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This Weekend in Litchfield (May 5-7) Is Jam-Packed with Fun

This weekend in Litchfield: Spectacled Eiders at Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy — Spectacled Eiders at Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy in a photo by Tim Laman.

It’s not just the Laurel Ridge Daffodils, the tulips in Cobble Court, and the flowering trees at Topsmead State Forest that show Spring has really sprung in Litchfield – it’s the calendar of events, too.

The Litchfield Historical Society recently opened for its new season, and this weekend is overflowing with great things to do. Here’s the scoop on a handful of them.

Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy Opens for the Season

The Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy is opening again for weekend public visits beginning Friday (May 5) and will be open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on This weekend in Litchfield, May 5-7, 2023 Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through November. Founded by S. Dillon Ripley, former Secretary of the Smithsonian, and his wife, Mary Livingston Ripley, the conservancy is home to more 80 species of birds from around the world. It’s a breeding facility focused on maintaining genetic diversity of rare and endangered species, an education center for conservationists, and a great experience for families and visitors of all types.

55 Duck Pond Rd. | (860) 567-2062 | ripleyconservancy.org |
Admission: Adult (15+), $10; Child (5-14) $5

Alofft Gallery Exhibit Opening

This weekend in Litchfield, May 5-7 Alofft Gallery on West Street in Litchfield Center is holding an opening reception Saturday, May 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. for an exhibit of new work by artist Kate Tortland entitled “Foundations of the Earth.” The exhibit runs from May 6 to the 28.

“Traditionally, I work mainly with oil landscapes, selling in high-end galleries across New England,” the artist says on her website. “Over the past few years, I have expanded my work into large-scale abstraction, textile design, watercolor sketches, as well as modern frescos. I refuse to limit myself to one way of creating, and constantly test out new ideas, and concepts. My vision is to constantly create beauty in the world, in whatever form that may take.”

41 West St. | (860) 361-6389 | alofft.com | FREE

Sunday Guided Museum Tour at White Memorial

This weekend in Litchfield, May 5-7, 2023 Guided tours of the White Memorial Conservation Center’s Nature Museum are offered at 2 p.m. on the first and third Sundays of the month, which means May 7 and 21 this month. Museum Docent Tom Saunders tells guests the story of Alain and May White and their generous gift, as well as presenting the wonderful displays and exhibits in the museum, which include hand-painted and photographic murals, dioramas, a Children’s Corner, live animals, a working honeybee hive, a digital microscope, unique exhibits such as “The Art of Taxidermy,” a fluorescent rock cave and more.

80 Whitehall Rd. | (860) 567-0857 | whitememorialcc.org
Admission: Free for members, $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 12 – 6; free for children under the age of 6.

Girls Just Wanna Run 5K

This popular run takes place Sunday, May 7, from noon to 2 p.m., is a fundraising event hosted by the Junior Women’s Club of Litchfield Hills that focuses on promoting health and wellness in girls and women. Participants meet on North Shore Road and run or walk along Bantam Lake. It’s billed as a great way to spend an afternoon with your girlfriends, your mom, your sisters, your daughters … and others.

This is a USATF certified 5k course (code CT12014JHP) for women and girls. It’s mostly flat and girls and women of all ages are invited to run, walk, and enjoy the exercise and friendly competition.

Start and finish behind Litchfield Hills Fitness (LHF) 599 Bantam Rd. Parking available behind Bantam River Corporate Park on Route 202. See the website for all the details and registration.

Ian Campbell Concert at the First Congregational Church

This weekend in Litchfield, May 5-7, 2023 Former State Troubadour lan Campbell will be giving a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at the First Congregational Church of Litchfield. Campbell grew up in a large musical family and found his inner songwriter while spending years traveling the country after five years in the military. He’s a singer/songwriter who wears his heart on his sleeve and walks the line between spirituality and humanity. The FCC Facebook post didn’t specify if the concert is free or if there’s a fee; we’ll update the post when we find out.

21 Torrington Rd. | (860) 567-8705 | fcclitchfield.com

Also this weekend, World Labyrinth Day will be celebrated at Wisdom House, and the Litchfield Hills Audubon Society is celebrating Spring with events at the Boyd Woods Sanctuary. Details about both and other May events can be found in our blog post, 10 Great Things to Do in Litchfield in May.

10 Great Things to Do in Litchfield in May

May is one of the nicest months of the year and Litchfield reciprocates with a roster of events to entertain, inform, and delight. Without further ado, here are 10 great things to do in Litchfield in May … with a tasty bonus event.

Visit the Laurel Ridge Daffodils

Litchfield’s signature Laurel Ridge Daffodils are in prime time right now.

