All Day

Summer Solstice

Celebrate the arrival of summer during Essex’s Summer Solstice Weekend on June 20th & 21st! Enjoy two days of shopping, dining, special offers, activities, and shoreline charm as we welcome the longest days of the year. Explore Essex and discover all the magic summer brings, including: Essex Art Association is showcasing the EAA Summer Open Show with a "Come Sail Away" theme, juried by Kerry Kincy and sponsored by Tom & Betsy Whidden.  The Gantner Gallery Featured Artist is Andria Alex. Gallery hours are 1 to 5 pm. Essex Historical Society is having a walking tour with Essex Land Trust at 10 am on the 20th: https://www.essexhistory.org/events/ivoryton-walk house of the triple moon is offering a free gift with purchase: Spend $20 - receive a pack of wildflower seeds, Spend $40 - receive a bee hive votive candle, Spend $60 - receive both ! Join JMcLaughlin with hostess Katie Barton for Sips and Shopping featuring their New Collection on Saturday, June 20th 4-6pm.  10% of sales to benefit The Ivoryton Playhouse   Sweet P's is offering a Peach Mango smoothie for a limited time only. Peaches, mango, and banana come together for a healthy fruit smoothie with no refined sugar! 2026 Outdoor Summer […]

Historic Ivoryton Walking Tour

Ivoryton Library 106 Main Street, Ivoryton

Step into Ivoryton’s past on a guided walking tour presented in partnership by Essex Historical Society, Essex Land Trust, and Ivoryton Library. Essex Land Trust steward, Scott McCoid, will lead a walking tour of the Millrace Preserve covering Ivoryton’s history, the company that built it, and the flood that punctuated the end of an era.  EHS guide, Ellen Clark will continue the walk through Ivoryton highlighting the historic buildings and sites that make up Ivoryton’s rich history. Stroll the village streets as we share stories of mill workers, shopkeepers, and business owners who helped shape this mill town. Your registration reserves your spot for this outdoor program exploring Ivoryton. Parking available on Ivory Street at the Millrace Preserve, and in the public lot at Ivoryton Green. The event is weather dependent, so we will email if it needs to be canceled. Unless your dog is a history buff, best to leave them at home. While the walk covers mostly flat ground, some terrain is uneven so please wear comfortable footwear.

2026 Outdoor Summer Arts Festival

Recurring
Essex Town Green 12 Main street, Essex

Enjoy a weekend of art, meeting artists and the outdoors at the Summer Arts Festival on the Essex Connecticut Town Green, Saturday, June 20 (10-5pm), and Sunday, June 21 (11-5pm). Presented by the Arts Center Killingworth and Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, the Festival is located at 12 Main Street, Essex. Find original artwork by painters working in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, photography, and mixed media and collage. Fine crafts can be found in pottery, ceramic, wood as well as unique jewelry creations. Enjoy the attractions Essex offers including fine restaurants, New England architecture, and beautiful vistas. Pleased to announce that the 2026 Essex Festival is partially sponsored by Renewal by Andersen. The Arts Center Killingworth, the non-profit Festival Sponsor, presents several annual festivals as well as offers workshops and classes for established and beginning artists of all ages. Spectrum Gallery and Store, an expansion of the Arts Center, is a close visit from the Festival and is currently exhibiting Forces of Nature (through July 3). Spectrum showcases emerging and established artists and includes a Store that offers fine crafts in mediums such as fabric, glass, ceramics, paper, pottery, jewelry, wood and more. Gallery hours are Wednesday-Saturday (12-6pm) and Sunday (12-5pm). […]

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