For the Love of Oysters - Norwalk Oyster Festival

When it comes to oysters, Connecticut has a lot to celebrate, especially Norwalk which has long been known as "Oyster Town".  The Norwalk Island chain, including Sheffield Island, creates the ideal environment for renewed oyster growing operations such as the Copps Island Oysters based in Norwalk. 

The Eastern Oyster was designated as the state shellfish in 1989.  It is a bivalve mollusk that grows naturally in Connecticut’s tidal rivers and coastal bays and is cultivated in seeded beds in Long Island Sound by oyster farmers. Norwalk has had a long history with oysters so it is no surprise the members of the Norwalk Seaport Association has organized an annual festival to fete this delicious shellfish.  September 7,8 and 9 marks the 41st annual Norwalk Oyster Festival that is held in Veterans Park on Seaview Ave. in Norwalk.

The Norwalk Oyster Festival is the perfect place to slurp fresh off the boat oysters raised right here in Norwalk. Norwalk's oysters are known for their freshness, sweet briny flavor, and buttery plump meats. If you are new to oyster slurping you might want to start small.  Although there is no incorrect way to slurp an oyster, we recommend that you slurp the meat with its "liquor" and give it two or three good chews.  Salt and brine hit first and is followed by a sweet buttery flavor that tastes of the sea.  Oysters come with a variety of accouterments such as lemon, cocktail sauce or red wine vinegar it's up to you how you want to garnish your oyster.

The Norwalk Oyster Festival offers a wide array of attractions the whole family will enjoy, including continuous entertainment by local musicians and national acts such as Steve Augeri, Journey former lead singer, a vast array of food at the International Food Court, an unlimited ride wristband for kids on Sat. & Sun., 100 plus art and craft vendors, and several special entertainment venues that round out three days of fun. Best of all, entertainment is included in the cost of admission.

Tickets, Parking & Metro-North

The event is held at Veteran’s Park, adjacent to Norwalk Harbor on Seaview Avenue in Norwalk, CT.  Admission for adults is $10 on Friday, $12 on Saturday and Sunday.  Senior tickets are $10 all days.  Children 5-12 year’s old are $5.  Children under 5 and U.S. military personnel on active duty are free.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.seaport.org.  

Festival Hours: Friday, Sept. 7, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, September 8 from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., and Sunday, September 9 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

For those that want to take the train Metro North is offering a discount package with free shuttle service from the train station to the Oyster Festival.

Free parking and shuttle service available from Calf Pasture Beach, Norwalk City Hall, and Norwalk Community College.

About the Norwalk Seaport Association

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, education and public awareness of Norwalk’s maritime environment and heritage.  The Seaport Association and its volunteers are solely responsible for organizing and financing the Oyster Festival.  In addition to the Oyster Festival, the Norwalk Seaport Association owns Sheffield Lighthouse and its volunteers maintain the lighthouse and grounds as a museum and nature preserve. For more information, visit www.seaport.org. or call (203) 838-9444. 

Oyster History

Oysters were an important source of food for Native Americans and became a staple in the diet of early European settlers who learned how to harvest them from Long Island Sound.  By the 18th century, many natural oyster beds were depleted so laws were enacted relating to the designation of individually parceled oyster grounds. 

The 1800s is when oystering boomed in Norwalk and by the mid.-19th century, Connecticut led oyster seed production north of New Jersey. By 1911 Connecticut's oyster production peaked at nearly 25 million pounds of oyster meat, that was much higher than nearby states of New York, Mass. and Rhode Island. Demand for Norwalk oysters increased and with the expansion of the railroad's new markets were opened up.  Norwalk was the largest producer of oysters in Connecticut and had the biggest fleet of oyster boats with steam power in the world, and Norwalk became known as "Oyster Town".

Economic depressions, coastal human population, industrialization, and marine traffic lead to a decline in oyster production.  In 1997 and 1998 80% of the state's oysters were destroyed because of a spike in the water temperatures that resulted in a naturally occurring parasite.

Today, marine biologists have teamed up with local oystermen to develop hardier parasite resistant oysters and ways to improve water quality in order to create a sustainable breeding and farming environment for oysters.  Because of the success of these programs, there is a resurgence in renewed oyster growing operations like Copps Island Oysters based in Norwalk.

