Weekend Events

Kids Can Hunt for Waldo at Two Dozen Darien Stores in July

‘An Evening Under the Stars’ Gala to Benefit the Darien Arts Center

A Talk on ‘Bees, Butterflies and Beneficials’ Saturday at Darien Library

Free Admission, Discounts at CT Museums & Attractions on Saturday, June 10

June 10: A Day for Art Lovers to See an Art Museum or Studio in Connecticut

Celebrate World Oceans Day with Your Family at the Maritime Aquarium on Saturday, June 10

‘Historical’ Savings at Museums and Sites in CT for the History-Minded on June 10

Help Our Troops by Donating to Operation DLL Cares, Darien Little League’s Care Package Drive

Have a Bank of America Card? Get Free Admission to Any of These Museums This Weekend

‘Flamboyance’ of Flamingos Flock for the Summer at Maritime Aquarium

On June 10, Save a Little on a Connecticut Day Trip (or Shorter Visit) with Your Kids

You and Your Kids Can Get Down on the Farm Saturday at Darien Nature Center

‘For Michael’ Day of Fun at Weed Beach This Saturday Raises Money for Shatterproof

Have Some Family Fun at the STAR Walk, 5K Run & Roll in Westport on Sunday

Last Weekend To See the Musical ‘Baby’ at Darien Arts Center

Business

By Alex Wang | June 27, 2017

Darien Arts Center

By David Gurliacci | June 24, 2017

Living

By John Paul Barce | June 11, 2017

Arts & Entertainment

By David Gurliacci | June 9, 2017

Art Exhibits

By David Gurliacci | June 9, 2017

Animals

By David Gurliacci | June 9, 2017

Weekend Events

By David Gurliacci | June 6, 2017

Parents & Kids

By David Gurliacci | June 3, 2017

Weekend Events

By David Gurliacci | June 2, 2017

Animals

By John Paul Barce | May 31, 2017

Parents & Kids

By David Gurliacci | May 30, 2017

Parents & Kids

By David Gurliacci | May 27, 2017

Community Organizations

By David Gurliacci | May 18, 2017

Community Organizations

By David Gurliacci | May 2, 2017

Darien Arts Center

By David Gurliacci | May 2, 2017

Where’s Waldo? In Darien of course. The famous children’s book character in the striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting 25 different local businesses throughout our community this July. Those who spot him can win prizes, including buttons, book coupons and more. From Barrett Bookstore at Noroton Heights Shopping Center, 314 Heights Road to Wiggles & Giggles at 1074 Post Road, from SoNo Baking Company at 49 Tokeneke Road to Chocolate Works at Goodwives Shopping Center, Waldo figures will be well hidden in local business establishments.

The Darien Arts Center invites the community to support its first-ever gala fundraiser, An Evening Under the Stars, on Saturday, June 24. The cocktail reception will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. in the DAC’s Weatherstone Studio and Garden at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall. The benefit will feature live entertainment from Lew and Mary Green’s Ragtime Evolution, as well as cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a raffle. Proceeds from An Evening Under the Stars will benefit the DAC, which relies solely on donations, ticket sales, tuitions and grants for funding. Over 6,000 individuals participate in programs and attend performances at the DAC annually, with over 1000 students from toddlers to seniors taking classes in dance, visual arts, music, theatre, and martial arts.

A University of Connecticut master gardener will give a lecture Saturday, June 17 about the importance of pollinators and other insects in our gardens and what problems they face. Eric Frisk will speak from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Community Room at Darien Library. Planting meadows, pollinator gardens, and even a row of the right plants in our vegetable garden can assist the pollinators and attract other beneficial insects! __________

— an announcement from Darien Library

__________
About the Presenter
Eric Frisk is a UConn master gardener and master composter and owner of Growing with Nature, a sustainable food production and education company growing organic produce for the Food Pantry at Operation Hope in Fairfield. He has studied organic gardening with Master Gardener Nick Mancini and Yale Farm manager Daniel McPhee.

