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April 2022
Speed: Hydroplane Racing on the Connecticut River
Speed: Hydroplane Racing on the Connecticut River, covers the era of speed racing on the Connecticut River during the first forty years of the Twentieth Century, before America’s entry into World War II. Technological innovation, hydroplane design and manufacture, women racers in a male-dominated sport, and all of the people involved in this sport; sponsors, designers, and racers are showcased. The exhibit includes photographs, trophies, memorabilia, vintage outboard racing motors, 1930s race newsreels, and several vintage hydroplanes. A small child-sized…
Find out more »May 2022
Native Gardens at the Ivoryton Playhouse
What divides us and what do we share? A love of gardening, maybe? It is said that fences make for good neighbors but in this case, it just makes things worse. Frank Butley’s symmetrical rows of pruned shrubs or Tania Del Valle’s unruly, organic native garden? Which will win when gardens and cultures clash, turning friendly neighbors into feuding enemies in this hilarious new comedy of good intentions and bad manners.
Find out more »New Spectrum Gallery Exhibit: Clouds, Winds & Breezes
Discover new and original artwork at Spectrum Art Gallery in its newest exhibit, Clouds, Winds & Breezes, May 20 through Sunday, July 10. Artists from throughout Connecticut, the Tri-State Area, and New England present artwork that features one or more of these weather elements and how their behavior can affect the environment.
Find out more »Sea Chanteys at The Gris
FREE! Every Monday. 8:00pm - 11:00 pm Join us every Monday as the Jovial Crew brings the Tap Room to life with this old seafaring tradition, extremely popular today. "Jovial Crew" is a good description for both performers and patrons, a very spirited bunch making a very spirited evening indeed!
Find out more »Wiggle Worms Storytime
New weekly play-based music and movement story time for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers (ages 0-3). This story time will take place every Tuesday morning at 10:30 AM starting April 5. Held in-person in the program room at the Essex Library, 33 West Ave. RSVP at 860-767-1560.
Find out more »FINAL EXAM SURVIVAL KIT EVENT
Essex Library will host a Final Exam Survival Kit Event on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 from 3:30-4:30 PM. Teens! Feeling stressed about finals? Come pick up a final exam survival kit to make exam season a bit more bearable, and spend some time with local, licensed therapy dog Louie the Labrador. Kits are made possible by a generous donation from the Community Foundation of Middlesex County's Peach Pit Foundation Grant to spread kindness and joy throughout Essex. This in-person program…
Find out more »Silk Painting – BEYOND THE BORDERS Classes
Learn the time-honored expressive process of painting on silk using the Serti (French for “fence” or “enclosing”) method, the traditional French approach to controlling the flow of water-based dye on silk with artist Gloria Nilsson. We will also explore wet-on-wet and silk salt techniques to add color, texture and excitement to your painting which you can apply to other silk pieces such as scarves and apparel. Instructor will supply simple design references or you are welcome to bring your own…
Find out more »DYSTOPIAN READER’S SOCIETY: A TEEN BOOK CLUB
The next meeting of Essex Library’s Dystopian Reader’s Society Teen Book Club (Gr. 7-12) is May 26 at 4 PM. The book for the May discussion is Unwind by Neal Shusterman. Each month we will meet to discuss a different Dystopian Fiction novel. Books will be available May 2. This in-person book club is free and open to all teens in grades 7-12. For more information or to register, please call the Essex Library at 860-767-1560 or see https://www.youressexlibrary.org/teens/. The…
Find out more »Psychedelic ’60’s at The Gris
Every Friday, 8:30pm - 12:00am Psychedelic ’60’s, a power trio that pays tribute to the ground-breaking musical super groups of the sixties, plays the Tap Room at The Griswold Inn every Friday night. Take this nostalgic trip and listen to the music of the Kinks, the Beatles, the Animals, Creedence Clearwater Revival... ROCK N' ROLL!
Find out more »TEEN DE-STRESS SATURDAYS
Teen De-Stress Saturdays, select Saturdays in the spring, held in person at the Essex Library at 12 PM on March 19, April 2, 16, & 30, and May 14 & 28. Each session will feature a nature walk (weather permitting) and a de-stress craft or activity in the library's program room. No registration is required.
