5 Things to Do in Litchfield to Warm Up February

Even in a leap year, February is still the shortest month with 29 days. That may be only a day or two less than other months, but it feels like it goes by fast. Maybe we’re urging the days to accelerate so we can get past Winter and welcome Spring, but whatever we feel about the month, the Visit Litchfield CT events calendar is packed with terrific February events and activities – and here’s a sampling of five of them.

Feb. 9 – Love in Litchfield Lantern Tour

Romance is in the air on this special Valentine’s Day “lantern” tour of Litchfield’s Historic District, presented by the Litchfield Historical Society.

The tour starts at the Litchfield History Museum, where guests meet at 5:30 to enjoy historically inspired cocktails and treats before grabbing lanterns and heading out to learn about the great love stories of Litchfield’s past. The tour will last approximately one hour and cover one mile. Participants are encouraged to dress warmly.

The cost is $15 for historical society members and $20 for non-members. Space is limited and registration is required. (As of Feb 2, spots were still available.)

Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Dance

Brandywine Living at Litchfield and the Town of Litchfield Park and Recreation & Human Services departments present a Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Dance Feb. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m., that features food and drinks, dancing to music provided by a DJ, and a dance instructor. Brandywine is located at 19 Constitution Way.

Feb. 24 – Cooking Demonstration: Dutch Oven Stews

Enjoy the rich aromas and flavors of hearty stews with this cooking demonstration from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center.

“Join Chef Margaret as she guides you through the art of preparing tasty stews that will delight your palette and warm your kitchen,” the event listing says. “This experience shall leave you equipped with the skills to recreate delicious stews at home. Stews include Beef Stew, Chicken Stew, and Root Vegetable Stew.”

The cost is $30. Details and registration are here. Wisdom House is located at 229 East Litchfield Rd.

Feb. 25 – New Litchfield Historical Society Lecture Series

The Litchfield Historical Society is launching a new lecture series this month entitled Migration and Removal: Documenting the Historically Underrepresented Voices of Westward Expansion, which begins with a Feb. 25 talk entitled Race, Removal, and the Right to Remain with Samantha Seeley.

The series will explore the experiences of women, free and enslaved African Americans, and Indigenous peoples during the period of Westward Expansion. To accommodate audiences in Connecticut, Ohio, and beyond, this series is primarily being hosted online via Zoom.

For the first lecture in the series on the 25th, the Litchfield Historical Society is hosting historian and author Samantha Seeley for a virtual discussion on her book, Race, Removal, and the Right to Remain: Migration and the Making of the United States at 3 p.m. Feb. 25 on Zoom. 

Registration is requested and can be done online at www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org/calendar. See the website at www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org to learn more about the lecture series.

Feb. 28 – Ask the Appraiser at Litchfield Community Center

The Litchfield Community Center is presenting a special talk on antiques and appraisals with specialist and curator Nicholas Thorn of Litchfield County Auctions on Feb. 28, from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

The event is billed as part adventure, part history lesson & part treasure hunt, and guests are encouraged to bring one or two of the following items for a chance to get a free appraisal.

• Flea Market Finds
• Family Heirlooms
• Attic & Basement Items
• Collectables & Antiques

Pre-registration is encouraged and can be done online.

Guests are advised to be mindful that the community center can’t guarantee all items will get an appraisal, though Nicholas Thorn will get to as many as possible.

Litchfield Community Center is located at 421 Bantam Rd.