Reception featuring the beautiful works of two artisans, Margaret Paulsen in oil painting and Lisa Long in jewelry. Their works will be on sale. Enjoy refreshments while you meet & view the work of all of our artisans!
Take a trip down Main Street in Essex Village to capture the rich maritime history of 18th century “Potapaug,” its working waterfront and ship-building prominence in the early 19th century as well as its development as a beautiful visitor destination of today. Our tours meet at the "Foot of Main Street" in front of the CT River Museum and start at 5:00pm. Walking tours are open to the public but we do appreciate an RSVP that you plan to attend by emailing our Director at mjosefiak@essexhistory.org. We ask for a $5 donation per person but tours are free to active 2025 members. Our walks last about an hour and are on mostly flat ground covering a little less than a mile. We try to adapt our tours a bit based on our audience of the day, but if you would like a fully customized tour, please contact our staff 860-767-0681 to arrange, giving us at least 3 weeks to arrange our guide scheduling. Summer 2025 walks will be on Sundays: June 29, July 27, August 31 and September 28.
Looking for ways to be involved with Ivoryton Library? A Friends of Ivoryton Library group is forming! Attend this informal info session to learn what goes into a Friends group and meet others who love the library. Refreshments will be served.
Essex Park and Recreation is excited to be able to offer another great set of bands this year for our 2025 Summer Concert Series. Hosted on alternating Tuesdays at The Ivoryton Green and Wednesdays at The Essex Main Street Park, concerts take place at 6:30pm from July 2 through August 13th. Please carefully note the location as our venue changes each week. July 30 – Essex Village Main Street Park –Brian Blumenthal aka “Bloomer” has been entertaining the masses for the past 17 years. His song selections span decades and many genres of music. Bloomer knits these songs into a seamless show making sitting in your seat nearly impossible.
TGIT aka Thank Goodness it's Thursday! Come celebrate the week coming to an end with some champagne and shopping! TGIT happens every Thursday starting May 1st at the RiverLane. We hope to see you soon!
Thursdays on the Dock has been a shoreline staple for 16 years and remains the premier destination for waterfront music. Swing by each Thursday evening in July and August, bring a chair or blanket, listen to a free concert, and watch the sun go down over the river. Jump, jive, and kick your heels up to swing, rockabilly, Latin and a few sultry ballads thrown in just for fun. With Jilian Grey and the boys, Cherry Pie is a delicious, freshly baked musical dance party with just enough retro sprinkled on top for a sweet-stepping good time! Jilian Grey and drummer Ric Haddad, together with Lou Bocciarelli on bass and Paul John Tautkus on guitar, have become a weekly favorite at the Griswold Inn and perform at many established venues along the Shoreline. Cherry Pie has garnered a loyal and enthusiastic following. This music series is generously supported by Privé Swiss Wellness. In case of inclement weather, please check our site. All updates will be shown there. Purchase a Museum-branded tumbler in our gift shop for a Thursdays on the Dock beverage coupon and discount on refill purchases! Cash bar. Please, no BYOB. Beer and wine are available for purchase. […]
Suppliers and distributors will be tasting their Wines and RTD's every Friday, during the three months of summer from June - August. Come and experience things you never tasted before!
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!
Don’t miss the Museum’s most popular week of camp. Have you ever wondered what life was like out on the open water? This week, we will learn about real pirates & sailors—what they did, what they looked like, and where they traveled. We will dress in pirate garb as we learn about the vessels they sailed, the flags they flew, and how they navigated. We’ll also set sail on the open water of the Connecticut River aboard the Onrust. Arrrr you ready? Due to this week’s popularity, we are running this camp twice this summer! Sign up for one or both! Camp runs daily, from 9 am to 3 pm. Camp is open to adventurers aged 6-11. Questions? Email our Camp Director, Lauren Bennett-Dionne lbdionne@ctrivermuseum.org. Non-Members: $385 Members: $347
Don’t miss the Museum’s most popular week of camp. Have you ever wondered what life was like out on the open water? This week, we will learn about real pirates & sailors—what they did, what they looked like, and where they traveled. We will dress in pirate garb as we learn about the vessels they sailed, the flags they flew, and how they navigated. We’ll also set sail on the open water of the Connecticut River aboard the Onrust. Arrrr you ready? Due to this week’s popularity, we are running this camp twice this summer! Sign up for one or both! Camp runs daily, from 9 am to 3 pm. Camp is open to adventurers aged 6-11. Questions? Email our Camp Director, Lauren Bennett-Dionne lbdionne@ctrivermuseum.org. Non-Members: $385 Members: $347
Essex Park and Recreation is excited to be able to offer another great set of bands this year for our 2025 Summer Concert Series. Hosted on alternating Tuesdays at The Ivoryton Green and Wednesdays at The Essex Main Street Park, concerts take place at 6:30pm from July 2 through August 13th. Please carefully note the location as our venue changes each week. August 5 - Ivoryton Village Green- Southern Voice is a contemporary Country Cover band that plays all the chart hits today, as well as some other genres of music to keep the crowd up and on the dance floor. Though they are a country band, they play many other artists to cover the pop, rock, southern rock, and dance genres. Their goal is to make sure your time with them is one to remember.
