Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

Recurring
Essex Village

The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

Free

Trusts: Everything You Wanted to Know but Didn’t Know To Ask (Virtual)

Essex Library Association 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT, Essex

Register for this virtual program HERE. Is having a trust in your estate plan the best option for you? In this session, estate planning and elder law attorney Erin Duques of Daly Perri Arnold & Knierim in Madison, will demystify trusts and explain why a trust may – or may not - be suitable for you and why. First, you’ll learn about some of the most common types of trusts and the purpose and benefits of each, such as protecting assets, avoiding probate, minimizing taxes, and keeping public benefits for a loved one with special needs. Whether you are new to trusts or even understand them well, you’ll walk away understanding how and when to use these powerful planning tools to your advantage. This Essex Library Association program is free and open to the public. Registration is required for all virtual programs.

Where the Paletero Man Goes: A Journey of Neighborhood, Music, and Art with Lucky Diaz (VIRTUAL)

Essex Library Association 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT, Essex

Register and ask questions of the author here Grab a pocketful of change and get ready to dance down the street! Join us for an energetic conversation as we celebrate the joy of community and summer fun with Latin GRAMMY-winning musician Lucky Diaz, author of the sensational bilingual picture book, Paletero Man. What’s the best way to cool off on a hot summer day? Run quick and find Paletero José! Follow along with our narrator as he passes through his busy neighborhood in search of the Paletero Man. But when he finally catches up with him, our narrator’s pockets are empty. Oh no! What happened to his dinero? It will take the help of the entire community to get the tasty treat now. Inspired by the vibrant rhythms of Los Angeles and Diaz’s own hit song, this beautiful story invites readers into a sun-drenched neighborhood where the ring of a bell means the best treat of the day is just around the corner. Register today and discover how we can all bring a little more sweetness and community spirit into our daily lives! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required, see above link.