All Day

Daffodil Days

Celebrate Daffodil Days! Come experience the vibrant beauty of Daffodil Days in the three villages of Essex now through April 21st, proudly sponsored by the Essex Board of Trade! Join us for a delightful stroll to see the golden daffodils and explore our charming town’s merchant specials. Discover unique treasures, savor local flavors, and immerse yourself in the warmth of community spirit. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate springtime and see the 45,000+ daffodils planted from Ivoryton to Centerbrook to Essex! Daffodil Days Specials & Discounts: Brickside Pizza: Daffodil Pie, Limited time only! A white pie with fresh mozzarella, fontinella, ricotta, shallots, fresh thyme, garlic, parmesan, basil, honey, and a lemon zest! Connecticut River Museum: offering free take-home seed packets for Museum visitors. Each packet contains a mix of 20+ wildflowers that are perfect for attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, great for supporting native pollinators, and easy to grow and maintain. Essex Preschool:  mention daffodil days when you register for any Essex Preschool program during the month of April and your annual registration fee will be waived. (A $150-$250 value) house of the triple moon: the shop is giving out mugwort (an herb used for protection) with any purchase over $35 […]

“Essex in Bloom” Photo Contest

🌼 Essex is in Bloom… now it’s time to VOTE! 🌼 Our local businesses have outdone themselves with beautiful spring storefronts and window displays for the Essex in Bloom Contest — and we need your help to choose the winners! 🗳️ Cast your vote here: https://essexct.com/essex-in-bloom-2026-photo-contest-vote/ Take a moment to browse the entries and support your favorites. Voting is open now through April 21. Let’s celebrate the creativity, color, and community spirit that make Essex shine this time of year 💛

EHS History Hour at Essex Meadows: Revolution Close to Home

Essex Meadows 30 Bokum Road, Essex

Essex Historical Society and Essex Meadows present History Hour. This program features a speaker, author, presenter, or musician once a month through 2026. This month’s presentation is called Revolution Close to Home: Five Lives in Early Potapaug during America's Turning Point  Patriots and Loyalists, enslaved and free, women and warriors.  Essex Historical Society (EHS) Director Melissa Josefiak details the complex relationships and shifting allegiances during the American Revolution in the Potapaug village of Saybrook, now known as Essex.  Learn about five unforgettable individuals whose experience reflected these tumultuous times.   Uriah Hayden Formerly located at the foot of Main Street in Essex, the Hayden Shipyard is known for building the American Revolutionary War ship The Oliver Cromwell. History hour is FREE and open to the public. We recommend arriving to Hamilton Hall by 9:50 am. as seating is available first-come, first-served. No need to register for this event. In the unlikely event that the program changes or needs to be canceled, please check EHS social media and website.

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

Con Brio Spring Concerts 2026

Valley Regional High School 156 Kelsey Hill Road, Deep River

Con Brio presents two glorious, uplifting, at times somber, rousing, and patriotic concerts to celebrate our Nation’s 250th Birthday (1776-2026). These concerts feature a special program of All-American music with full orchestra and augmented brass section. Stars & Stripes Forever A choral celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday Featuring over 110 performers, with the Con Brio Chorus, the Con Brio Festival Orchestra, and with special guest Soprano and Tenor soloists, conducted by Dr. Chris Shepard on April 17, 2026 at 7 PM and April 19 2026 at 4 PM, Valley Regional High School, 256 Kelsey Hill Road, Deep River CT 06417. March The Stars & Stripes Forever, John Philip Sousa, USMC (orchestra) The National Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner, Smith, words Francis Scott Key, arr. Hayes (chorus and orchestra) The Testament of Freedom, Randall Thompson, words from Thomas Jefferson, (chorus and orchestra) I. A Summary View of the Rights of British America (1774) II. and III. Declaration of Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms (July 6, 1775) IV. Letter to John Adams, (September 12, 1821) The Mansions of the Lord, Glennie-Smith, arr. Harlan & Rickets, words Wallace, (chorus and string orchestra) Battle Hymn of the Republic, Steffe, arr. Wilhousky, words […]

$40

Psychedelic ’60’s at The Gris

Recurring
The Griswold Inn 36 Main Street, Essex

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!