Earth, water, air and fire all tie in to this weekend's roundup of events. New Canaan Nature Center provides its earth for pitching a tent on and to build a cozy campfire for a cookout. A Soundwaters schooner sails out of Stamford's waterfront for a serene evening of marine sightseeing, buffeted by fresh breezes. Luckily, music, performance and art are also available to build an essential, entertaining weekend plan.
Friday, June 24
Fine form and function combine when Mystic Seaport hosts the 20th annual Wooden Boat Show. More than 100 traditional, classic and contemporary wooden boats of every type are on view with craft in the water to tour, vendor tents to browse as well as land exhibits to explore. Many family friendly hands-on activities keep little sailor-wannabes busy. A weekend's worth of boating sights and special crafts, the show runs from Friday through Sunday. Admission offers access to both the Wooden Boat Show and Mystic Seaport. Tickets are $15-24. Hours are: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the Seaport's website.
Starlight, star super bright. See how the night sky gleams when you can get close to it. On Friday June 24, starting at 7:30 p.m, Stamford Museum & Nature Center's Observatory presents "Monster Telescopes" Night. Learn about magnificient magnifiers and then, have a look see at planets, stars, and more through the Observatory's 22-inch telescope. The presentation portion of the program will be held rain or shine. Viewing hours are weather permitting. Admission is $2 and $3. For more information, visit the event's webpage
Heavenly harmonies waft on the night air when award-winning, family-friendly a cappella quartet 'Round Midnight, performs a free, outdoor concert at the New Canaan Library at 8 p.m. Though they favor barbershop style, jazz, classical and more are mixed in to add spice to their numbers. Quartet members are Larry Bomback, tenor, T.J. Carollo, baritone, Wayne Grimmer, lead, and Jeff Glemboski, bass. Their concert is free. In case of rain, it moves to the Lamb Room. For more information, visit the Library's website.
Saturday, June 25
Pitch your tent at New Canaan Nature Center for The Great American Campout, a national event, taking place Saturday, June 25 - Sunday, June 26, 4 p.m. - 9:30 a.m. A gentle, test the waters way to introduce your little ones to the pleasures of camping out, this overnight at the Nature Center will make them feel the thrill of going to sleep under the stars and waking up smack in the middle of nature. The Center's naturalists lead a firefly night hike, organize a cookout dinner, early morning breakfast and bird walk. To reserve a spot, call (203) 966-9577. The cost is $100 per tent. For more information, visit the Center's website.
Want to schedule a seriously serene, outdoor date night? Try a Soundwaters Sunset Sail from 6:30 8:30 p.m. Bring your dinner and beverage and sail off to watch the sun dip below the horizon as you bathe in the breeze, the visual beauty of the shimmering water and colorful scenery gliding by. The ship shoves off from Brewer Yacht Haven Marina, 41 Bateman Way, in Stamford. The cost is $30 per person. For more information, visit Soundwaters' site.
Enjoy the syncopation of steam train and banjos on Saturday, June 25th, when Easton Banjo Society members strum tunes during the Essex Steam Train ride. An hour of Dixieland Jazz enlivens your ride on this historic train, that wends its way through a panoramic display of scenery. Trains depart at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets are $22. For information, visit the Steam Train's website.
Old style marionettes still pack an entertaining punch and Greenwich Library proves this when it hosts the award winning National Marionette Theater which brings its fully staged performance of "Sleeping Beauty" on Saturday at 2 p.m. Their expertly crafted marionettes are accompanied by Tchaikovsky's thrilling ballet music. Raffles and refreshments follow the performance. For more information, call the Children's Room (203) 622-7940 or visit the Library's website.
Sunday, June 26
Be among the first to see six new compelling exhibits at Ridgefield's Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, which are themed as "collaborations." They include:Chelpa Ferro: Visual Sound; Kate Eric: One Plus One Minus One; MTAA: All the Holidays All at Once; Type A: Barrier and Trigger; Jessica Stockholder: Hollow Places Court in Ash-Tree Wood; and Judi Werthein: Do You Have Time? A public reception takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. Immediately following, a special performance by Brazilian artists Chelpa Ferro at Ridgefields Jesse Lee Memorial United Methodist Church from 6 to 7 pm, adds another dimension to the day. For more information, visit the Museum's website.
Break out the memorabilia and beam back to the 60s at Westport's Levitt Pavilion when it kicks off its summer season with a 7 p.m. free performance by "The Cast of Beatlemania." This "Cast" features members who starred in the Broadway production and who have won raves for the authenticity of their performances as the timeless mop tops. For more information, visit the Levitt's website.
For more happenings, visit our Events Section.
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