Connecticut Travel

Ring in the New Year with an old-fashioned tea hosted by the Gunn Historical Museum in the Wykeham Room of the Gunn Library from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on December 31. Guests will have the opportunity to socialize with friends under the historic 1914 gilded ceiling mural by H. Siddons Mowbray and enjoy period music in the festively decorated room.

Guests of this soiree will be able to browse through Washington photograph albums that will be out for browsing. Guests will have great fun trying to help museum staff identify the people and places in the images.

Guests are asked to bring their favorite tea cup; and museum staff will provide the tea sandwiches and cookies. The tea party is free and open to the public, but registration is required as space is limited. To register please email your name(s) to: info@gunnhistoricalmuseum.org or call 860-868-7756.

Give your kids a fun day hanging with sharks, seals and other marine animals – plus a screening of the holiday IMAX® movie “The Polar Express” – while giving yourself solo time for holiday shopping on Dec. 17 or 18 through “Drop & Shop” programs at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

The Maritime Aquarium has a whole day of hands-on activities and explorations planned for ages 5 to 10 – each from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – giving parents six solo hours for useful shopping, wrapping or other holiday prep.

Each “Drop & Shop” begins with participants attending the Aquarium’s “‘Polar Express’ Pajama Party,” which includes a hot-chocolate bar, a fun craft and a meet-and-greet with Santa – all prior to the animated feature-length holiday film at 10 a.m.

After the movie, other “Drop ’n’ Shop” activities include Aquarium tours, making a holiday keepsake gift, animal encounters and more.

Cost for “Drop & Shop” programs is $85 per child ($75 for Aquarium members). Kids should pack a lunch, a snack and an appetite for adventure.

Capacity is limited. Advance reservations are required. Call (203) 852-0700, ext. 2206, or go online to www.maritimeaquarium.org. To sign up for a monthly newsletter on events and travel tips for Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County visit www.litchfieldhills.com

On Sunday, December 18 at 3 p.m. the Mattatuck Museum is hosting a holiday celebration with classical crossover tenor and light Italian opera singer, songwriter, composer and music producer Michéal Castaldo. An Italian-born Canadian who currently resides in New York, Castaldo studied voice with Maestro Pisapia, a protégé of the great Italian operatic tenor, Enrico Caruso. Castaldo also studied at Oakwood Collegiate Institute in Toronto and Berklee College of Music in Boston. Visit www.michealcastaldo.com for more information.

Discounted Early Bird tickets to the event are $15 for Mattatuck Museum members and $20 for non-members when purchases before December 2. After December 2, tickets are $25 for Museum members and $30 for non-members. V.I.P. tickets with seating in the first two rows are available for $35. Cash bar. Light food and one drink are included in the price of admission. Full payment must be received by December 2 for the discounted ticket price.

Located in the heart of downtown Waterbury’s architectural district, the Mattatuck Museum is a vibrant destination, known locally and regionally as a community-centered institution of American art and history. For more information on the Museum’s programs, events, and exhibits visit the website at www.mattmuseum.org or call (203) 753-0381.

For a monthly newsletter on what to see and do and travel tips on Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County visit www.litchfieldhills.com

Westport Country Playhouse announces its 2016-17 Family Festivities Series on selected Sundays from December through April, featuring musical productions based on classic and new children’s stories. The six-show series includes the favorite tale, “Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat,” and a new show, “Twinkle Tames a Dragon, The Musical,” by Katharine
Holabird, the author of the popular book series, “Angelina Ballerina.” Performances are at 1 and 4 p.m. Tickets, at $20 each, are now on sale.

To get in a holiday mood, “A Very Electric Christmas,” will be performed on Sunday, December 18, produced by Lightwire Theatre. This performance features timeless holiday hit tunes by Nat King Cole, Mariah Carey, Tchaikovsky, and more. Santa’s helpers are putting the final touches on presents as a young bird finds himself lost at the North Pole. As he makes his way home, he meets dancing poinsettias, Nutcracker soldiers, and other festive characters. Recommended for ages 5 and up.
“Biscuit,” Sunday, January 22, produced by ArtsPower, is a new musical featuring a frolicking little puppy named Biscuit who loves exploring, making new friends, and even stirring up some mischief. Along the way, Biscuit learns about the joy of having a family. With over 17 million books in print, “Biscuit” is a modern classic. Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

“Twinkle Tames a Dragon, The Musical,” Sunday, February 12, is produced by Vital Theatre Company. From Katharine Holabird, the author of the classic book series, “Angelina Ballerina,” comes a brand new show for all those who love fairies, friendship, dragons, and fun! Twinkle has always wanted a pet and is thrilled when Fairy Godmother grants her wish. While her friends get cute little pets, a naughty dragon named Scruffy is NOT what Twinkle had in mind! Can Twinkle tame her dragon in time for Fairy Pet Day? Recommended for ages 2 to 7.

“Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat,” Sunday, March 19, produced by Childsplay, begins with a tall, red-and-white striped hat appearing at the door. Sally and her brother soon know that the Cat in the Hat is the most mischievous cat they will ever meet. Suddenly a rainy afternoon is transformed by the Cat and his antics. Will their house ever be the same? Can the kids clean up before mom comes home? With some tricks (and a fish) and Thing Two and Thing One, with The Cat in the Hat the fun’s never done! Recommended for ages 3 and up.