Don’t miss the Museum’s most popular week of camp. Have you ever wondered what life was like out on the open water? This week, we will learn about real pirates & sailors—what they did, what they looked like, and where they traveled. We will dress in pirate garb as we learn about the vessels they sailed, the flags they flew, and how they navigated. We’ll also set sail on the open water of the Connecticut River aboard the Onrust. Arrrr you ready? Due to this week’s popularity, we are running this camp twice this summer! Sign up for one or both! Camp runs daily, from 9 am to 3 pm. Camp is open to adventurers aged 6-11. Questions? Email our Camp Director, Lauren Bennett-Dionne lbdionne@ctrivermuseum.org. Non-Members: $385 Members: $347
Don’t miss the Museum’s most popular week of camp. Have you ever wondered what life was like out on the open water? This week, we will learn about real pirates & sailors—what they did, what they looked like, and where they traveled. We will dress in pirate garb as we learn about the vessels they sailed, the flags they flew, and how they navigated. We’ll also set sail on the open water of the Connecticut River aboard the Onrust. Arrrr you ready? Due to this week’s popularity, we are running this camp twice this summer! Sign up for one or both! Camp runs daily, from 9 am to 3 pm. Camp is open to adventurers aged 6-11. Questions? Email our Camp Director, Lauren Bennett-Dionne lbdionne@ctrivermuseum.org. Non-Members: $385 Members: $347
TGIT aka Thank Goodness it's Thursday! Come celebrate the week coming to an end with some champagne and shopping! TGIT happens every Thursday starting May 1st at the RiverLane. We hope to see you soon!
Join us every Thursday evening this summer in Essex Village for Alfresco Thursdays, a celebration of warm nights, community spirit, and everything we love about our charming town! Stroll along Main Street, North Main Street, and beyond for shopping at your favorite local boutiques. Dine al fresco at one of our fantastic restaurants and enjoy live music drifting through the air. Explore galleries, enjoy tastings, and discover special pop-ups each week. It's a breath of fresh air!
Don’t miss the Museum’s most popular week of camp. Have you ever wondered what life was like out on the open water? This week, we will learn about real pirates & sailors—what they did, what they looked like, and where they traveled. We will dress in pirate garb as we learn about the vessels they sailed, the flags they flew, and how they navigated. We’ll also set sail on the open water of the Connecticut River aboard the Onrust. Arrrr you ready? Due to this week’s popularity, we are running this camp twice this summer! Sign up for one or both! Camp runs daily, from 9 am to 3 pm. Camp is open to adventurers aged 6-11. Questions? Email our Camp Director, Lauren Bennett-Dionne lbdionne@ctrivermuseum.org. Non-Members: $385 Members: $347
Suppliers and distributors will be tasting their Wines and RTD's every Friday, during the three months of summer from June - August. Come and experience things you never tasted before!
Essex Park and Recreation is excited to be able to offer another great set of bands this year for our 2025 Summer Concert Series. Hosted on alternating Tuesdays at The Ivoryton Green and Wednesdays at The Essex Main Street Park, concerts take place at 6:30pm from July 2 through August 13th. Please carefully note the location as our venue changes each week. August 13 - Essex Village Main Street Park – Blues on the Rocks enjoys bringing their dynamic and enthusiastic mix of Blues, R&B, Motown and Rock to music lovers and dancers! If you like to dance, swing, and rock and roll, your going to love Blues on the Rocks.
TGIT aka Thank Goodness it's Thursday! Come celebrate the week coming to an end with some champagne and shopping! TGIT happens every Thursday starting May 1st at the RiverLane. We hope to see you soon!
Join us every Thursday evening this summer in Essex Village for Alfresco Thursdays, a celebration of warm nights, community spirit, and everything we love about our charming town! Stroll along Main Street, North Main Street, and beyond for shopping at your favorite local boutiques. Dine al fresco at one of our fantastic restaurants and enjoy live music drifting through the air. Explore galleries, enjoy tastings, and discover special pop-ups each week. It's a breath of fresh air!
Suppliers and distributors will be tasting their Wines and RTD's every Friday, during the three months of summer from June - August. Come and experience things you never tasted before!