Sheffield Island Lighthouse 150 Anniversary Dinner Sept. 15

Sheffield Island is the site for one of falls most highly anticipated events, the Anniversary Dinner on Sheffield Island to fete the 150th birthday of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse.   “As caretakers of this iconic maritime treasure, we have planned an exceptional night out for friends, old and new, that support the conservation efforts of the Seaport Association.   We want this dinner to be memorable because it is not every day that an iconic edifice like the lighthouse turns 150 in a state that is just over 360 years old,” said Mike Reilly, President of the Norwalk Seaport Association.

This evening’s celebratory dinner menu has been inspired for the most discerning palates and has been organized with foodies and lovers of lighthouses in mind.  The menu will showcase the bounty of the sea with a raw bar featuring oysters three ways from Copps Island, grilled and chilled cilantro shrimp, lobster tails and Rhode Island clam chowder, and all the fixings.  There will be a dessert table and even s’mores by the fire pit!  Mixers, soda, and water for alcoholic beverages are included. 

Tickets to this exceptional dining experience, on the island, are $100 per person and include the cruise to Sheffield Island, dinner, and entertainment. Advance reservations are required. Please RSVP to the Seaport Association at 203-838-9444 or online https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3598573.  The boat departs from the Sheffield Island Ferry Dock on 10 North Water Street at 4 p.m. and returns to the dock at 8:30 p.m. Ticketing fees are applied to all reservations and all tickets are non-refundable unless there is a weather cancellation. Parking is available at the Maritime Garage.

Proceeds support the conservation of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse.

How to Win a trip to Iceland !

White Memorial Foundation on 80 White Hall Road in Litchfield is celebrating its 37th annual Family Nature Day on Sept. 22 and in honor of this event, there is a fantastic raffle going on for the trip of a lifetime with Krummit Travel to Iceland.  The drawing will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2018, 4:00 pm.  With only 1000 tickets printed and four really beautiful prizes which include TWO trips, we’d call your $10.00 donation per ticket a worthy investment!  The drawing takes place at 4pm at the 37thAnnual Family Nature Day. You need not be present to win the prizes.

First Prize: A trip for two to Iceland , January 2 – 7, 2019, which includes RT airfare from New York or Boston, (other gateways available at an extra cost), Breakfast and dinner daily, accommodations in a cozy hotel with private bath, ground transportation in Iceland, admission to swimming pools, and a few bells and whistles which are none of your beeswax. The trip is a $7600 value and has been donated by Krummi Travel LLC www.krummitravel.com

Second Prize: A $1500 gift card to the lovely Beaverkill Valley Inn in Lew Beach, New York. This stunning fishing lodge has an indoor swimming pool, make your own sundae bar, gorgeous rooms, hiking and kayaking opportunities. The gift card can be used as you wish but should cover room for 2 with private bath, breakfast, and dinner daily, for three nights (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). http://www.beaverkillvalleyinn.com/

Third Prize: A Pelican Two Man Kayak with life vests, wet pack, and paddles ($650 value) donated by Foxgloves Gardening Gloves which are THE BEST!!!! (and sold in our gift shop!) https://foxglovesinc.com/

Fourth Prize: A $350 Gift Card to Cabela’s! https://www.cabelas.com/

Buy your raffle tickets by calling the Gift Shop: 860-567-0857 or order online right HERE! Your “winning ticket stubs” will be sent to your email inbox as a jpeg. The originals will be kept on file at the Museum.  Should you want them you must collect them in person.

Twilight History Train Ride from Thomaston to Torrington Sept. 12 & 19

The Railroad Museum Of New England and the Torrington Historical Society are collaborating to offer train rides from Thomaston to Torrington and return and a brief presentation by Mark McEachern introducing the "All Hands on Deck: Torrington and World War I" exhibit.  Educational, self-guided tours about the WWI exhibit and a light barbeque supper will be included.   The history train tours will be offered on two Wednesday evenings, September 12 and September 19th.   The Naugatuck Railroad will provide the train service for the occasions.

The program will also offer self-guided tours of two Torrington History Museum exhibits, a WWI cemetery tour adjacent to the museum and the award-winning permanent history exhibit "No Place Like Home: The History of Torrington.”

During the First World War, Torrington, with its population of about 20,000, was a bustling factory town served by the Naugatuck Division of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad. 

