Baby Keepsake (Birth – Age 2)

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

Program designed for caregivers and their child, age birth – 2. In Baby Keepsake, our sensory art explorations expose baby to a variety of textures, while creating something to remember your little one in their youngest years. This month: Let’s celebrate Fall! Transform salt dough into an adorable clay pumpkin keepsake with your child’s hand or footprint! What to Expect: We’ll gather together for a brief lap sit story session, and then caregivers and babies will work together to make our keepsake! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register.

New Volunteer Open House

Recurring
Hills Academy 22 Prospect Street, Essex

Interested in leaving your mark on Essex History? Then, please join us our Monthly Volunteer Open House! If you want to learn how to support EHS as a volunteer, please join us for this meet and greet. This is a no-commitment, hour long introduction to volunteerism with Essex Historical Society. One of our staff will give you a tour of Hills Academy and outline our volunteer positions including: Collections and research Education and Programming Event planning and fundraising Tour Guide for Pratt House and Walking Tours Maintenance of Gardens at Pratt House Preservation and up-keep of EHS’s two historic sites No need to RSVP, simply arrive at Hills Academy (22 Prospect Street, parking and entrance in rear) between 10:30-11:30 am, and we will give you the information. If you can’t join us this month, we hope to see you at the next Open House. Open Houses will be held in the same place, at the same time on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise noted.

Free

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

National Dessert Day

Ivoryton Library Association 106 Main St, Ivoryton

Kids and families are invited to join the Ivoryton Library in celebrating National Dessert Day by creating all kinds of no-bake desserts! From pudding “dirt” to edible cookie dough, we will make lots of treats to enjoy!

2026 Candidate Forum at John Winthrop Middle School

John Winthrop Middle School 1 Winthrop Road, Deep River

The Essex and Brainerd Libraries will jointly sponsor a forum for state senate and house candidates in our shared districts on Wednesday, October 14th at 6:30 PM in the auditorium at John Winthrop Middle School. Participating candidates for the District 36 House seat are Renee LaMark Muir (D) and Guy Tuccero (R) and for the District 33 Senate seat Incumbent Senator Norm Needleman (D) and Charles Ferraro (R). Moderators will be Essex Library Director Ann Thompson and Brainerd Library Director Marissa Lehmacher. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call the Essex Library at 860-767-1560 or the Brainerd Library at 860-345-2204. John Winthrop Middle School is located at 1 Winthrop Road in Deep River.