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Holiday Stroll & Tree Lighting Litchfield 2022

Holiday Glow in Litchfield: Big Events Are Coming

With Halloween done and dusted, Litchfield is seamlessly segueing into the holiday season, full of sparkle, promise and joy, as well as festive events that welcome winter, stimulate shoppers, and count down to Christmas.

Thanksgiving weekend is prime time and star billing goes to the Oliver Wolcott Library’s Festival of Trees and the town’s Holiday Stroll & Tree Lighting on the Green, but there’s lots more happening with a distinctly holiday flavor.

Let’s cover the marquee events first, and then read on for more great opportunities.

OWL Festival of Trees & Online Auction

holiday season Litchfield 2022There’s heightened excitement at the Oliver Wolcott Library this year because the annual Festival of Trees celebration and fund-raiser returns as a live, in-person event on Nov. 26, from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are $85 per person and the evening includes an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, wreaths and trees, and wonderful company. All proceeds support the library’s services and programs.

Head to the website to purchase tickets and watch OWL’s Facebook page for any updates.

holiday season Litchfield CT 2022In conjunction with the festival of trees, OWL is holding its 3rd Annual Week of Wonder Online Auction from Nov. 26 to Dec. 3, which features “fabulous items and one of a kind experiences for you to bid on, generously donated by businesses and residents of Litchfield County, CT.” Funds raised support the library’s programs and services.

Here’s how it works: You pre-register your card to begin online bidding at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26 (when the Festival of Trees begins). Before then, preview the auction items online, and check back often as new items are added daily. (We just scrolled through and the auction items are fabulous.)

Holiday Stroll & Tree Lighting

holiday stroll Litchfield CT 2022The town’s annual event to officially welcome the holiday season takes place Sunday, Nov. 27, on and around the Green in Litchfield center, beginning at 2:30 p.m. and running through 5:15 when the switch is flipped and the holiday tree on the Green lights up.

Details are still being worked out for this year’s festival, but typically all the shops in the town center are open and celebrating, there are horse-drawn carriage rides to delight the children, Santa attends, of course, and the Litchfield Historical Society offers a hands-on activity for children and families. To learn more or join the festivities by donating, call the office of First Selectwoman Denise Raap at 860.567.7550, and follow Parks & Rec on Facebook and on Instagram for updates.

Shop Small Weekend

holiday season shop small Litchfield CT 2022Shop Small Weekend, an extended version of Small Business Saturday sponsored by American Express, coincides with the Festival of Trees and Holiday Stroll weekend.

An invite just went out for retail shops and boutiques in and near Litchfield to participate from Black Friday (Nov. 25) through Cyber Monday (Nov. 28).

When people shop at participating venues, they’ll pick up a Passport to collect stamps for a chance to win a gift basket full of local goods. The more businesses folks shop at, the more raffles they get to enter.

(Shops and boutiques can get a registration form or ask questions by emailing [email protected]. Registration forms must be completed by Nov. 7.)

Other Holiday Season Events & Opportunities

The Litchfield Art Festival Holiday Show is Nov. 12-13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, at Litchfield High School. The show features painting, sculpture, mixed media, drawings and prints, photography, ceramics, glass, fiber art, wood and metal works and much more. See the website for details: https://www.thevoiceofart.org

On Nov. 11, the Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy is offering a fun night out that involves building and painting a wooden birdhouse suitable for backyard use. (A perfect gift with a personal touch for the nature lovers on your list.) Each birdhouse has an entry hole suitable for small birds, as well as a pitched and lapped roof, with ventilation gaps to help nestlings remain cool. A cable is provided to make the birdhouse simple to hang. The cost for non-members is $35, which includes everything needed to build and paint, as well as backyard hints & tips, and light refreshment. (BYOB is permitted. Limited to 12 participants.)

Hope & Honey Boutique, located under @thecorner restaurant on South Street, is offering a Thanksgiving cornucopia making class and tea party Nov. 17 in its new tearoom space. “Enjoy bottomless cups of our favorite Harney and Sons Tea, along with the history of ‘the horn of plenty,’” the event invite says. The cost for the evening event is $60 Purchase tickets online and follow the boutique on Instagram for updates.

The Litchfield Community Center is offering jewelry making classes in three sessions, Dec. 6, 13, and 20. During each class, participants will make a piece of jewelry (more perfect holiday gifts). All supplies and materials are included. The cost is $40 for all three classes, and payment is due to the instructor on the first day of class. To learn more about the afternoon classes and pre-register (required), head to the event page.

Stock Up for Holiday Parties and for When Guests Pop Over

Don’t forget that the Litchfield Hills Farm-Fresh Market keeps going on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its indoor home, the Litchfield Community Center. It’s a great resource for stocking the pantry for holiday gatherings. Follow the Facebook page for updates and information on vendors.

Also explore the Eat & Drink section on the Visit Litchfield CT website to connect with the gourmet shops, bakeries, wine shops, chocolatiers, and other purveyors of all the ingredients for wonderful parties, dinners, and intimate get-togethers.

 

2022-10-16 12.15.00

Weekend & Halloween Events + Where to Trick-or-Treat in Litchfield

The last weekend in October brings holidays-level excitement to Litchfield that comes from its bounty of spooky Halloween events, combined with compelling non-Halloween events, and gilded with a great weather forecast that’s an invitation for fall foliage walks and autumn strolls around town.

It all tilts toward Halloween on Monday, when the town has outdone itself with family-style trick-or-treating opportunities. Enjoy.

Non-Halloween Events and Opportunities on Saturday, 10-29

The Litchfield Hills Farm-Fresh Market takes place at its indoor location, the Litchfield Community Center, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The vendor listing and market schedule is updated weekly on the Facebook page and staples include locally-roasted coffee, handmade soaps, maple syrup, honey, veggies, apples, pumpkins, Wave Hill breads and lots more. The Community Center is located at 421 Bantam Rd. (Route 202).

The Jennifer Terzian Gallery, located in one of the coolest spots in town underneath @thecorner restaurant on South Street in Litchfield center, is holding an opening reception from 3 to 5 p.m. for a new exhibit of still life works by naturalist Amy Jean Porter. It’s the artist’s first solo show in Connecticut and features drawings that “tell a story of daily life in small moments and slow growth. Some are carefully rendered studies in gouache, jewel-like and precise: forget-me-nots and buttercups, a winter bouquet and found feather, three versions of the North Star made in one night. Porter’s four drawings of bananas are color studies found on the kitchen counter.  … .” [email protected] to learn more. (If you go, stop by the fairly new Alofft Gallery around the corner on West Street, which features an exhibit of works by French artist Christian Cesari.)