Save the date for the popular one-day-only statewide event in which destinations offer free or discounted admission, special activities or giveaways to Connecticut residents. Connecticut Open House Day on Saturday, June 10, sponsored by the Connecticut Office of Tourism, is designed to showcase Connecticut’s diverse offering of museums, theaters, historical sites and other attractions across the state. ______________
— an announcement from the Connecticut Office of Tourism
______________
The annual celebration, now in its 13th year, encourages residents to discover the wealth of treasures in their own backyard and rediscover old favorites. From historic to contemporary, cultural to nature-oriented, Connecticut offers a variety of unique experiences within a short drive. No institutions in Darien, Stamford, Norwalk, New Canaan or Wilton are participating, but you don’t have to go much further to find special offers, reduced rates or free admission to places in Greenwich, Ridgefield, Westport, Fairfield and Bridgeport.

Whether you want to visit an artist’s studio or see some great art in some of Connecticut’s finest museums (or both), you can do that and take advantage of discounts and free offers around the state on Saturday, June 10. Connecticut Open House Day on Saturday, organized by the Connecticut Office of Tourism, is designed to show off Connecticut’s museums, theaters, historical sites and other attractions across the state. The annual celebration, now in its 13th year, encourages residents to discover the treasures in their own backyard and rediscover old favorites. This article is only meant to pique your interest. You can find out about more places to go in Connecticut at the Visit CT state tourism website.

World Oceans Day Maritime Aquarium event 06-09-17

Join The Maritime Aquarium on Saturday, June 10, to learn about conservation of the world’s oceans, meet animals, and more. Events related to World Oceans Day take place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and are free with admission. A healthy world ocean is critical to our survival. Join us to learn how to help protect and conserve the world’s oceans and meet some of the amazing animals that call it home! ___________

— an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

___________
Animal Encounter Schedule:
11 a.m. — Diamondback Terrapin
12 p.m. — Chain Catshark
2 p.m. — American Lobster
3 p.m. — Clearnose Skate

If you or your family are fascinated by history, you might be surprised by how many museums and historical sites there are within a short drive in Connecticut, and on Saturday, June 10, many of those places have discounts, free offers and even free admission. Take advantage. Whether your interests are in colonial or 19th century houses, early technology (or even later technology), aircraft, trains, old farms, historical figures, the Revolutionary War or later wars, there’s a day trip you can take (and in some cases a much shorter trip) to a museum in Connecticut. You can combine visits to these sites with others nearby and even with other historic places and museums not listed here (or with things your kids can do or with art museum visits). There are lots of possibilities here to tailor your trip to your interests.

Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Rosato 2013 06-01-17

Please help support our troops all over the world by bringing care package items and letters to servicemen and women with Darien Little League’s 9th annual military care package drive, “Operation DLL Cares.” Contributions may be made at McGuane Park in Darien from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 3 and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 4. __________

— an announcement from Darien Little League

__________

Monetary donations are also greatly appreciated for shipping and other related costs. Please go to the Darien Little League’s website for a list of suggested package items or to donate by credit card. Checks can be made out to Darien Little League, with “Operation DLL Cares” in the memo, and mailed to Darien Little League, c/o Sarah Das, 2 Country Club Rd., Darien, CT 06820. Please contact Sarah Das at thedases@gmail.com or with questions or to arrange early drop off of items.

Editor’s note: This article originally was published on June 1. The time stamp has been changed to move the link back to the Darienite.com home page.

Bruce Museum front steps 06-02-17 Facebook post

If you’ve got an active Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card, you can get free admission this weekend, June 3 to 4, to the Bruce Museum in Greenwich and several other museums in the state through Bank of America’s “Museums on Us” program. Here’s part of the Bruce Museum’s announcement and Bank of America’s announcement:

Museums matter — museums are a source of education, emotion and creative inspiration. Now in its 20th year, this distinctive program offers Bank of America and Merrill Lynch credit and debit card holders the opportunity to visit more than 175 of the most popular cultural institutions in the United States free of charge on the first full weekend of every month. Present your active Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card along with a photo ID to gain one free general admission to the Bruce Museum this Saturday and Sunday. Your card gets you one free general admission to any participating institution — cardholders only; guests are not eligible for free admission.