“Every city, town, and village in the country mobilized for the war effort,“ according to RMNE Chairman Howard Pincus.  “Railroads shipped military volunteers and enlisted personnel to where our country needed them, mostly to troop ships that took them to the main theater of operations in Europe.  The same was true for all supplies needed for the war effort manufactured in the many factories across the nation. This was an era when trains dominated transportation coast to coast.”   

Passengers will ride along the same route along the Naugatuck Railroad as they would have 100 years ago with the exception of track changes required by the construction of the Thomaston Dam in the 1960s.

All Hands on Deck: Torrington and World War I interpret the contributions of Torrington during the World War I years.  Visitors to the exhibit learn about the nearly 1,400 Torrington men and women who served in the military, home front activities, and the local industries that contributed to the war effort.  The exhibit sheds light on the Torrington residents who served in the military as well as the residents who aided the war effort by working at local factories, rationing food at home, or volunteering for organizations such as the Red Cross and Torrington Home Guard.

Passengers will enjoy the scenic view into the Litchfield Hills past the Thomaston Dam, along the upper Naugatuck River, and through East Litchfield. 

Tickets for this event are $25 and include the round-trip train ride, self-guided tours of the two Torrington History Museum exhibits and a light BBQ supper of pork sliders, coleslaw and beans provided by Zach and Lou's Barbeque.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.rmne.org or phone 860-283-7245 anytime.  All tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

Trains will leave Thomaston Station at 242 East Main Street, at 4:00pm, bound for Torrington’s Church Street Platform, and leave Torrington at 6:30pm to return to Thomaston.  In Torrington, passengers will walk three blocks from Church Street to the Torrington Historical Society at 192 Main Street.

Passengers may pick up tickets at the Thomaston Station's “Will Call” window 30 minutes before departure time.  Trains depart promptly at the scheduled times.

Live Concert and Contra Dance @ White Memorial Foundation Sept. 1

Strap on yer dancin' shoes, pack a picnic or a snack, BYOB, and kick off Labor Day weekend with White Memorial Conservation Center's favorite Robert Messore and his colleagues AKA O'Wryly! Tonight our Activity Shed will undulate with the gleeful sights and sounds of Contra!

Contra is danced to Celtic, Quebecois, Old Time, New England, Southern Appalachian, Jazz, Blues, and all sorts of other music played by live bands, either from Atlanta or elsewhere. In a contra dance, parallel lines of dancers stand opposite -- or "contra to" -- their partners. A dancer and his/her partner form a couple.

Bill Fischer is our caller! Through his instructions, each couple interacts with the couple next to them to form a four-person "set" and each set interacts with the sets on either side of them. Over the course of a dance, each couple moves up and down the hall, interacting with every other couple in their multi-set "line."

There is no fancy footwork involved (that is the other sort of line dancing) but the instructions given by the Caller do form a series of repeating figures that dancers eventually memorize. As this happens, the Caller provides fewer and fewer prompts until he drops out entirely; leaving you, your partner, and the others in your line to finish the dance, accompanied only by the exciting, lilting, haunting, and/or pulse-pounding music provided by the band.

White Memorial Foundation is located on 80 White Hall Road in Litchfield. This event is 7-9 pm in the activity shed and member cost $15, non-member cost $15. Call 860-567-0857  or click here to register online

A Connecticut Tradition - the Norwalk Oyster Festival - Sept. 7,8,9

Three days of fun, food, entertainment on multiple stages, plus special events for families and friends, from nine to ninety marks just some of the activities to be found at the 2018 Norwalk Oyster Festival hosted by the Seaport Association on Friday, September 7, Saturday, September 8, and Sunday, September 9, 2018 at the 35-acre Veterans Memorial Park in Norwalk.  “This is a special year for the Seaport Association, we have entered our 41^st year as an organization and we are also celebrating the 150^th anniversary of Sheffield Island Lighthouse.  Our mission has always been to preserve our maritime heritage, the environment of Long Island Sound, and to have children experience Sheffield Island Lighthouse,” says Mike Reilly, President of the Norwalk Oyster Festival.

The Music

The 2018 Norwalk Oyster Festival has live music from dozens of bands on multiple stages throughout the weekend and features a variety of crowd-pleasing entertainment. “The Oyster Festival is the last big thing that takes place before the end of the summer. This is the perfect time for folks to come to the Festival and say goodbye to the summer of 2018, and to help us celebrate 150 years of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse,” says Mike Reilly, President of the Norwalk Oyster Festival.

