Category: Family Fun

Registration is Open for the Human Dog Sled Team @ JumpFest & the U.S. Eastern Ski Championships in Salisbury, CT

Organized by the Salisbury Winter Sports Association, 97th JumpFest & the Eastern Ski Jumping Championships, are taking place this year on Friday, February 3, Saturday, February 4, and Sunday, February 5 @ Satre Hill. This prestigious event isn’t just about the aspiring Olympic ski jumpers, it also offers loads of fun, and one of the quirkiest competitions found anywhere… the Human Dog Sled Race!

The good news is that registration is now open for the Human Dog Sled Race, which is taking place on Friday, February 3. The Human Dog Sled Race begins just after the Target Jumps scheduled for 7 p.m. end. This is the chance for you and five of your friends to get together and be creative with the added bonus of entertaining others. It is easy and fun to do and worth at least a year of bragging rights and Instagram photos!

At Friday’s February 3rd Human Dog Sled Race your team will compete for trophies in men’s, women’s, and mixed categories as well as a people’s choice award for best costume/sled. This evening event is professionally announced and a crowd favorite. To register for this entertaining and unforgettable event contact Brian @ info@jumpfest.org and tell them that you want to register. The Association will respond with all the documentation and rules. Registration is just $25 per team and is used to help sustain the mission of the Association.

Participating is easy. All you have to do is to gather up a kennel of friends who are at least 18 years old and have a moderate level of fitness because this course is not without peril! The course is just over .3 miles in the snow. The teams consist of six people that include five pulling and one riding. Many contestants dress for the occasion to raise team camaraderie.

Next, and this is when the fun really starts, you will design your own sled that can be anything from elaborate, whimsical, or techy, to something as simple as an inner tube. The point is to have fun for a good cause because proceeds go to help sustain the mission of the Salisbury Winter Sports Association.

Also, keep in mind that Friday night of Jumpfest is a great time! An eighth of a mile of luminaries guide you to the site where there are two roaring bonfires to keep you toasty, and plenty of food and beverages to snack on. The target ski jumping and the Human Dog Sled Races are held under the lights!

ABOUT SALISBURY WINTER SPORTS ASSOCIATION
The mission of the Salisbury Winter Sports Association is to acquaint the public with Nordic ski-jumping, cross –country and Alpine skiing, and to teach the skills necessary for their enjoyment. One way of fulfilling this mission is to host the annual Jumpfest Competition on Satre Hill to sustain and ski jumping in Salisbury, Connecticut, and the Eastern United States.

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The 44th Norwalk Oyster Festival Fri., Sept. 09, Sat., Sept. 10, and Sun. Sept. 11 @ Veterans Park, Norwalk

One of New England’s favorite events, the Norwalk Oyster Festival presented by First County Bank is back in full swing in 2022. There is no better way to say goodbye to summer, than at the three-day festival-taking place from Friday, September 9th through Sunday, September 11th at Veterans Park, adjacent to Norwalk’s historic harbor. “Performances by nationally known musicians, incredible family entertainment, and “Kids Cove” activities are free with admission, making it fun for the whole family,” says Mike Reilly, President of the Norwalk Seaport Association, and Chairman of the Norwalk Oyster Festival. “For 15 years First County Bank has supported us, helping to make the Norwalk Oyster Festival a longtime Fairfield County tradition.” “As the official end of summer celebration, the Norwalk Oyster Festival is something that First County Bank and the Fairfield County community looks forward to year after year,” said Robert Granata Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First County Bank.

For the Whole Family
There are so many ways for families to have fun this year. Nationally enjoyed professional entertainment will be taking place throughout the day at various locations on the festival grounds. If you are feeling lucky, head to the midway where you will find a variety of exciting games of chance. Don’t miss the mind-boggling act called Big Bee the Transforming Robot Car. Kids are thrilled to watch a regular car turn itself into a 15- foot action robot and, then get their photo taken with it! There is always something around the next corner that amazes and delights young and old alike. Here is a partial list of some of the acts you can catch, free of charge with the price of admission.

