Tag: Litchfield Hills

Compete in Jumpfest’s Human Dog Sled Race for Cash Prizes: A Winter Tradition Like No Other January 31 @ Satre Hill

Get ready for an unforgettable winter adventure at Jumpfest, hosted by the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA). While aspiring Olympic ski jumpers take center stage, this event also delivers one-of-a-kind thrills with the wildly popular Human Dog Sled Race—a unique spectacle found in only a handful of places worldwide.

This year, the Human Dog Sled Race returns as a fan-favorite tradition, kicking off under the newly installed state-of-the-art lights at Satre Hill in Salisbury on Friday, January 31. New this year, teams will compete for Cash Prizes! The action begins around 8:30 p.m., right after the Target Jumps wrap-up. Planning to compete? Be sure to arrive when the ticket booth opens at 6 p.m. to check in, organize your sled, and lock in your spot for the race. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exhilarating winter event!

Are you curious about what a Human Dog Sled Race is? Think classic dogsledding but with a hilarious twist—no huskies here! Instead, you and your friends are the “power pups.” Here’s the scoop: gather a team of six – everyone must be 18+ and ready for some snowy action. Five teammates will pull the sled, while one lucky rider gets the best seat in the house—along with the laughs! The race spans a .3-mile snow track, so be prepared to bring your A-game. Compete for glory and cash prizes in men’s, women’s, or mixed categories, but speed isn’t your only ticket to victory. The ultimate prize? The People’s Choice Award, given to the team with the most creative costumes and sled design. Think outside the sled—inner tubes, steam-punk rigs, you name it. The crazier, the better! Dress to impress, unleash your team spirit, and let the snow-filled fun begin!

Registration is open through January 30, 2025. The registration form is online at jumpfest.org. The fee to enter is a modest $25 per team, including free entrance to Jumpfest! Proceeds benefit SWSA’s Junior Ski Programs. An added bonus is that Friday night of Jumpfest is a great all-around time in a beautiful alpine setting. An eighth of a mile of luminaries guide visitors to the site where there are two roaring bonfires and plenty of food and beverages to snack on. The target ski jumping and the Human Dog Sled Races are held under the newly installed state-of-the-art lights, and both are professionally announced! For more information about Jumpfest https://jumpfest.org 

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.

JanetLeave a comment

Whiting Mills Spooktacular Event October 5 and 6 and Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art

On Saturday, October 5th and Sunday, October 6, ghosts, goblins, witches, and other heroes of horrors will abound in Whiting Mills located at 100 Whiting Street, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thirty Artists’ Studios will be open and brimming with frightful delights, oddities, tantalizing treats, and whimsically spooky creations. In addition to exploring working artist studios decked out for Halloween, there will be scavenger hunts, a costume contest for adults and children, an interactive monster display, and candy for all trick-or-treaters! Best of all the admission to this event is FREE.

Take a chance to win this basket!

One studio not to be missed is Tina’s Baskets and Woven Arts which has been cleverly decorated with all things Halloween. Tina Puckett is an internationally award-winning woven artist specializing in everything from intricate baskets and bowls to woven sculptures and wall hangings. When visiting the studio don’t miss the chance to enter the drawing to win a beautiful Gothic black basket embellished by bittersweet that is brimming with Halloween candy!

If you can’t make it to the Spooktacular event @ Whiting Mills on October 5th and 6th, no worries, Tina’s studio will remain decorated through October and will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information about this award-winning artist as well as information about her classes visit tinasbaskets.com.

About Tina’s Baskets
Tina Puckett is an internationally awarded weaver of baskets and woven arts. You can see her works in her studio #305/ Tina’s Baskets. Located at Whiting Mills in Winsted, Connecticut. Tina has been weaving since 1981 using hand-dyed reeds, bittersweet vines, and a variety of found objects like beads or seagrass. Her work is showcased at galleries across the World and as well at her gallery/studio where you will often find her weaving on weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are preferred and can be arranged by texting 860-309-6934.

JanetLeave a comment

Get Ready for Old Fashioned Fun Italian Style!

Bocce’s origins can be traced back to 5200 B.C. with ancient Egyptian artwork that depicts boys playing a game that resembles bocce. As bocce’s popularity grew, it spread through Asia Minor and was adopted by the Greeks and passed on to the Roman Empire. Bocce can be played by anyone, young and old alike, and because of its ease and versatility, it spread throughout the world. Bocce has even made it to Norfolk, Connecticut! Get ready to join the fun on October 6 for Norfolk, Connecticut’s 6th annual Bocce Tournament beginning at 3 p.m.

