Category: Connecticut Travel

Norwalk Oyster Festival September 7-9

Fun for families and friends from nine to ninety, the 35th annual Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival will be held this year from Friday, September 7 through Sunday, September 9. This year’s entertainment highlights include music from nationally known-bands such as: The Rising on Friday, Village People on Saturday and Lou Gramm on Sunday. Festivalgoers will enjoy a wide variety of rides, cooking competitions, arts and crafts and a diverse assortment of attractions and entertainment that promise unforgettable fun.

New this year the festival will feature the action packed Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Festival that will feature world champion lumberjacks demonstrating their log rolling, axe throwing, chopping, sawing, tree climbing and dragster chainsaw skills. Another new event venue will offer hands on interactive race-themed attractions by nationally recognized Fast Action Motorsports Entertainment. These dynamic additions to the Oyster Festival are awe inspiring and unforgettable.

For the Kids

The festival’s Pirates Coast Adventure will wow children of all ages. Here, kids can meet real life pirates and look for booty in treasure hunts, hear storytelling and join in other fun-filled activities. The Kids’ Cove includes games, rides and entertainment. This interactive pirate encampment gives kids a taste of what seafaring was like during the golden age of piracy from 1650-1750. In addition, there will be an action-packed performance by Marvel Super Heroes.

Sunday is Family Day with special family and children’s packages for entrance, rides and meals. The perk of family day on Sunday is that one child under 12 gets in free with each adult paid admission and for a mere $15 can ride all the amusement rides free from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. To round out the family fun there will be live shows for kids on the festival’s main stage.

For the Whole Family

The festival offers a wide array of attractions the whole family will enjoy, including continuous entertainment by local musicians and national acts. A multitude of fine artists and crafters display whimsical as well as practical items that appeal to all tastes, budgets and ages. For on the water fun, head to the festival docks to tour historic vessels and to cruise the scenic and historic Norwalk Harbor.

For the Foodies

Food demonstrations and competitions, including the always-popular chowder and chili cook-offs will take place throughout the fesitval. A highlight of the Festival is the wide variety of great food from around the world that is available at the International Food Court. This culinary fare is prepared by dozens of local nonprofit organizations allowing them to raise vital funds for their charitable causes. At the Oyster Pavilion, learn about Norwalk’s oystering history while watching slurping and shucking contests.

The event is held at Veteran’s Park, adjacent to Norwalk Harbor on Seaview Avenue in Norwalk, CT. Admission for adults is $5 on Friday, $12 on Saturday and Sunday. Senior tickets are $10 all days. Children 5-12 year’s old are $5. Children under 5 and U.S. military personnel on active duty are free. Sunday is Family Day with special pricing on that day only — 1 child (age 5-12) free with each paid adult admission. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.seaport.org. Free Parking and Free Shuttle Bus service is provided from four (4) local parking lots, just follow the signs to Oyster Festival Parking.

Festivalgoers can save on admission and rail fare when they purchase the Metro-North Railroad/Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival discount package. Packages are available at all ticket offices and ticket machines (except South Norwalk Station) or by visiting www.mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_oyster_fest.htm

About the Norwalk Seaport Association

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, education and public awareness of Norwalk’s maritime environment and heritage. The Seaport Association and its volunteers are solely responsible for organizing and financing the Oyster Festival. In addition to the Oyster Festival, the Norwalk Seaport Association owns Sheffield Lighthouse and its volunteers maintain the lighthouse and grounds as a museum and nature preserve. For more information, visit www.seaport.org or call (203) 838-9444.

For area information visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com.

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August Events at the Fairfield History Museum

War of 1812 Exhibit at Fairfield Museum through September

For the dog days of summer, why not visit Fairfield Museum and History Center’s (www.fairfieldhistory.org) new, special art exhibition, The War of 1812 at Sea: Marine Paintings from the J. Russell Jinishian Gallery collection, Fairfield, Conn. (jrusselljinishiangallery.com). The exhibition, which will be on display through September 9th, 2012, will chronicle the great sea battles around the War of 1812, some of which occurred off the Connecticut Coast, and will feature dramatic marine paintings and models from art dealer J. Russell Jinishian.

The War of 1812 at Sea exhibition will include 16 works, including two intricate models, from some of the most prominent marine artists working today. The paintings and models in this exhibition capture pivotal moments during the War of 1812, a troubled and dark time for our young nation and for Fairfield as well.

In addition to this fascinating exhibit other events hosted by the Museum include the following events.