At the White Memorial Conservation Center Saturday

A cultural practice some 5,000 years old, the Greenlandic Inuit “tupilaq” is a small yet fearsome figurine imbued with supernatural properties. Meaning “ancestor’s spirit,” tupilaqs are inspired by legendary characters of Inuit mythology, such as Sedna – Mother of the Sea. The pointy-headed carvings often possess a villainous face and elements of an animal from the region, such as walrus tusks.

The most common purpose of making these objects was to rid oneself of an enemy, or to cast a curse upon someone who had done you wrong. The tupilaq was said to attack in the form of the animal it represented. Because the tupilaq was devoid of independent will, it was compelled to obey its creator. But such activities did not come without risk. Should the victim’s suspicions be roused, and if their powers were stronger, the tupilaq could be forced to turn the curse against its sender. The only way for the originator to be spared was to openly confess to employing the tupilaq.

These wondrous totemic sculptures can also be used as guardians against evil if placed near entryways to a dwelling. The scarier the tupilaq’s expression, the more harm and mischief it could repel. Could it be that this custom was the origin of the home insurance policy business?

Guests will be make their own guardian tupilaq with the guidance of Arctic Explorer/ Artic Expert, Moki Kokoris. This workshop is limited to 20 adults and children. All children must be accompanied by a paying adult. For ages 10 and up! 2 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room, Members: $20, Non-Members: $30. All Children accompanied by a paying adult, $10.00. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Call 860-567-0857 or register online: www.whitememorialcc.org

Halloween Season Fun This Weekend

The Bantam Cinema & Arts Center in the midst of a mini festival of classic scary movies that nicely complement all the other fun and spooky things happening in our classic Halloween town.

Films still coming up include “Night of the Living Dead” (Fri.-Sun.), the cult classic by George A. Romero in which a ragtag group of Pennsylvanians barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to remain safe from a bloodthirsty, flesh-eating breed of monsters ravaging the East Coast of the U.S., and another classic, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (Sun.) Details, times, and tickets in advance are available on the website, bantamcinema.org, or purchase tickets at the door.

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Halloween costumeMarketplace Tavern at The Old Litchfield Jail, decorated in spooky chic style, is throwing a Halloween party Oct. 28, announced like this on its Facebook page:

GET YOUR SPOOKY PARTY PANTS ON!!
Join Us For Our Second Annual Halloween Party @ The Tavern on Friday 10/28 7PM!!
Winners of the Costume Competition Will Receive 100$ Gift Card for First Place, 50$ Second, 25$ Third, Valid at Any of Our Locations!
THE OLD JAIL IS COMPLETELY SPOOKED OUT!
Halloween Themed Food & Drink Specials
Monster Mash on Repeat

~

 

The Junior Women’s Club of Litchfield Hills is holding a classic Halloween Ball Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Bantam Firehouse and the event listing goes like this: Join us for a great night of dancing with DJ Zerp! Wear your best costumes and enter the costume contest! Buy some tickets for the 50/50 raffle. Snacks provided, but feel free to bring your own. Costumes preferred, but not required. BYOB. Adults only 21 and over. Proceeds go to local charities and families in need.

Tickets are $25 and you get them online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/halloween-ball-tickets-417489049987 Watch the Club’s Facebook page for any updates.

Founded in 1965, the Club is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization affiliated with Connecticut Junior Women, Inc. that works for the betterment of our community through fund allocations, scholarships, emergency funds and assistance for families in need. See the website to learn more.

The Litchfield Hills Audubon Society has a great free event for children of all ages from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30, at its Boyd Woods Audubon Sanctuary located along Route 254, heading toward Northfield. Here’s the teaser for Experience the Spooky Side of Nature with Litchfield Hills Audubon Explorers: If you dare, walk on a trail and encounter spooky spots with spiders, crows, owls and more. Do an activity at each spot. Wear your costume, if you like. If you make it back to where you started, you can enjoy cider and donuts. For more info contact Vickie Dauphinais [email protected]

 

Family-Style Trick-or-Treating This Weekend and on Halloween, Oct. 31

Families can warm up for Halloween and test out costumes on Saturday , Oct. 29, by trick-or-treating with the birds at the Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy, which posted this invite on social media: Join us on Saturday, October 29th for our free Open House Event “Trick or Tweet!” Wear your costume & enjoy special treats here at Ripley. 10am-4pm. For more information: 860-567-2062. (​55 Duck Pond Road)

Litchfield CT Social Services will get Monday’s trick-or-treating in the center of town off to a good start by giving out free hot dogs and burgers on the lawn outside of St. Anthony of Padua Church on South Street, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Donations will be accepted to go toward the Community Holiday Giving Project.

St. Michael’s Parish, just down the street from St. Anthony, is holding a trick-or-treat event starting at dusk, billed as a “fun night of fellowship” with music, candles and candy. Costumes are encouraged.

Halloween Trick-or-Treating in the Tapping Reeve Meadow is Monday’s big event. A collaboration between Litchfield Park & Rec and the Litchfield Historical Society, it features trick-or-treating from 4 to 8 p.m., and a story time at 5 p.m., in Tapping Reeve Meadow at 82 South St., behind the Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School. The trick-or-treating takes place among the nearly 60 Scarecrows in the Meadow created by local businesses, non-profits, and families. Some are fun, others are silly, and more than a few will look especially spooky as it gets dark.

P.S. It looks like perfect weather through the weekend for autumn walks and hikes in Litchfield. If you’re looking for tips, read our 10 Great Fall Foliage Walks in Litchfield, Autumn 2022 blog post.

Halloween costume

Three Halloween Costume Parties + Oct. 21-23 Weekend Events

What other town offers three terrific opportunities to delight in celebrating Halloween with old-school costume parties and trick-or-treating? And they’re spread over three days, allowing for spooky-stylish immersion.

Halloween costumeMarketplace Tavern at The Old Litchfield Jail, decorated in spooky chic style, is throwing a Halloween party Oct. 28, announced like this on its Facebook page:

GET YOUR SPOOKY PARTY PANTS ON!!
Join Us For Our Second Annual Halloween Party @ The Tavern on Friday 10/28 7PM!!
Winners of the Costume Competition Will Receive 100$ Gift Card for First Place, 50$ Second, 25$ Third, Valid at Any of Our Locations!
THE OLD JAIL IS COMPLETELY SPOOKED OUT!
Halloween Themed Food & Drink Specials
Monster Mash on Repeat

The Junior Women’s Club of Litchfield Hills is holding a classic Halloween Halloween costumeBall Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Bantam Firehouse and the event listing goes like this:

Join us for a great night of dancing with DJ Zerp! Wear your best costumes and enter the costume contest! Buy some tickets for the 50/50 raffle. Snacks provided, but feel free to bring your own. Costumes preferred, but not required. BYOB. Adults only 21 and over. Proceeds go to local charities and families in need.

