Tag: CT events

Salisbury Jumpfest and Eastern U.S. Ski Jumping Championships Feb. 8 -10

Despite last week’s rain and 50 degree temperatures, there will be no shortage of snow at Satre Hill this weekend when the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA) hosts ski jumping for the 87th year during Jumpfest Weekend in Salisbury, CT, drawing some of the best junior jumpers in the East- many with Olympic aspirations.

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SWSA president Ken Barker said “The night time temperatures dropped right after the warm spell and we’ve been making snow ever since.” Barker added “We have two snow guns that produce huge volumes of snow.”

With overnight temperatures remaining low this week SWSA directors will continue snowmaking to add extra cover to the landing hill.

photo credit Jonathan Doster
photo credit Jonathan Doster

“Our biggest problem,” Barker said “is that because there isn’t much snow on the ground out there, people may think that we don’t have any either. Right now, our ski jump facility looks like a big white patch in a otherwise brown world.”

The three-day Jumpfest will include Target-Jumping Under the Lights as well as the Human Dogsled Race, a crowd favorite where five humans pull one human on a sled around a .3 mile course. Teams get very creative with both their costumes and sleds.

photo credit: Jonathan Doster
photo credit: Jonathan Doster

Junior jumpers, many of whom have recently completed in the junior jump camp, will show off their new-found skills as they compete on the 20 and 30 meter hills.

Ice carving will return to the Scoville Memorial Library again this year, but with a new twist. In place of an actual competition, the event will feature multiple-block demonstration pieces by some the areas (and country’s) best carvers that will be sure to impress. To add to the fun, the areas best restaurants will compete in a chili cook-off. At night, Snow Ball revelers can dance to the rock and roll music of Common Folk and Treetop Blues featuring Joe Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult fame.

Schedule of Events

Friday
Nite Lites

6:30 pm- Chili Cook-off
7 pm- Target-Jumping under the lights.
Following jumping- Human Dogsled Race

Saturday

9 am- Nordic Kids 20 and 30 meter competition
11am-noon- practice for Salisbury Invitational ski jumping competition
1pm-3pm- Salisbury Invitational Competition
11am-3pm- Ice Carving Demonstration featuring area’s best carvers, Scoville Memorial Library, free admission
8pm-midnight- Snow Ball, featuring opening band The Common Folk and treetop Blues with Joe Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult fame, at the Lakeville Hose Co., admission: Adults $12, children 12 and under free.

Sunday

Pancake Breakfast at Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance building
11am- Practice 87th Annual Eastern Ski Jumping Championships
1pm- Competition including Junior Olympic hopefuls.

All jumping events held at Satre Hill in Salisbury.
Unless otherwise noted, admission for all events: $10 for adults and children 12 and under are free.

Proceeds from Jumpfest Weekend will fund SWSA’s children’s skiing programs.

For updates and program changes go to www.Jumpfest.org. For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

JanetLeave a comment

Atka the wolf visiting New Canaan Historical Society

On Saturday, January 12 at 3 p.m. Atka, a beautiful white wolf will pay a visit to the New Canaan Historical Society in conjunction with the current exhibit, “Little Red Riding Hood Visits the Historical Society,” on display until March 2.

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Little red Riding Hood is a fairy tale that has fascinated generations from the 1800s to the present day. To celebrate this tale, collector, Peg Rice has amassed all things “Little Red” and much of her vast and impressive collection is on display at the New Canaan Historical Society located on 13 Oenoke Ridge in New Canaan.

On January 12 at 3 p.m. the Society will welcome a special guest on behalf of Little Red Riding Hood Atka, a wolf ambassador from the Wolf Conservation Center. The program begins with an informative and entertaining look at the history of wolves in North America, their biology and the mythology that surrounds them. Atka is a beautiful wolf that loves to meet people, and, as a great “wolf teacher,” he will educate all in attendance on the importance of his wild “brothers and sisters”! Atka always receives rave reviews and never fails to impress children and adults alike!

Atka is the oldest ambassador wolf at the Wolf Conservation Center (WCC). He arrived at the WCC from Minnesota when he was just 8 days old. The WCC staff, volunteers, ambassador wolves and Eno raised him. Eno was the WCC’s resident German Shepherd and ambassador wolf nanny.

Atka’s visit will be an indoor event and is appropriate for all ages Atka: $10 per person
Seeing Red exhibit: $5 per person Atka + Exhibit: $13 per person. Reservations are not necessary. For additional information http://www.nchistory.org. For regional information www.visitwesternct.com.

