Weekend Events

Classical and Contemporary Guitar Concert at Darien Library, 5 PM, Sunday

Darien-Made, Paris-Themed: You Can Savor Art, Music and Food in ‘Artists at Grove Street Plaza’ Art Show, Sept 21

Family Fun at Bruce ConsTRUCKS as the Bruce Museum Readies for a Massive Rebuild

Music, Food, Family Fun at Norwalk Oyster Festival This Friday Through Sunday

Slice of Saugatuck Festival Features Open Houses, Beer Garden, Music, Family Activities

Blues and Views Festival in Westport on Saturday and Sunday, Aug 31 and Sept 1

Sidewalk Sale Days Continue for One More Day: What’s Coming on Saturday, July 13

Westport Fine Arts Festival, July 20 to 21, Includes Art, Food, Kids Activities and That Gargantuan Book Sale

Kind Bud Featured in Latest Darien Summer Nights Outdoor Concert This Friday

Noroton Fire Department Block Party Starts at 5 PM, Raffle Winner To Be Announced

Darien Summer Nights Concert Series Kicks Off Friday, June 21, with Bad Dog Buddy

Come and Sea Cars Named After Sea Creatures on Saturday, June 8 at the Maritime Aquarium

You Can Take the Train to See the Cars at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance This Carmaggedon Weekend

Don’t Miss the BOAT! Weed Beach Fest is Coming Saturday, June 1

State Issues CARMAGGEDON Warning for Two Weekends of I-95 Closures at Exit 9, Starting 6 PM, Friday, May 31

Darien Library

By DARIENITE.COM | September 28, 2019

Art Exhibits

By DARIENITE.COM | September 9, 2019

Arts & Entertainment

By DARIENITE.COM | September 6, 2019

Arts & Entertainment

By DARIENITE.COM | September 6, 2019

Parents & Kids

By DARIENITE.COM | September 6, 2019

Food & Drink, Restaurants & Bars

By DARIENITE.COM | August 29, 2019

Business

By David Gurliacci | July 12, 2019

Art Exhibits

By DARIENITE.COM | July 10, 2019

Music

By DARIENITE.COM | July 4, 2019

Charity Events and Opportunities

By DARIENITE.COM | June 29, 2019

Music

By DARIENITE.COM | June 11, 2019

Holidays

By DARIENITE.COM | June 3, 2019

Weekend Events

By DARIENITE.COM | May 30, 2019

Outdoors

By DARIENITE.COM | May 29, 2019

Transportation

By David Gurliacci | May 20, 2019

John Lehmann-Haupt. will perform a mix of classical works and his own arrangements of popular and traditional songs, including works by Bach, Jobim, Albeniz, Stevie Wonder, and James Taylor, as Darien Library’s Music in the Stacks series returns for a fall performance, Sunday, Sept. 29. You’re invited to the performance from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Community Room. John Lehmann-Haupt, a New York-based guitarist, draws on the wide range of music he has explored over the years, from folk songs and blues, through popular standards new and old, and on to the varied expanses of the classical realm.

Nobu Miki art Artists at Grove Street Plaza

The fifth annual Artists at Grove Street Plaza open-air art show will feature top local painters, photographers and ceramicists, with live chamber music and five food vendors as part of a Paris-style exhibit produced with Darien talent. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday Sept. 21 (the rain date is the following Saturday, Sept. 28.)

— This article is adapted from an announcement from Artists at Grove Street Plaza, with further information from the group’s website. Artists at Grove Street Plaza will feature framed canvases, prints, photographs and ceramics.

Rendering of Bruce Museum after reconstruction

Bruce ConsTRUCKS, a day of free family fun on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 8 will have construction trucks and other vehicles for kids to explore, an array of children’s crafts and other hands-on activities, a visit by the “Bubble Bus,” live music, food and ice cream trucks, and more. — an announcement (somewhat reconstructed by Darienite.com) from the Bruce Museum

The event is part of Bruce Museum’s launching of the public phase of the Campaign for the New Bruce. to celebrate the museum’s major renovation and construction project. The event is scheduled for 12 noon to 4 p.m., rain or shine, and open to the entire community,

A noise- and horn-free quiet hour will be offered from 11 a.m. to 12 noon for children and families looking for a sensory-friendly experience.