Tickets are $25 and you get them online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/halloween-ball-tickets-417489049987 Watch the Club’s Facebook page for any updates.

Founded in 1965, the Club is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization affiliated with Connecticut Junior Women, Inc. that works for the betterment of our community through fund allocations, scholarships, emergency funds and assistance for families in need. See the website to learn more.

The third dress-up opportunity, Halloween Trick-or-Treating in the Tapping Reeve Meadow, is designed for children and families. It’s a collaboration between Litchfield Park & Rec and the Litchfield Historical Society.

Here’s the Park & Rec listing:

Who’s ready for HALLOWEEN!?
You know we are with Litchfield Historical Society !!
Join us on Halloween Night (10/31) for fun trick or treating from 4pm-8pm and a story time at 5pm at Tapping Reeve Meadow!
Don’t forget to take a jaunt through the Meadow to see all the scarecrows!
Can’t wait to see all the great costumes!!
As the say, don’t miss the Litchfield Historical Society’s 3rd annual Scarecrows in the Meadow returns to the Tapping Reeve Meadow at 82 South St. through Oct. 31, open for visiting every day from dawn to dusk. All of the scarecrows are created by local businesses, non-profits, and families.

(Park & Rec is seeking donations of pre-packaged candy, which can be dropped at Litchfield Town Hall, 74 West St., or the Town Hall Annex, 80 Doyle Road in Bantam.)

Speaking of spooky, the historical society’s Stories to Keep You Up at Night – Lantern Tour is sold out for Friday, Oct. 21, but there’s a second one scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 25. Act fast if you want to join in a spooky night of Litchfield’s most frightening and gruesome true stories.

The tour starts at the Tapping Reeve Meadow, where guests will enjoy historically inspired cocktails and treats before grabbing lanterns and heading into the darkness to learn about the violent and scandalous side of Litchfield’s history.

The event runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and the walking tour itself lasts about an hour and covers roughly a mile. The cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members.

Space is limited and you can register online.  In the event of rain or inclement weather, the program will not be held.

Other Seasonal Events This Weekend

A Celebration of Connecticut Apples at White Memorial
Saturday, Oct 22, at 2 p.m.

Join Russell Powell and Barr Weeks from the New England Apple Association as they weave the delicious story of apple growing in Connecticut. Learn about apple history, their growing cycle, Connecticut’s ten most popular apples and some rarer New England varieties. Samples will be available in raw form as well as pie form! You’ll be able to vote for your favorite pie and learn some really wonderful things while tasting them! 2:00 P.M., A.B. Ceder Room. Members: $5.00 Non-Members: $10.00 Call 860-567-0857 or register online at www.whitememorialcc.org.

St. Paul’s Church  in Bantam is hosting its second musical event this fall to celebrate its founding 225 years ago. This special event on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., is free and open to the public and features Azul Quartet: Janet Jacobson and Sarah Washburn – violins, Eugenio Figueroa – viola, Pablo Issa – cello. Free tickets available on Eventbrite.

Strut Your Mutt on Sunday, Oct. 23.

Dog lovers are invited to join Unlocking Connecticut’s Bev and Lora for this fun community event at Litchfield Community Field Oct. 23, beginning at 11 a.m.

Register your dog in one of these categories: Precious Puppy, Young At Heart, Large & Loveable, Who Rescued Who?!, Always Awesome, and Best Costume. Prizes will be awarded.

It’s going to be a blast and even caught the attention of News 12 Connecticut, which came to Litchfield to film a preview story.

For all the details and registration head here.

Proceeds to benefit the Community Outreach Team of Greenwoods Counseling & Referrals, Inc., to provide mobile addiction and recovery services in Litchfield County.

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Also don’t miss the Litchfield Hills Farm-Fresh Market, currently in its indoor season Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Litchfield Community Center.

Bunnell

Litchfield Harvest Season: Pumpkins, Apples, Hayrides & More

The fall foliage and autumn harvest season are peaking at the same time in Litchfield, making this the perfect weekend (and beyond) for a colorful walk in the woods and visits to our farms and farm stands for pumpkins, apples, hayrides, a corn maze, and more.

Make sure to check out the Farms & Farmers Markets page on the Visit Litchfield CT website (https://visitlitchfieldct.com/farms/), which includes a link to an interactive map showing the location of each farm and offering more details.

And see our blog post detailing 10 terrific walks and hikes for enjoying the autumn leaves (https://visitlitchfieldct.com/10-great-fall-foliage-walks-in-litchfield-autumn-2022/)

Bunnell Farm

This fifth generation farm in the rural and pretty Milton section of town is in its prime time for visitors, offering all the best autumn rituals:

* Pick your own pumpkins
* A professionally designed and cut corn maze (and children’s maze)
* Hay rides
* Fall gifts
* Hot dogs & more
+ pumpkin scones!

The perfect family destination, Bunnell Farm is open Saturdays and Sundays in October from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and weekday appointments can be scheduled.

524 Maple Street
(860) 567-9576

Litchfield Hills Farm-Fresh Market

Litchfield farm market, farms
Some recent vendors

The Litchfield Hills Farm-Fresh Market wraps up its outdoor season this Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot on Woodruff Lane across Center School.

If you don’t go often, or haven’t discovered the bounty the market offers, this is the weekend to experience it in the glory of the autumnal harvest landscape.

As of 10/22, the market continues at Litchfield Community Center every Saturday through early June, 2023, when the outdoor season resumes. Watch the Facebook page for updates.

125 West Street
(market in parking lot on Woodruff Lane)

Chanticleer Acres

Lady Chanticleer, Litchfield farm, farms
Lady Chanticleer

Located on a rural road heading toward Milton, Chanticleer Acres is dedicated to regenerative no-till organic practices to produce a wide variety of non-GMO food, including heirloom vegetables, root vegetables, herbs and flowers. There’s also fresh eggs at the veggie hut, open daily from dawn until dusk. (We also saw pumpkins there recently.) It’s less than 10 minutes from the center of town.

Follow @Chanticleeracres on Facebook and Instagram for the latest.

