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Events
There is always something interesting going on in the three villages of Essex! All of our members are encouraged to add information about their upcoming events here, where visitors can find them either in the calendar view below, or the list view further down the page.
February 2026
12
February
Botanical Study in Colored Pencils
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Spectrum Art Gallery
This class is designed for students with some experience using colored pencil and have basic concepts of botanical illustration. This course will focus on drawing a complete botanical study over the four-week session. Students will plan and draw each compo...
13
February
2026 Winter Wildlife Eagle Cruises on RiverQuest
9:00 am - 2:00 pm Connecticut River Museum
Experience the beauty and solitude of the lower Connecticut River during this wonderful time of year! It is so different than at any other time. There are no other vessels on the water, and with no leaves on the trees, wildlife viewing is easy and fun.
Cruises will b...
Cruises will b...
13
February
Little Learners Story Time: Valentine's Day! (Ages 2-5)
10:00 am - 11:00 am Essex Library
Program for kids ages 2-5.
Celebrate friendship and love at our Valentine’s story time with books, songs, and activities for little ones!
Join us for themed stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts! We’ll learn early literacy concepts like colors, shapes, opp...
Celebrate friendship and love at our Valentine’s story time with books, songs, and activities for little ones!
Join us for themed stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts! We’ll learn early literacy concepts like colors, shapes, opp...
14
February
Make & Take Valentine
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm CT River Artisans
Stop by to create an origami heart to take home! Shop our one of a kind creations as well!
19
February
Junior Librarians: Books, Books, and More Books! (Ages 8-12)
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Essex Library
Program for kids ages 8-12.
Join Children’s Librarian Miss Nicole and Teen Librarian Miss Jessica for a fun, behind-the-scenes look at life as a librarian. Across four exciting sessions from January to April, Junior Librarians will explore everything from ke...
Join Children’s Librarian Miss Nicole and Teen Librarian Miss Jessica for a fun, behind-the-scenes look at life as a librarian. Across four exciting sessions from January to April, Junior Librarians will explore everything from ke...
20
February
Little Learners Story Time: At the Dentist (Ages 2-5)
10:00 am - 11:00 am Essex Library
Program for kids ages 2-5.
Join us for a tooth-rific story time celebrating National Family Dental Health Day with fun stories, songs, smiles, special guest readers from Essex Dentist, and goodies to take home!
Join us for themed stories, songs, rhymes, and...
Join us for a tooth-rific story time celebrating National Family Dental Health Day with fun stories, songs, smiles, special guest readers from Essex Dentist, and goodies to take home!
Join us for themed stories, songs, rhymes, and...
21
February
Lay Home Housewarming: Yoga, Music and More
10:00 am - 6:00 pm Connecticut River Museum
The Connecticut River Museum welcomes you to a very special housewarming event! The Lay Home, located just up the street from the Museum building, is a deeply historic property with centuries of stories to tell. In celebration of recent renovations to the Lay Home, the ...
21
February
STEAM Saturdays: Make Your Own Fake Snow (Ages 5-12)
10:30 am - 11:30 am Essex Library
Have we had enough snow this winter? Let’s make some of our own! Kids are invited to bring the magic indoors by conducting an experiment to make your very own fake snow that even feels cold!
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.
More…
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.
More…
22
February
Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks Bring Hot Jazz to Essex Winter Series
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Valley Regional High School
For the second concert of the Essex Winter Series season on February 22, 2026, our Jazz Advisor Jeff Barnhart is thrilled to announce the return of EWS favorite Vince Giordano, who will lead his incredible jazz orchestra – The Nighthawks – for an afternoon of H...
28
February
Creative Writing Workshop with YA Author Catherine Con Morse
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Essex Library
Join award-winning novelist Catherine Con Morse for a creative writing workshop followed by a Q&A and book-signing! In this class, you...
March 2026
07
March
How to Paint a Barn in a Snowy Landscape
12:30 pm - 4:00 pm Spectrum Art Gallery
Gather up your paint brushes and sharpen a pencil to learn how to create a barn in a beautiful snowy setting. In this workshop, learn how to create an interesting sky with clouds and a backdrop for the barn and, if you wish, add snowflakes for atmosphere...