The fields of daffodils, which draw visitors from across Connecticut and beyond, are spread over 15 acres alongside Wigwam Road in the Northfield section of town, about 1.3 miles south of the intersection with Route 254 and roughly 10 minutes from the center of Litchfield or Thomaston.

The daffodils display is open to the public throughout April and into May for as long as the blooms linger. Once the blossoms are gone, so is access to the property until the next season. Visitors are encouraged to wander through the fields of daffodils, but dogs and picnics aren’t allowed.

Watch for updates on the Laurel Ridge Facebook page and check this Instagram feed to see photos posted by visitors.

Art Opening, Oliver Wolcott Library

Oliver Wolcott Library on South Street in Litchfield center presents a new exhibit of mixed media works by artist Sara Conklin, entitled “Family Ghosts,” from May 1 through June 29.

An opening reception to which the public is welcome takes place Thursday, May 4, from 5 to 7 p.m.

“In her new painting and works on paper series, ‘Family Ghosts,’ Sara Conklin explores the complexities of memory and the past,” the artist’s statement explains. “Working from old photos and layering over existing paintings, Conklin creates a transparent multidimensional effect that reflects the influence of nostalgia and truth on our personal histories. The works on paper in this series challenge the viewer to question what we can truly trust in our memories and investigate the ways in which our recollections of the past are impacted by emotion, time, and experience. Through this exhibit she invites viewers to reflect on their own memories and the ghosts that may linger in their own history.”

See the library’s website to learn more.

Catch the ‘Ungardening’ Bug

The Litchfield Hills Audubon Society’s annual meeting May 1 at Litchfield Community Center begins at 6:45 with refreshments and features a presentation entitled “Intro to ‘Ungardening’” by Cornell-educated botanist and ecologist Aubree Keurajian.

Ungardening is restorative home land care guided by natural ecological processes. Keurajian will discuss the concept, what a weed really is, invasive species and how to deal with them, and suggest plant identification resources.

She has worked as a botanist in Connecticut for the past four years, protecting native plants, while founding Ungardening Native Plants to educate people about native plants and ecological living.

See the event listing.

Art Opening, Alofft Gallery

Alofft Gallery on West Street in Litchfield Center is holding an opening reception Saturday, May 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. for an exhibit of new work by artist Kate Tortland entitled “Foundations of the Earth.” The exhibit runs from May 6 to the 28^th.

Learn more on the gallery’s website.

World Labyrinth Day, Wisdom House

Join Twylla Alexander, author of Labyrinth Journeys ~ 50 States, 51 Stories and a Veriditas-certified Advanced Labyrinth Facilitator for a day of peaceful reflection centered around the labyrinth on Saturday, May 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Twylla will share information about the labyrinth, lead a labyrinth walk, and facilitate opportunities for participants to explore their own journeys. At the conclusion of this retreat there will be a book signing.

The cost is $40 and lunch is included. Click here to see additional details.

Celebrate Spring at Boyd Woods Sanctuary

Join the Litchfield Hills Audubon Society Nature Explorers, led by Ann Orsillo and Josh Szwed, for a hike at Boyd Woods Sanctuary to enjoy all that spring has to offer on Sunday, May 7, at 11 a.m.

The sanctuary, with its mix of conifers, shrubland, open fields, and forest habitat is a great place to see and hear migrating birds, such as warblers, vireos, orioles, towhees, and others. The ponds and the bordering brook on the property will offer a glimpse of all the critters and plants coming to life. Listen for toad and frog calls. Maybe spot a Jack-in-the-Pulpit or a lovely Trillium. Come ready to get your hands dirty. Wear waterproof footwear for pond exploration.

The event is appropriate for kids and adults. Meet at Boyd Woods parking lot on Route 254 in Litchfield. Pre-registration is appreciated at [email protected]. For questions, call Vickie Dauphinais at 860-361- 9051. Cancelled in the case of heavy rain.

Girls Just Wanna Run 5K

This popular run takes place Sunday, May 7, from noon to 2 p.m., is a fundraising event hosted by the Junior Women’s Club of Litchfield Hills that focuses on promoting health and wellness in girls and women. Participants meet on North Shore Road and run or walk along Bantam Lake. It’s billed as a great way to spend an afternoon with your girlfriends, your mom, your sisters, your daughters … and others.

See the website for all the details.

Concert With State Troubadour Kala Farnham

Join Litchfield Community Center for an evening of musical storytelling with Kala Farnham, the Connecticut State Troubadour, on Friday, May 12, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The concert is free, and donations are appreciated. Pre-registration is required and may be done here.