51 Hutchinson Pkwy
(860) 361-9366

 

Winter Winds Farm

Winter Winds Farm, Litchfield farmsWinter Winds Farm has been offering weekend veggie bundles featuring the farm’s own ground beef, as well as things like zucchini, corn, summer squash, winter squash, peppers, beans, kale/Swiss chard, carrots, and more. The bundles go fast, so monitor the Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/NorthwestTree) for each weekend’s details. It’s a cash or check operation located on Route 63 a bit north of the historic district, and part of the Northwest Tree family. The farm also produces pumpkins and maple syrup.

426 Goshen Road
(Look for vegetable signs on Rte. 63 North and drive down the dirt driveway to the farm stand.)

Tara Farm

Located in Watertown, Tara Farm operates a seasonal farm stand along Route 202, offering tomatoes, corn, veggies, berries, pumpkins and more throughout the summer and into the fall.

433 Bantam Rd. (near Litchfield Auctions and Lostocco Auto Parts)
(860) 274-8147

Ox Hollow Farm Stand 

Ox Hollow Farm stand, Litchfield farmsOx Hollow Farm Stand is located along Route 202 across from Mt. Tom Pond on the western edge of Litchfield and is open daily into November. If offers all-natural, pasture raised angus beef, pork, chicken, lamb, eggs and seasonal vegetables.

810 Bantam Rd.
(860) 567-0236

Scarecrows in the Meadow

Litchfield farm, farms
A witch scarecrow from the 2021 display

While you’re out visiting farms and farm stands, make sure to stop by the Litchfield Historical Society’s 3rd annual Scarecrows in the Meadow display in the Tapping Reeve Meadow behind the Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School on South Street.

The scarecrows will be on display from Oct. 15 through Oct. 31, and the meadow is open for visiting every day from dawn to dusk. All of the scarecrows are created by local businesses, non-profits, and families.

An Opening Celebration is scheduled this Saturday, Oct. 15, from 1 to 3 p.m., when the more than 50 scarecrows will make their formal debut. There also will be a scarecrow making contest, fall activities, and voting for guests’ favorite scarecrows. This event is free and open to the public, and no registration is necessary.

82 South St.
(860) 567-4501

IMG_6713 copy

Spooky Looks Good on Litchfield, a Classic Halloween Town

spooky Litchfield, a classic Halloween town
The welcoming committee on Meadow Street

Ask a Baby Boomer or early Gen X-er about what Halloween used to be like and what made a “real” Halloween town and you’ll hear tales of elaborate lawn displays, serious costume creations, rituals like watching “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” families and groups of friends tricker-treating together on foot across multiple neighborhoods, tales of the scary stuff that happened along the way, and the all-important tallying of the candy haul.

Halloween has changed in ways that don’t please purists—but not in Litchfield, which remains a classic Halloween town. The spooky and elaborate lawn displays are already up around town, the Scarecrows in the Meadow are coming (who else has that?), scary events are on the calendar, dark tales from the past surface for the retelling, there’s a hometown candy shop stocked with non-box-store treats, our walkable neighborhoods welcome trick-or-treaters, and we even have a true Halloween Ball!

The Lawn Displays and a Bit of Dark History

spooky Litchfield, a classic Halloween town
At the bottom of Gallows Hill

Two lawn displays in particular caught our attention so far this season—the creepy gent with his horse-drawn hearse and coven of witches on Meadow Street, and the equally creepy skeletons at the bottom of Gallows Lane.

Perhaps it’s not coincidental that this bony crew is located at the foot of Gallows Hill. According to Peter Vermilyea’s post on Connecticuthistory.org, Gallows Lane indeed got its name for the executions that took place there.

It was the site of at least three hangings in the 1700s, including that of Barnett Davenport, who was born in New Milford in 1760, according to Vermilyea’s account, and served in the Continental Army under George Washington. He was also a convicted horse thief and a deserter who returned home to work in a grist mill in Washington operated by Caleb Mallory.

On a February night in 1780, Davenport entered the Mallory home and beat to death Caleb, his wife Jane, and a granddaughter Charlotte. He stole the valuables in the house and set it on fire, killing two grandsons, John and Sherman. Later captured in Cornwall, Davenport was brought to Litchfield, the official county seat, confessed, and went to trial, presided over by Declaration of Independence signatory Roger Sherman. The sentence: hanging on Gallows Hill.

“The World’s Most Haunted Places,” Oct. 6

The Forum of Litchfield County (formerly The Women’s Forum of Litchfield) is hosting a talk Oct. 6 at the Litchfield Community Center featuring Jeff Belanger, author of “The World’s Most Haunted Places” and “Ghosts of War: Restless Spirits of Soldiers, Spies, and Saboteurs.”

“His program will explore the haunts around the world and those in your own backyard,” according to the event announcement. “Jeff brings different stories every time and no two are the same. This multimedia program draws from his research in his books, podcasts, adventures, and the various TV shows that he’s worked on. The presentation will showcase one of New England’s premiere storytellers for a trip through the unusual and the unexplained. There will also be a Q&A and book-signing.”

A storyteller, adventurer, journalist and the author of more than a dozen books, Belanger has interviewed thousands of eyewitnesses to paranormal occurrences. He is also the Emmy-nominated host, writer and producer of the PBS and Amazon Prime series “New England Legends,” and the weekly New England Legends podcast.

This program will be held on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 2:30 p.m. at the Litchfield Community Center. The event will be open to non-Forum members with a $10 fee at the door, which includes tea and cookies following the program. For more see the website,  womensforumoflitchfield.org.

Scarecrows in the Meadow, Oct. 15-31
+ More Scary Stuff from Litchfield Historical Society

spooky Litchfield, a classic Halloween townThe Litchfield Historical Society’s 3rd annual Scarecrows in the Meadow returns to the Tapping Reeve Meadow on South Street from Oct. 15 through Oct. 31, open for visiting every day from dawn to dusk. All of the scarecrows are created by local businesses, non-profits, and families.

An Opening Celebration is scheduled for Oct. 15, from 1 to 3 p.m., when the more than 50 scarecrows will make their formal debut. There also will be a scarecrow making contest, fall activities, and voting for guests’ favorite scarecrows. This event is free and open to the public, and no registration is necessary. The Tapping Reeve Meadow is located at 82 South St.

‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ performed by Master Storyteller Jonathan Kruk

On Wednesday, October 19, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Tapping Reeve Meadow, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” will come to life via storyteller Jonathan Kruk … surrounded by the Scarecrows in the Meadow.

We all know of Washington Irving’s class tale of the Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane, but you don’t know the whole story until you experience Jonathan Kruk’s retelling, the historical society teases.

The event is free for members, and $10 per person, or $25 per group for non-members. Pre-registration is recommended,  and participants are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets for seating and to dress warmly.

