September 10, 2010

Feast of Festivals and Fairs

Are the end-of-summer blues kicking in? Connecticut has just the remedy. This weekend, there’s a full menu of fairs and festivals so you can soak up every last bit of the summer sun…and fun. For starters how about the Hebron Harvest Fair? Celebrating 40 years of family fun, this agricultural fair takes place Thursday through Sunday at the Hebron Lion’s Fairgrounds in Hebron. No two fairs are the same. The Bethlehem Fair in Bethlehem is an old fashioned country fair with agricultural exhibits, horse show and drawing, art and photography show, amusements, entertainment and plenty of food. And for the next course how does The Taste of Danbury sound? Saturday and Sunday at the City Center & Danbury Green sample the specialties of many area restaurants while enjoying live entertainment including performances by the Marshall Tucker Band. On the Green Fine Art & Craft Show takes place in Glastonbury on Saturday and Sunday. The outdoor art show features 200 award winning exhibitors from around the United States. Saturday’s Arts Festival, on the Town Hall Green in Trumbull, is a multimedia event featuring juried artists and crafters exhibits along with a Children’s Creative Center. Take a break from all this excitement on Saturday evening and head to Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in Hartford, relax and enjoy Guitar Under the Stars. This end of the summer tradition has a sensational lineup of local and international guitarists performing a gamut of musical styles. Classical guitarists Daniel Salazar, Jr. headlines the evening stage accompanied by the Hartford Festival Orchestra.

More outdoor festivities to enjoy:

Norwalk Oyster Festival , East Norwalk (203) 838-9444
Enjoy the award winning waterfront event that recreates the nostalgia of a New England maritime village. There's something for everyone, including headline musical entertainment performing on three stages, Kid’s Cove (a children's activity area), amusement rides, juried arts and crafts show, a food court, BMX & Moto Cruise Stunt Show, harbor cruises on the 49-passenger Seaport Ferry, Sheffield Island tours, tall ship tours aboard Quinnipiac and Soundwaters, an oyster pavilion and so much more. You can't beat that for an incredible day of fun! Saturday is Pirate Day (children wearing pirate garb are admitted free with each adult admission) and Sunday is Family Day. The festival runs from Friday through Sunday.

Taste of Mystic , Mystic (860) 527-9578
Bring the family and your appetite to the Taste of Mystic. Over 30 local restaurants will line Cottrell Street, in Historic Downtown Mystic, each offering a unique and delicious taste of their specialty. Last year’s goodies ranged from honey cilantro shrimp to pad Thai with chicken satay. Don’t miss live performances by musicians like The Cartells, Kevin Crandell Band, High Times, Flowers and Kain and Mind Body and Soul. There will be plenty of family fun and entertainment Friday through Sunday.

North Haven Fair , North Haven (203) 239-3700
Choose the pig you like and cheer him on as the pigs scuttle around the tiny track at Rosie’s Racing Pigs, one of the many fun events at the North Haven Fair. This major agriculture fair promises to be better than ever! The whole family will enjoy the exhibit buildings and booths, Old McDonald’s farm, midway, food, tractor pull, arts and crafts and live entertainment. Groove with the sounds of The Driftwoods, Ricochet and Rivermud. Admission: $9 Adults, $5 Seniors (Sunday only, Free to children under 12.) The fair starts on Thursday and goes right through Sunday.

These highlights represent just a sampling of the many exciting events taking place across Connecticut this weekend. For more information about these and other entertaining activities, click on Events.

This Weekend in Connecticut
September 10, 2010

TORRINGTON
September 11 - A Taste of Opera - Nancy Marine Studio at Warner Theatre, 84 Main Street, Torrington, CT 06790. Time: 7 p.m. Are you ready for a relaxing evening? Then you will enjoy this evening of operatic favorites including works from “Aida," "Carmen," "Porgy & Bess,", "Lakme" and "Madame Butterfly," featuring the classically-trained voices of Elizabeth Lyra Ross (soprano) and Jennifer Johnson Osborne (mezzo-soprano). Admission: $25. (860) 489-7180

HARTFORD
September 11 - Discover Hartford Bicycling & Walking Tour - starts and ends at Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT 06106. Time(s): Registration opens at 7 a.m., tours starts at 9:15 a.m. Discover the fun of biking and walking as a great way to see Connecticut's capital city. Choose from a 10 or 25-mile bike ride through Hartford’s beautiful parks, vibrant and diverse neighborhoods and cityscape. Included for those interested in a 40-mile bike ride is a 15-mile extension to Batterson Park. Or enjoy one of the four different one-hour walking tours. Admission: $35/$40. Participants under 18 years of age, must be accompanied by an adult. (860) 727-0050

WESTPORT
September 11-12 - 7th Annual Fairfield County Concours d’Elegance - Fairfield Hunt Club, 174 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880. Time(s): 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Are you interested in classic, vintage and one of a kind “concept” cars and motorcycles? The Concours d’Elegance will not disappoint you. Showcasing 100 years of significant motor vehicles, this year’s event returns with more than 200 of the world's most extraordinary classic automobiles and rare motorcycles. Saturday is Club Day featuring auto and motorcycle clubs from the Eastern US, including seminars of interest to collectors and enthusiasts. Sunday is Concours day. Special exhibits include: The Coachworks of Howard Darrin, The Cars of The 24 Hours of LeMans, and Styled by the Wind, an exhibit celebrating pre-war vehicle aerodynamics. The Featured Judging Classes are Bugatti, Porsche and Period Hot Rods & Customs from the 50's. Admission: $25 General Admission includes parking valid for both Saturday and Sunday, Free for children 16 and under when accompanied by ticket holding adult. (203) .227-7988

HADDAM
September 12 - Swallow Spectacular- Eagle Landing State Park, One Marine Park, Haddam, CT 06438. Time(s): Arrive at 5:00 p.m. Cruse 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Did you know that during fall migration, thousands of swallows congregate on the lower Connecticut River and at sunset settle in on a giant communal roost? It’s true – see it for yourself! Join Connecticut Audubon Society naturalists for a river boat cruise aboard RIVERQUEST and take a cruise along the Connecticut River. Head South towards Essex and wait for the arrival of nearly ½ million Tree Swallows as they converge upon the marsh in a giant communal roost. Each evening they provide a visual display that is awe inspiring and a definite crowd-pleaser. Bring a picnic dinner and don’t forget your binoculars. Admission: $40. (860) 767-0660

FARMINGTON
September 12 - Women’s Triathlon - Winding Trails, 50 Winding Trails Drive, Farmington, CT 06032. Time(s): Triathlon – Main Gate opens 5:30 a.m., Packet pickup 6-7 a.m., starts 7:30 a.m.. Is completing a Triathlon on your bucket list? If so, this is the triathlon to enter! The 4th annual Women’s Triathlon caters to women of all abilities and ages. Come along and experience a supportive and friendly environment for beginners and competition for the experienced triathletes. Participants will swim a 1/2 mile loop in the Winding Trails lake, cycle 12 miles through the quiet roads of Farmington and Avon and then enjoy a flat 5K run through the wide dirt trails in Winding. If you have questions about the Triathlon, attend a workshop on Saturday at Center Wheel, 62 Farmington Avenue, Farmington at noon or 3 p.m. Topics will include what to expect in each stage of the race and basic USAT rules to follow. Admission: Call for rates (860) 527-9578