The performance will be coffeehouse-style and refreshments will be provided. Guests are invited to BYOB and are welcome to bring food.

Armed with a voice and an entourage of instruments, songstress Kala Farnham set out into the world with one vision: To inspire through the transformative power of musical storytelling. Farnham has garnered numerous awards and recognition, including serving as the current Connecticut State Troubadour, 2020 Falcon Ridge Festival Emerging Artist, 2020 Great American Song Contest Finalist, and 2019 Rose Garden Performing Songwriter Contest winner. Farnham’s 2020 album, “Your Spirit Is a Work of Art,” is composed of thirteen musical vignettes exploring the imperfect beauty of the human condition; it has been described by Nick Noble of The Folk Revival as “a work of poetic insight… worth listening to again and again.” Drawing from a classical education and professional career in musical theater, Kala presents a hallmark reinvention of the folk tradition: her lush musical arrangements, compelling vulnerability, and vivid storytelling draws her audience into imaginative vantagescapes of the familiar world.

Bobbing for Bobolinks at Apple Hill and Topsmead with Gerri Griswold

Spend a couple of hours with White Memorial Director of Director of Administration and Development Gerri Griswold in search of this bubbly grassland bird on May 13 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

It’s Bobolink breeding season and the boys should be out in full force putting on a show. The excursion begins with hiking to the top of Apple Hill where numerous sightings have occurred. Then it’s a drive over to Topsmead State Forest to meander the sweeping fields and forests around the state park. Bring a snack and some water. Meet at the Apple Hill trailhead off East Shore Road at 8 a.m. Participation is imited to 15. The program is free, but guests must pre-register by calling 860-567-0857 or going online. Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses.

Mozzarella Making Class at The Litchfield Inn

The Litchfield Inn is presenting two mozzarella-making classes led by Chef Dan Kardos (@chefdankardos) on Saturday, May 13. One runs from 1 to 3 p.m. and the other from 4 to 6 p.m.

“This is your chance to learn from a true expert in the art of cheese-making. Indulge in some delicious drinks and appetizers while you’re here,” the event listing says.

The cost of the class is $55 per person, and it will cover the entire process of making fresh mozzarella. And you’ll get to sample your own creations!

Those who want to participate are asked to direct message @chefdankardos on Instagram and indicate a session/time preference.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, presented by Susan B. Anthony Project

The Susan B. Anthony Project presents its 6th annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, where men and boys lead the way to end domestic and sexual violence by walking a literal mile in women’s high-heeled shoes. The event takes place May 21, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., in Litchfield center.

All ages, genders, and abilities are invited to join in (the shoes are optional!), and walk together as allies, advocates, and survivors. Enjoy live music, post-Walk foot massages, and other festivities, followed by an afterparty steps away at the Litchfield Historical Society Meadows. Register now or support the event online. Click here for both.

All proceeds benefit Susan B. Anthony Project’s free, confidential services to victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, including a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, transitional living program, one on one and group counseling, legal advocacy, and more.

Litchfield Historical Society Shines in the Spring Spotlight

Litchfield Historical Society (LHS) Executive Director Catherine Fields was honored with both a Connecticut General Assembly citation and an Award of Merit from the Connecticut League of History Organizations Tuesday evening at Central Connecticut State University.

The Awards of Merit recognize institutions and individuals who demonstrate the highest professional standards and who enhance and further the understanding of history in Connecticut.

Fields is retiring from the position after 35 years at the helm, and Jessica Jenkins will return to the LHS as Executive Director after previously working on special projects and then serving as Curator of Collections through 2015. Jenkins is currently the Vice President of Collections and Storytelling at Minnetrista Museum and Gardens in Muncie, Indiana.

The honors for Catherine Fields and the announcement that Jenkins is rejoining the LHS coincide with the buzz around the seasonal reopening of the Litchfield History Museum with a new exhibit, an opening cocktail party, a Family Day, a new opportunity to see the terrific Painting Litchfield exhibit, other special events, and the new season for the Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School.

The new exhibit, To Come to a Land of Milk and Honey: Litchfield and the Connecticut Western Reserve, explores the Connecticut Western Reserve (now in present day Ohio) through the voices of those affected by westward migration.

Imagine taking Connecticut’s northern and southern borders and extending them west to the Pacific Ocean. This is what Connecticut would have looked like in 1662 under the colony’s royal charter (in theory, at least). After the Revolution, Connecticut gave most of these claimed lands over to the new American government, but it “reserved” land in the northeast of present-day Ohio for its continued use and settlement. This became the Connecticut Western Reserve, also known as “New Connecticut.”