Stories to Keep You Up at Night – Lantern Tour

Join the historical society on Friday, Oct. 21, for a spooky night of Litchfield’s most frightening and gruesome true stories. [Note: The tour has sold out at this point but there is a second one scheduled for Oct. 25.

The tour starts at the Tapping Reeve Meadow, where guests will enjoy historically inspired cocktails and treats before grabbing lanterns and heading into the darkness to learn about the violent and scandalous side of Litchfield’s history.

The event runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and the walking tour itself lasts about an hour and covers roughly a mile. The cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members.

Space is limited and registration is required. In the event of rain or inclement weather, the program will not be held.

Halloween Trick-or-Treating in the Tapping Reeve Meadow
 
Litchfield Park & Rec recently posted this event:
Who’s ready for HALLOWEEN!? 👻🎃
You know we are with Litchfield Historical Society !!
Join us on Halloween Night 🌛 (10/31) for fun trick or treating 🍬 from 4pm-8pm and a story time 📚 at 5pm at Tapping Reeve Meadow!
Don’t forget to take a jaunt through the Meadow 🌾 to see all the scarecrows!
👩‍🚀🧑‍✈️🧑‍🚒🧑‍🔬🦸‍♀️🦸🦸‍♂️🦹‍♀️🧙‍♀️🧙🧙‍♂️🧝
Can’t wait to see all the great costumes!!

 

 

Halloween Ball, Oct. 29

spooky Litchfield, a classic Halloween townThe Junior Women’s Club of Litchfield Hills is throwing a Halloween Ball Oct. 29 at the Bantam Firehouse. Spooky and social … we love it!

Founded in 1965, the Club is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization affiliated with Connecticut Junior Women, Inc. that works for the betterment of our community through fund allocations, scholarships, emergency funds and assistance for families in need. See the website to learn more.

The Litchfield Candy Company

spooky Litchfield, a classic Halloween townWe have to end on a sweet note. Our hometown Litchfield Candy Company is stocked for Halloween, and the autumn season in general, with candy, chocolates, treats, sweets, novelties and more—with options that go way beyond what you’ll find at a big box store.

Rooney

Litchfield Gallery Hopping Wknd: 5 Stops + Auction Preview

I did a series in a very hot August, 2022, Julia Rooney

Art lovers have a terrific opportunity this weekend to gallery hop in Litchfield and see exhibits at five venues, catch an artist talk, and attend the preview for the auction of a noted collection of Modern and contemporary art, furniture, and more.

Four of the six experiences can be enjoyed with one-stop parking in Litchfield center, and the other two take cultural voyagers west on Route 202 (passing lots of great places for coffee, tea and a treat along the way.)

Most of the exhibits and galleries are open on Saturday, but Sunday’s the day for a mini cultural odyssey with a distinctly Litchfield vibe.

Here’s what’s happening:

Jennifer Terzian Gallery

This bijoux of a gallery, tucked “underground” on South Street, below @thecorner restaurant, is holding an artist talk event Sunday (Sept. 18) at 3 p.m. with Keely Orgeman, the Seymour H. Knox, Jr., Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Yale University Art Gallery, and artist Julia Rooney, whose show “Screen Shot” is currently on view at the gallery. 

Rooney and Orgeman will discuss the influence digital technology has had on the medium of painting, particularly in the age of social media and through the Covid-19 pandemic, an invite to those on the gallery’s email list explained.

Julia Rooney

Rooney and Orgeman worked together during the 2021-22 Happy and Bob Doran Connecticut Artist-in-Residence Program organized in collaboration between Artspace New Haven and Yale University Art Gallery. 

On view through Oct. 15, Screen Shot is a solo exhibition comprising two bodies produced a decade apart in 2012 and 2022. Both are titled “I did a series in a very hot August,” and they explore our relationship with screens and how our perceptions have been recast in miniature through the devices we carry, and in turn that carry us in their image, according to gallery notes.

Rooney’s newest paintings are made on 3×6-inch wooden tiles, painted abstractly and suggestive of smartphones with their rounded edges and thin profiles. Meanwhile, Rooney’s 2012 plaster paintings were inspired by a trove of candid screenshots taken by her partner during years of long-distance Skype conversations.

The gallery is generally open by appointment, and those who would like to attend the artist talk are asked to RSVP by email to [email protected].

Jennifer Terzian Gallery
3BB South Street
www.jenniferterziangallery.com
714.932.5497
Open by appointment and for events

 

Litchfield Historical Society 

The Litchfield Historical Society and its Litchfield History Museum are presenting the wonderful “Painting Litchfield” exhibit, celebrating Litchfield scenes and artists, through Nov. 27. Admission is free.

“Painting Litchfield” showcases paintings inspired by Litchfield scenes and landscapes from the nineteenth century to the present, the historical society explained in a release, and includes work by one of the earliest artist groups exhibiting in Connecticut, as well as a painter who served in the Monuments Men of World War II fame.

While you’re in town, also visit the historical society’s Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School, (82 South St.) the first law school in the nation, where admission is also free. Don’t forget to relax in the gorgeous Tapping Reeve Meadow in the back.

Litchfield Historical Society
7 South Street
https://www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org
860-567-4501
Saturday 11-5
Sunday 1-5

 

Oliver Wolcott Library

Ash Swamp

Another exhibit also on South Street may not be obvious to uninitiated Litchfield residents and visitors.

The show of landscape oil paintings by Ann Quackenbos is in the Jamie Gargarin Art Gallery at the Oliver Wolcott Library (OWL), where it remains on view through Oct. 28.

“My paintings are inspired by the landscape of northwestern Connecticut,” the artist says. “I try to convey my experience of these wild places and the joy of working freely with oil paint, adding, scraping, and working with what emerges from the paint on the canvas.”

Architecture lovers will also want visit OWL, which encompasses the 1799 Oliver Wolcott Jr. House and a 1965/66 Modern addition by Harvard Five architect Eliot Noyes. “His use of modern design combined with the historic nature of the 1799 house remains a testimony to his gift of architectural design,” the library says.

Oliver Wolcott Library
160 South Street
860-567-8030
https://www.owlibrary.org
10-2 on Saturday

Alofft Gallery

Owners Craig Connolly and Liz Donohue have dreamed of opening an art gallery since they bought their first piece of original art from the Granary Gallery in West Tisbury, the morning after their wedding day. Fast forward 16+ years, a few grad degrees, a couple wonderful kids and 2 puppies later, that dream has come true.