So get your Bocce team together and head to Norfolk’s Bocce Court located at 10 Station Place. This year brackets start to form at 3 pm and the rolling will start as soon as two teams are assembled. If you want your team to have a guaranteed spot, please email lboucher@norfolkmgmt.com This year event organizers are planning to run 8 teams with 4 people on each team to let as many people play as possible. If you have less than 4 people we may merge you with another small team. Participants will be treated to pizza! Winners will have an engraved name place on the Fence of Fame to be admired for all time!

If you want to take your chances on playing, you’re also welcome to show up and join a team when you arrive if there are spots available! This is a fun fall afternoon and you might end up on our Fence of Fame! If you don’t want to play, half the fun is cheering on your favorite team!

JanetLeave a comment

A Morning Ramble to Apple Hill and Cat Swamp @ White Memorial Foundation

Start your day on Saturday, August 31st with a hike up to what Gerri refers to as White Memorial’s “Jewel in the Crown”; Apple Hill. If you want to participate meet at the Apple Hill parking area on East Shore Road at 8 a.m. The hike is free but you must pre-register because this hike is open to 15 participants.

On this walk, keep your eyes peeled for Vultures and Eagles soaring overhead. Then take a stroll down the Laurel Hill Trail to visit the spectacular Cat Swamp. Wind your way through a carpet of Princess Pine to the swamp where sightings of Wood Ducks, otters, herons, beavers, and hawks are commonplace.

photo credit: White Memorial

Be sure to wear sturdy, waterproof shoes. A hiking pole might be useful. Some water and bug spray might come in handy too! To register click here

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In Native American communities bark rattles are used in a number of traditional ceremonies, dances, and spiritual gatherings. For dancers, they help maintain the beat of the music by complimenting drums. On Saturday, June 22, at 10 a.m. the Institute for American Indian Studies is holding a Bark Rattle Workshop with Richard Chrisjohn (Oneida). An advocate for Indigenous sovereignty and the preservation of traditional teachings, Chrisjohn is a fourth-generation woodcarver who lives on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, Akwesasne, in Hogansburg, New York. This hands-on workshop will give participants a better understanding of the Iroquois culture and their traditional approach to our environment.

The highlight of this workshop is to make an elm bark rattle whose shape is dictated by the bark being used or a bark rattle necklace. Rattles and necklaces are made using the inner bark of the American elm tree. The inner portion of the rattle will be filled with small objects that create a rattling sound when shaken. During this workshop, participants will also learn about the history and culture of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, as well as the traditional uses of various trees and natural materials.

This is an outdoor program so participants should dress accordingly. If there is heavy rain or high temperatures, the program will move inside the Institute.

Space is limited and pre-registration is requested. Please visit our website to register online at http://www.iaismuseum.org, email events@iaismuseum.org, or call (860) 868 0518. The price of participation, including materials is $30 for non-members and $20 for members.


About The Institute for American Indian Studies
Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have a 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, in Washington, Connecticut.

JanetLeave a comment

Creative Day at Whiting Mills – May 11 Take a Free Class with Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art

On May 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the general public will have the opportunity to unleash their inner artist and let their creativity run wild at Whiting Mill’s “Creative Day” where a variety of classes and workshops are offered at no charge. It is the ideal way to step away from the mundane and get your creativity flowing by signing up for up to three classes. Jewelry makers, candle and soap makers, painters, photographers, special effect make–up artists, and a nationally awarded woven arts weaver have joined together to celebrate and nurture the creative spirit that lives in all of us.

The general public is invited to Whiting Mills located at 210 Holabird Rd. in Winsted at 9 a.m. to sign up for two classes of their choice. After completing their two-morning classes that run from one hour to one and a half hours long, they can sign up for one additional class that is not filled up at noon. The artists can offer these classes for free because of grants from a variety of sponsors. All materials are provided and participants will leave with a piece of art that they have created under the guidance of professional artists and craftspeople. In addition to classes, there will be a series of demonstrations throughout the building to show what the creative process entails and to encourage folks to pursue their dreams in the creative arts.

The classes offered by Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art, located in Studio 305, are three of the most coveted of the day because it gives people the chance to work with a nationally and internationally awarded artist. These intensive and fun classes are limited to six people per session and will run about an hour and a half. The lucky folks who sign up for these classes will leave with a small basket that they have handcrafted from Tina’s hand-dyed reeds. The studio itself is a pleasure to explore because it is a treasure trove of hand-woven work that includes baskets, bowls, sculptures, and wall hangings. Each piece is inspired by Tina’s imagination and woven with hand-dyed reeds into beautiful dynamic shapes in delightful color combinations that won’t be found anywhere else. They are an inspiration and may encourage participants to sign up for one of Tina’s extensive group classes that she offers throughout the year for all levels of weaving acumen.

This is the second annual Creative Day at Whiting Mills that is being held to have fun while learning new skills to encourage participants to keep creating!

JanetLeave a comment