Funky Dawgz kicks off the festival on Friday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. on the Main Stage with an exuberant performance that combines a contagious upbeat mix of traditional New Orleans R&B, original music, hip-hop, funk, and today’s top hits played with a brass twist.
The amazingly talented New Orleans style jazz- funk band, Deep Banana Blackout takes the Main Stage at 9 p.m. and the festival audience will be treated to Grade A+ funk. This eight-piece musical ensemble is a legendary musical force on the East Coast underground funk, jazz, and jam scenes and considered by many to be one of the hottest, hippest live shows to be heard in the Northeast.

On September 8 at 8 p.m. Festival Headliner, Steve Augeri, Journey, the former lead singer takes the Main Stage and will take festival-goers on a “journey” well worth taking. Expect fan friendly audience interactions, a strong stage presence, soaring vocals and hit after hit of iconic classic rock songs like Don’t Stop Believing, Anyway You Want It, Faithfully, Loving, Touching, Feeling and many other hits.  Fans may even be in for an exclusive treat if Augeri decides to include an original new song or two in the mix that has thrilled audiences worldwide.

It’s 5’oclock somewhere, and on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 4 p.m. Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band plugin on the Main Stage. So, put on your best “Parrothead” gear, grab some food and drinks from one of the 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 that are the perfect finale to the 2018 Oyster Festival.

For the Kids

Children of all ages will be engaged and entertained by an enthralling magic act filled with amazing illusions.  This captivating live show delights the audience with magic on the high seas as conjured up by award-winning, Master Magician Doc Swan. 

Expect lots of audience participation in this show that is suitable for all ages.  Fantastic illusions, magic, juggling, clowns and more take place under the big tent. On Saturday and Sunday kids get to meet their favorite characters from today’s most popular movies and TV shows including their favorite princesses and superheroes.

The fun doesn’t stop with the magic show.  There are photo opportunities with characters, face painting, and pint-sized carnival games like the ring toss and lollipop tree where every child is a winner, plus cotton candy, popcorn, and candied apples. Kids activities and games take place at Kids Cove throughout the day.

Best if all, these activities won’t break the bank! On Saturday and Sunday, there are special packages and meals at many food booths available for children with the highlight being a special $25 wristband for unlimited rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days. Sunday is Family Day when kids 12 and under get in free with a paid adult; there are also special kids meals and the $25 wristband for unlimited rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

For the Whole Family

The festival offers a wide array of attractions the whole family will enjoy, including continuous entertainment by local musicians and national acts.  One of the acts sure to amaze festival goers is the Nerveless Nocks Thrill Show that has been dazzling audiences with their high-flying death-defying performances for eight generations!

Another family favorite is the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show that combines old-time skills with a modern entertainment style that is sure to delight. In addition to wood chopping, the audience will see amazing feats such as log rolling, ax throwing (yes, they are sharp), crosscut sawing, underhand chopping, precision chainsaw racing and chainsaw carving.

If you have always wanted a bird's eye view of the city, the fairgrounds and Norwalk’s beautiful coastline, climb onboard the 65 foot Gondola Ferris wheel to be treated to a unique and memorable ride you can write home about. All you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy. And, don’t forget your camera.

If you like to shop, head to the Arts and Crafts area where they're more than 100 fine artists and crafters that display whimsical as well as practical items that appeal to all tastes, budgets, and ages. Jewelry, paintings, pottery, sculpture, clothing, home décor and wearable art are just some of the treasures to be found here.

For the Foodies

A favorite at any festival is the food, and the Norwalk Oyster Festival never disappoints.  After exploring the fairgrounds head to the International Food Court that dishes up everything from Mexican, Columbian and Italian to funnel cakes, cotton candy and of course, oysters fresh off the boat, authentic New England lobster dinners and fresh lobster rolls.  This culinary fare is prepared by dozens of local nonprofit organizations allowing them to raise vital funds for their charitable causes.   At the Seaport Tent, learn about Norwalk’s oystering history while watching slurping and shucking contests.  And, if you have worked up a thirst, no worries head to the craft beer tent that offers more than forty beers.