Kids Rides at Norwalk Oyster Festival 09-08-17

The Norwalk Oyster Festival, with music, food, carnival rides and other fun, will take place this weekend in Veterans Park. Now in its 42nd year, the event is the last big summer festival of the year near Darien. “This festival is the biggest fundraiser the Seaport Association organizes to benefit Sheffield Island and Sheffield Island Lighthouse. It takes about one thousand volunteers each year to pull this festival off,” said Mike Reilly, president of the Seaport Association, which organizes the event. A new highlight this year is the Seaport Circus Spectacular with national acts as well as $25 unlimited ride bracelets on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If You’re Going …

The Slice of Saugatuck Festival in Westport takes place from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7, with over four dozen of Saugatuck restaurants, shops and galleries inviting the community to come and sample their offerings. The event in the Saugatuck section of Westport also features live music, fire trucks for kids to touch, an auction, a Belt Tae Kwon Do demonstration and a chance to learn about 3D printing. — an announcement from the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce

After highly successful events starting in 2011 the Slice returns for the eighth year. Come and see what’s happening in Saugatuck — it’s a renaissance of food, drink and activity.

The Blues & Views Festival returns to Westport with two days of sensational music, soulful sounds, tantalizing tastes and a swingin’ street party vibe along the banks of the Saugatuck River. — information from the Blues & Views Festival announcement and website, where you’ll find directions, links to ticket sales and other information about the annual festival. Once again, the Blues & Views Festival will feature an awesome variety of powerhouse artists, from established acts to breakout bands. A Fairfield County tradition since 2008, the festival will feature an awesome variety of established bands and soon-to-be-famous acts on the way up. FOOD
Food trucks and vendors include Bobby Q’s Cue & Co, Melt Mobile, Rory’s, The Mac Factor, Trolley Dogs, Greek Style Grill and the Westport Library Cafe.

Top of page pic Darien Sidewalk Sales 2019

Darien merchants participating in Sidewalk Sale Days “reported record sales,” according to the Darien Chamber of Commerce, which organized the event, which continues for one more day: Saturday. On Thursday, sidewalks downtown were full of merchandise at a discount, along with fun things for kids, and some for adults. Seth Morton (also moderator of the Darien Representative Town Meeting) had a game set up with a wheel kids could spin. “I tell them to remind their parents who I am and to give them a card — it’ll be the only card they’re given” at the sidewalk sales, he said. He’ll tell adults that he’s available to help them when they’re planning their future, “looking at what their assets are, what their liabilities are and what their situation is at the moment.”

The Westport Fine Arts Festival takes place on the weekend of July 20 and 21 with works on display from more than 175 juried artists, arts fun for kids, food and the Wesport Library’s giant annual summer book sale — heavy enough to slow down the rotation of the Earth. — an announcement from the Westport Downtown Merchants Association

The 46th Westport Fine Arts Festival is returning this year one week later than usual. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, throughout the downtown area. Lots to See and Do
Artists will exhibit in a wide range of categories, with an expanded showing of sculpture and mixed media this year, along with returning favorites in the painting and photography categories. Brooks Plaza is once again home to the ever-popular Kids Create area, where little artists can enjoy child-friendly activities presented by the Artist Collective of Westport and Jerry’s Artarama.

This Friday, July 5, the Darien Summer Nights concert series has Kind Bud returning to Grove Street Plaza for a concert that is certain to add to your holiday weekend fun. — an announcement from Darien Summer Nights

Bud’s acoustic renditions of original music and songs made popular by The Grateful Dead, The Beatles and Bob Dylan have become a favorite for many. Bud travels the region performing at concert venues along the East coast and we are thrilled to have him back in Darien. This season we are thrilled to welcome Flour Water Salt Bread to the evening’s offerings. They will be selling their unbelievable artesian pizza by the slice during the concerts!

Come join the Noroton Fire Department’s 23rd annual block party on Saturday, June 29, a great event for the entire family under the big tent at the corner of the Post Road and Nearwater Lane. — an announcement from the Noroton Fire Department

Kicking off at 5 p.m., there will be a wide variety of food and beverages as well as live entertainment featuring the renowned Highland Rovers and Jump the Gunn bands. Admission is free — hot dogs, beer, wine, soda and water will be available for purchase. New to the Block Party this year will be fire truck rides from 5 to 7 p.m.

