Tag: CT event

Registration Open for 2026 Norfolk Tour de Forest Bike Ride on October 17

Registration is now open for the 2026 Norfolk Tour de Forest, taking place on Saturday, October 17. This popular annual gravel ride supports two local nonprofit organizations: Great Mountain Forest and Norfolk Rails to Trails.

Riders of all experience levels are invited to spend a crisp autumn day exploring the remarkable landscape of Great Mountain Forest—one of Connecticut’s largest undeveloped woodland areas. New riders are welcome.

The event features two routes, giving participants the flexibility to choose the ride that best matches their endurance and experience. Icebox Gravel begins at 9:30 a.m. and spans 30 rugged miles of gravel and paved roads, including sections conserved by the Norfolk Land Trust. The signature Tour de Forest starts at 10 a.m. and covers 13 scenic miles along a mix of gravel and paved roads through and around Great Mountain Forest.

Riders are encouraged to keep an eye out for wildlife along the way. Great Mountain Forest’s roads are repaired and maintained annually to support forest management, research, educational, and recreational activities.

The ride begins and ends at the Norfolk Curling Club, 70 Golf Drive, Norfolk, Connecticut. Day-of registration opens at 8 a.m. Registration is $50 for adults, $25 for teens, and free for riders age 12 and under. All proceeds support the programs of Norfolk Rails to Trails and Great Mountain Forest. Register at BikeReg.

At the finish, riders can refuel with sweet and savory treats—including shots of maple syrup produced by the Great Mountain Forest team.

About Great Mountain Forest
Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is a leader in forest stewardship. For more than a century, we have been demonstrating how sustainable management can protect biodiversity and support ecosystems. By serving as a hub for education and research, we are spreading the benefits of sustainable management so that communities across New England derive educational, economic, recreational, and health benefits from their forests—now and well into the future. GMF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit encompassing 6,400 acres of contiguous forestland in Norfolk, Canaan, and Falls Village, Connecticut.

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Glebe House Museum to Debut Haunted Hollow Tours in Woodbury on October 24

As autumn settles across New England, golden leaves give way to bare branches, early sunsets cast long shadows over centuries-old stone walls, and crisp evening air brings an added sense of mystery to every walk outdoors. It is no surprise that historic cemetery tours grow especially popular around Halloween. Beyond seasonal scares, these experiences offer a compelling connection to local history, architecture, folklore, and the people whose lives helped shape their communities.

This year, the Glebe House Museum & Garden in Woodbury will introduce its new Haunted Hollow Tours on Saturday, Oct. 24, with a rain date of Oct. 25. Sponsored by Newtown Savings Bank, the event reimagines the museum’s classic cemetery tour with encounters involving the history, architecture, and memorable residents of Woodbury’s Hollow.

Participants will travel through another era while walking Hollow Road, Doolittle Hill and Main Street. Along the way, they will meet the ghosts of former residents and enter Old South Cemetery to greet the spirits said to rest there.

Six daylight tours will focus on the Hollow’s architecture, local history, and historic cemetery. Six evening tours will offer a more unsettling experience, with spirits potentially appearing from the shadows of the ancient burial ground — listed among Connecticut’s most haunted sites.

With a spirit guide leading the way, attendees will visit the homes and final resting places of some of Woodbury’s most notable and notorious residents. The tours explore burial grounds more than 350 years old, where stories of those buried beneath visitors’ feet are brought to life for the occasion.

On the Glebe House grounds, guests can meet the Leatherman, the well-known wanderer who traveled throughout western Connecticut during the late 1800s and made numerous stops in Woodbury. Visitors may also encounter Dr. Samuel Orton, a physician who practiced medicine in the area more than 250 years ago and may be eager to diagnose modern ailments — and suggest a few leeches.

Tours depart from the museum grounds every 15 minutes, beginning at 4 p.m. Daylight tours run from 4 to 5:45 p.m., while evening tours run from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Evening tour tickets are available only to guests ages 13 and older, and organizers do not recommend the evening experience for children 12 and under.

The experience includes approximately 45 minutes of walking on sidewalks, uneven ground, and hills. Organizers recommend weather-appropriate attire, comfortable shoes, and a flashlight.