The public is invited to the opening of the exhibit on Friday, April 21, at 6 p.m. at the Litchfield History Museum (7 South St.). Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Those planning to attend should RSVP by emailing at [email protected] or calling 860-567-4501.

To celebrate the opening of To Come to a Land of Milk and Honey, visitors of all ages are invited to a Family Day on Saturday, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring guided gallery tours, surveying challenges, quill writing, and more hands-on crafts and activities. Tours of the exhibit will be offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Admission is free.

Those who want to dig deeper can attend a related program Sunday, April 30, at 3 p.m. or join in online. The Litchfield History Museum will welcome historian and author Dr. Timothy G. Anderson for a program entitled “Litchfield and the Connecticut Western Reserve: A Genealogical Geography.”

Anderson will use genealogical records to reconstruct regional migrations and explore the roles played by a number of families with ties to Litchfield in the settlement of Ohio’s Western Reserve, according to the LHS.

This lecture, in person or on Zoom, is free and open to the public. Register online here.

When you visit the LHS this Spring, make sure to see the Painting Litchfield exhibit.

While Litchfield was never home to the kind of formal art colony found in other parts of Connecticut, the town has a rich and lasting connection with the visual arts. Painting Litchfield showcases paintings inspired by Litchfield scenes and landscapes from the 19th century to the present.

The exhibit chronicles one of the earliest artist groups exhibiting in Connecticut, explores the career of a painter who served in the Monuments Men, and showcases works by artists living in Litchfield today.

Painting Litchfield will be on display from April 21 to July 16, 2023

And starting April 21, the Litchfield History Museum and the Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School—the first law school in the nation—will be open with new hours: Wed – Sun, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

If you go, make sure to explore the wonderful Tapping Reeve Meadow behind the law school.

The Litchfield History Museum is located at 7 South St. across from the Green in Litchfield center. The Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School are a short walk away at 82 South St.

Visit www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org for more information.

April Blooms With Great Activities in Litchfield

Whatever you do this month, stop and see the gorgeous display of tens of thousands of Laurel Ridge Daffodils in the Northfield section of Litchfield … and also connect with these great events and activities that are “blooming” throughout the remainder of April. (See our Visit Litchfield CT calendar for more events.)

Bats: Earth’s Allies With White Memorial’s ‘Bat Lady’

Saturday, April 15, 2 p.m.

Join White Memorial’s “Bat Lady,” Gerri Griswold for a lavishly illustrated talk that touches on the basics of one of the most beneficial and maligned animals on our planet—the bat. How many species of bats are there? Where do they live? Why are they so important to us? What is harming them? What can we do to help them … and so much more will be addressed. Meet a live Big Brown Bat ambassador. The cost is $5 for members, $10 for non-members. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Call 860-567-0857 or register online.

Annual Woodcock Walk at Boyd Woods

Saturday, April 15, 2023, 7:15 p.m.

Over the winter, foresters have been busy at Boyd Woods, the Litchfield Hills Audubon Society Preserve off Route 254, thinning woodlands and clearing other areas to create better habitat for wildlife. One result is an enhancement of the habitat where woodcocks put on their overhead show, an aerial mating dance. In addition to watching, guests will take a short walk through the Conifer Plantation to check on the Barred Owl pair, as well as wandering a short distance to Margery’s Bird Pond to hear Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs. Sanctuary managers Rich and Debbie Martin will guide this evening walk. Boots or waterproof shoes are recommended, as trails are muddy from forestry work. Dress warmly and bring a flashlight. No dogs allowed. Meet at the Boyd Woods Sanctuary parking lot on Route 254 in Litchfield. Rain date: April 22, 7:15 p.m. For additional information contact Debbie Martin at [email protected] or 860.819.7462.

Note: There’s also a Woodcock Cocktail Party at White Memorial from 6-8 on April 22.

Litchfield Historical Society Reopens With a New Exhibit

Friday, April 21, and Saturday, April 22

The Litchfield Historical Society will reopen for the season this month with a new exhibit, To Come to a Land of Milk and Honey: Litchfield and the Connecticut Western Reserve, which explores the Connecticut Western Reserve (now in present day Ohio) told through the voices of those affected by westward migration.

To celebrate the opening of To Come to a Land of Milk and Honey, visitors of all ages are invited to a fun-filled Family Day on Saturday, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day will feature guided gallery tours, surveying challenges, quill writing, and more hands-on crafts and activities. (Tours of the exhibit will be offered at 11:00 a.m. and 1 p.m.)

Starting April 21, the Litchfield History Museum and the Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School will be open with new hours: Wed – Sun, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Visit www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org for more information.

