Summer Fun Abounds @ Weekend in Norfolk July 30, 31 and August 1

 Summer brings family road trips, ice cream sundaes, and playing water tag. One of the best warm-weather activities for families that want to bond and have fun at the same time is to attend a festival like Weekend in Norfolk (WIN). This town-wide celebration was created to offer something for everyone, with activities that won't break the bank, because all are free! 

From an exciting water soccer event, and chalk painting sidewalks with professional artists, to visiting real-life New England farms, and live music galore, there is something to please every member of your family. This year WIN is being held throughout the timeless town of Norfolk on Friday, July 30, Saturday, July 31, and Sunday, August 1. 

If you plan on getting out with your kids this weekend, here is a list of some of the activities WIN is offering to help you plan your visit.

On Friday, July 30, give your kids the lay of the land, by taking a short walk around Norfolk Green, one of the most beautiful in the state. The fountain at the south end of the green is picture-perfect. The marble fountain was designed by famous architect Stanford White in 1889 and has two basins including one for small animals! At 4:30 p.m. it is time to team up and head to the bocce court to test your throwing skills. At 5 p.m. there will be a live performance at nearby Station Place where you can grab a snack and listen to the music of the Grantville Dawgs. The Animal Embassy arrives at 6:30 p.m. and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser because it offers a hands-on experience with a variety of live animals that have been rescued. During this interactive program, your kids will learn about the diversity of life in a fun and entertaining way. And, at the same time and place, there will be all kinds of lawn games to enjoy!

The fun begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 31 with the Farmers Market offers fresh fruit and vegetables as well as an interesting array of arts and crafts. Just for Weekend in Norfolk, there’ll be an equestrian parade, starting at the market at 11 a.m. If your children love water, don't miss the popular fire hose water soccer game that begins at 1 p.m. at the Town Playing Field on Mountain Road. For the budding artist in your family, head to the sidewalk painting area at Robertson Plaza in Station Place at 3 p.m. and let your imagination soar. Artist Susan Anderson well known for her pet portraits and scenic paintings will be on hand to offer stylistic tips and advice. The afternoon is rounded out by live music by Michael Cobb at Station Place beginning at 5 p.m. 

Sunday is Farm Funday with a special visit to each of Norfolk's four farms. Start the day at Husky Meadow Farms where kids will see fields, barns, an ancient orchard, and greenhouses. Kids can watch how bees pollinate the crops and learn how vegetables and fruits are grown organically. At Autumn Harvest Orchard, a highlight is to learn about beekeeping when visiting the hives at the orchard's apiary. Lost Ruby Farm is perfect for the animal lovers in your family. Here kids will get a sneak peek at the farm resident Saanen goats, a breed from Switzerland, plus chickens, pigs, and heritage breed turkeys. If you love tomatoes, stop in at Broad Field Farm to learn how they grow their heirloom tomatoes and to meet their two adorable farm dogs.

If you want to take a break from the self-guided farm tour, there is a nature walk of the North Swamp Trail at 10 a.m. and a photography session that will start out on Norfolk Green. For art lovers, there is a painting demonstration by watercolor artist Pamela Harnois at 1 p.m. in front of a wonderful arts and crafts shop, the Guilded Artisan, at 3 Station Place. To try out your artistic skills under the guidance of professional artist Turi Rostad head to Robertson Plaza, Station Place at 2 p.m. to try your hand at the sidewalk chalk painting event. WIN's final concert, beginning at 4 p.m., features the acoustic music of singer, songwriter Jamal Ford-Bey.

For up to the minute details about Weekend in Norfolk, visit the website to plan your perfect family road trip to Norfolk, Connecticut, and don't forget to bring your camera!

 

Native American Green Corn Festival August 15 in Washington Connecticut

 Corn is an integral part of the annual lifecycle of Native American people. Traditionally, corn was an important source of food, as well as a significant element of religious and ceremonial life that brought communities together. For generations, many Native American communities have welcomed the season when corn ripens with a celebration. In recognition of this time-honored tradition, the Institute for American Indian Studies, located in Washington, CT, is holding their 16^th annual Green Corn Festival on August 15 from Noon to 4:00 pm at the Riverwalk Pavilion, 11a School Street, in Washington, CT. 