15
March
Snowy Owl Workshop
12:30 pm - 4:30 pm Spectrum Art Gallery
Learn to use a variety of wool types in a 2-dimensional “painted” project using layered colors and textures to create this nocturnal scene. You will also learn what types of backing materials to use when creating your own future scenes as well as how t...
Botanical Study in Colored Pencils
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Spectrum Art Gallery
This class is designed for students with some experience using colored pencil and have basic concepts of botanical illustration. This course will focus on drawing a complete botanical study over the four-week session. Students will plan and draw each compo...
2026 Winter Wildlife Eagle Cruises on RiverQuest
9:00 am - 2:00 pm Connecticut River Museum
Experience the beauty and solitude of the lower Connecticut River during this wonderful time of year! It is so different than at any other time. There are no other vessels on the water, and with no leaves on the trees, wildlife viewing is easy and fun.
Cruises will b...
Cruises will b...
Little Learners Story Time: Valentine’s Day! (Ages 2-5)
10:00 am - 11:00 am Essex Library
Program for kids ages 2-5.
Celebrate friendship and love at our Valentine’s story time with books, songs, and activities for little ones!
Join us for themed stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts! We’ll learn early literacy concepts like colors, shapes, opp...
Celebrate friendship and love at our Valentine’s story time with books, songs, and activities for little ones!
Join us for themed stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts! We’ll learn early literacy concepts like colors, shapes, opp...
Make & Take Valentine
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm CT River Artisans
Stop by to create an origami heart to take home! Shop our one of a kind creations as well!
Junior Librarians: Books, Books, and More Books! (Ages 8-12)
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Essex Library
Program for kids ages 8-12.
Join Children’s Librarian Miss Nicole and Teen Librarian Miss Jessica for a fun, behind-the-scenes look at life as a librarian. Across four exciting sessions from January to April, Junior Librarians will explore everything from ke...
Join Children’s Librarian Miss Nicole and Teen Librarian Miss Jessica for a fun, behind-the-scenes look at life as a librarian. Across four exciting sessions from January to April, Junior Librarians will explore everything from ke...
Little Learners Story Time: At the Dentist (Ages 2-5)
10:00 am - 11:00 am Essex Library
Program for kids ages 2-5.
Join us for a tooth-rific story time celebrating National Family Dental Health Day with fun stories, songs, smiles, special guest readers from Essex Dentist, and goodies to take home!
Join us for themed stories, songs, rhymes, and...
Join us for a tooth-rific story time celebrating National Family Dental Health Day with fun stories, songs, smiles, special guest readers from Essex Dentist, and goodies to take home!
Join us for themed stories, songs, rhymes, and...
Lay Home Housewarming: Yoga, Music and More
10:00 am - 6:00 pm Connecticut River Museum
The Connecticut River Museum welcomes you to a very special housewarming event! The Lay Home, located just up the street from the Museum building, is a deeply historic property with centuries of stories to tell. In celebration of recent renovations to the Lay Home, the ...
STEAM Saturdays: Make Your Own Fake Snow (Ages 5-12)
10:30 am - 11:30 am Essex Library
Have we had enough snow this winter? Let’s make some of our own! Kids are invited to bring the magic indoors by conducting an experiment to make your very own fake snow that even feels cold!
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.
More…
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.
More…
Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks Bring Hot Jazz to Essex Winter Series
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Valley Regional High School
For the second concert of the Essex Winter Series season on February 22, 2026, our Jazz Advisor Jeff Barnhart is thrilled to announce the return of EWS favorite Vince Giordano, who will lead his incredible jazz orchestra – The Nighthawks – for an afternoon of H...
Creative Writing Workshop with YA Author Catherine Con Morse
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Essex Library
Join award-winning novelist Catherine Con Morse for a creative writing workshop followed by a Q&A and book-signing! In this class, you...
How to Paint a Barn in a Snowy Landscape
12:30 pm - 4:00 pm Spectrum Art Gallery
Gather up your paint brushes and sharpen a pencil to learn how to create a barn in a beautiful snowy setting. In this workshop, learn how to create an interesting sky with clouds and a backdrop for the barn and, if you wish, add snowflakes for atmosphere...
Snowy Owl Workshop
12:30 pm - 4:30 pm Spectrum Art Gallery
Learn to use a variety of wool types in a 2-dimensional “painted” project using layered colors and textures to create this nocturnal scene. You will also learn what types of backing materials to use when creating your own future scenes as well as how t...