Ready Go Dog Show
This year the whole family will enjoy the Ready Go Dog Show that packs plenty of oohs and aahhs with its combination of comedy, family fun, and amazing high-flying canine athletes. The show consists of rescued dogs and features champion Frisbee dogs, thrill-seeking diving dogs, and the highest box jump dog in the world! A highlight for the audience is the chance to meet and greet the four-legged stars of this thrilling show after their riveting performance. The Ready Go Dog Show has been seen on the FOX game show, Game of Talents, ESPN, the Today Show and Friends, and many others!

Sheffield Island Circus
Pink cotton candy, the smell of popcorn, glittering costumes, and the astounding feats of daredevils make the Sheffield Island Circus something magical. Show favorites include clowns whose laugh-out-loud antics will have children rolling with non-stop laughter!

The circus fun doesn’t stop there. For thrill-seekers, there is the terrifying Globe of Death motorcycle performance that keeps spectators at the edge of their seats. The performers have been amazing audiences around the world, as two or more motorcycles run together in the large steel globe known as the “Globe of Death.” This energetic act is perfect for all ages because it always delivers the “wow” factor. Other acts include the performance of elegant aerial tricks from more than 20 feet up in the air and the colorful and fast-moving hula-hoop show.



Sunday is Family Day Plus Rides and Wristbands
Sunday, September 11th is Family Day all day when all kids get in Free with one paid adult admission. Carnival rides are one of the most exciting and thrilling things you can do at the Norwalk Oyster Festival. One of the best deals around on Saturday and Sunday is the specially priced wristband @ $30 each which is available for unlimited rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for everyone.

The Music
The 2022 has live music from dozens of bands on multiple stages throughout the weekend and features a variety of crowd-pleasing entertainment.

On Friday night, September 9, the Norwalk Oyster Festival kicks off with Jana Kramer direct from Nashville. Kramer is an actress, an AMC award-winning country music singer, and a New York Times best-selling author. Known for her role as Alex Dupre in the television series One Tree Hill, she started her music career in 2012, seven of her singles charted on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, including the top 10 platinum-selling hits “Why Ya Wanna” and “I Got the Boy.” Kramer went on to win ‘New Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2012 Academy of Country Music Awards and, in 2015, she was nominated for ‘Best Female Vocalist of the Year at the ACMs.

To get Saturday night rocking, Alex Shillo takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. with his eclectic brand of rock and country music with a nod to his favorite, Bruce Springsteen. Shillo’s band is composed of top-notch musicians, that have performed with such artists as Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Johnny Mathis, Gloria Gaynor, and John Cafferty, to name a few.

When Mike DelGuidice and Big Shot, take the stage on Saturday @ 8:30 p.m. the party really gets started. Mike DelGuidice, a multi-instrumentalist, dynamic vocalist, singer, songwriter, and recording artist is currently on tour with Rock N Roll Legend Billy Joel. Mike DelGuidice and his band, Big Shot is known nationwide for performing a show of astonishing renditions of Billy Joel’s songbook, in addition to songs by Elton John, Van Morrison, Paul McCartney, Marc Cohn, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, John Denver, James Taylor, Chicago, and a few of Mike’s eclectic original songs, and much more. DelGuidice is a world-class vocalist and can sing just about anything. “We are delighted to bring this world-class entertainer and his band to the 44th annual Norwalk Oyster Festival,” said Mike Reilly, President of the Norwalk Seaport Association and Chairman of the Norwalk Oyster Festival.

This year on Sunday, September 11, the Norwalk Oyster Festival wraps up with the high-energy music of Get the Led Out, a band that has captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin. Hailing from Philly, this band of six accomplished musicians brings Led Zeppelin to the Main Stage in all its mythic glory. Their two energy-driven heart pulsing set spans the career of the legendary “Zep” in all its depth and glory with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed live. Whether you like blues-soaked groove-driven rock anthems or more intimate acoustic sounds, by the end of the performance, you will understand why Get the Led Out has been hailed as “The American Led Zeppelin” nationally.



New This Year – Sheffield Island Laser Lightshow
New this year, the Sheffield Island Laser Lightshow promises to take you on a phantasmagorical journey. This 22- minute 3-D laser beam light show will be projected over the heads of the entire audience at the festival. The show is set to the music of Pink Floyd which is sure to carry the audience away with cutting-edge effects, high-powered lasers, and tons of smoke and haze effects. The show features bright colorful laser beams that sweep and move thru the sky at night along with animated artwork projected all over the stage. This professionally produced award-winning laser show will take place on Friday and Saturday night at the conclusion of the Main Stage entertainment to keep the party going just a little bit longer.