So goes the story on the website of this stylish new gallery across from the Green on West Street in Litchfield center, where you’ll find an impeccably curated collection of  contemporary art from artists living and working in New England, New York, and Europe. 

Alofft Gallery
41 West Street
860-361-6389
https://alofft.com
Saturday 11-4
Sunday 12-4

amArtHouse

If you’ve driven along Route 202 west of Bantam center, then you’ve seen amArtHouse, the fairly new gallery that makes a statement with the bold, colorful sculptures by Richard Pitts on the lawn … and the side of the building.

Located in a restored 1775 Colonial and focusing on contemporary art, amArtHouse is wrapping up two exhibits this weekend, “Fragmented Memories,” collages on paper by Pitts, and a collection of sculpture and drawings by Ed Smith.

The Instagram page is the best way to keep an eye on what’s happening at amArtHouse, owned and Curated by Artur Matuszewski.

 

 

AmArtHouse
1062 Bantam Road
(212)-696-1807
www.amarthouse.com
Saturday 11-5
Sunday 12-4

Litchfield County Auctions

Richard Haas (American, born 1936). George Washington Bridge, lithograph and silkscreen on aluminum.

Litchfield County Auctions’ September auction features property from the modern collection of John “Parker” Prindle, Jr. of Beacon Hill in Boston, a collector of 20th Century decorative arts, furniture, fine art, and tribal art. (His donations can be seen in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Harvard Art Museums.)

The auction, conducted both online and live, takes place in in two parts, Sept. 20 and Sept. 21, beginning at 10 a.m. both days.

Whether or not you want to bid, the auction preview creates an opportunity for another Litchfield “exhibit experience” this weekend. Sunday’s preview runs from 12-4, and those in town during the week also have a chance to see the modern and contemporary art, furniture and accessories on  Monday from 10-5.

See Litchfield County Auctions’ website for all the details, as well as all the pieces to be auctioned.

Litchfield County Auctions
425 Bantam Road
860-567-4661
https://www.litchfieldcountyauctions.com
Nields-colorful-600x600

The Nields in Bantam, Bethlehem Fair, Historical Society Party …

Bethlehem Fair, Sept. 9, 10, 11

If you missed the Goshen Fair last weekend, or went and want more country fair immersion, you’re in luck. The focus turns to just south of Litchfield this weekend at the Bethlehem Fair.

There’s a classic car and truck show Friday evening, which is also bracelet night for rides, and all the fair favorites throughout—tractor pulls, wood-chopping contests, and lots of fair food and live music.

Admission is $10 for adults and children under 12 are admitted free. Additional admission information, the full fair schedule, and more details are on the fair website.

 

St. Paul’s Bantam: 225th Anniversary Folk-Rock Concert (9/10, 1 p.m.)

This free concert features The Nields, the folk-rock sisters praised for their “masterful mix of modern folk with an alternative edge,” and called a delightful discovery by the Chicago Tribune, which said, “The marvelously expressive Katryna and Nerissa Nields provide vocals sounding at various times very much like the Bangles, the Roches and …Alanis Morrissette.”

Cupcakes and ice-cream will follow as part of the first of three free events to celebrate the 225 years of St. Paul’s Bantam.

The concert is free but guests must register here, https://stpaul225thNields.eventbrite.com, and as of Thursday afternoon only 15 spots out of 100 remained. 

Litchfield Historical Society Fall Fundraiser

The historical society’s Annual Fall Fundraiser is Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Tapping Reeve Meadow, behind the Tapping Reeve House & Litchfield Law School. All proceeds benefit the Litchfield Historical Society’s education mission.

The evening will feature a signature drink provided by Litchfield Distillery, small plates from The Pantry, and live music by The Matt Belliveau Trio. A silent auction, including a trip to Newport, RI, and a four-night stay near Jackson, Wyoming, will be held to raise money for the education programs hosted by the historical society.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the website www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org/fallfundraiser Ticket prices start at $100 for one guest.

Earlier in the day, don’t miss the historical society’s popular Walking Tour, which begins at 1 p.m. (7 South Street) and lasts approximately 1 hour. It’s a perfect way to discover the town’s rich history and explore the Historic District, where guests hear the stories behind famous landmarks and prominent buildings, as well as anecdotes about the many notable residents of the past. It’s free for historical society members and $10 for non-members. Register in advance online.

Litchfield Hills Farm-Fresh Market

We’re getting down to the final six outdoor presentations of Litchfield Hills Farm-Fresh Market for the 2022 season, so don’t miss the one this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the parking lot across from Center School, off Route 202/West St. just below the town center and Green. See the flier for the bounty you’ll find there.

Goshen Fair

Goshen Fair and More Labor Day Weekend Fun

Goshen Fair

You can always tell it’s Labor Day Weekend and the Goshen Fair is on from the extra traffic in Litchfield center. The fairgrounds are on Route 63, the pretty state road that’s also historic North and South streets in Litchfield, and it sure seems like a majority of fairgoers come and go via our town.

It can be frustrating, but if you plan right, use alternate routes, and are savvy about parking, the extra energy can feel exhilarating. (Email us at [email protected], or connect through comments or messages on the Visit Litchfield CT Facebook or Instagram accounts and we’ll help you navigate, concierge-style.)

Now for the weekend fun.

The Goshen Fair, Sept. 3, 4, 5

A 2019 photo from the Goshen Fair Facebook page

The Goshen Fair is one of the best major fairs in Connecticut. Sponsored by the Goshen Agricultural Society, it beautifully honors our agrarian heritage and Northwest Connecticut’s vibrant farming and agritourism status—as well as offering all the right fun, from fair food to amusements, rides, and live music.

And it’s perfectly positioned on the calendar to create and enhance that special mood that accompanies the end of summer, harvest season, and the arrival of autumn. The cherry on top is taking advantage of Labor Day to turn a Monday into a fun day.

Below we mention some highlights and new features, but the best way to plan your visit is to look at the schedule page online and pick the day/block of time filled with what interests you most.

Goshen Fair Schedule

Among the crowd-pleasers on that schedule are the High School Timber Teams Contest, the Professional and Street Outlaw Pull, the Frozen T-Shirt Contest, Hay Bale Toss Contest, Antique Tractor Pull, New England Lumberjack Show, Garden Tractor Pull, Woodcutting Contests, and NBHA Barrel Race.

Even watching any of that works up an appetite, and there are lots of new food vendors this year, including Tino’s Wings (chicken wings), pizza cones (the fair folks say you have to experience it to believe it), Cannoli Cones, and a Mediterranean Grill (think gyros).

