Category: Connecticut Travel

Live Events @ Virtual Weekend in Norfolk July 31, August 1, and 2

No holds barred! Virtual fun for all is the watchword in Norfolk, Conn., this coming July 31, August 1, and 2 during the town’s fifth annual three-day, town-wide Weekend in Norfolk Festival that will be held all online this year.

Everyone’s invited to view live streaming and online demand events starting July 31 with family and friends. Viewers will enjoy more than 20 events that Norfolk’s organizations, businesses, and individuals have put together to share the resilience, art, music, food, and natural beauty of this delightful community located in the heart of the Litchfield Hills.

Live streaming events are a highlight of this year’s Virtual Weekend in Norfolk. It is easy to sign up for a live event by visiting the website and registering. After registration, which is quick and simple a Zoom link will be sent to you about 30 minutes before the event streams live. Best of all, every event is free of charge!

The first live event on July 31 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. is a Puppet Show called Lisa the Wise that is sure to delight young and old alike. This colorful Russian folktale is told with imaginative shadow puppets and features a brave young girl, witches, enchanted dolls, and even dancing houses! This story has a contemporary twist sure to entertain and is recommended for children ages four and older. Expect lots of laughter and fun while watching these amazing puppets that will take you on an adventure without leaving home

On the second virtual day of Weekend in Norfolk, Saturday, August 1 is perfect for art and music lovers.

The day kicks off with a very special concert from the highly acclaimed and internationally known Norfolk Chamber Music Festival from 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon. The program is the rebroadcast of an Emerging Artist Showcase concert that features the works of Klughart, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn for winds and strings. If you miss the live stream of this event, no worries, the event will be available via the Weekend In Norfolk website on-demand section on Sunday, August 2.

If you have always wanted to be a watercolor painter or if you have wondered how to improve your technique, don’t miss the loose watercolor painting demonstration by Pamela Harnois, a visual artist specializing in transparent watercolor from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. This is your chance to learn from an award-winning artist – free. Classically trained in watercolor, Pamela’s work has appeared nationally in art shows and in various publications. She has spent the last decade documenting woodland landscapes and wildflowers from across the country from Connecticut to California.

Saturday concludes with a final concert from the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. making it a perfect prelude to cocktail hour and dinner. This rebroadcast of the Emerging Artist Showcase features the works of Mozart, Beethoven, and Schumann for piano ensembles. If you miss this live stream broadcast, you can see it on-demand on Sunday, August 2, at 10 a.m.

On Sunday, August 2, from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. get ready to have some fun at the final live streaming event that features nationally renowned artist and metal sculptor, Karen Rossi. Limited to 12 adults this fascinating workshop will teach you how to make upcycled metal flowers from something as simple as aluminum soda cans! Have fun drilling, punching and riveting these whimsical flower creations together and decorating them with mixed media to create stunning three- dimensional flowers! No experience is needed and this event is free.

In addition, to live events, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 31, Weekend in Norfolk offers a series of on-demand events that can be watched any time of day or night! On-demand events are conveniently organized on the website by category making it easy to pick and choose what you want to watch. Here you will find everything from art studio tours and nature hikes to kids’ craft workshops and a demonstration of ways to prepare healthy food.

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Trails of the Norwalk River Valley and Vicinity

The Norwalk River Watershed Association has launched “Trails of the Norwalk River Valley and Vicinity,” which includes hiking trail maps of the entire watershed region, including Norwalk, Wilton, Ridgefield, Weston and Redding.

Both the map and David Park’s “Kayaking In and Around the Norwalk Islands” book are available through the NRWA website at http://norwalkriver.org/. Proceeds from each purchase go toward funding NRWA efforts to protect the Norwalk River watershed.

The map is available in paper for $5 and in water-resistant outdoor quality for $8 (100% of proceeds support NRWA). The book is available for $10 (40% of proceeds go to NRWA).

The maps were produced by NRWA and printed with funds from a grant from Norwalk outdoor gear and apparel store Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI). The map charts existing and proposed trails from Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk north to Danbury throughout the watershed and surrounding vicinity.

Kayaking in and around the Norwalk Islands by NRWA board member and kayak enthusiast, David Park, is packed with superb information on kayaking the Norwalk area.

The Norwalk Islands, located one mile off shore, include islands open to the public for camping and exploring, a few being part of the Stewart McKinney Wildlife Refuge. The guidebook, complete with color photos, includes information on three local rivers, complete descriptions of all the islands including local wildlife, history, and points of interest such as the Historic Sheffield Island Lighthouse and other Norwalk lighthouses as well as other useful tidbits such as where to launch, coastal and off-shore paddling information, and safety guidelines.

For information on free programs, research, volunteer opportunities, and membership, contact http://www.norwalkriver.org.

About the Norwalk Watershed Association

The Norwalk River Watershed Association, incorporated in 1996, is a not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to improve the water quality and aesthetic value of the 40,000-acre Norwalk River watershed; to encourage recreational use of the existing trails and open space; and to promote research, education, cooperation, and action on the part of the stakeholders in the seven watershed towns in CT (Ridgefield, Redding, Wilton, New Canaan, Weston, and Norwalk) and NY (Lewisboro).

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Charter A Two -Hour Getaway with the Seaport Association of Norwalk

It is a perfect summer day and you’re wondering what to do that is safe, different, and memorable, all at the same time. Have you ever watched a group of people on a large boat sipping wine and relaxing in the cooling breeze of Long Island Sound? If you have, you are not alone. Some of us might even daydream about owning a boat large enough to accommodate up to twenty-five friends, family, and business associates.