Litchfield’s Community Earth Day Celebration

A huge Community Earth Day Celebration will take place at the Litchfield Community Center, Saturday, April 22, rain or shine.

Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to help clean-up our community’s streets. Start the day with a morning clean up in your own neighborhood with your friends and family or participate in a coordinated street cleanup from 9am to noon organized by Litchfield Public Works, the Rotary Club, and Litchfield High School Environmental Club. Cleanup volunteers will earn a Meraki Food Truck lunch voucher from the Rotary Club. Participants in the organized cleanup should register at litchfieldparkandrec.com or call 860-567-7569.

After your morning clean-up, hustle over to the Litchfield Community Center for some free fun, excitement, and eco-education from noon to 2pm, sponsored by Sustainable Litchfield and S.M.A.R.T. Task Force. Live animals from White Memorial Conservation Center and Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy will be featured along with games, activities, art projects, crafts, a food truck, and live music. Over 25 local organizations with experts on forests, rivers, wildlife, farms, mapping, waste reduction, and nature art will be offering hands-on activities for the whole family.

Litchfield Land Trust Native Plant Sale

The Litchfield Land Trust’s annual sale of native plants takes place all month online and includes a wide variety of native shrubs, red oaks, and curated seed packs for both full sun and partly sunny planting areas. Those interested can order online at www.litchfieldlandtrust.org and plan for pickup on Friday, May 12, (2-5 pm) or Saturday, May 13, (9 am – 12 pm) at 28 Russell St.

Arethusa Farm Is Going to Wamogo, Litchfield Schools

The future of Litchfield’s landmark Arethusa Farm, a source of speculation since the death of co-owner George Malkemus, became clear with the news that a major part of the farm south of Route 63 will be donated to a foundation that will make it permanently available to the Region 6 and Litchfield public schools, which are unifying as the Region 20 school district.

The farm is the centerpiece of an agricultural empire that includes a dairy operation, a world-class cheesemaking operation, ice cream shops in Bantam, West Hartford and New Haven, and two restaurants.

Below are more details from a News release posted to the Region 6 schools website:

A group of local area residents has been meeting with Tony Yurgaitis, the owner of Arethusa Farm, over the past couple of months with the goal of finding a way to guarantee his wishes that the farm operations on Webster Road continue, rather than having the land be sold, developed and all the agricultural activities abandoned.

Mr. Yurgaitis and Mr. Malkemus bought the farm in 1999 and operated an extremely successful dairy and breeding operation there (as well as on the former Keefe Stables property on South Plains), later branching out into the ice cream, cheese and restaurant businesses that are currently thriving in Bantam in their beautifully renovated properties.

Since Mr. Malkemus’ death in 2021, Mr. Yurgaitis has been seriously deliberating about the future of the farm, and the recent discussions with the working group that shared his goals and vision have helped Mr. Yurgaitis decide what to do with the farm.

The result is the formation of the Arethusa Farm Foundation, Inc. as a nonprofit to be located in Litchfield.

Mr. Yurgaitis decided that as his lasting legacy to the Litchfield area community, and more particularly to the high school age students in Litchfield, Region 6, the new Region 20, and Northwest Connecticut , he will donate the Arethusa Farm property on the south side of Webster Road, consisting of two farmhouses and multiple barns and outbuildings on over 125 acres, to the foundation.

The purpose of the foundation will be to make the farm permanently available to the Region 6 school district for its Agriscience programs, and the Litchfield Public Schools, which as of 2024-2025 will be the new Region 20.

The foundation will also make educational programs related to agriculture, animal welfare and sustainability available to area students and residents, possibly in collaboration with other existing organizations that similarly promote local agricultural, environmental, and scientific endeavors.

The new foundation, which plans to raise its own separate endowment, is in the process of preparing its application to the IRS for recognition of its tax exempt status, which, when received, will enable Mr. Yurgaitis to complete his gift of the farm.

In the meantime, Mr. Yurgaitis has granted Region 6 use of the fields and barns on the farm so that it can commence using the farm as part of its Agriscience program.

Christopher Leone, the school district’s Superintendent, and the agriscience staff are hoping to start using the farm immediately in connection with Wamogo’s existing animal husbandry, horticulture, aquaculture and other Agriscience programs that supplement current classroom instruction.

This donation by Mr. Yurgaitis will ensure the permanent preservation of the Arethusa Farm on Webster Road, which started as a dairy farm in 1868, while at the same time making it available as a hands-on, outdoor classroom to the agriscience program students in the area, an opportunity that will be unique to such a high school program.

