Connecticut Travel

Weir Farm, Connecticut’s only National Park located on the Ridgefield Wilton line is displaying the winners of the 2019 Art in the Park Contest that saw 99 submissions to the contest. Winners were announced at the Art in the Park Festival on August 25 and will be on display in the Cultural Center as part of the Impressions of Weir Farm – Art in the Park 2019 exhibit, through October 3, 2019.

The G&B Cultural Center and Weir Farm National Historic Site will be hosting a reception to celebrate the exhibit at the G&B Cultural Center on Thursday, October 3, 2019, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The event is supported by park partners, The Weir Farm Art Center and The Friends of Weir Farm National Historic Site. Visitors are invited to join in the celebration of Art in the Park and the contributions of each artist who participated.

Art in the Park Contest Results

Advanced/Professional Artist
1st, Weir Masterpiece Award: 
Carole Ackerman,
Bliss, Acrylic 11″ x 14″

2nd: Norman Dick,
Late Summer at Weir Farm, Acrylic on Canvas 12″ x 16″
(pictured, right) 

3rd: Daisy De Puthod
Weir Farm, Oil 18″ x 18″

Visitors Choice Awards 
Mary Jane Houser
Sheshana Weiner
Clarice Shirvell
Linsey Hughes 

Adult Artist Award
1st: Robert Boger 
2nd: Mary Jane Houser
3rd: Edward Day 

Teen Artist Award
1st: Gisella Castagna
2nd: Grace Kaleta
3rd: Ava Fleming.

Junior Artist Award
1st: Joe Brenner
2nd: Isabella Bigda 
3rd: Ari Lopez

Park Volunteer, Partner, or Staff Award
1st: Richard Bauer (Garden Gang Volunteer)
2nd: Barbara Kaplan (Garden Gang Volunteer)
3rd: Carly Buta (Volunteer Coordinator)

Judges Choice Honorable Mention Awards (not ranked)
Eric Fleming
Ella Brenner
Maria Basaldella
Judith Lambertson
Mary Ellen Hackett
Leslie Carone

Young Talent Awards (not ranked)
Caroline Worst
Ellery Worst
Bridget Wright-Aldrich
Eric Fleming
Shane Fleming
Charlotte Murphy
Ella Brenner
Joe Brenner
Eleanor Lubeley
John W. Lubeley
Evelyn Lee
Annika Lee
Elsie Owens
Natalie Owens
Monica Saara
Kevin
Bryan
Aurora Garguilo
Celeste Garguilo
Emma Saleh
Liv Moore
Nicholas dethouars
Elizabeth
Grace Winn
Isabella Bigda
Vincenzo Bigda
Anne Bigda
Maximo Celi
Marco Cell
Mia
Abby Savage
Harper Crawford
Henry Crawford
Colin
Julia Mendoza
Owyn de St. Croix
Ari Lopez
Maximilian Kaleta
Emily
Julia Mendoza
Robin Hart
John Shirvell

About the G&B Cultural Center
Located at 49 New Street in Wilton, the G&B Cultural Center is a non-profit organization supporting the visual and performing arts in a local and collaborative manner. The historical building, while preserved on the National Historic Register, has blossomed into a modern, thriving art center. G&B offers classes in music and visual arts and host exhibits, concerts, and demonstrations. Space is also available to rent for meetings and events. Visit gandbculturalcenter.org or call 203-544-0056 for more information.

About Weir Farm National Historic Site
Visit the home and studio of America’s most beloved Impressionist, J. Alden Weir, and walk in the footsteps of a world-class artist. Set against a rural Connecticut landscape that has been painted by thousands of artists from 1882 to the present, Weir Farm is a national legacy of American Impressionism, creativity, and historic preservation. Explore this National Park for Art and experience what Weir described as “The Great Good Place.” Learn more at http://www.nps.gov/wefa and visit us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/WeirFarmNHS, YouTubewww.youtube.com/WeirFarmNHS , and Instagram @WeirFarmNHS.

About the National Park Service
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at http://www.nps.gov, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter http://www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube http://www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.

Three days of fun, food, entertainment on multiple stages, plus special events for families and friends, from nine to ninety marks just some of the activities to be found at the 2019 Norwalk Oyster Festival hosted by the Seaport Association on Friday, September 6, Saturday, September 7, and Sunday, September 8, 2019, at the 35-acre Veterans Memorial Park in Norwalk “Our 42nd annual festival is packed with value-added extras especially when you consider that all the entertainment including the headliners Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot, and Brian Howe, former lead singer of Bad Company is included in the ticket price,” said Mike Reilly, President of the Seaport Association. “Our mission has always been to preserve and share our maritime heritage, to help with the environment of Long Island Sound, and to have children experience our 151-year-old Lighthouse and Light Keepers Cottage. The funds raised from the Norwalk Oyster Festival helps us accomplish our mission,” adds Reilly. For tickets click here https://www.seaport.org.

The Music
The 2019 Norwalk Oyster Festival has live music from dozens of bands on multiple stages throughout the weekend and features a variety of crowd- pleasing entertainment. “The Oyster Festival is the perfect way to celebrate the end of summer. All the music and entertainment is free with the price of the ticket making it economical for the entire family,” says Mike Reilly, President of the Norwalk Oyster Festival.