And if you like your sweets with a little walk on the wild side, Willy Pete’s Chocolate Co. is back. The veteran owned venture produces hand-crafted, small batch chocolate chocolates with unique flavor combinations featuring homegrown spicy peppers.

Then there’s the music. The Main Stage features Crooked Rail, Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra, and Neal and the Vipers on Saturday, Dan’s Roadhouse Country, the Rich Badowshi Blues Band, and Soul Sound Revue on Sunday, and Country Steel, and The Apricot Brandy on Sunday.

Also new this year:

  • Inside Building B local artists will be selling their artwork and more (jewelry, oil painting, watercolor, iron works, recycled art)
  • Mike’s Bees (local honey)
  • Crowley will have Lithium Golf carts
  • Dean’s Stove and Spa
  • Main Street Welding will be selling their handmade signs.
  • 2nd Amendment Shirts

Tufano Amusement, Inc. is once again providing the rides and games, including the Expo Wheel standing over 60 above the midway.

Fair admission is $10 for adults and children under 12 are admitted free. Senior citizens admission is $5 on Saturday. See the fair website for more details.

Two Opportunities for Guided Walks

Loving Haight With Gerri Griswold

Bantam River
A spring view of the Bantam River from the River Trail

That play on words is definitely a provocative title for a White Memorial event, but not in the way you might imagine. It refers to a free event Saturday, Sept. 3, in which White Memorial Director of Administration and Development Gerri Griswold will lead a walk along the Vineyard and River trails across from Haight-Brown Vineyard on Chestnut Hill Road.

Anyone who hasn’t discovered these lovely trails that run from the vineyard hillside down along the Bantam River and loop back around has a great opportunity to experience this “hidden gem” area through the perspective of an expert.

Participants should meet at 10 a.m. in front of the A. B. Ceder Room at the White Memorial Conservation Center and bring water and a snack. More details are on the event page.

(These are the same trails we have highlighted in Visit Litchfield CT Facebook posts about the “secret” behind the stone pillars on South Street. The pillars mark a right of way that leads down that hill on that side to a bridge across the river and the trails. Walkers may enter this way, though no parking is allowed on South Street and it’s not an official entrance.)

Litchfield Historical Society Walking Tour

The always popular Litchfield Historical Society weekly walking tour begins at 1 p.m. at the Litchfield Historical Society (7 South Street) and lasts approximately 1 hour. It’s a perfect way to discover the town’s rich history and explore the Historic District, where guests hear the stories behind famous landmarks and prominent buildings, as well as anecdotes about the many notable residents of the past. It’s free for historical society members and $10 for non-members. Pre-registration online is required.

Sportsmen’s Tent Sale

Sportsmen's BantamOur hometown sporting goods store, Sportsmen’s in Bantam, is winding down its retail operation to focus on a new team wholesale business model and store sales are culminating with a Labor Day Tent Sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 4.

Almost everything will be 50-70 percent off, and all sales are final. If you’ve never been to Sportsmen’s, think of top brands in hiking boots, running shoes, outdoor apparel and equipment of all types—including kayaks—and lots of very stylish options in all categories.

Watch the Sportsmen’s Facebook page for any updates through the weekend, and head to @sportsmens_team on Instagram for a sense of what that next phase entails. (And you can always call them at 860-567-3167 with questions.)

 

 

 

 

(This just in regarding Labor Day Weekend sales in Litchfield. Blueprint CT, the kitchen and home shop on West Street in Litchfield center, is also having a big sale this weekend.)

 

 

While you’re strolling around Litchfield center …

Make sure to check out the new @oliverwolcottlibrary exhibit of landscape oil paintings by Ann Quackenbos, which opens with a reception Sept. 1, from 5 to 7 p.m.

“My paintings are inspired by the landscape of northwestern Connecticut,” the artist says. “I try to convey my experience of these wild places and the joy of working freely with oil paint, adding, scraping, and working with what emerges from the paint on the canvas.” (Shown here: Ash Swamp)

As always, send us ideas, inspirations and feedback by emailing [email protected], or leaving a comment or message on our Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Eight to the Bar Litchfield CT

New Gallery, Dodgeball, Swing Music: Litchfield Weekend Plans

Eight to the Bar
Eight to the Bar

Fine art is on the agenda this weekend in Litchfield, which features the debut of a new gallery on West Street across from the Green and a reception with the artist showing works in the current exhibit at the Jennifer Terzian Gallery around the corner on South Street.

If art’s not your thing, you can check out the popular Retro Dodgeball Tournament at Community Field, learn about the notable trees of Litchfield in a Litchfield Historical Society walking tour, or dance the night away to the Swing, Boogie-Woogie, and Motown of the band Eight to the Bar at the Litchfield Community Center.

Jennifer Terzian Gallery Exhibit Opening

A reception with artist Kirstin Lamb is being held Friday (6/17) from 5 to 7 p.m. at Jennifer Terzian Gallery, located in the row of shops below @thecorner restaurant on South Street.

Lamb’s exhibit, “Floral Remix,” continues through July 9.

The Rhode Island artist makes “labor-intensive images of labor-intensive textiles and wallpapers,” and her paintings encompass hybrid embroidery, cross stitch, collage and digital mark-making. 

Follow the gallery on Instagram and visit the artist’s website to learn more.

Alofft Gallery Debuts on West Street

The new Alofft Gallery at 41 West St. opens to the public this Saturday (6/18), following a preview reception by invitation Friday evening. The space has been completely renovated, a skylight has been added, and the art on the walls is varied and compelling.

Stop by to learn the story behind the gallery’s name, and follow the gallery on Instagram for the latest news.

Also make sure to click over to our Arts & History page for more galleries and history museums to enjoy.

Retro Dodgeball Tournament at Community Field

The teams have been formed and registered and it’s time for the ducking, dipping, diving, and dodging to commence this Saturday (6/18) at the fourth annual Retro Dodgeball Tournament at Litchfield Community Field.

Spectators are enthusiastically welcome to watch the fun at this fundraiser for the Litchfield Education Foundation and Litchfield CT Park & Recreation. It begins at 11 a.m.

The snack shack will be open for business, courtesy of Litchfield Tri-Town Youth Baseball & Softball, there will be bounce houses and other fun surprises for children, and for those who want to keep the festivities going, there’s a post-event social gathering at the Saltwater Grille.

Notable Trees of Litchfield Walking Tour

The Litchfield Historical Society and the Litchfield Garden Club are partnering for a tour highlighting notable trees in Litchfield’s Historic District on Saturday(6/18) at 10 am.

The Garden Club has planted and cared for hundreds of trees in town for more than a century and the tour will share stories of the people and events surrounding a selection of the most notable trees.