A Docent Meeting on Thursday, August 9 at 2:30 p.m wil introduce participants to Fairfield’s past. If you have a knack for telling a good story this program could be just for you. The Fairfield Museum and History Center hopes to introduce participants to the importance of becoming a docent and sharing the history of Fairfield. Refreshments will be served. For more information and to RSVP, please call Christine Jewell, Director of Education at 203-259-1598.

On Saturday, August 18, at 2 p.m. the Fairfield Museum will feature a Town Hall Green Walking Tour that is expected to last one to two hours. On the tour, you wil learn about the fascinating colonial history of Fairfield, including the establishment of the town’s original “four squares” in 1639 and the historic British invasion that took place in 1779. Participants will learn about the “witch dunking experiment” at Edward’s Pond, the legacy of the Sun Tavern and more. $7; Members, $5. Please pre-register by calling 203-259-1598.

If you find walking an enjoyable way to experience a town center, then make sure to pick up a colorful new brochure at the Museum and follow the nine new signs created jointly by the Museum and the town of Fairfield. Visitors can begin their exploration of this intriguing historic site at the introductory sign adjacent to the Fairfield Museum and History Center and discover the hidden corners of Fairfield’s fascinating past.

A special summer treat is a tour of the Ogden House built in 1750 on Sundays from 1 pm – 4 pm through September. Visitors will enjoy docent-led tours of the 1750 Ogden House and see how people lived in the 18th century. The house is furnished with period objects including textiles and fine pieces of furniture with Fairfield provenance. Participants will be invited to take a stroll through the not-to-be-missed kitchen garden, generously maintained by the Fairfield Garden Club, and view plantings used in colonial times. The Ogden House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is an exceptional survivor of a typical mid-18th century farmhouse.

If summer camps are your thing, Fairfield History Museum is also offering a series of camps through August. Camp goers will explore history and culture in a creative and fun learning environment at the Fairfield Museum and History Center. Programs include sessions about the early settlers and how children lived in the past, through historic house tours, the garden, cooking, games, arts and crafts and more at the 1750 Ogden House and the Fairfield Museum. Campers will explore the secret corners of the house and learn its mysteries! The final day will be spent at the Fairfield Museum where students will experience a day in the life of a student in the 1804 Academy Schoolhouse and learn to use antique tools in the Victorian Barn. For more information and to register, please call 203-259-1598 or visit http://www.fairfieldhistory.org. The August sessions runs as follows:

Session 1: August 13 – 17 9am – 12pm Grades 1 – 2

Session 2: August 13 – 17 1pm – 4pm Grades 3 – 5

Session 3: August 20 – 24 9am – 12pm Grades 1 – 2

Session 4: August 20 – 24 1pm –4pm Grades 3 – 5

$175 Each Session + $50 family membership

ABOUT FAIRFIELD MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER

Fairfield Museum and History Center (www.fairfieldhistory.org) was established in 2007 by the Fairfield Historical Society. The 13,000 square-foot museum presents engaging exhibition galleries, a special collection library and reading room, a family education center, an 80-seat theater overlooking Fairfield’s Town Green and a delightful museum shop. The Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving and interpreting the history of Fairfield, Connecticut and surrounding regions for present and future generations. The Museum provides educational programs to schools in and around Fairfield County, and helps to enrich the cultural and social life of the area. The Museum has quickly become an integral part of Fairfield, serving nearly 18,000 visitors a year.

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Art is Timeless at the Peter Lawrence Gallery

Clock by Michael Johnson

Peter Lawrence Gallery is presenting a new exhibit, “Art is Timeless” that will feature functional art/clocks by Michael Johnston and oils, watercolors and ceramics by Jessie Novik.

The exhibit runs from Friday, August 3 to Sunday, September 2 with an opening reception on Sunday, August 5 from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm. Refreshments will be provided by Johnny’s New Fairfield Food Center.

Michael Johnston of Norwalk, CT is a muralist and street artist. This art form drove Michael’s passion to understand the vast dimensions, styles and genres of art. He realized his own personal obsession with sharp edges, technical designs, futuristic concepts, mechanical images, and clocks could all be channeled into his art. Using recycled and discarded materials whenever possible, often times old electronics, Michael tries to convey movement, flow, and continuity in his art. He considers himself an abstract expressionist, frequently utilizing additive sculpture to intensify and bring to life thoughts and ideas.

Village by Jessie Novik

Jessie Novik has been inspired by the many places she’s traveled, including a hike up to Machu Picchu, exploring rice fields in Bali, camping with Bedouins in Sinai, and scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. She is an artist and a craftswoman, and states, “No matter what is my vehicle, I will always make art, and I cannot wait to acquire new methods for birthing my overactive imagination.”