Guests may also sign up for tarot readings with Ana M. in the Glebe House Cottage. Ana M., who has more than 40 years of experience, will offer readings for tips, with 50 percent of proceeds benefiting the Glebe House Museum. Readings are valued at $30, and cash is preferred. Ticket holders will receive a reservation link, and advance sign-up is recommended.

Tickets are $15 for adults ages 13 and older, $10 for children ages 6–12, and free for children age 5 and under. Space is limited, and advance ticket purchases are encouraged. Last year’s event sold out.

For tickets and additional information, visit https://www.glebehousemuseum.org or contact the museum office at 203-263-2855 or office@glebehousemuseum.org.

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Before Salem: The Glebe House Museum Brings Connecticut’s Witchcraft History to Life

When most Americans think of witch trials, Salem, Massachusetts, immediately comes to mind. Its 1692 outbreak of fear and persecution has come to define the history of witchcraft accusations in colonial America.

But long before Salem’s panic, Connecticut had already endured its own grim era of suspicion, imprisonment, exile, and execution. Connecticut’s witchcraft trials came first—and in many ways, their story is just as unsettling.

Unlike Salem’s single, concentrated crisis, Connecticut’s cases unfolded across several communities and over multiple decades. That scattered history, combined with incomplete surviving records, may help explain why the state’s witch trials are less familiar today.

On October 3 at 5:30 p.m., the Glebe House Museum brings a powerful new presentation, “The First: Witchcraft in Connecticut,” to the Old Town Hall in Woodbury. This full-length live debut presentation revisits Connecticut’s first witchcraft trials and confronts a question that still resonates today: What happens when fear decides who belongs, who is believed, and who is condemned? Hosted by “The Witch of Woodbury,” Moll Cramer—a historical figure accused of witchcraft and banished from town—the evening moves beyond the label of “witch” to reveal the real people behind the accusations.

With continued research and support from Newtown Savings Bank, the Glebe House Museum and longtime historian and volunteer Linda Barr-Gale have developed this expanded presentation that places Moll Cramer’s experience in a wider historical context. This premiere also includes the stories of Thomas Allyn, Rebecca Greensmith, and Katherine Harrison—people whose lives reveal the breadth and human cost of Connecticut’s witchcraft prosecutions.

For those familiar with Salem but unfamiliar with Connecticut’s earlier trials, The First: Witchcraft in Connecticut offers a chance to see colonial history differently. Rather than treating the era as a sensationalized footnote, the program centers on the lives affected by injustice: people who survived, people who were cast out, and people whose stories ended in tragedy.

The evening is also a reminder that history is not only preserved in major events and famous names. Sometimes, it survives through fragments—court documents, diaries, depositions, church records, and the determination of local historians to ensure that forgotten stories are not lost altogether.

Registration Details
Date: October 3, 2026
Location: Old Town Hall, 5 Mountain Road, Woodbury, CT.
Doors open: 5:00 p.m.
Program begins: 5:30 p.m.
Running time: Approximately two hours, including an intermission
Seating: General Admission
Guests needing additional accommodations are encouraged to contact the Museum at 203-263-2855.
Due to the program’s runtime and content, it is not recommended for children under 14.
Complimentary refreshments will be served during intermission.
Tickets https://www.glebehousemuseum.org/single-post/the-first-witchcraft-in-connecticut
Advance tickets: $25 per person
Tickets at the door: $30 per person
Advance purchase is recommended, as seating is limited. Purchase tickets through the Glebe House Museum website or contact the Museum office at 203-263-2855 or office@glebehousemuseum.org.

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Aton Forest Centennial Science Lecture III Explores the Hidden Art and Ecology of Leafminers

For 100 years, Aton Forest in northwest Connecticut has protected habitat, supported ecological research, and expanded understanding of the natural world. Its centennial celebration honors that legacy, including the 2026 addition of the 965-acre Spaulding Pond Mini-Wilderness in Norfolk, created by Egler’s wife, Happy Kitchel, bringing Aton Forest’s owned natural areas to 2,500 acres.

 

As part of the celebration, Aton Forest will present its third science lecture, “Aton Forest Leafminers,” featuring Charley Eiseman, Aton Forest Research Fellow and published field biologist. The lecture will take place Friday, September 18, 2026, at 4 p.m. at the Norfolk Hub in Norfolk, Connecticut.