Ticket, Parking & Metro-North

The event is held at Veteran’s Park, adjacent to Norwalk Harbor on Seaview Avenue in Norwalk, CT.  Admission for adults is $10 on Friday, $12 on Saturday and Sunday.  Senior tickets are $10 all days.  Children 5-12 year’s old are $5.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.seaport.org.

 Children under 5 and U.S. military personnel on active duty are free
Festival Hours: Friday, Sept. 7, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, September 8 from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., and Sunday, September 9 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For those that want to take the train, Metro-North is offering a discount package with free shuttle service from the train station to the Oyster Festival.

Free parking and shuttle service available from Calf Pasture Beach, Norwalk City Hall, and Norwalk Community College.

About the Norwalk Seaport Association

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, education and public awareness of Norwalk’s maritime environment and heritage.  The Seaport Association and its volunteers are solely responsible for organizing and financing the Oyster Festival.  In addition to the Oyster Festival, the Norwalk Seaport Association owns Sheffield Lighthouse and its volunteers maintain the lighthouse and grounds as a museum and nature preserve. For more information, visit www.seaport.org. or call (203) 838-9444.

Music Mountain Welcomes Shanghai String Quartet

On Sept. 8 and 9 Music Mountain, on 225 Music Mountain Road in Falls Village- America’s longest running summer chamber music festival, continues its 89 season with another thrilling weekend of music. The sixth of the Six-Concert Complete Beethoven String Quartet Cycle featuring the incomparable Shanghai String Quartet will be presented on Sunday, September 9 (3pm). A wine reception will follow the performance. The weekend begins on Saturday, September 8 (6:30pm) with first time guest The Bridge Trio, playing the spirited music of their native New Orleans. Concerts are scheduled through September 23.

Sunday afternoon marks the completion of the Beethoven Cycle. TheShanghai String Quartet performs Beethoven Cycle Program #6: String Quartet in B Flat Major, Op. 18 #6; Grosse Fuge, Op. 133; and String Quartet in F Major, Op. 135. The performance will be followed by a wine reception to celebrate the completion of the Beethoven Quartet Cycle.

The technical and emotional scope of the Beethoven Cycle makes it the ultimate challenge for a string quartet. Described as challenging, intimate and graceful, and tumultuous, the Cycle includes some of the greatest works in Beethoven’s entire output. “The Beethoven Cycle as a whole provides a cathartic experience for the listener, it takes you through the emotions of a lifetime,” noted Music Mountain artistic director, Oskar Espina-Ruiz. “The Beethoven Cycle has brought some of the largest crowds to Music Mountain so far this summer, garnering three outstanding reviews.”

Renowned for its passionate musicality, impressive technique, and multicultural innovations, the Shanghai Quartet has become one of the world’s foremost chamber ensembles. Its elegant style melds the delicacy of Eastern music with the emotional breadth of Western repertoire, allowing it to traverse musical genres including traditional Chinese folk music, masterpieces of Western music and cutting-edge contemporary works. Formed at the Shanghai Conservatory in 1983, the Quartet has worked with the world’s most distinguished artists and regularly tours the major music centers of Europe, North America, and Asia. The Quartet has a long history of championing new music and juxtaposing traditions of Eastern and Western music. 

August Acoustic Boatrides with Seaport Association

The lazy days of August, one of the hottest months of the year in Connecticut are upon us. One way to cool off is to take an Acoustic Wednesday night cruise through Norwalk Harbor and Islands with the Seaport Association of Norwalk.  They have lined up a series of five acoustic on the water excursions for adults on August 22 and 29 that feature a roster of different performing artists that are sure to delight passengers.

On August 29, join the New Orleans Beatniks on an evening cruise and relax to the music of New Orleans with a little bit of funk and a lot of soul!  Their unique musical style and the way they interact with their audience will make this cruise unforgettable.

On August 22, Pierce Campbell will perform. Campbell was appointed as the Connecticut State Troubadour for 2007-2008, and is well known as a storyteller and a fabulously talented melodic fingerstyle guitar, piano and acoustic base player.  Passengers will unwind to his well-crafted songs, his rich and powerful voice and dazzling guitar work, with a story or two thrown in to round out an excellent night of entertainment.

To add to the ambiance, don’t forget to pack a picnic snack and your favorite bottle of wine or beer.