“Pete the Cat,” Sunday, April 2, produced by Theatreworks USA, finds Pete the Cat caught rocking out after bedtime. The cat-catcher sends him to live with the Biddle family to learn his manners – and boy, are they square! But for the groovy blue cat, life is an adventure no matter where you wind up. The minute Pete walks in the door, he gets the whole family rocking, except young Jimmy, the most organized second grader on earth. But, when Jimmy draws a blank in art class, Pete is the perfect friend to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to learn about inspiration and friendship – all the way to Paris and back in a VW bus. Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

In conjunction with the Family Festivities Series, the Playhouse will once again host a book collection for Read to Grow, Inc., a statewide nonprofit organization that helps parents take an active role in their children’s literacy development by providing free children’s books to families with limited access and to community resources that serve them. At each Family Festivities performance, bins will be located in the Playhouse lobby for donations of gently used and new children’s books which will be given to families and programs in the greater Fairfield County area through Read to Grow.

Everyone in the audience requires a ticket. For more information or tickets, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Tickets are available online 24/7 at www.westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), or view Playhouse videos on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse). To sign up for a monthly newsletter on all there is to see and do in Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County visit www.fairfieldcountyct.com

About Westport Country Playhouse

The mission of Westport Country Playhouse is to enrich, enlighten, and engage the community through the power of professionally produced theater worth talking about and the welcoming experience of the Playhouse campus. The Playhouse creates this relationship with the community and provides this experience in multiple ways by offering: Live theater experiences of the highest quality, under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos, from May to October; educational and community engagement events and opportunities to further explore issues presented by the work on stage; special performances and programs for students and teachers with extensive curriculum support material; Script in Hand playreadings throughout the year to deepen relationships with audiences and artists alike; the renowned Woodward Internship Program training program during the summer months for aspiring theater professionals; Family Festivities presentations from November through April to delight young and old alike and to promote reading through live theater; and the beautiful and historic Playhouse campus open for enjoyment and community events year-round. The value of the Westport Country Playhouse to all it touches is immeasurable.

Where else would Santa Claus be during the two weekends before Christmas but in a toy-building operation? And The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is honored to have him in its Toy Boat Workshop Dec. 10-11 and 17-18.

Santa will oversee youngsters and their projects in the Aquarium’s festively retooled Toy Boat Workshop on weekends Dec. 10-11 and 17-18, all days between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

(Please note that, shortly before 12:15 and 2:15 p.m. each day, Santa will take breaks from building toys to become “Shark-Diving Santa,” joining the Aquarium scuba team to swim among the sharks in the “Ocean Beyond the Sound” exhibit.)

Whether you build a toy boat or not, Santa Claus will accept children’s wish lists and pose for photos for free, so bring your camera to snap a keepsake memory.

Cost to build a boat is $5 in addition to Aquarium admission. It takes about 15 minutes.

Get details about all of the popular family attraction’s holiday offerings, including “‘Polar Express’ Pajama Parties” Dec. 10, 11, 17 & 18, at www.maritimeaquarium.org.

On Sunday, December 11, 2016, 12-4 p.m. at 295 West Ave., Norwalk, CT the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will collaborate with the Norwalk Public Library, New Canaan Dance Academy, Matthew Surapine Studio, and North Pole’s Santa Claus to create a festive event and several hours of entertainment for people of all ages.

Visitors will have an opportunity to view the exhibit, Holiday Splendor at the Mansion: Christmas and New Year’s Celebrations, enjoy music and dance surrounded by the glittering lights and beautiful displays throughout the first floor, and stop by the Mansion’s Café, featuring complimentary refreshments served by the Mansion’s costumed interpreters courtesy of Stew Leonard’s.

The event begins with a Special Reading from 12 noon to 12:30 p.m. Children of all ages are welcome to the festively adorned Mansion Rotunda, where white and colored snowflakes will be the background for a special holiday reading offered by the Norwalk Public Library.

At 12:30 Santa Claus with Reindeer and his loyal reindeer will make their way into the Music Room. Santa will spend a full hour greeting children and hearing their Christmas wishes before they head back to the North Pole for their big night.

New Canaan Dance Academy takes center stage from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. This performance celebrates the Mansions 50th Anniversary at the Holiday Open House with an exciting dance performance by New Canaan Dance Academy, one of the most dynamic and talented dance schools in Fairfield County. In September, NCDA students were chosen to be the Madison Square Garden back up dancers at the half -time show of the WNBA Liberty game with Laura Marano; they will also be performing at the NBA game on March 5, 2017. At the Holiday Open House, NCDA will be performing a mix of Hip-Hop, Jazz, Tap, and Lyrical dance performances. NCDA was founded in 2001 by Elaine Young.

Matthew Surapine Studio will perform a selection of holiday favorites, ranging from classical masterpieces to music from the Great American Songbook from 3 pm to 3:45 pm. Mr. Surapine, a nationally acclaimed opera singer who has been welcomed at major opera houses across the United States, including the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Opera, to name a few, will see one of his students perform at Carnegie Hall in the spring of 2017 as part of the All High School Voice Festival.

For more information on schedules and programs please visit www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799. To sign up for a monthly newsletter on travel tips for Fairfield County and Litchfield Hills visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com