A recognized expert on leafminers, Eiseman will take audiences inside a fascinating and often overlooked corner of natural history. He will explore the world of leafminers—larvae of certain moths, flies, beetles, and sawflies that feed between the epidermal layers of leaves. Their activity leaves behind striking trails, blotches, and patterns known as leaf mines, creating a remarkable record on host plants. Eiseman will also highlight the complex relationship between insects and plants, and the vivid traces leafminers leave in their wake.

Since 2011, Eiseman has compiled and published natural-history information on leafminers across the continental United States and Canada, combining it with his own field observations and rearing records. He has traveled extensively to study leafminers in diverse bioregions and has written or coauthored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications, including descriptions of more than 90 new species.

Eiseman has served as an Aton Forest Fellow since 2022. In 2024, he received recognition from the Linnean Society of London and the Maxwell | Hanrahan Foundation for his contributions to insect natural history. He is the lead author of Tracks & Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates and the author of Leafminers of North America, now in its second edition, with a third edition being released in monthly installments.

Science Lecture III is part of Aton Forest’s 2026 Centennial program and is sponsored by Aton Forest Inc., the Aton Forest Fellowship Trust, the Colebrook Conservation Commission, and the Norfolk Conservation Commission. The yearlong celebration has included a July exhibition at the Norfolk Hub that highlighted Aton Forest’s scientific research, the conservation work of the Egler and Kitchel families in Norfolk and Colebrook, Connecticut, and Frank Egler’s influence on Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring.

The Centennial program also marks the publication of The Spirit of Aton Forest: Frank Egler, Rebel Ecologist, and the Pursuit of Science and Natural Area Protection by Billy Gridley, President of Aton Forest. The book is available at Les Renards Bookstore at Station Place in Norfolk, Connecticut.

About Aton Forest
Aton Forest is dedicated to protecting and stewarding its natural area preserves while advancing forest succession, ecological research, and demonstration work pioneered by its founder, Dr. Frank Egler. Through this mission, Aton Forest honors Dr. Egler’s practical and intellectual legacy and applies it to support both the natural environment and the human communities within the bioregion.

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Danbury Concert Association Opens 2026–27 Series with Acclaimed Pianist Ying Li, Sept. 20 @ 1 p.m.

The Danbury Concert Association launches its 2026–2027 concert season on Sunday, September 20, welcoming internationally acclaimed Chinese concert pianist Ying Li to the Visual & Performing Arts Center at Western Connecticut State University.

The 1 p.m. performance will take place at 43 Lake Avenue Extension in Danbury and promises an afternoon of dazzling technique, expressive depth, and a captivating program featuring celebrated masterworks of piano repertoire.

Single tickets for the September 20th concert are $33.85 and may be purchased online, at wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com, or at the VPAC Box Office (203-837-8732) up to curtain time. Admission is free for ages 18 and under, courtesy of the Danbury Cultural Commission. Season subscriptions at $89 for all four concerts are also available at https://ticketscandy.com/e/danbury-concert-association-202627-series-18376

Ying Li, phonoto credit Shervin-Lainez

Born in China, Ying Li began studying piano at age five. Just nine years later, her exceptional promise led her to Philadelphia’s prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Jonathan Biss and Seymour Lipkin and earned her bachelor’s degree. She continued her education at The Juilliard School in New York, completing her master’s degree in 2021 under the guidance of Robert McDonald.

That same year marked a major milestone in Li’s rapidly ascending career. She won the Premio Internazionale Antonio Mormone in Milan and was named a laureate of the Young Concert Artists Auditions in New York. These honors affirmed her place among the most exciting young pianists on the international stage.

Li has performed worldwide at renowned chamber music festivals and with leading orchestras. Her performances have brought her to celebrated venues, from Teatro alla Scala in Milan and Verizon Hall at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Cultural Campus to the Chicago Cultural Center and ACT Concert Hall in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Widely praised for her “nerves of steel,” technical brilliance, and profound musical sensitivity, Li brings a presence that is both commanding and deeply communicative. For her Danbury appearance, Li will perform a compelling and wide-ranging program featuring works by Bach/Busoni, Amy Beach, Stravinsky, and Qigang Chen. The repertoire offers audiences an opportunity to experience the breadth of her artistry—from clarity and control to sweeping virtuosity and emotional nuance. Following the concert, audience members are invited to stay and meet the rising piano star in person.