Arts and Crafts Galore
If you like to shop, head to the Arts and Crafts area where there’re more than 100 fine artists and crafters that display whimsical as well as practical items that appeal to all tastes, budgets, and ages. Jewelry, paintings, pottery, sculpture, clothing, home décor, and wearable art are just some of the treasures to be found here. At the Seaport Tent, learn about Norwalk’s oyster history, Sheffield Island Lighthouse, and browse specialty items on sale celebrating the island and lighthouse.

For the Foodies
Whether you are craving a salty or savory meal, a sugary treat to satisfy your sweet tooth, or an afternoon or evening snack, you’re guaranteed to find a favorite fair food at the Norwalk Oyster Festival and much more. After exploring the fairgrounds head to the International Food Court that dishes up everything from Mexican, Columbian, Greek, Jamaican, and Italian to funnel cakes, cotton candy, and, popcorn to name just a few goodies. New England favorites include fresh oysters shucked before your eyes, authentic New England lobster dinners, and fresh melt-in-your-mouth lobster rolls. Some of this culinary fare is prepared by dozens of local nonprofit organizations allowing them to raise funds for their charitable causes. And, if you work up a thirst there are plenty of choices from lemonade, fruit, and soft drinks to our popular craft beer tent offering more than forty beers.

Where
The Norwalk Oyster Festival is held at Veteran’s Park, adjacent to Norwalk Harbor on Seaview Avenue in Norwalk, CT.

Admission
This year pricing is Adults -$14, seniors – $10, Children – 5 to 12 years old $6 on Friday and Saturday, and Children under 5 are free. Sunday is Family Day and all children are free! To avoid the wait, tickets can be purchased online at http://www.seaport.org.

Hours: Friday, Sept. 9, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, September 10, from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., and Sunday, September 11 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Parking & Shuttles
Free parking and shuttle buses are available at these locations:
9/10 – Norwalk Community College and Calf Pasture Beach 5:30– 11:30 p.m.
9/11 – Norwalk Community College and Calf Pasture Beach and Norwalk City Hall – 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
9/12 – Norwalk Community College and Calf Pasture Beach and Norwalk City Hall – 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

Fee Parking
Webster and Haviland Street parking lot, and the Maritime and Iron Works garage. All are within walking distance of the festival.

About First County Bank – Presenting Sponsor
First County Bank, headquartered in Stamford, Conn. for 170 years, is an independent mutual community bank with 16 branches in Stamford, Norwalk, Darien, Greenwich, Fairfield, New Canaan, and Westport offering deposit products, mortgages, wealth management, business banking services, and a full array of digital banking products including mobile and online banking. First County Bank has more than 220 employees, assets in excess of $1.7 billion, and is a winner of the Hearst Connecticut Top WorkPlaces 2020 award. For additional information, please visit www.firstcountybank.com.

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; its volunteers maintain the lighthouse and grounds as a museum and nature preserve. For more information, visit http://www.seaport.org or call (203) 838-9444.

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Jazz in the Garden @ Torrington Historical Society August 26

Renowned Torrington saxophonist Kris Jensen and the Kris Jensen Jazz All-Stars will present an evening of music drawing from the great American songbook in a program ranging from swing standards to blues, soul and pop. The Jazz All-Stars will be joined by Linda Ransom, vocalist. Musicians include Doug Schlink on piano, Stephen Porter on bass, and Jocelyn Pleasant on drums.

The concert series, located on the grounds of the historic Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum, 192 Main Street, is sponsored by Northwest Community Bank and Union Savings Bank. Attendees should bring a lawn chair or blanket and are welcome to bring refreshments. Tickets for all concerts are $15 for Torrington Historical Society members and $18 for non-members. In the event of rain, the concert will be held at Five Points Arts Center, 855 University Drive in Torrington. For tickets click here

Sponsored by Northwest Community Bank & Union Savings Bank

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An Ecology Walk Along the Shepaug River With the Institute for American Indian Studies

A summer walk along the Shepaug River that runs through Washington is a rewarding experience, especially when guided by IAIS Educator and Ecologist, Susan Scherf on Saturday, July 9 at 10 a.m. The cost of this program hosted by the Institute for American Indian Studies on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for children, and $5 for members. This hike is perfect for nature lovers and will have them looking at the natural world in a new and exciting way.