About the Peter Lawrence Gallery

Peter Lawrence Gallery is located at 703 Kent Road (Rt. 7), Gaylordsville, Connecticut, and is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12:00pm to 5:00pm, or by appointment. For more information please contact Peter at 203-746-5533 or by email at peterlawrencegallery@ymail.com or http://www.peterlawrencegallery.com. For area information visit http://www.litchfieldhills.com.

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Structural Perspectives: Greenwich Community Artists Series at Historical Society through September

Structural Perspectives, an exhibition featuring artists Michael Chait, Lily McCarthy and Heather Sandifer, will be on view through September 5, 2012, at the Greenwich Historical Society’s Storehouse Gallery Museum Shop.

Fruits and Shadows

The exhibition features works that examine intricate forms and explores how visual themes occur and repeat in both organic and manmade contexts. From recurring natural forms, to the relationship of natural and manmade objects in the framework of a still life, to the juxtaposition of angles in architecture, each artist interprets and explores structure from a unique perspective.

The Community Artists series was established to support and encourage contemporary local artists by offering a welcoming venue for the exhibition of their work in a historic setting. All works on display will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit the Greenwich Historical Society.

The show may be viewed at the Historical Society’s Storehouse Museum Shop, Wednesday through Sunday, from noon to 4:00 pm. Admission to the Museum Shop is free. For more information and to read artists’ statements, visit www.greenwichhistory.org.

For Regional information visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com

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Explore the Shore and the Sound at the Bruce Museum Seaside Center

Bruce Museum Seaside Center

The Bruce Museum Seaside Center is an environmental and cultural facility located in the Innis Arden Cottage on Greenwich Point, one of the East Coast’s most scenic coastlines. During summer months, Seaside Center personnel encourage Point visitors to drop-in and explore the local shore and marine life.

Daily activities at the Seaside Center may include guided nature walks which incorporate the geology and ecology of Greenwich Point; study and identification of Greenwich Point flora and fauna; marine organism anatomy dissections; plankton viewing with microscopes; arts and crafts; and much more! Guests can also enjoy the Seaside Center’s facilities at their own leisurely pace viewing the dioramas, interactive exhibits, and live specimens in the marine-life touch tank and aquariums.

Open through September 2, with special events scheduled throughout the year, regular hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Beach passes are required for entrance into Greenwich Point. Fees for non-residents are $5 per person plus $20 for parking. For additional information call the Bruce Museum at 203 869-0376 or visit the website at www.brucemuseum.org.

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Tri-Arts Theatre’s Patio Cabarets July 21-27

Fun at TriArts New Venue – Photo credit: Sean Bemand

TriArts Sharon Playhouse has announced a new venue for summer fun…Patio Cabarets! The entertainment will take place on the new covered patio attached to the Sharon Playhouse. Patio cabarets will feature the talented production cast members from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Altar Boyz. Cabarets will commence after the regular main stage performance on selected dates. The performers will be singing material of their own: Broadway, standards, pop, country…you’ll hear it all!

Tri-Arts is always looking for new ways to make the Sharon Playhouse a place that people can enjoy and with this new beautiful patio and bar area it is a winning combination. Patrons are encouraged to arrive at the Playhouse early for a bite to eat and then (on certain nights) stay late to enjoy the tremendous talents of the casts. As all theatre goers know, sometimes actors don’t have the ability to showcase their full talents in any given production role. The conviviality inspired by patio cabarets will both allow incredible performers to impress with their myriad skills, as well as continue to find ways for audiences and artists to mingle.”

Photo credit: Sean Bemand

The environment is casual and the bar will be open; stay for a few minutes or for the entire hour.

Patio Cabarets will take place on Saturday July 21st, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, July 25th; 26th and 27th. There is no charge and you will have the chance to meet the cast.

Upcoming Shows

The 2012 Summer Season at TriArts Sharon Playhouse continues with The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas starring Adinah Alexander, the award-winning musical Altar Boyz (July 20-29) and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music (August 9-26).

About TriArts Sharon Playhouse

TriArts Sharon Playhouse (Alice Bemand, Executive Director; Michael Berkeley and John Simpkins, Artistic Directors) is a not-for-profit theatre, located in Litchfield Hills, Sharon, CT. In addition to producing mainstage musicals and many special events each summer season, TriArts also offers a summer youth theatre program, workshops and readings of new musicals, concerts, and special events throughout the year in its Bok Gallery. For more information on TriArts Sharon Playhouse, please visit http://www.triarts.net or call 860-364-SHOW (7469).

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