Join Museum Staff and Friends as they welcome the first corn of the summer 2021 season with music, drumming, dancing, children’s activities, stories by a professional Native American Storyteller, the sale of arts and crafts, and much more! Riverwalk Pavilion is an idyllic park just minutes from Washington Depot with plenty of parking, a beautiful park, and tables and chairs in a sheltered wooden pavilion.

A highlight of the Green Corn Festival event is the Native Nations Dance Troupe led by Erin Meeches, from the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation. Each dance performed has an uplifting and unique story or purpose. Some use movements that imitate animals and others represent an aspect of cultural significance. These traditional dances are sure to delight because they evoke the beauty, honor, and tradition of Native People.

A special treat of the Green Corn Festival is the chance to try authentic powwow-styled food such as the perennial favorite, frybread, three sisters rice, butternut squash and corn, chicken tacos and kabob, chicken over rice, fruit cups, and fresh fruit kabobs. There will also be several venison choices including venison over rice, venison cheesesteaks, venison kabobs, and tacos. If you work up a thirst, don’t miss the blueberry and sassafras tea!

 

If you enjoy shopping for handmade Native American arts and crafts, you won’t be disappointed. Vendors will be on hand selling everything from handmade jewelry and flutes to baskets, weavings, and much more.    

         

 

About Green Corn

The expression “Green Corn” refers to the first ripened sweet corn that you can eat. The Green Corn Ceremony is marked with dancing, feasting, fasting, and religious observations. In the Eastern Woodland areas, Native people depended on three staples – corn, beans, and squash. These food items were so important that they were called “The Three Sisters.” The Three Sisters were mixed together to make a vegetable dish called succotash that is still popular today.

 

Admission for this event, held rain or shine is $10 for adults; and $ 5 for Members, and free for children under 12. Pre-registration is greatly appreciated for this event by visiting the Institute’s website.

 

About 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 the 16^th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that 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 on 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

 

Experience a New England Clam Bake On Sheffield Island Every Tuesday in August

 New England clambakes are one of the pleasures of summer with their classic combination of lobster and clams fresh from the ocean, corn on the cob, and potatoes. The Norwalk Seaport Association's New England Clambake on Sheffield Island is one of the best places to experience this time-honored seafood feast!

On Tuesdays, August 3, 10,17, 24, and 31 the Norwalk Seaport Association is offering the foodie event of the summer, a Clambake on Sheffield Island - at prices that won't break the bank! Get ready to board the Seaport's ferry at 6 p.m. and head to Sheffield Island. The vessel only holds 49 people, so this culinary adventure is delightfully fun and not overcrowded! Reaching the private island, tour the historic ten-room Sheffield Island Lighthouse that is on the National Register of Historic Places, see the outline of Manhattan and the beautiful coast of Connecticut through an antique telescope and take a walk along a nature trail that is part of the Stewart B. McKinney Nature Sanctuary. 

If you have worked up an appetite, no worries, the Norwalk Seaport Association is serving up a feast that will be enjoyed in a beautiful wooden pavilion with picnic tables, fans, lighting, and, best of all, unbeatable views! 

The Seaport Association offers three packages a clambake package @ $75 that offers a selection of chicken, salmon rib eye, pork, or vegetarian choices, and a lobster bake package at $85 whose main entree is a 1.5 lb. lobster with all the fixings. There are even ale Carte additions like Copps Island Oysters, fresh off the boat from Norwalk, littleneck clams, and a jumbo shrimp cocktail. Don't forget to BYOB so that you can enjoy this feast sipping your favorite wine or beer as you watch the sun sink into the horizon. Reservations must be made in advance. For more information and to buy your tickets click here.

About the Norwalk Seaport Association 

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage.

Celebrate the Music of Billy Joel with Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot and More @Norwalk Oyster Festival 2021 September 10, 11, and 12

 Three days of fun, food, and dazzling free entertainment on multiple stages, plus a myriad of special events for families and friends, from nine to ninety marks just some of the activities planned for the 2021 Norwalk Oyster Festival hosted by the Norwalk Seaport Association on Friday, September 10, Saturday, September 11, and Sunday, September 12, 2021, at the 35-acre Veterans Memorial Park in Norwalk. For tickets and information https://www.seaport.org/norwalk-oyster-festival

A fabulous festival seaside!