“On behalf of three boards of education, our current and future students, along with our families, I extend our thanks to Mr. Yurgaitis and Mr. Malkemus for what has been created and what is now possible in education,” Mr. Leone said. “Arethusa has created a national and international standard of excellence. It is that same standard to which we aspire in education. It will be our goal, through this partnership, to ensure a legacy for generations.”

The volunteer working group consists of Tom Breakell, Tony Yurgaitis, Christopher Leone, Bonnie Burr, Eliot Wadsworth, John Morosani and Mike Reardon. The officers and directors of the new foundation have not yet been named.

Litchfield’s Laurel Ridge Daffodils May Peak Early This Year

The annual spring display of tens of thousands of daffodils and narcissus at Laurel Ridge along Wigwam Road in the Northfield section of Litchfield is expected to peak a bit earlier this year after the mild winter.

Last spring, the Laurel Ridge Daffodils Facebook page posted “probably peak daffodils today, April 30, 2022,” and that peak display extended into early May.

“I think the warmer winter has accelerated where they would normally be at the end of March. I’d guesstimate that they’re 1 week to 10 days early; so peak closer to April 24 vs May 5,” John Morosani said in an email this week.

His parents, prominent Litchfield residents Remy and Virginia Morosani, first planted 10,000 daffodil bulbs in the early 1940s, and plantings have continued and expanded over the years.

The Morosani family established The Laurel Ridge Foundation to oversee and manage the display that welcomes the public, though visitors are advised to be respectful, follow the rules, and take care to honor protocols for parking along the narrow country road.

“No parking” signs on the east side of the road are meant to ensure there’s a clear lane for emergency vehicles to get through.

The fields of daffodils, which draw visitors from across Connecticut and beyond, are spread over 15 acres alongside Wigwam Road, about 1.3 miles south of the intersection with Route 254 and roughly 10 minutes from the center of Litchfield or Thomaston.

The Laurel Ridge daffodils are open throughout April and into May for as long as the blooms linger. Once the blossoms are gone, so is access to the property until the next season.

Visitors are encouraged to wander through the fields of daffodils, but dogs and picnics aren’t allowed.

Watch for updates on the progress of the annual display on the Laurel Ridge Facebook page and check this Instagram feed to see photos posted by visitors.

Litchfield Restaurant Week Is Here! (March 24-31)

Watch the WFSB Channel 3 Story on Restaurant Week

Litchfield Restaurant Week is here!

Today (3/24) through March 31 you can enjoy special 3-course menus and promotions at nearly 20 of the town’s award-winning restaurants, bakery-cafes, delis, pizza places, gourmet shops, and even our local Haight-Brown Vineyard.

That range creates a lot of delicious options for enjoying the type of experience you like best.

View all the menus on the Restaurant Week page, which also lists addresses and phone numbers and links to the websites and social media for all participating venues. It’s your one-stop resource for optimizing your RW experience.

Popular hotspot restaurants like @athecorner, Marketplace Tavern, @olliespizza_ct, @dacapolitchfield, @thevillagelitchfield, @woodspitbbqandmexicancafe, and @hometownpizzalitchfield are serving 3-course prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner.

Others, including @materiaristorante and @bohemianpizzaandtacos, @saltswg, and @mockingbirdkitchenandbar will present their bespoke RW menus for dinner only. The popular casual dining spot Patty’s Restaurant is serving lunch only.

At @meraki.food , @petraroiadeli, and @loveheartsbakery, you can enjoy a Restaurant Week lunch or opt for a take-home dinner. @dutchepicure is offering European-style romance with its soup-bread-pastries take-home package for two.

Haight-Brown Vineyard, meanwhile, offers an experience for those who like life on the sweeter side with a flight of three mini desserts and three cocktails for two—and at Clubhouse Provisions you can enjoy the RW lunch and dinner menus while looking out over the course @stonybrookgolf.

And if all that’s not tempting enough, many of the participating restaurants are partnering with Litchfield Distillery on special Restaurant Week cocktails. That menu is also on the official Restaurant Week page.

Call ahead to book your reservations for RW lunch and dinner, and remember that these are special menus, so no substitutions, please.

When you dine out, tag @VisitLitchfieldCT when you post on Facebook and on Instagram, and tag your IG posts #litchfieldrestaurantweek so we can see and share them.

This inaugural Litchfield Restaurant Week is proudly sponsored by the @townoflitchfieldct Economic Development Commission.

WFSB Films Litchfield Restaurant Week Preview Airing March 24

Melissa Cole of WFSB – Channel 3 Eyewitness News came to Litchfield Wednesday morning to film a story on Litchfield Restaurant Week.