The party goes on till 12 midnight. The drawing for the Boat Raffle will be at 10:30 p.m. (attendance at the drawing is not necessary to win).

The Darien Summer Nights concert series for 2019 begins at Grove Street Plaza on Friday, June 21, with Bad Dog Buddy, organizers have announced. Fifteen concerts are scheduled, with the last one on Sept. 27. Here’s the announcement:

For each of the last eleven summers, Darien residents have been treated to free concerts in Grove Street Plaza on Friday nights, and this year’s series is promising to be bigger and better than any before it. Join us as we celebrate the 2019 summer season of music on Grove Street Plaza with a few fun surprises along the way!

For one day only — Saturday, June 8 — the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is expanding its collection to include a “whale,” an “orca special,” Barracudas, “fish mouth” Darts and more. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

But the additions aren’t fish. They’re automobiles named for fish, on display in the Aquarium’s second annual car show, “Barracudas, Marlins & More Show Cars from the Sea.”

Appropriately for the event, The Maritime Aquarium welcomes only rare and exquisite car models whose names or nicknames were inspired by aquatic animals. Must-“sea” cars expected to be reeled in are:

—1937 Gougeon Streamliner, a futuristic teardrop-design concept car often called a “whale”

—1954 Frazer “Orca Special,” another rare custom-built show car

—1958 Austin Healey “Frog Eye” Sprite

—1965 Rambler Marlin

—two 1970 Chrysler-Plymouth Hemi ’Cudas

—1968 Barracuda Formula S

—1962 and 1963 Daimler Darts known for their “fish mouth” front ends. —1979 Porsche 930 “Whale Tail”

—2005 “Shark Face” Porsche Carrera GT

“There haven’t been a whole lot of car models over the years named for fish, and so our collection will feature some of the best and rarest examples of what already are rare automobiles,” said Aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth.

Celebrating its 24th year of showcasing significant cars, motorcycles and one-off automotive creations, the 2019 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance will feature the custom coachwork of Zagato on May 31 to June 2. CARMAGGEDON WARNING: With work scheduled to shut down travel lanes on Interstate 95 at Exit 9, Darienites and everybody else on this side of the construction site who decide to (or have to) drive will need to either sit through a massive traffic jam (which state officials don’t recommend) or find a way around it. The Merritt Parkway and Darien’s main roads are expected to have a lot of traffic, as well. How to avoid the traffic: Organizers of the event suggest you TAKE THE TRAIN to Greenwich station, which is about a block away, and train tickets between Connecticut locations are dirt cheap. And it’s a short ride.

Tis’ the SEA-SUN for Darien Parks and Recreation’s Third Annual Weed Beach Fest, presented by Ring’s End this Saturday! [CAUTION: This is Park & Rec’s announcement and we give you fair warning that there’s PUNishment ahead. A non-pun announcement from Darien’s Masonic Lodge follows.]
From 12 noon to 7 p.m., Saturday, June 1, Weed Beach will be deBAITably the HOTTEST place in town with live music, hot food vendors and games & activities for the whole the family! The Darien Sport Shop Stage will be located on the beach hosting local bands Gunsmoke and Chasing Day with a FINale from the Bruce Springsteen Cover Band, Alex Shillo! The popular Kids Cove returns from 12-5 p.m. and due to The Darien Foundation’s support, FREE FOR 2019!!

« August 2022 »

Don’t drive anywhere near I-95 in Stamford and Darien and don’t even think of driving over the Route 1 bridge at Exit 9 on the weekend of May 31 to June 2, or the following weekend. That’s the advice from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, which is replacing the bridge — which has been there since the highway was built in 1958 — on those two weekends. On each side of the highway at the construction site, a single lane, using the exit ramps, an entrance ramp and a ramp constructed specially for the purpose, will be available for those poor drivers who don’t have any alternative. Traffic is expected to be backed up for mile after mile, throughout the weekend. It’s gonna be Carmaggedon.