With Ying Li’s dynamic artistry opening the season, the Danbury Concert Association’s 2026–2027 series begins on a high note—inviting music lovers to experience a remarkable performer whose international career is already making an indelible impression.



About the Danbury Concert Association
The Danbury Concert Association is a nonprofit organization with roots dating back to the 1930s. Officially spun off from the Danbury Music Centre in 1957, the Association has brought internationally renowned talent to Connecticut every year since then, except during the COVID era. Today, performances are held at the Visual and Performing Arts Center at Western Connecticut State University, featuring internationally acclaimed artists in a state-of-the-art concert hall. The Association presents four concerts per season, two in the fall and two in the spring, each followed by a meet-the-artists reception.

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Parmalee, Lita Ford and Jump: America’s Van Halen Experience at the 48th Norwalk Oyster Festival September 11-13

The Norwalk Seaport Association has unveiled its 2026 entertainment lineup, running September 11 through September 13, 2026. The 48th annual three-day festival blends seaside charm with arena-level performances. The weekend kicks off Friday night with a jolt of rock history. At 8 p.m. on September 11, Lita Ford—the groundbreaking guitarist and former Runaways member—brings her unmistakable brand of glam metal to Norwalk. Known for hits like “Kiss Me Deadly” and the powerful duet “Close My Eyes Forever” with Ozzy Osbourne, Ford’s career spans decades, accolades, and a permanent place in rock’s cultural DNA. Her presence anchors opening night with grit, nostalgia, and undeniable star power.

Lita Ford brings glam metal to the Norwalk Oyster Festival

Taking over the Xfinity Main Stage on Saturday at 8:30 p.m., September 12, is multi-platinum country group Parmalee—a band that has steadily climbed from regional favorite to national powerhouse. With more than 1.6 billion on-demand streams and six No. 1 hits, Parmalee has helped redefine modern country music, threading together classic storytelling with a polished, crossover-ready sound. Expect a setlist stacked with fan favorites like “Carolina,” “Close Your Eyes,” and “Already Callin’ You Mine alongside newer chart-toppers including “Take My Name,” “Girl in Mine,” and “Cowgirl,” a track that recently made history as one of the longest-running No. 1 songs by a band on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in over a decade. Recent releases include the deeply personal “How Do I Let You Go” and their current single, “God Knew Better.”

Dance to the multi-platinum country group Parmalee

On Sunday, the festival shifts into high gear one last time as JUMP: America’s Van Halen Experience closes out the weekend. Taking the Xfinity Main Stage at 4 p.m. on September 13, the band delivers a high-octane tribute to Van Halen’s David Lee Roth era—complete with faithful renditions, theatrical flair, and a setlist that dives beyond the biggest hits into deep-cut territory for true fans.

The high octane performance of JUMP: America’s Van Halen Experience closes out the weekend

The Norwalk Oyster Festival is about much more than headlining performers; it’s an experience the whole family can enjoy. On Sunday, Kids Day makes it especially fun for families, with children 12 and under admitted free with a paying adult. Many of the festival’s shows are included with your ticket and scheduled throughout the day, so you can catch your favorites without missing a moment. And, if your family loves rides, an unlimited ride wristband is available on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

As Norwalk Oyster Festival Chairman, Mike Reilly puts it, “The Norwalk Oyster Festival brings it all together – arena-sized live bands, a craft village, rides, great food, and family entertainment, all packed into one unforgettable three-day weekend.”

This year’s presenting sponsor, Mohegan Sun Online Casino, is once again raising the bar with a VIP experience, bringing a touch of resort-level service to the festival. “Our partnership with the Norwalk Seaport Association continues to be an amazing relationship for our business and our presence in the community,” said Colin Mulhern, Event Manager, Mohegan Sun Online Casino.

For tickets and full event details, visit https://www.seaport.org/norwalkoysterfestival_entertainment

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