Find out more »June 2022
Creating Frameable Art with Sea Glass Workshop
Create a one of a kind sea glass art piece using sea glass from the Connecticut Shore. In this workshop you will be inspired with many ideas whether you want to make a beach themed picture, family picture, poem / Scripture verse or have another unique idea, this class provides you with everything you need. Fish, frogs, seahorses, dogs, cats, flowers, animals, butterflies can be created with sparkling sea glass into a framed work of art. Come and enjoy this…
Find out more »How to Paint a Butterfly with a Flower Watercolor Workshop
Learn the steps taken in watercolor to paint a butterfly on a flower by using its design elements to tie it with its natural habitat. Different paint applications, such as dry-on-wet and wet-on-dry, and how to achieve saturated color and rich darks will be covered in this workshop. Instructor will demonstrate all painting stages. An ability to create a contour drawing from a motif provided by the instructor is helpful, or student may use their own reference if preferred. Material list available…
Find out more »Alzheimers Caregivers Support Group Resumes In-Person Meetings At Essex Library
Alzheimer’s caregivers support group in-person meetings at Essex Library begin on Tuesday, April 12 at 5 p.m.-6 p.m. and will continue on the second Tuesday of every month at 5 p.m. Free and open to all; no registration required. Essex Library is located at 33 West Ave. (860) 767-1560 for more information.
Find out more »Summer Arts Festival on the Essex Town Green
Arts Center Killingworth and Spectrum Gallery announce the 2022 Essex Town Green Outdoor Summer Arts Festival. There will be visual artists working in oil, acrylic, watercolor, photography, pencil and charcoal, paper, mixed media, fabric, glass, wood, stone and clay and and Printmakers, Fabric Artists, Glass and Wood Artisans, Jewelry Designers and Crafters. It is a two-day Outdoor Summer Arts Festival on the Essex Town Green, Essex, Connecticut. Sat, June 18 (10-5pm); Sun, June 19 (11-5pm) Essex Town Green, 12 Main Street, Essex CT
Find out more »Spring/Summer Pressed Botanicals Workshop
The focus of this workshop is making cards and other larger pieces suitable for framing and gift giving. In this workshop learn to preserve your lovely Spring and Summer blooms as you choose from the instructor’s abundant variety of dried botanical petals and leaves. Learn how to press the botanicals and apply them to a heavy cardstock. Your creations will make a lovely gift for someone or to keep for yourself. Supplies include an abundance of pressed botanicals, cards and…
Find out more »Wire Wrap a Semi-Precious Stone Pendant Workshop
Try your hand at wire wrapping a pendant. Copper wire and tools provided for the workshop. You choose the stone from the selection of Labradorite available. This is a simple wrap which can be embellished. No experience necessary. Material fee for the Labradorite stone varies with size and quality of stone chosen. Teaching Artist Pauline Clifford started with basic bead stringing and wire wrapping, She moved on to bead embroidery that incorporates Soutache braid and Shibori silk. Date: Sunday, June 26…
Find out more »Smokey Joe’s Café at the Ivoryton Playhouse
This Grammy® Award-winning and Tony Award®-nominated smash, made history as Broadway’s longest-running musical revue. Featuring 40 of the greatest songs of the past century, including show-stopping classics from Elvis Presley, Ben E. King, The Coasters, and The Drifters.
Find out more »July 2022
The Essex Auto Club Annual Car Show
The Essex Auto Club will hold its annual car show on the grounds of the Connecticut River Museum on July 4th from 10:00a-2:00p. This is a well-attended event featuring a broad range of cars - from vintage classics to more contemporary offerings - all overlooking beautiful Essex harbor on the Connecticut River. There is a $20 Car Entrant fee. Owners wishing to have their car in the show should arrive by 9:00a. Pre-registration is not required. Register on-site on the…
Find out more »Sensory Friendly Hours at the Connecticut River Museum
Exhibits with loud noises and/or bright lights will be modified to allow people with a range of differing abilities to experience all the Museum has to offer. A designated quiet room will be set up for the duration of the event to allow visitors to decompress, take a break, and experience the Museum at their own pace. Parents and caregivers must stay with their children at all times.
Find out more »August 2022
Ring of Fire at the Ivoryton Playhouse
The Man in Black is Back! From the songbook of Johnny Cash comes this unique musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and the healing power of home and family. More than two dozen classic hits—including “I Walk The Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and the title tune—performed by a multi-talented cast, paint a musical portrait that is a foot-stompin’, crowd-pleasin’ salute to a unique musical legend!
Find out more »September 2022
The Great Gatsby at the Ivoryton Playhouse
Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, passionately pursues the elusive Daisy Buchanan. Nick Carraway, a young newcomer to Long Island, is drawn into their world of obsession, greed and danger. A beautifully crafted interpretation of the 1925 novel which defined the Jazz Age, Simon Levy’s play captures the breathtaking glamor and decadent excess of the 1920s.
Find out more »November 2022
Winter Wonderettes at the Ivoryton Playhouse
The Wonderettes are back! This seasonal celebration finds the girls entertaining at the annual Harper’s Hardware Holiday Party. When Santa turns up missing, the girls use their talent and ingenuity to save the holiday party! Featuring ’60s versions of holiday classics such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “Winter Wonderland,” the result is, of course, marvelous! This energetic and glittering holiday package is guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages.
Find out more »
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Essex Board of Trade, Inc., P.O. Box 322
Essex, CT 06426 or email message@experienceessex.com