On Friday night, Sept. 6, at 8:30 p.m. celebrate the rock legacy of Santana with Sacred Fire. This amazingly talented six-piece Latin Rock Band is a legendary musical force considered by many to be one of the hottest, hippest live shows around.

On Saturday afternoon, September 7 the afternoon begins with Ripchord, the Official Band of the Connecticut National Guard that will play a variety of music from classical and jazz to rock and patriotic tunes. Saturday night starts to heat up when Alex Shillo takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. with his eclectic brand of rock and country music.

Saturday night’s headliner is Mike DelGuidice and Big Shot who has taken a night off from touring with Billy Joel to perform at the Norwalk Oyster Festival. This tribute band to the music of Billy Joel with some original music thrown in packs hit after chart-topping hit in an amazingly high-energy show that leaves audiences wanting more.

Get ready to swing into Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. with the Commanders that will perform music from the Big Band Era and beyond on the Main Stage. It is 5’oclock somewhere and at 2 p.m. Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band plugin on the Main Stage. So, put on your best “Parrothead” gear, grab some food and drinks from one of the nearby vendors and get ready to sing and dance along to some of the best of Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney and the Zac Brown Band and other tropical classics

This year the Oyster Festival has a grand finale that begins at 5 p.m. when Brian Howe, former Lead Singer of Bad Company from 1986-1994, closes out the 42nd Norwalk Oyster Festival with style, exuberance, and a blast from the past of some of our favorite songs ever. Howe has one of rock’s most legendary voices; and as he croons hit after hit he will have you dancing as the sun goes down. Today Howe is performing many popular songs by Bad Company like “Feel Like Makin Love,” “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad,” “Can’t Get Enough,” and other hits. This is a performance worth waiting for and, the ideal way to end three days of music, fun, and food.

For the Whole Family – Seaport Circus Spectacular

This year the whole family will enjoy the Seaport Circus Spectacular that will include national acts from Circus Circus in Las Vegas, and star performers from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus and others.

This magical show includes several amazing acts like the death-defying performance created by the Dominguez Family. They have been amazing audiences around the world with riders challenging the Globe of Death, a giant metal cage, as well as their uncanny skill in navigating the inverted high wire. This energetic act is perfect for all ages because it always delivers the “wow” factor.

Hurling, whirling, twirling hula hoops combined with the amazing acrobatic performance of Nicole Taylor Weiss that defies the eye is another act in the Seaport Circus. Nicole grew up traveling the world with her circus parents learning the business of entertainment from a very young age. Nicole’s Hula Hoop show is high-energy fun at its best. She has been performing for Circus, Circus, Vargas and Cirque Musica, and with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.

An all- around family favorite, the Hog Diggity Dog Review is also part of the Seaport’s Circus. A second-generation circus performer, Hans Klose works with 20 dogs and four pigs. The performing pigs, Roscoe weighing 750 pounds, and Shelton weighing around 700 pounds were part of Klose’s act when he worked for Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Klose travels throughout the country with his animals in a specially made RV that keeps them totally pampered. Hans care and love for his animals is apparent in his laugh out loud routine that will charm audiences young and old.

Games, rides, and many fun activities can be found at Kids Cove. There is face painting, and pint-sized carnival games, plus cotton candy, popcorn, and candied apples. The Norwalk Oyster Festival is so family-friendly. There is a special wristband offer on Saturday and Sunday that entitles unlimited rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $25. Sunday is Family Day when kids 12 and under get in free with a paid adult; there are also special kids meals and the $25 wristband for unlimited rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

If you have always wanted a birds-eye view of the city, the fairgrounds and Norwalk’s beautiful coastline, climb onboard the 65 foot Gondola Ferris wheel to be treated to a unique and memorable ride you can write home about. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy. And, don’t forget your camera.

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.

For the Foodies
A favorite at any festival is the food, and the Norwalk Oyster Festival never disappoints. After exploring the fairgrounds head to the International Food Court that dishes up everything from Mexican, Columbian, and Italian to funnel cakes, cotton candy, and, of course, oysters fresh off the boat, authentic New England lobster dinners and fresh lobster rolls. This culinary fare is prepared by dozens of local nonprofit organizations allowing them to raise funds for their charitable causes. At the Seaport Tent, learn about Norwalk’s oystering history and browse specialty items on sale celebrating the Sheffield Island Lighthouse. And, if you have worked up a thirst, no worries head to the craft beer tent that offers more than forty beers.

Tickets
The event is held at Veteran’s Park, adjacent to Norwalk Harbor on Seaview Avenue in Norwalk, CT. Admission for adults is $10 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. Tickets can be purchased online at www.seaport.org.

Festival Hours: Friday, Sept. 6, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, September 7, from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., and Sunday, September 8 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For those that want to take the train, Metro-North is offering a discount package with free shuttle service from the train station to the Oyster Festival.

Free parking and shuttle service available from Calf Pasture Beach and Norwalk City Hall. Ample parking right over the bridge in the Maritime Parking Garage and other lots.

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 http://www.seaport.org or call (203) 838-9444.