Tag: Litchfield Hills

Holiday Fun Naturally at White Memorial Foundation

White Memorial Foundation is the largest nature sanctuary in the state located on 80 White Hall Road in Litchfield. To get in a holiday mood, the foundation is having an open house on December 14 where guests are invited to stroll through the Museum, sipping mulled cider and shopping for their last minute holiday gifts. Participants can take 10% off all purchases! This one Night only Open House Special: Buy a Membership for Yourself or a Loved One and Receive a WMCC Tote! (New members only). The event takes place from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

On December 15 at 6:00 p.m. White Memorial is hosting a very special event, “Comfort and Joy” Ilvi Dulac’s Readers Theater presents: A Christmas Carol featuring local thespian Ilvi Dulac. This year the Reader’s Theater brings glad tidings in the form of excerpts from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Sit back and listen to her dulcet tones breathing life into the characters of Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, Bob Cratchit, and Tiny Tim! Enjoy a light dinner, some mulled cider, and exit into the chilly evening overflowing with the warmth of the holiday season! Members: $20.00 Non-members: $30.00. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

Fabulous diorama at White Memorial Foundation
Fabulous
diorama at White Memorial Foundation

Winding up the month of December, White Memorial Foundation is showing a documentary film on Christmas in Yellowstone on December 29 at 2:00 p.m. This film, from the PBS series, Nature, take a breathtaking look at wintertime deep within America’s first national park. Stretching across more than 2.2 million acres of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho is one of the greatest expanses of unspoiled nature and wildlife anywhere on Earth — Yellowstone National Park. Designated America’s first national park in1872, Yellowstone now receives almost three million visitors each year. Yet only a small fraction of those who glimpse the park’s stunning vistas, geological wonders, and animal residents do so during the winter months, a time when nature’s inhospitality is matched only by its serenity.

For more information visit:http://www.whitememorialcc.org and for area information visit www.litchfieldhills.com.

JanetLeave a comment

Holiday in Washington Depot Dec. 14

Washington Parks & Recreation and the Washington Business Association is hosting an evening of fun and good cheer in this bucolic village in the heart of the Litchifeld Hills.

There will be food, music, raffles, and hay rides throughout the town. The evening will begin at 6:00pm with the lighting of the tree by a very special guest. Outside the town hall after the tree has been lit, children from Washington Montessori School will be singing Christmas carols . Shortly after the tree lighting, Santa will arrive by way of hay wagon and listen to children’s wishes in the town hall until 8:30 p.m. Pictures will be taken with one photo per child provided.

The Troubadours from the Gunnery School will be caroling throughout the Depot during the evening. Clifford the Big Red Dog will be visiting businesses to offer holiday paw shakes to his fans. Inside the Town Hall, The Ladies Auxiliary of the Washington Volunteer Fire Department will have a special mailbox for letters to Santa, and will be selling their annual Christmas Ornament.

The Gunn Memorial Library and Gunn Museum will have a craft project for the children while they patiently wait for their turn with Santa. Washington Primary School PTO will be selling baked goods outside the Town Hall from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

The Senior Center will be selling gift items and raffling off a wreath and poinsettia donated by Painter Ridge Farm. The Washington Business Association will be sponsoring a drawing for a Mini I Pad and a gift basket of goodies. Tickets for the drawing will be available at member businesses from 6-8 and should be dropped off at Washington Supply for the drawing at 8:30.


The Hickory Stick Bookshop will be hosting a book signing from 7- 8 with Florence and Wendell Minor featuring My Bookstore for which they wrote an essay on the shop. Mo the Magician will be showing his tricks at Washington Supply and Outdoor Living from 6:30-8;30.

Other activities will be featured throughout the Depot to delight visitors to open businesses. Whether you stroll the streets of the Depot or ride on the hay wagon you’ll find a warm welcome inside the beautifully decorated shops which have kept their doors open welcoming friends with refreshments and other surprises. It is an evening not to be missed in Litchfield Hills.

JanetLeave a comment

A Taste of Litchfield Hills Aug. 25 – 27

From comfort food to gourmet dishes and live entertainment to an outdoor shopping bazaar, the 27th annual Taste of The Litchfield Hills will offer a menu of fine fare and fun at a new location.

New England’s oldest food and wine festival will be held Saturday & Sunday, Aug. 25-26, 2012, at its new location, Harwinton Fairgrounds, 150 Locust Road, Harwinton, Conn.

Since 1985, the festival has annually attracted thousands of guests for a sampling of the region’s food and wine, plus upscale shopping and live entertainment.