Fun on the Shepaug

The Shepaug River whose Native American name means “rocky waters” has a long history of habitation. Native Americans have lived overlooking this river for thousands of years. Many stone tools and items such as bone needles and punches, wooden spear shafts, tool handles, and much more have been found in archeological excavations along the banks of the Shepaug.

Rivers are considered the lifeline of ecosystems around the world. On this guided walk participants will learn that Native peoples traditionally recognized that all beings are interconnected. An important life lesson of this walk is to realize that we can learn about our environment by observing wildlife, plants, trees, and flowers. Summer is one of the best times to observe wildlife along the Shepaug from watching a great blue heron hunt to listening to frogs croaking, and feeling the exoskeleton of a crayfish. Walking along this babbling river Susan will discuss animal adaptations and explain what to look and listen for when trying to identify different species in the Eastern Woodland environment.

Participants should wear sturdy hiking or walking shoes, and be prepared to walk about a mile along the river with frequent stops along the way. Participants are encouraged to bring water and extra shoes or sandals to change into down by the river. Space on this hike is limited and pre-registration is required. To reserve your space visit http://www.iaismuseum.org to reserve a space through Eventbrite. If you have questions, call 860-868-0518 or email events@iaismuseum.org.

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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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New Milford Connecticut Village Fair Days Set for July 25th and 26 in Litchfield Hills

The center of New Milford located in the scenic Litchfield Hills is noted for it’s long traditional village green laid out in 1872. Here you will find monuments from past wars as well as a bandstand, first built in 1891 that is a symbol of New Milford’s sense of community.

You can also explore many exceptional galleries, boutiques, restaurants and antique shops that are clustered in the heart of this village. Many are located in beautifully restored 18th and 19th century homes and buildings. Town Hall, facing the Green, marks the home of one of New Milford’s most illustrious citizens, Roger Sherman, the only Connecticut man whose signature is on all key documents of the founding of this nation.

On July 25 and July 26, 2014 the New Milford Green becomes a hive of activity with the many activities and family fun offered up at the 47th Annual New Milford Village Fair Days.

This is the largest annual event in New Milford. Hundreds of vendors including local businesses, organizations, church groups and clubs exhibit their unique offerings. If you like crafts, you won’t be disappointed as many skillful crafters offer their wares along with antique dealers that offer a variety of sought-after antiques.

Food is a big element of any Fair and New Milford’s food vendors won’t disappoint. There is even a dining tent and two days of entertainment that add to the festivities. Participants in this year’s food court include: New Milford Rotary Club, Water Witch Hose Co 2, The Cookhouse, CC’s Spiral Potatoes, Crab Cakes & Coconut Shrimp, Alfredo’s/Colosseo Restaurants, New Milford Lions Club, Thomas’s Ice Cream Truck, American Pie Company, Greek Isle and Primos Deli.

New Milford Village Fair Days

Exploring the south Green you will find a variety of businesses, organizations, church groups and clubs, while the north Green hosts master crafters and sought-after antiques. Food vendors can be found in the mid-section of the Green where fair goers, will find everything from tasty snacks to a wonderful meal that can be enjoyed in the large sit-down dining area.

The Fair opens at 10:00 am and closes at 10:00 PM on July 25th. Among the many highlights on the 29th are the tour of town hall at 2:30 p.m., a performance by Theatre Works from 1:45 p.m. – 2 :15 p.m., historic walking tours at 4 p.m., a Children’s Fun Run at 6:00 PM and music by Higher and Higher from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m..

On Saturday, July 26 the Fair opens at 9:00 am and closes at 10:00 PM. Highlights on the 30th include: the 47th Annual 8 Mile Road Race & 12th Annual Fair Days 5K at 9:00 am, and Old Fashion Pie eating contest from 2 p.m. – 2:45, historic tours at 2:30 and 4 PM and Steppin Out with Curtis T band from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

For further information, please contact the Chamber of Commerce at 860.354.6080 or visit http://www.newmilford-chamber.com for up to the minute information.

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