How to Book the Acoustic Cruise

The Seaport Wednesday Acoustic Cruise is available in June, July, August, and September.  The vessel leaves the dock at 6:30 p.m. and returns at 8:30 p.m.  Passengers should arrive 30 minutes before departure, boarding begins at 6:15 p.m. Passengers are welcome to bring snacks and their favorite bottle of wine or beer aboard…don't forget to bring plastic glasses!  The vessel leaves from the Sheffield Island Lighthouse Dock located at the corner of North Water Street and Washington Street in historic South Norwalk.  Parking is available adjacent to the dock and the Norwalk Maritime Garage.  Tickets for this Adult cruise only is $25 ($26.87 with service fee).

For tickets click here https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3342004?cookie_header=1


About the Seaport Association

The Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens in Norwalk who had a vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage.  This year makes the 150 anniversary of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse.

The Norwalk 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 our environment and how the preservation of historic buildings and nature contribute to our quality of life.

It is our belief that preservation strengthens the perpetual partnership between the past, the present and the future. 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 maritime heritage.

Nervous Nocks set to thrill audiences @ Norwalk Oyster Festival Sept. 7-9

The Norwalk Oyster Festival is a time-honored tradition in Norwalk that takes place every September. This year the Festival will be held on September 7, 8, and 9 at Veterans Park in Norwalk. The Norwalk Oyster Festival offers a wide array of attractions the whole family will enjoy, including continuous entertainment by local musicians and national acts such as Steve Augeri, Journey former lead singer, a vast array of food at the International Food Court, a unlimited ride wristband for kids on Sat. & Sun.,  100 plus art and craft vendors, and several special entertainment venues that round out three days of fun. Best of all, entertainment is included in the cost of admission.

One of the acts that will be WOWing fairgoers is The Nerveless Nocks Thrill Show.  Nock and his family have been dazzling audiences with their high flying death-defying performances for eight generations!  The show has a history that goes back to 1840 when the group first performed as Switzerland's first circus club.  The Original Nocks performed for Queen Elizabeth in 1954 as a command performance in London, England and after their performance for the Queen she named them Nerveless and the name was created.

The Nocks have performed on the Ed Sullivan Show, at numerous World Fairs and Exhibitions, countless fairs and festivals worldwide and have even participated in Walt Disney's Disney on Parade.  Acts include the Sway Pole Act, Space Wheel, Helicopter Trapeze, Motorcycle High Wire, Carolina Espana Nocks Contortions and The Globe of Thunder Acts. 

The current members of the Nerveless Nocks consist of Michelangelo Nock, Carolina Espana Nock, Angelina Nock and Cyrus Nock. Carolina Espana Nock is a highly talented flying trapeze artist, The Flying Espanas and Daredevil Artist. Her circus roots date back 100 years and 5 generations as one of Mexico’s and the world’s greatest Circus families. Carolina performs on the giant Sway Poles and is the only woman to ever perform on the giant Space Wheel. Cyrus Nock has been performing and touring the world since the age of 4 and is now the top motorcycle stuntman of his generation.

About the Norwalk Oyster Festival

The Norwalk Oyster Festival is taking place at Norwalk's Veteran's Memorial Park on Seaview Ave. on Friday, Sept. 7, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, September 8 from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., and Sunday, September 9 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Friday night adults $10, Sat. & Sun. $12, Children 5-12, $5, Children under 5 free, and Seniors 62+ $10. Advance tickets are available online by clickinghere.

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Fashion Exhibit Opens @ Wilton Historical Society August 25

Inspired by the upcoming New York Fashion Week, The Wilton Historical Society is presenting a fashion exhibition “A Century of Style: 1860 – 1960”, which will open on Saturday, August 25 and run through October 6. 

Decade by decade, the exhibition traces evolving styles in women’s special occasion garb. From an all-white cotton lace flounced dress suitable for a tea party in a garden to a Jackie Kennedy-esque beige A-line with rhinestone accented bow, an Edwardian bridesmaid dress with train to a sophisticated wasp-waisted 1940s dress with matching custom-made suede shoes, style trends are captured in these carefully saved clothes which had special significance to their owners. 

Also on display are an acid-green silk high-necked gown with black netting and jet beads from the late 1880s which came from the Elizabeth Ambler Estate, and was possibly worn by Betty Ambler’s grandmother. Lady Mary Crawley of Downton Abbey would have looked stunning in the stunning black chiffon flapper dress accented with rhinestones for a night on the town. A display of purses and women’s shoes rounds out the show.