This year’s menu will feature such dishes as BBQ pulled pork, braised short ribs, chicken and black bean chili, fresh prosciutto Panini, lamb shawama pita wrap, lobster hush puppies, lobster mac and cheese, grilled pizza, New England clam chowder, seared sea scallops, sesame chicken and many other items. Sweet offerings will include apple cider cinnamon donuts, banana & toffee pie, fruit smoothies, old fashioned kettle corn, white chocolate apricot squares and many other delicious desserts. The 2012 Menu is available for download at www.LitchfieldFestivals.com.

Foodies will enjoy “grazing-sized” portions of house specialties prepared by chefs from regional restaurants, bistros and other purveyors of fine food with prices ranging from $4.00 to $8.00 per item. Table seating will be available in the festival’s Culinary Tent and outdoor picnic pavilions. Plus, guests are invited to picnic on the grounds with their own lawn chairs and blankets.

Participating culinary vendors will include @ The Corner (Litchfield), Backstage Restaurant (Torrington), Faddy’s Donuts & Ice Cream (Bloomfield), The Green Room Café (Winsted), Indochine Pavilion (New Haven), Infinity Bistro (Norfolk), Jake’s Wayback Burgers (Torrington), Kelly’s Kitchen (Winsted), KJ’ Grilled Pizza (Torrington), La Cupola Ristorante & Inn (Litchfield) and Noujaim’s Specialty Foods (Torrington).

An assortment of imported Italian wines from Don Tomasi Winery will be available for purchase by the glass. Samuel Adams Boston Lager beer, plus a variety of soft drinks also will be available for purchase.

Live entertainment will include country singer-songwriter Courtney Drummey (Saturday, 12-3 p.m.), jazz recording artists The Christine Spero Group (Saturday, 4-7 p.m.) and blues artists The Andy James Band (Sunday, 1-4 p.m.).

Guests will also enjoy an upscale shopping experience in the festivals outdoor bazaar featuring such unique gift items as artisan-crafted jewelry, gourmet food products, kitchenware and other products and services.

Hours for A Taste of the Litchfield Hills will be 12 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, and 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012.

Ticket prices are Adult (age 12-64): $10 On-Site or $8 Advance Purchase; Senior (age 65+): $8 On-Site or $6 Advance Purchase; and Child (Under 12): Free admission. Advance tickets and more information are available at www.LitchfieldFestivals.com. Admission does not include food and beverage, which are purchased separately.

Harwinton Fairgrounds is located off Route 4 on Locust Road in Harwinton, Conn., just a few minutes from the intersection of Routes 8 & 118 and is an easy day-trip from Albany, The Berkshires, Hartford, The Hudson Valley, Metro New York, New Haven and Springfield.

With its antique shops, art galleries, covered bridges and quaint villages, the Litchfield Hills is an ideal vacation destination for the three-day holiday weekend. Lodging options include dozens of bed and breakfasts, country inns, resorts, hotels and motels. Tourism information is available from the Western Conn. Convention & Visitors Bureau at 860-567-4506 or www.LitchfieldHills.com.

About A Taste of The Litchfield Hills

Since 1985, A Taste of The Litchfield Hills has annually attracted thousands of guests for a sampling of the region’s food and locally-produced wine, plus live entertainment and upscale shopping. More Info: http://www.LitchfieldFestivals.com

JanetLeave a comment

Sharon Audubon Festival August 11th and 12th

Wendy with Sophia

The 45th annual Sharon Audubon Festival will be taking place at the Sharon Audubon Center, located on Route 4 in Sharon, CT on Saturday and Sunday, August 11th and 12th. The Audubon Festival is an event where people of all ages can learn about nature in a fun and interactive way, and features two full days of nature walks and programs, live animal presentations, children’s activities, food, music, exhibits, vendors and more. Whether one is a seasoned naturalist or a young explorer, there are activities for all ages and experience levels.

Erin with a Red Hawk

Two keynote presentations will also take place each day. At 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm on Saturday, Talons will engage visitors with a falconry demonstration. These amazing birds of prey will also be on display throughout the day on Saturday. A live animal show presnted by Rainforest Reptiles known for their dynamic educational programs will take place at 1:00 pm on Sunday afternoon. The festivities will close on Sunday with Flight of the Raptor, another exciting falconry demonstration back by popular demand.