“We are so happy to be able to welcome people back to this year's Norwalk Oyster Festival, an event that has brought families and friends together for 43 years. Our volunteers have been working around the clock to make this year’s festival extra special because we know people have been looking forward to it since last year. The 43rd Norwalk Oyster Festival is packed with value-added extras this year especially when you consider that all the entertainment including the headliners' Mike DelGuidice who performs with Billy Joel and Big Shot, Eliot Lewis from Hall and Oates, and Live at Daryl’s House, nationally and internationally acclaimed SteelHeart, the Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Band, and many other top-notch bands are included in the ticket price,” said Mike Reilly, President of the Norwalk Oyster Festival. For tickets click https://www.seaport.org. 

SteelHeart loved around the world for high octane performances

Friday, September 10, Entertainment Line Up

Headliner, September 10 - SteelHeart - Nationally and Internationally Acclaimed @ 8:30 p.m.

The headliner of the evening, SteelHeart, originally from Norwalk, takes the stage, at 8:30 p.m. This nationally and internationally acclaimed rock band is celebrating the 30th anniversary of their self-titled debut album. SteelHeart released in 1989. This album catapulted this band into immediate commercial success reaching #40 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album quickly hit platinum status internationally, and gold domestically. “She’s Gone,” a soulful power ballad hit #1 on the international charts staying there for 17 weeks. The band's second single, “I’ll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes),” reached #14 on the Billboard charts. In 2001, lead singer, Miljenko Matijevic provided all of the vocals for Mark Wahlberg’s character in the hit movie Rock Star. SteelHeart has released five studio albums and is working on a compilation album to celebrate their 30 years of globetrotting, and high octane, live performances.

Friday, September 10, Opening Act, Eliot Lewis - Of Hall and Oates & Live @ Daryl’s House @ 7 p.m.

Friday night kicks off at 7 p.m. with the music of multi-instrumentalist Eliot Lewis, a Norwalk native who is a member of Hall and Oates, one of the most famous duos in the world inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Lewis is also a solo performer that has consistently released his unique brand of guitar featured rock and soul. He is best known as the only musician to appear on every episode of the hugely popular “Live from Daryl’s House” show. Lewis has also performed with many popular artists such as Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Joe Walsh of the Eagles, Booker T, Jewel, and Todd Rundgren, to name a few. Daryl Hall summarizes Lewis’s talent best, “Eliot is a musician who can do it all, great singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He rocks and he’s got, soul. No one does it quite like him.”  

Saturday, September 11, 2021 - Entertainment Line Up

 

Headliner, Saturday, September 11– Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot Celebrating the Music of Billy Joel & More @ 8:30 pm 

The Norwalk Oyster Festival is one of New England's most iconic festivals which is why Mike DelGuidice, a multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist touring with Rock N Roll Legend, Billy Joel is taking a night off from his touring schedule to perform with his band, Big Shot on Sept. 11 at 8:30 pm. Mike DelGuidice was handpicked and hired by Billy Joel himself. After Billy Joel heard Mike sing, he hired him, literally on the spot to be in his band. Mike is probably one of the few artists around where the front guy of the band is actually in the band of the artist his band covers! While on tour with Billy Joel, DelGuidice has shared the stage with Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Bryan Adams, Tony Bennett, Paul Simon, John Mayer, John Mellencamp, and Adam Levine, to name a few.

Mike DelGuidice an extraordinary musician and performer 

DelGuidice is an extraordinarily talented musician. In addition to his eclectic original songs, he will astonish you will renditions of songs by Elton John, Van Morrison, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Marc Cohn, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, John Denver, Sting, James Taylor, Chicago, and many others. DelGuidice is a world-class vocalist and can sing just about anything. DelGuidice’s band, Big Shot includes Tommy Byrnes, Billy Joel's guitarist, drummer Chris Milillo who performed with the Stone Temple Pilots and others, Nick Dimichino, on bass, who most recently played with Nine Days, and, Michael Jewell, one of the countries most accomplished keyboardists who performed with Barbara Streisand, and Michael Bolton,  

 

In addition to touring with Billy Joel and his band, Big Shot, DelGuidice has released two albums, "My Street," and "Miller Place," and is working on a third. Mike also scored the theme song, "Ordinary Guy," for the sitcom, "Kevin Can Wait," starring actor/comedian, Kevin James.