The good news is that the Seaport Association in Norwalk is now offering their comfortable vessel, the T.J. Toth, for charter at pricing that is much less expensive than you think. The charter is two hours long and is available any weekday or weekend, July – September, during the day or at sunset for $750, or just $30 a person for twenty-five of your best friends and family members. And, be assured that your guests will be comfortable. The vessel has so many amenities including comfortable seating in and out of the sun, a bar area that is the perfect place to set up the beverages and goodies you bring aboard, and a full bathroom.

Your private excursion begins from the Seaport’s dock at 10 North Water Street in Norwalk. A captain and mate are on board so you can sit back and relax – it doesn’t get more exclusive or fun than that! The boat cruises through Norwalk Harbor under the expert guidance of the boat’s Captain while the Mate introduces the passengers to the multifaceted history of the Harbor. Imagine cruising along the waves getting close up views of Norwalk’s Islands, nesting ospreys, and, three lighthouses, including Sheffield Island Lighthouse, and two rare examples of sparkplug lighthouses. This private on the water experience is simply exhilarating; so don’t forget to bring a camera.

If you are planning a special occasion or if you and your friends are looking for something really uplifting to do this summer, nothing says “fun on the water” like this exclusive excursion offered by the Seaport Association. For additional information to charter the boat call the Seaport Office at 203-838-9444 or email jerry.toni@seaport.org.

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Keeler Tavern’s Colonial Days for Kids!

Ridgefield’s Keeler Tavern is offering special summer camps for kids, Monday, July 13 through Friday, July 17, and learn about daily life in Colonial Connecticut and the important role children played in helping run the household and farm.

Monday, July 13 through Friday, July 17 and learn about daily life in Colonial Connecticut and the important role children played in helping run the household and farm.

Camp Highlights:

Campers will receive a pre-packaged kit containing all materials and instructions for the week, as well as a Keeler Kids t-shirt!

Daily LIVE sessions with the camp directors will be over Zoom or another video app every day between 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Camp directors will explain the materials and activities kids can then do at their own pace (NO adults needed!)

Campers will go on a virtual field trip with Chris, the camp director, to his own farm in Newtown!

Campers will round out the week with a homemade ice cream social!

The cost per child for each session is $150 for members and $165 for non-members. We offer a sibling discount of $15 per child. (Note that sibling discounts will be applied automatically when registering online.) To register click here

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A Weekend in Norfolk 2020 Goes Virtual – July 31 and August 1 and 2

The town of Norfolk Connecticut is hard at work this summer organizing virtual events for 2020 WIN – Weekend in Norfolk that is taking place this year on July 31, August 1, and 2! The residents, businesses, historic and natural attractions, and other organizations have pulled together, once again, this year to showcase Norfolk’s many treasures.

The only difference is that this year WIN will take place only online rather than at various locations throughout this peaceful hamlet. “We believe that our online WIN series of events and videos show the resilience of the citizens of Norfolk. Our goal is to be a bright spot in people’s lives at this uncertain time. We’re striving to entertain and educate all our WIN fans with the variety of videos that we are developing,” said Sue Frisch one of the founders of the WIN event.

Now in its fifth year, this family fun event has managed to evolve with the times. They hope to reach even more people with their virtual programs and videos that have an irresistible price tag — they are all free of charge! Best of all, all videos can be viewed from the comfort of your home.

A new WIN website makes planning your time in advance easy so you don’t miss a thing. The website has a day by day schedule that highlights virtual events that will be happening live and those events that will be posted to celebrate WIN 2020 on demand. Get ready to see an exciting line-up! The virtual events range from a not to be missed tour of the Tiffany stained glass windows at the Battell Chapel, and a demonstration by a professional artist, to a cooking demonstration on how to prepare healthy foods that could have medicinal advantages.

For the most up to date information visit https://weekendinnorfolk.org

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Celestial Fireworks – See Jupiter, Saturn and the Full Buck Moon July 4

​If you are disappointed about the lack of fireworks, don’t be, just look to the sky for a celestial “fireworks” display. This coming holiday weekend, Mother Nature has planned her own program of fireworks! ​According to the Institute for American Indian Studies,​ the full moon on July 4 and 5 is called the Buck Moon or the Thunder Moon according to Native American traditions. This full moon will be enhanced by two shining planets, Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system with four moons and Saturn.

Jupiter will be very bright and hover to the moon’s upper right while Saturn, one-third as bright will appear to stand off to the moon’s upper left. Taken together they will form a triangle in the sky. If you have a small telescope or a pair of binoculars you will get a better view of Jupiter along with all four of the Galilean satellites that include Io, Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto. They were first seen by Galileo over 400 years ago.

Like June’s full moon, the full moon of July brings about a penumbral eclipse, which occurs when the moon crosses through the faint outer edge of the Earth’s shadow called a penumbra. When this occurs, the moon appears to be slightly darker than usual. This eclipse will be visible from most of North America including Connecticut and will begin at 11:04 Eastern Standard Time on July 4 and end at 1:56 a.m. If you miss it on July 4, check the sky on July 5 at 10:56 p.m. The Buck moon will appear the biggest to the naked eye on the U.S. East coast during and just after moonrise.

The Algonquin people of the Eastern Woodlands did not record time by using months or calendars. They tracked time by observing the seasons and the lunar months and phases of the moon. The Algonquin people called the full moon in July the Buck Moon because at this time of year a buck’s antlers are growing daily. Another Native American name for the full moon in July is Thunder Moon because of the frequency of July thunderstorms. Colonial Americans adopted some of the Native American names for the full moon and, they are still in use today. Some of the most recognized names that come from the Algonquin people include the Harvest Moon, the Blue Moon, and the Supermoon.

The Institute for American Indian​ Studies is open Friday, July 3 until 4 p.m., closed Saturday, July 4, and open on Sunday, July 5 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. The indoor museum and outdoor village and trails are open. The Institute is located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington CT.

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