About Wilton Historical Society 

Visitors are welcome at the Wilton Historical Society Museum Complex (Historic District #5), which consists of the Betts-Sturgis-Blackmar House (red) built on-site c.1740; the c.1840 Burt Barn Gallery (yellow); the Sloan-Raymond-Fitch House (gray) built c.1770; the c. 1860 Abbott Barn, c. 1890 Blacksmith Shop, plus a c.1895 two-seat privy. Visitors may tour the historic houses, see the extensive tool collection in the Abbott Barn, and stroll in the 1750 Colonial Herb Garden. Plants in the flourishing garden are well marked as to their name and use, be it culinary, dying, potpourri or medicinal. A blacksmith is generally at his forge on Saturdays. The Burt Barn Gallery and Sloan House Gallery provide space for changing exhibitions, lectures and meetings. The Betts Store, a museum shop featuring hand-crafted, American made gifts and toys, is open during regular museum hours. Tours daily at 2:00.

The two 18th-century dwellings contain 12 rooms furnished to show the development of domestic life, the economy, furniture, and décor in New England homes, 1740-1910.  Learn about authentic paint colors, wallpapers, and floor coverings from the Colonial to Victorian eras. Specialized collections include Norwalk-made redware and stoneware and other ceramics; one of the largest collections in the state of the objects of childhood, including dolls, dollhouses and toys; and a large textile and costume collection.

“Tools of the Trades” is a permanent exhibition of more than 600 tools used by the trades common to the area. The tool collection is presented in the c.1860 Abbott Barn, where visitors can see house building and woodworking, broom, shoe, hat, basket-making, coopering, fishing and oystering, hay, grain and ice harvesting tools. Most of these historic tools were contributed from the collection of Walter R. T. Smith (1922 – 2015; tool collector extraordinaire, master builder, building historian and preservationist, Society Emeritus Trustee).

Come Learn with us this summer @ Institute for American Indian Studies

If your kids are restless as summer draws to a close one solution is to enroll them in a brand new week-long program at the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington Connecticut on 38 Curtis Road that is sure to engage them. This program is perfect for kids 5-13 years old and will focus on skills used in the Eastern Woodlands for centuries by Native Americans.

Participants will experience a variety of interesting and unusual topics that they are sure to share with their friends when the school year begins. Skill lessons learned will include ecology, archaeology, survival skills and Native American culture. Team building games will increase their knowledge of nature and will connect kids with a culture that has more than 10,000 years of history in the area. Just some of the activities include learning to identify different plants and animals, learning about the science of archeology from staff archaeologists, and visiting an authentic Algonkian Indian Village, and listening to Native American stories that always teach a valuable life lesson.

The program runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is $125 per child for the week and $95 for the second child from the same family or member of the Institute. Pre-registration is required in order for the Institute to provide a valuable and safe learning experience for your child. These programs are best for children 5-13. Children should pack a bag lunch. To call (860) 868-0518, extension 103 or email the Institute's camp director at gbenjamin@iaismuseum.org for more information and to reserve your child's spot.  All forms must be completed by the beginning of the first day of camp. Complete payment is due on or before the beginning of the first day of camp. We accept cash, checks, or credit cards.

An Extraordinary Legacy: The Photographs of Marie Hartig Kendall @ Norfolk Historical Society

Each season the Norfolk Historical Society organizes a major exhibition, and this summer's exhibit displays the photography of Marie Hartig Kendall from 1854 when few women practiced this art form.

Kendall, a self taught photographer moved to Norfolk with her husband in 1878 where she opened her photography business. She took many images of life in Norfolk showcasing its development, natural beauty, the relationship of the people living in this town to the landscape and the surrounding environment.

This exhibition includes many notable images such as the photo of Sarah Bishop's Cave, a landmark on West Mountain. Bishop was a hermit that escaped to this cave after the Revolutionary War until her death. Another image, the facade of the Norfolk Public Library with its barrel tile roof, scalloped shingles and window boxes overflowing with summer flowers shows the bucolic aspect of Norfolk that the town still exudes today.

Other images capture locomotives, historic weather events, economic development and bucolic pastimes as the town flourished as a summer resort at the turn of the century.  Images include those that won her top honors at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.  The Marie Kendall Exhibition runs weekends from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. through Columbus Day at the Norfolk Historical Society located on 13 Village Green.