DelGuidice and Big Shot packs hit after chart topping hit in an amazingly high-energy show that leaves audiences wanting more. “We are thrilled that DelGuidice is taking a night off from touring with Billy Joel and performing at this years’ Oyster Festival. DelGuidice's stature as a well-known worldwide performer makes his band highly sought after because they are such crowd-pleasers. After all, Billy Joel himself handpicked DelGuidice. We are thrilled that he will be rocking the 43rd Oyster Festival on Saturday night," says Mike Reilly, Chairman of the Norwalk Oyster Festival. "We would also, once again, like to acknowledge that First County Bank is our presenting sponsor for the tenth year in a row.”

Singer-Songwriter Alex Shillo always entertaining

Opening Act, Saturday, September 11 - Alex Shillo - Singer/Songwriter @ 7 p.m.

Alex Shillo takes the stage at 7:00 p.m. with his eclectic brand of rock and country music to get Saturday night rocking with a nod to his hero, Bruce Springsteen. Shillo's band is composed of top-notch musicians, that have performed with such artists as Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Johnny Mathis, Gloria Gaynor, and John Cafferty to name a few. Alex and his band have opened for major acts like Big & Rich, Eric Church, Parmalee, and many others. Shillo finds inspiration from his father and is following in his footsteps. Shillo’s dad was the founder/lead singer/songwriter of the late 70s and 80s band SILVERADO who toured the world with Steppenwolf and others and had hit songs on the Billboard charts. Shillo has been enthralled by music since a very early age and his performances show a depth of style and experience. Recently, Shillo released an album, "Friday Night ” that shows his sound is matched by his excellent songwriting skills.

It is always 5 p.m. somewhere with Jimmy Kenny and the Pirates Beach Band

Saturday, September 11 - Jimmy Kenny and the Pirates Beach Band  @ 2 p.m.

On Saturday afternoon get ready to escape to “Margaretaville” at the Norwalk Oyster Festival with the always-popular Jimmy Kenny and the Pirates Beach Band - the ultimate beach party tribute to Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, and the Zac Brown Band. Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band plugs in and lights up the stage at 2 p.m...after all, it is almost 5 o’clock somewhere! The good-time vibe of this band will put you in an endless summer state of mind. So put on your best “Parrothead” gear - your favorite Hawaiian shirt, straw hat, and flip-flops, grab some food and drinks from one of our nearby vendors and get ready to sing and dance along to some of the best of Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney and the Zac Brown Band plus a variety of country favorites, summer pop, reggae, and tropical classics.

Sunday, September 12 - Entertainment Line Up The Best of Connecticut & More!

 

Local music is the heart and soul of every big city and small community. Every musician starts off somewhere, and that somewhere is usually local. Art and music in all its iterations thrive on interaction, and with all concerts shuttered last year, most folks were left without experiencing the excitement of live entertainment. "We know that people have missed going out to see their favorite regional and local bands, which is why we have organized a series of non-stop performances by Connecticut and tri-state area bands on Sunday," said Mike Reilly, President of the Norwalk Oyster Festival. "We are happy to give our local musicians center stage to welcome them back to the entertainment industry at this year’s Norwalk Oyster Festival."

Artifact Identification Day @ Institute For American Indian Studies

Do you have any stone artifacts or Northeastern Native American cultural items that you would like to have identified? Do you want to know about the, who... what, how, and when of your mystery items? If you do, then register to participate in Artifact ID Day at the Institute for American Indian Studies with Dr. Lucianne Lavin on Sunday, July 25 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

This program will be in small groups of people with one-hour time slots. The cost to participate is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $11 for children, and $5 for members. To register click here and if you have questions please call 860-868-0518. 

Dr. Lavin is the author of Connecticut's Indigenous Peoples: “What Archaeology, History, and Oral Traditions Teach Us About Their Communities and Cultures." and, "Dutch and Indigenous Communities in Seventeenth-Century Northeastern North America: What Archaeology, History, and Indigenous Oral Traditions Teach Us About Their Intercultural Relationships."

This event will give participants to learn about the objects that they have questions about with an expert in this field of archaeological and cultural study. Dr. Lavin will provide interesting insights and commentary on your items but will not appraise or speculate about the value of an object. 

To better identify your object, you should have some information available. If a family member gave it to you, ask them for any details they might remember. To better identify your object, it is helpful to know the general location of where it was found. For cultural artifacts, it is helpful to know approximately when it was found. 

This program features a mix of commentary and the methods of stone and cultural artifact identification in a manner that is useful to newcomers, hobbyists, collectors, the curious, archaeologists, and researchers. 

About 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 the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that 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 on 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.