It’s free for members of the historical society and garden club and $10 for non-members. The tour begins at the Litchfield History Museum (7 South Street) at 10 a.m. and lasts approximately an hour. Guests are asked to register online.

Eight to the Bar Concert at Litchfield Community Center

Eight to the Bar Litchfield CT
Eight to the Bar

The Litchfield Community Center has established itself as the hottest venue in town for live music. It’s free Evening Glow Music Series on Thursday afternoons features chamber and classical music, and things get kicked up a notch in the Summer Concert Series.

Eight to the Bar, a favorite Connecticut band performing Swing, Boogie-Woogie, and Motown, performs this Saturday under the tent.

Snowden’s Barbecue and Mobile Pub Events & Catering will be on-site for the dining and imbibing pleasure of guests.

Grounds open at 6 p.m. and the music starts at 7. Tickets are $30 per adult and $10 per child 12 and under. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets.

Still coming up in the Summer Concert Series are The Alpaca Gnomes on Aug. 12 and the CT Grateful Dead All Stars on Sept. 10.

Watch Our Instagram Live Conversation With LCC Executive Director Berta Andrulis Mette discussing the concert series and more

 

Also Don’t Miss:

Edible Plant Walk with Andy Dobos ~ The Forest Wolf at White Memorial Conservation Center Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Litchfield Historical Society’s Weekly Walking Tours of Litchfield History Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Litchfield Hills Farm-Fresh Market Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Litchfield Center School parking lot.

litchfield-LHRR-by-lindsey-victoria-photography-2399

Litchfield Hills Road Race Weekend Is Jam-Packed With Fun

Lindsey Victoria Photography
Lindsey Victoria Photography

This weekend is Road Race Weekend, one of the most fun, festive, and important weekends on the Litchfield calendar.

The Litchfield Hills Road Race marks its 45th running with the main event beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, and the race is embellished by other terrific activities, including the “post-pandemic” return of fun children’s races and the first-ever Litchfield Makers Market on the Green Saturday.

Listen to Our Instagram Live Conversation With Park and Recreation Director Colleen Kinkade about the road race and Economic Development Commission member Michelle Murelli previewing the Litchfield Makers Market.

Road Race Weekend happens to coincide with Connecticut Open House Day, when more than 200 tourism attractions, including museums, cultural venues, historical sites, farms and more, offer free or discounted admission.

In Litchfield, that means one of the Litchfield Historical Society’s popular walking tour is free this Saturday. (Admission to the Litchfield History Museum and Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School is already free.)

It’s open house weekend at Topsmead State Forest, where tours of Miss Edith Morton Chase’s Tudor-style cottage resume for the season this Saturday and Sunday.

Here’s a little more about each event with links to further details.

Road Race Weekend

Litchfield Hills Road Race 2022 block partyFour main components make up Road Race Weekend this year—the brand new Litchfield Makers Market, an update of the Gallery on the Green tradition, the return of the Block Party, the road race itself, and the return of the children’s races.

Gallery on the Green was a longtime tradition on the Saturday of Road Race Weekend, and it has now been reinvented by Economic Development Commission member Michele Murelli as the Litchfield Makers Market. Taking place Saturday from 10 to 4 on the Green in Litchfield center, it features artists, artisans, farms, nonprofits, gourmet food and spirits and much more. The Litchfield High Jazz Combo will be performing at 1 and Tony Troy, who teaches at the Litchfield Music, performs at 2.  See www.arttripping.art or the Facebook page for more.

The community Block Party takes place Saturday from 7-10 p.m.on the Green and features the high energy dance music band Cover 2 Cover, as well as food, face painting, circus performers and more. Additional information is at Litchfieldparkandrec.com!

On Sunday it’s on to the main events. Inspired by the famous road race in Falmouth, Mass. the Litchfield Hills Road Race began in 1977 and quickly gained a reputation as a premier event, which attracts elite runners from around the world. It begins at 1 p.m. in Litchfield center and ends on the Green.

And this year, in what some locals consider the best part of the day, the children’s races return. Families can register participants on race day for the 200-yard dash (ages 4-8) and the 1 mile non-competitive race (ages 8-10). Registration is open 9 to 12:30 and there’s a $5 fee. Registration for the 2.3 mile competitive race (ages 9-13) closes at 11:30 on race day and there’s a $15 fee.

Check the Official Litchfield Hills Road Race Facebook page for the latest updates.

And don’t forget to arrive early and plan your parking. Options beyond the Green include the lot behind Union Savings Bank on North Street, the lot behind St. Anthony of Padua church on South Street, the lot next to Litchfield Center School, Community Field on North Lake Street, and the lot behind the First Congregational Church. Plug any of those into Google maps for directions.

Cottage Tours at Topsmead State Forest

The Friends of Topsmead State Forest, the glorious 510-acre state forest anchored by the former summer cottage of Miss Edith Morton Chase, offer tours of the Tudor-style cottage each Saturday and Sunday on the 2nd and 4th weekends of June, July, August, and September, concluding October 9—which means the season begins this weekend!

Tours of the downstairs rooms begin at noon and begin on the hour and half-hour until the last tour at 4:30. See the website for details on the history of Topsmead, the trails, and more, as well as a link for emailing questions.  

Connecticut Open House Day, Litchfield Historical Society

The Litchfield Historical Society offers popular Saturday walking tours of Litchfield center—home to the nation’s first law school and the 18th-century home of George Washington’s spymaster—and the cost for non-members is usually $10. This Saturday there’s a special tour that’s free as part of Connecticut Open House Day. Entitled Sold, Made & Grown in Litchfield, the 10 a.m. tour will cover how the community’s economy has grown and changed over time The walk begins at the Litchfield Historical Society and lasts approximately one hour. Register online.

Other Warm-Up Options

The Litchfield Hills Farm-Fresh Market moves from its indoor-season home at Litchfield Community Center to its outdoor venue, the parking lot next to Litchfield Center School. In addition to all the market vendors, there will be simple art projects, a scavenger hunt and other cool activities for families and children 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

~

Here’s one for early-birds. White Memorial Director of Administration and Development Gerri Griswold is leading a group on a hike along her two favorite trails (and it begins at the crack-o-dawn, 4:30 a.m.)

The route ascends Apple Hill to greet the sun, and then heads to Cat Swamp to visit the Brave Old Oak, the carpet of princess pine, and a wood duck, kingfisher, and heron. Participants meet at the Apple Hill trailhead off East Shore Road at 4:30 a.m. The program is free but guests must pre-register by calling 860-567-0857 or through the website.

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