calling all Art Aficionados
On all three days of WIN, the Immaculate Conception Church will be open for viewing stained glass windows. The Battell Chapel will be open on all three days at various times so people can see beautiful stained glass windows created by Tiffany that were installed in 1929. A guided tour of the Battell Chapel is being offered on Saturday, July 31 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., and on Sunday, August 1, from 12 noon to 12:30 p.m. To see more stained glass windows including a window created as a tribute to Mark Twain’s wife, Olivia head to the Church of the Transfiguration that will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. – noon and Sunday from noon to 1 p.m. Pick up a map to guide you on your tour.
Pamela Harnois, a watercolor artist, designer, and instructor will be giving a watercolor demonstration at the Guilded Artisan @ Station Place on Sunday, August 1, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. that is sure to inspire the inner artist in you An added bonus is to browse through this colorful shop that offers a wide array of arts and crafts, made by local artisans in every imaginable genre.
Artistic kids will love having a once-in-a-lifetime chance to paint Norfolk’s sidewalks. Sidewalk chalk will be available for two-hour sessions on Saturday and Sunday, at Station Place, complete with one or more of Norfolk’s many resident artists to offer encouragement.
For Music Lovers
On Friday, July 30 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the Grantville Dawgs spark up the night at Station Place with their special blend of music, and from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the Miro Quartet will be live-streamed at the Norfolk Hub performing the works of Puts and Dvorak. On Saturday, there will be an emerging artist showcase by the Norfolk Fellows live-streamed to the Norfolk Hub’s big screen from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. presenting fresh interpretations of famous composers. On Saturday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Michael Cobb and his group will perform on Station Place. The last Saturday evening concert is @ the Hub and will feature the works of Kernis, Yi, and Dvorak from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Concerts @ the Hub, located at Station Place, are limited to 30 people. The final concert of WIN is on Sunday, August 1 at on Station Place from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Norfolk’s Farms – Naturally
Norfolk’s famous Farmers Market on 19 Maple Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. is the ideal way to start your morning. It offers the bounty of the season as well as, arts and crafts created by local artisans.
Sunday, August 1st, is “Farm Day” with all four of Norfolk’s farms welcoming the public to take an insider’s peek at life on a New England farm. The first stop of the day is Husky Meadows, a certified organic farm offering tours from 9 a.m. to 12 noon giving visitors the rare opportunity to see the tricks of the trade. Your next stop is Autumn Harvest Orchard an organic farm, growing apples and blueberries using beehives to aid in pollination. They will be welcoming visitors to their farm from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Next, Lost Ruby Farm is open to the public from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. This small farmstead is a micro goat dairy creamery specializing in crafting small-scale handmade cheeses. The cheese-making process is fascinating and the goats are adorable making this a must-see stop for animal lovers! And, finally, Broad Field Farm promises to allow visitors a tour of their professional greenhouses where organic heirloom tomatoes and other produce are grown.
ABOUT THE WIN (WEEKEND IN NORFOLK) COMMITTEE
Now in its seventh year, the all-volunteer WIN Committee organizes two town-wide events annually: the Summer WIN and the Winter WIN. Norfolk’s town officials, the Economic Development Commission, and many local organizations, institutions, and individuals support these two town-wide festivals.
Cordially,
Janet L. Serra
Janet L. Serra
Connecticut Travel 
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