Her story will air March 24 on Great Day Connecticut to launch the town’s first-ever Restaurant Week, running from March 24-31 and sponsored by the Town of Litchfield CT Economic Development Commission.

Cole met with EDC Chairman Will Neary and member Tara-Marie Lynch Bares for filming that took place At The Corner, a Restaurant Week participant. Chef Red presented some dishes from ATC’s Restaurant Week menu, including a Spring Risotto (shown at right) and an apple strudel dessert.

See our RW page for more details and menus as they come in.

Other RW participants include:

The Village Restaurant In Litchfield Ct
Bohemian Pizza and Tacos
Materia Ristorante
Love Heart’s Bakery and Cafe
Petraroia Deli
Market Place Tavern at The Old Litchfield Jail
Mockingbird Kitchen & Bar
Meraki
Saltwater Grille
Wood’s Pit BBQ
Ollie’s Pizza
Haight-Brown Vineyard
Clubhouse Provisions Stonybrook Golf
The Dutch Epicure Shop
Hometown Pizza of Litchfield
Patty’s Restaurant
West Street Grill

And Litchfield Distillery is partnering with restaurants that will be offering special RW cocktails, so make sure to ask your server.

What’s Happening in March in Litchfield

The old saying about March coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb seems on target this year—especially if there’s a lamb dish on one of the menus for the inaugural Litchfield Restaurant Week, taking place March 24 to 31.

See our RW page for details and to view the menus as they come in from the nearly 20 participating restaurants.

Meanwhile, to work up an appetite for enjoying prix fixe menus and good deals at Litchfield’s dining establishments, here’s a rundown of some of the interesting things happening this month.

March 5, Bantam Cinema & Arts Center

(3/3 note from Bantam Cinema & Arts Center: We are excited to report that the 1:30 Sunday matinee of A Little White Lie is SOLD OUT! But the film opens tomorrow night (Friday) and will play throughout the week thru next Thursday 3/9.)

With The Academy Awards coming up March 12, here’s an opportunity to experience the glow of Hollywood glamor right here in Litchfield.

Bantam Cinema & Arts Center is screening the highly-praised new film “A Little White Lie” by filmmaker Michael Maren, who lives in Bethlehem with his wife, best-selling author Dani Shapiro.

This Sunday, Maren will treat Bantam audiences to a Q&A after the 1:30 screening of the film about a handyman living in New York City who is mistaken for a famous and famously reclusive writer. Michael Shannon and Kate Hudson star in the film.

The Q&A is included in normal ticket price. Click the link to make plans to attend.

March 6, Litchfield Community Center

The Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy (RWC) doesn’t open to the public again until May but you can immerse yourself in the appeal of this hidden gem in a different way in March. As part of a Litchfield Hills Audubon Society meeting, RWC Director of Aviculture Logan Connor will give a presentation on the RWC and its more than 400 birds and close to 90 species, as well as the importance of aviculture and captive breeding programs and how they relate to waterfowl conservation. The meetings begins at 7 p.m.

March 11, White Memorial Conservation Center

White Memorial’s 6th Annual Nature Trivia Night takes place at 7 p.m. in the Carriage House, where teams of up to six participants (team costumes are encouraged) will compete for a valuable prize. Participants may register individually but are asked to form teams beforehand or can be placed on a team upon arrival. White Memorial will be serving a chili supper with cornbread, rice and beans, salad, and dessert. Bring your own place setting and BYOB. Coffee, tea, and water also will be provided. The cost is $15 for members and $25 for non-members. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Register online at www.whitememorialcc.org or call 860-567-0857.

March 13 and 25, Wisdom House Retreat & Conference Center

Raid the Walk In: Cooking Class, 3/13, presented by Chef Margaret Jacobs. “We are going in and coming out with food items to prepare 3 different meals,” the event listing says of this “really creative” class that takes place at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $30 Register online.

Bright Brunch cooking demonstration, 3/25, from 2 to 3 p.m. Learn to make Quiche, Frittata, Eggs Benedict, Spinach Ricotta Pie, French Toast Casserole, Smoked Salmon w/capers, red onions, and garlic cheese on toasted naan … as well as scones, cheddar biscuits and egg muffins. Recipes will be given to all participants. The cost is $30. Register online.

March 15, Litchfield Community Center

An America 250 planning meeting, beginning at 5 p.m., will help lay the groundwork for Litchfield’s celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. If you or your greater Litchfield area group would like to participate, contact committee chair, Alice Ridgway at [email protected] or simply come to the meeting.