About the New Canaan Historical Society
Founded in 1889, he New Canaan Historical Society has carried out its mission “to bring together and arrange the historical events of the town of New Canaan, the genealogies of the families who have lived in the town, to form a library and to collect relics and curiosities, to form a museum.”

About the Wolf Conservation Center
The Wolf Conservation Center teaches people about wolves, their relationship to the environment and the human role in protecting their future. It was founded in 1999. For more information visit http://nywolf.org.

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January Events at Stepping Stones Museum for Children

At the Stepping Stones Museum for Children, the new year begins with the final days of the show titled Native Voices: New England Tribal Families that will end on January 6th. This unique exhibit is an introduction to Native Americans living in New England today. By visiting five different communities from northern to southern New England, visitors learn about Native American traditions and how modern families balance contemporary life with preservation of important cultural identities through stories and songs. Free with museum admission.

Opening on January 21 is a show titled Framed: Step into Art™ that was produced by the Minnesota Children’s Museum for the members of the Youth Museum Exhibit Collaborative (YMEC). This exhibit allows you to enter the framework of famous paintings and experience art like never before. Art viewers become art as they physically enter a scene and are encouraged to interpret, express and connect with art. They can ride a giant chicken attached to a wagon, set up a camp in the Canadian Rockies, prepare dinner for a group of hungry farmers. They can become an art gallery director, selecting and exhibiting art in their own gallery, as well as explore the exhibit through Art Hunt Cards.

January’s Around the World program focus’s on India. Stepping Stones takes children and parents to 12 different places around the globe, bringing the culture and its people to life. Now in its fourth year, the Around the World Performance Series presents professional artists, musicians, dancers, storytellers and youth performers representing a variety of cultures and traditions.

In its first year, the Museum’s quarterly Accessibility Day program proved to be so popular that they are now offering it on a monthly basis. Accessibility Day falls on Jan. 12 from 9 am – 11 am and offers free admission for families of children with special needs.

On Wednesday, January 16 parents are invited to the Parent Zone from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm where they will learn simple techniques to help their children with numbers, estimation and describing and comparing shapes. This is a parents only workshop. Free childcare for children 3 and older. Free dinner included. Limited space. Registration is required.

On January 25 the Stepping Stones Museum Presents the Story Book Pajama Party from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event will consist of a compelling reading the tale in front of a large screen showing the pages in the book for all to see. After the story, the reading is brought to life when children meet the storybook character (bring your camera). There will also be a hands-on craft activity and a musical parade featuring the storybook character. Dinner is available for purchase in the museum’s cafe.Members $10/person, Non-members $12/person. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Space is limited, registration recommended.

Stepping Stones Museum for Children is located at 303 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT, exit 14 North and 15 South off I-95. Museum hours are Monday-Sunday from 10 am-5 pm. Admission is $15 for adults and children and $10 for seniors. Children under 1 are free. To learn more visit steppingstonesmuseum.org or call 203 899 0606.

For regional information visit www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com.

JanetLeave a comment

Bethlehem New England’s Christmas Town

Over 70 special holiday cache’s to choose from

To get into the proper holiday spirit early, the place to be the first weekend in December is the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut. Festivals galore start the season right in this region that is always as pretty as a Christmas card, and there are numerous opportunities to check off your holiday shopping list in scenic settings. The only dilemma is where to go first.

One good place to start is Connecticut’s own little town of Bethlehem, a quaint, village that is transformed each December, when it becomes New England’s favorite Christmas Town.

Thousands of visitors arrive to mail their Christmas cards with a Bethlehem postmark and to enjoy the 30th annual gala Christmas Town Festival, set this year for Friday night December 7 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a tree lighting at 6 p.m. and Saturday, December 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The town green is transformed for the occasion with some 70 vendors offering crafts and good food. Bring the family for musical entertainment, hayrides and the chance for a photo with Santa. Find the complete schedule at www.christmastownfestival.com

Bethlehem’s historic Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden will be festively decorated for the weekend, with themed decorations in each of the first floor rooms. Children will enjoy games, prizes and surprises and refreshments in the Visitor’s Center. This house will be open during festival hours, December 7 and 8 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. For details, phone (203) 266-7596. For details, phone (203) 266-7596 or visit www.ctlandmarks.org

Bethlehem also offers the chance to visit a rare museum-quality 18th century Neapolitan Crèche housed in a barn at the Abbey of Regina Laudis. Check the hours at www.abbeyofreginalaudis.com

The Bethlehem Post Office is also offering extended hours. Bring your holiday cards and stamp them with a special cache. There are 76 stamp designs to choose from as one new design is added each year. The post office will be open with extended hours for the festival. The post office is open on Fri. Dec. 7 from 8 am to 8 pm; on Sat, December 8, 15, & 22 from 8 am to 3 pm and Mon.- Fri. 8 am to 5 pm the month of December

For area information on where to stay, shop and dine, please visit www.litchfieldhills.com.