Scheduled programs take place at 10:00, 10:30, 11:00 and 2:15 each day. Examples of programs include Exploring Bog Meadow by Canoe, Porcupines, Tree Identification Walk, Swarming Behavior of Honey Bees, Bird Banding, Orienteering, Reptiles, Bears, Pressed Flower Bookmarks and much more. Ongoing activities such as a live animal exhibits from the Beardsley Zoo and Wonders on Wheels and the children’s Merry Marsh Activity Tent, as well as various vendors, will be on hand throughout each day. Food is also available for purchase.

Gates are open from 9:30am-5: 30pm each day. No pets are allowed inside the gates. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. A complete schedule and description of programs can be found at www.sharon.audubon.org or by calling 860-364-0520 for more information.

JanetLeave a comment

Tri-Arts Theatre’s Patio Cabarets July 21-27

Fun at TriArts New Venue – Photo credit: Sean Bemand

TriArts Sharon Playhouse has announced a new venue for summer fun…Patio Cabarets! The entertainment will take place on the new covered patio attached to the Sharon Playhouse. Patio cabarets will feature the talented production cast members from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Altar Boyz. Cabarets will commence after the regular main stage performance on selected dates. The performers will be singing material of their own: Broadway, standards, pop, country…you’ll hear it all!

Tri-Arts is always looking for new ways to make the Sharon Playhouse a place that people can enjoy and with this new beautiful patio and bar area it is a winning combination. Patrons are encouraged to arrive at the Playhouse early for a bite to eat and then (on certain nights) stay late to enjoy the tremendous talents of the casts. As all theatre goers know, sometimes actors don’t have the ability to showcase their full talents in any given production role. The conviviality inspired by patio cabarets will both allow incredible performers to impress with their myriad skills, as well as continue to find ways for audiences and artists to mingle.”

Photo credit: Sean Bemand

The environment is casual and the bar will be open; stay for a few minutes or for the entire hour.

Patio Cabarets will take place on Saturday July 21st, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, July 25th; 26th and 27th. There is no charge and you will have the chance to meet the cast.

Upcoming Shows

The 2012 Summer Season at TriArts Sharon Playhouse continues with The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas starring Adinah Alexander, the award-winning musical Altar Boyz (July 20-29) and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music (August 9-26).

About TriArts Sharon Playhouse

TriArts Sharon Playhouse (Alice Bemand, Executive Director; Michael Berkeley and John Simpkins, Artistic Directors) is a not-for-profit theatre, located in Litchfield Hills, Sharon, CT. In addition to producing mainstage musicals and many special events each summer season, TriArts also offers a summer youth theatre program, workshops and readings of new musicals, concerts, and special events throughout the year in its Bok Gallery. For more information on TriArts Sharon Playhouse, please visit http://www.triarts.net or call 860-364-SHOW (7469).

JanetLeave a comment

West Comes East at Goshen Stampede, With Rodeo Thrills Just in Time for Fathers Day

Goshen Stampede

Promising the best Stampede ever and one of the most unique Fathers Day events anywhere, the 7th Annual Goshen Stampede will go into action for three days, June 15 to 17, bringing Western style rodeo thrills to Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills Champion roping, racing and the challenge of cowboy versus bucking bull and bronco will be the highlights of this busy weekend, which will feature two official Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeos.

Two traditional fair favorites, Demolition Derbies, and Truck Pull competitions, will also be on the schedule. Fireworks on Saturday night, non-stop music on the main stage, a kids’ rodeo and free Petting Zoo and plenty of great food fill out the agenda and insure a good time for all. Proceeds from the event help support local charities as well as national organizations supporting the men, women, and families of the United States Armed Services.

The rodeo fun starts Friday, June 15 at 7 p.m. when the fastest horses in Connecticut and their riders will race for cash prizes and a title in Barrel Racing, an event that demands speed, timing and accuracy to bring home the money.

Rodeo competitions will take place on Saturday, June 16 at 6 p.m. and on Father’s Day; Sunday, June 17th at 2 p.m. junior cowboys will compete in the kid’s rodeo on Saturday at 4 p.m. for entrants up to age 12.

There will be added excitement from two wild Demolition Derbies Friday night at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m., where drivers ram each other’s cars and the last car running is the winner. The Tri-State Truck and Tractor Pulls, spirited competitions to see who can go farthest while pulling prodigious weights, go on Saturday at noon and 5 p.m. and Sunday at noon.

The Stampede will be take place at the Goshen Fair Grounds, 116 Old Middle Street in Goshen. Hours are Friday, June 15th, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m; Saturday, June 16.th 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, June 17,th 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is Adults, $11, ages 10-18, $5 and under 10 free with a paying adult. Advance purchase is available at goshenstampede.com, where a complete schedule of events is also posted

JanetLeave a comment