March 17, Litchfield Community Center

It’s a St. Patrick’s Day concert featuring The McKrells. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and walk-in tickets will be available at the door. Alcohol and soft drinks provided by the Mobile Pub (please no BYOB or coolers) OK to bring your own snacks! Details are here.)

March 16 and March 30, Oliver Wolcott Library

Author Willa Cather is celebrated in a pair of events, beginning with a program from 2 to 3 p.m. March 16 (live or on Zoom), Mark Scarbrough will discuss the ways Cather constructs My Ántonia as a radical and subversive novel, both a celebration of the U.S. prairie and a send-up of the very values that created the myth of the prairie. Copies of My Ántonia are available at OWL. Click here for details and to register.

On March 30, Cather’s 150^th birthday is celebrated with a one-woman theatrical performance with Prudence Wright Holmes from 7 to 8 p.m. (live, in-person & live or live on Zoom). In-person space is limited; register here. For Zoom, click here at 7 p.m. on March 30, and to join by phone, dial +1 646 876 9923 | Meeting ID: 898 3655 9153 | Passcode: 986059.

Prepare for a delightfully dramatic, comedic and compelling story as Prudence weaves the personal and intimate story behind the writer Willa Cather, one of the foremost women writers of the 20th century.

In 1888, Willa Cather astounded her Nebraska neighbors with her brilliant mind and unconventional behavior. In spite of her success, her romantic life was fraught with conflict. Her work became her refuge and helped her to transcend the problems that beset her. As she often said, “That is happiness, to be dissolved in something complete and great.”

Actor and storyteller Prudence Wright Holmes has performed in almost a dozen movies including Sister Act 1 and II with Whoopi Goldberg and Kingpin with Woody Harrelson. She has been in four Broadway shows: Happy End with Meryl Streep, Inherit the Wind with George C.Scott, Lettice and Lovage with Maggie Smith, and The Light in the Piazza. Prudence has authored 14 plays, including 8 solo shows. Visit her website at www.prudencewrightholmes.com

March 18, White Memorial Conservation Center

Exploring Duck Pond, Mallard Marsh, and Pine Island with Gerri Griswold, 2 p.m.: Let’s prowl around some of the prettiest and most vibrant trails close to White Memorial’s main campus. Will we find the first emerging skunk cabbages? See an otter or beaver? Encounter returning Wood Ducks? The beauty of nature is that you never know what surprises await! Participants should meet in front of the A. B. Ceder Room for the free hike. Donations are accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses. Click here for more.

Art Gallery Launching at Market Place Tavern in the Old Jail

Litchfield is getting another art gallery.

A collaboration between Market Place Tavern in the Old Litchfield Jail and the organization Art Tripping will bring new art exhibits every four to six weeks to the room in the restaurant facing North Street.

The first exhibit opens March 3 with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m., and features paintings by Zufar Bikbov and the assemblages of Nancy Laviero. Each new exhibit will have an opening event.

“The center of Litchfield now can claim to have multiple art venues, including the Jennifer Terzian Gallery, the Alofft Gallery, Jeffrey Tillou Antiques, the Litchfield History Museum, the Oliver Wolcott Library, and the Market Place Tavern & Bar,” Michelle Murelli said in a news announcement.

In addition to the galleries in the center of town, Litchfield is home to amArtHouse in Bantam and the Switch Gallery in the Bantam Arts Factory.

Murelli, a member of the Litchfield Economic Development Commission and Litchfield Arts Council, founded Art Tripping in 2018 to create community art experiences, nourish creativity, develop art and educational programs, and be a significant catalyst for community development.

Bringing people of various economic and social strata together is also part of the mission, as well as inspiring an understanding of “the unlimited possibilities that experiencing art, in all of its forms and genres, brings to our world.”

According to Murelli, John Morosani, a member of Litchfield Sustainability, approached her a couple of years ago and asked her to work with the Board of Selectmen in town to establish an arts council.

“This would fulfill one of the benchmarks of Sustainability’s brief from Connecticut Sustainability to create more public art,” Murelli said, adding that the collaboration between Art Tripping and Market Place Tavern fulfills a piece that goal by creating another opportunity for community art experiences.

Art Tripping also organizes and sponsors the Litchfield Makers Market on the Green the Saturday of Road Race Weekend, which is always the second weekend in June.

Another of Murelli’s projects involves working with students at Litchfield High School, where she teaches art, to create a folk art mural of ancient Mexican spirit animals called Alebrijes, as part of an interdisciplinary lesson with the AP Spanish Students who did the art history research.

It is 20 feet long and will be installed in At the Corner restaurant’s ATC South St. taco bar.