No bird may claim a cultural influence as big and long as the flamingo, and no place in Connecticut is featuring the big pink icons this summer except The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. A small flock, or “flamboyance,” of flamingos will be standing — often, on one leg — in the aviary on the Maritime Aquarium’s riverfront courtyard. They started on Memorial Day weekend and will be there through Labor Day. (That’s May 27 to Sept. 4.) The exhibit is free with Aquarium admission.

Expanding your kids’ horizons with a day trip (or shorter trip) to a museum or other site in Connecticut will be slightly cheaper with reduced or free admission or other offers on Saturday, June 10, Connecticut Open House Day. Connecticut’s not that big a state, and you can see anything with a day trip. Combine a few places to go and it could be a trip your kids will remember. It may even spark an interest in some educational topic. This article is only meant to pique your interest.

The Darien Nature Center is gearing up for its annual Down on the Farm event, a beloved community event that brings good old-fashioned fun for the entire family to Darien.

This year’s event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 27 on the grounds of the Darien Nature Center in Cherry Lawn Park. The rain date is Sunday, May 28 from10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Early entrance for families with special needs children will be at 9:30 a.m.

Whole Foods Market, Darien is back as a title sponsor, serving a barbecue lunch. There will also be an ice cream truck and lemonade to help beat the heat for adults and children alike. Many wonderful activities will be featured at this special event, including:

Free pony rides, barnyard animals and petting zoo, featuring sheep, goats, rabbits, donkeys and ducks, will be sure to thrill children. Lots of farm equipment, donated by Fox Hill Builders, will also be on hand for climbing and exploring. Almstead Tree and Shrub Care will oversee the wildly popular “travel to the treetops” which will hoist children up high above Cherry Lawn Park. Children will get a bird’s eye view of their favorite park from the branches of the trees next to the Darien Nature Center. Extreme Farmer Games will get children active and busy with some exciting outdoor exercises on the lawn.

The family of Michael Taylor, a 2008 Darien High School graduate who died last year at the age of 26, after a struggle with opioid addiction, is holding a day of recreation and fundraising this Saturday, May 20 at Weed Beach. From 1 to 7 p.m., the day will include boat racing, a band, a silent auction, lawn and beach games, dunk tanks and food trucks. Cash and credit cards will be accepted at the fundraising event for Shatterproof. So far, the event has already raised more than $172,000. * A “build your own boat” relay race: 20+ teams of 4 people will test their ingenuity and boat racing skills at Weed Beach. * ‘Tramps Like Us’ — a Bruce Springsteen Tribute band, will perform at the beach following the boat race

* A silent auction with 30+ donations from the Darien YMCA, local artists, businesses, and more
Here’s Why
In the spring of 2016 the world became a significantly lesser place with the passing of Michael Taylor.

Star Walk 5K Run & Roll image from Star Lighting the Way 05-02-17

The 12th Annual STAR Walk, 5K Run & Roll will be held at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, CT on Sunday, May 7, 2017. The “Walk” includes a Family Fun Day celebration and fundraiser to benefit individuals who have intellectual disabilities and programs offered by STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the Walk kick-off is 10 a.m., with a 1K walking route suitable for any ability (walkers, strollers, wheelchairs and baby joggers are welcome) and an officially-timed 5K Run along the site’s shoreline and pathways. Attendees can enjoy continental breakfast and grilled hot dogs for lunch as well as music, crafts, kids’ fun bus, face-painting, balloon sculpting, yard games, nature center exhibit, and children’s obstacle course. About 800 walkers and volunteers are expected to attend including a traditional array of local celebrities and political leaders.

« October 2025 »

The Darien Arts Center stage production of Baby is entering its last weekend of performances on Friday and Saturday, May 5 and 6 at 8 p.m.

The musical examines how three couples, and soon-to-be parents in very different situations, experience the comedic highs and desperate lows that accompany the anticipation and arrival of a baby. The DAC Weatherstone Studio is located at 2 Renshaw Road, Darien, CT 06820, behind Darien Town Hall. For tickets, visit darienarts.org or for more information, call (203) 655-8683.