JanetLeave a comment

Holiday Lunch at Keeler Tavern

The very popular Christmas Luncheons and Holiday Boutique have become a Ridgefield holiday tradition. This fund raising event is held at the Keeler Tavern Museum, 132 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT. Guests dine in the festively decorated Garden House overlooking the brick walled Garden which is lovely, even in December and especially with a dusting of light snow.

The luncheons will be held this year from Tuesday, December 4th to Saturday, December 8th. There will be two seating’s each day at 11:30 AM and 1:15 PM. The cost will be $25 per person by prepaid reservation. Guests will be invited to visit the seasonally decorated rooms of the Tavern Building. Call 203-438-5485 for reservations or visit http://keelertavernmuseum.org<img

If making a reservation for more than one person, please list the names of other members of your group. Reservations and payment may be made securely on line at keelertavernmuseum.org or by calling the Museum and paying by charge card or by mailing a check directly to the Keeler Tavern Museum. For further information or the menu to be served call the Museum at 203-438-5485.

Holiday Boutique
The Holiday Boutique in the Gilbert Dining Room and Museum Gift Shop will be overflowing with gifts for everyone and every occasion. A new selection of Christmas ornaments, unique decorations of the season, gifts for children and adults will fill the area. These unusual gifts will make filling your gift giving needs easy.

The gift shop will be open from 10:30 AM to 4 PM December 4th through 8th. In addition it will be open Sunday, December 9th from 1 PM – 4 PM. During these days, talented crafters will bring products that will enrich the variety of gifts available. And, don’t forget to buy a gift for yourself.

Early Shopping Days will take place Tuesday, November 27 through Sunday, December 2nd from 1 PM – 4 PM.

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Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce

Lake Compounce is proud to announce their first annual “Lake Compounce Holiday Lights”, a brand new family event taking place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings beginning on November 30th. The park will open at 5 p.m. on Fridays, and at 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The event goes until 9 p.m.and will run November 30, December 1 – 2, 7-9, 14-16, 21-23. The park is located on 822 Lake Ave in Bristol Connecticut and can be reached at 860-585-9987 or by visiting http://www.lakecompounce.com.

Holiday Lights will provide full family entertainment for all ages, and include festive activities such as a spectacular Holiday light show every half hour at the main gate, which will feature tens of thousands of lights dancing to holiday music. Kiddeland rides and family themed rides will be in operation. The Train will be transformed into the North Pole Railway, operated by a very special uniformed train conductor with a Holiday story to tell.

There will be indoor activities such as cookie decorating and gingerbread house making. Children will be given the opportunity to customize their very own letter to Santa, and will then receive a personalized letter sent directly to them, from Santa, just a few days later. On the Kiddeland stage children can enjoy Story Time with Mrs. Clause. There will be carolers strolling throughout the park, an ice carver creating unique, frozen creations, and lots more festive entertainment. The childhood favorite photos with Santa is not to be missed in the Starlight Theatre. The park’s gift shops will also be loaded with Holiday themed merchandise for sale, so guests can get their Holiday shopping done, too.

Admission is $14.99 per adult, $10.99 for children ages four though ten, and free for children three and under. Season pass holders may enter for free with their 2012 or 2013 pass. Admission fees are plus tax. Tickets may be purchased online now, or at the park gate once the event begins. Nominal fees will be charged for various activities. Season Passes are being offered at the park at a special sale price of $69.99 plus tax. They can be purchased as holiday gifts and will include special holiday wrapping.

About Lake Compounce

Lake Compounce, part of the Palace Entertainment family of parks, is New England’s Family Theme Park and the oldest continuously operating amusement park in North America. With the largest water park in Connecticut, and a brand new water slide called Riptide Racer, the park is now in its 168th season. This is the first year the park will be celebrating Holiday Lights, which they hope will be a family tradition for years to come. 2013 Season passes, regularly $75.99, will be on sale for a discounted price of $69.99 plus tax, for the duration of the event. More information can be found at www.lakecompounce.com.

For area information contact www.litchfieldhills.com.

JanetLeave a comment