History hits the streets! Join Essex Historical Society as we bring back our Centerbrook history walking tour with a new addition from our friends at Trinity Lutheran Church. On August 17th at 5:00pm, join us for a walk through the crossroads of Centerbrook, Essex’s oldest village. Learn about Centerbrook’s transition from its early farming days as “Center Saybrook” to its later manufacturing development powered by the Falls River. We are excited to add a new stop to this year’s tour: Trinity Lutheran Church. As the final stop on the walk, we will get a tour of the church and its history from Pastor Kurt Saenger-Heyl, and church members will generously provide light refreshments—sure to be a treat on a warm August evening. $5 per tour; free to EHS members. The general public and families welcome. Each tour lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes over fairly level terrain. Perfect for life-long-learners and those who like a little exercise with their history. Please meet at Essex Elementary School, 108 Main Street, Centerbrook. RSVP Recommended in case we have a change due to weather. Please submit RSVP at www.essexhistory.org/events/centerbrookwalk
Join the Essex Board of Trade for our next Business After Hours — a relaxed time with light refreshments, great conversation, and the chance to explore one of our local member businesses. Date: August 19Time: 5:30 to 7 pmPlace: Ivoryton Playhouse This event is a special perk for EBOT members — but if you're curious about joining, this is the perfect time to learn more! Membership connects you with our vibrant local business community, gives you a voice in town events, and offers valuable networking opportunities.Learn how to become a member: https:// essexct.com/membership-2/
TGIT aka Thank Goodness it's Thursday! Come celebrate the week coming to an end with some champagne and shopping! TGIT happens every Thursday starting May 1st at the RiverLane. We hope to see you soon!
Join us every Thursday evening this summer in Essex Village for Alfresco Thursdays, a celebration of warm nights, community spirit, and everything we love about our charming town! Stroll along Main Street, North Main Street, and beyond for shopping at your favorite local boutiques. Dine al fresco at one of our fantastic restaurants and enjoy live music drifting through the air. Explore galleries, enjoy tastings, and discover special pop-ups each week. It's a breath of fresh air!
Suppliers and distributors will be tasting their Wines and RTD's every Friday, during the three months of summer from June - August. Come and experience things you never tasted before!
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!
TGIT aka Thank Goodness it's Thursday! Come celebrate the week coming to an end with some champagne and shopping! TGIT happens every Thursday starting May 1st at the RiverLane. We hope to see you soon!
Join us every Thursday evening this summer in Essex Village for Alfresco Thursdays, a celebration of warm nights, community spirit, and everything we love about our charming town! Stroll along Main Street, North Main Street, and beyond for shopping at your favorite local boutiques. Dine al fresco at one of our fantastic restaurants and enjoy live music drifting through the air. Explore galleries, enjoy tastings, and discover special pop-ups each week. It's a breath of fresh air!
Suppliers and distributors will be tasting their Wines and RTD's every Friday, during the three months of summer from June - August. Come and experience things you never tasted before!
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!
Take a trip down Main Street in Essex Village to capture the rich maritime history of 18th century “Potapaug,” its working waterfront and ship-building prominence in the early 19th century as well as its development as a beautiful visitor destination of today. Our tours meet at the "Foot of Main Street" in front of the CT River Museum and start at 5:00pm. Walking tours are open to the public but we do appreciate an RSVP that you plan to attend by emailing our Director at mjosefiak@essexhistory.org. We ask for a $5 donation per person but tours are free to active 2025 members. Our walks last about an hour and are on mostly flat ground covering a little less than a mile. We try to adapt our tours a bit based on our audience of the day, but if you would like a fully customized tour, please contact our staff 860-767-0681 to arrange, giving us at least 3 weeks to arrange our guide scheduling. Summer 2025 walks will be on Sundays: June 29, July 27, August 31 and September 28.
TGIT aka Thank Goodness it's Thursday! Come celebrate the week coming to an end with some champagne and shopping! TGIT happens every Thursday starting May 1st at the RiverLane. We hope to see you soon!
Join us aboard RiverQuest and Onrust for a magical evening on the Connecticut River to witness the incredible Tree Swallow phenomenon. Each night at sunset, hundreds of thousands of Tree Swallows gather and perform stunning aerial ballets before settling into the reeds for the night. Enjoy over two hours on the water, taking in the breathtaking scenery and the unique show the swallows create. This small group experience offers a special, ever-changing glimpse into the river’s natural wonders.
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!
This event will take place on the Connecticut River Museum campus and feature a full day of events geared to all ages. Attendees can look forward to food and beverage vendors along with live music, puppet shows and much much more! View the full schedule on the CRM website. RSVP online for free Museum admission.
Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store of Centerbrook presents Threads + Paper, a 7-week show exhibit exploring the rich textures, delicate forms, and sculptural power of fiber and paper. From intricate weavings to charming sculptures, this show highlights how these everyday materials can be transformed into works of art. As each piece in the show tells a story through structure, pattern, and imagination. Discover new wall art, mixed media, sculpture, and other unexpected creations by emerging and established artists. The exhibit runs through September 6. As always, Spectrum’s Artisans Store offers new pottery, glass, fiber, home décor, jewelry, clothing, and accessories, children’s books and toys. Spectrum Art Gallery, 61 Main St., Centerbrook, Connecticut. Gallery and Store hours are Wednesday through Saturday (12-6 pm) and Sunday (12-5 pm). For more information about gallery exhibits, classes and workshops for adults and teens and summer camps for teens and children, call (860) 767-0742 and visit Spectrumartgallery.org. Shop online at spectrumanytime.com with shipping available throughout the US. Follow Spectrum social media at facebook.com/spectrumartgallery, instagram.com/spectrumartgallery, x.com/spectrum_ct, and youtube.com/@spectrumgallery6211
Join us aboard RiverQuest and Onrust for a magical evening on the Connecticut River to witness the incredible Tree Swallow phenomenon. Each night at sunset, hundreds of thousands of Tree Swallows gather and perform stunning aerial ballets before settling into the reeds for the night. Enjoy over two hours on the water, taking in the breathtaking scenery and the unique show the swallows create. This small group experience offers a special, ever-changing glimpse into the river’s natural wonders.
Sea Lamprey have a bad reputation: they invaded the Great Lakes in the mid-1800s, they suck the blood of other fish, and many consider their appearance to be off-putting. But these parasitic creatures are not all that they seem. Sea Lamprey play an important and under-recognized role in the Connecticut River ecosystem, providing food for other river species and bringing in vital nutrients from the ocean. Join Steve Gephard for a talk that dissects these misunderstood fish and challenges our ideas of which species are “good” and worthy of our appreciation. As a Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection fisheries biologist, Steve Gephard worked tirelessly for 42years to restore a viable population of Atlantic salmon and other migratory fishes in the Connecticut River. Now, he educates the public about the role fish play in the ecosystem and works with governments in North America and Europe to conserve salmon populations in the North Atlantic.
TGIT aka Thank Goodness it's Thursday! Come celebrate the week coming to an end with some champagne and shopping! TGIT happens every Thursday starting May 1st at the RiverLane. We hope to see you soon!
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!
Join us at Essex Library for a Local Author Book Fair from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Drop-in to hear from local and regional writers as they showcase their work and offer insight on their creative journeys. Books available for purchase and signing. Light refreshments will be provided. No registration necessary. Drop-in! This program is free and open to the public at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT.
Join us aboard RiverQuest and Onrust for a magical evening on the Connecticut River to witness the incredible Tree Swallow phenomenon. Each night at sunset, hundreds of thousands of Tree Swallows gather and perform stunning aerial ballets before settling into the reeds for the night. Enjoy over two hours on the water, taking in the breathtaking scenery and the unique show the swallows create. This small group experience offers a special, ever-changing glimpse into the river’s natural wonders.
Buttons on the Shoreline: An introduction to collecting antique to modern clothing buttons Kathy Coopersmith of Nutmeg Button Club of CT will present an overview of buttons as they relate to history, literature, theater, and more! "Snap" to it and register on the library's website or call the library at 860-767-1252.
All are invited to join us for EHS’s Connecticut History Book Club. Offered in collaboration with Essex Library and Ivoryton Library, EHS hosts this quarterly book club to explore the state's past through both fiction and non-fiction works, highlighting key events, figures, and themes that shaped the state or played a larger role in America’s history. We will focus on works that illuminate the bring marginalized stories to the forefront, offering a deeper understanding of Connecticut's diverse history. Join us for insightful discussions that connect the past to the present, revealing the histories that shaped our state. For our September book we have chosen the novel: Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris. This historical fiction thriller is a page-turner! Books can be checked out from Ivoryton Library or Essex Library Association, or purchased wherever you get your books. PLEASE NOTE: it is a BIG book, so we encourage you to start it now. On Wednesday, September 17, we will meet at Pratt House (19 West Avenue) for a book discussion lead by EHS Director, Melissa Josefiak. This event is FREE and lite refreshments will be provided.
TGIT aka Thank Goodness it's Thursday! Come celebrate the week coming to an end with some champagne and shopping! TGIT happens every Thursday starting May 1st at the RiverLane. We hope to see you soon!
With generous support from The Petit Family Foundation, the Connecticut River Museum is pleased to provide sensory friendly items including bean bag chairs, noise-canceling headphones and fidget toys available for this special one-hour program. Exhibits with loud noises and/or bright lights are modified to allow people with a range of abilities to experience all the Museum has to offer. A designated quiet room is set up for the duration of the event to allow visitors to decompress, take a break, and experience the Museum at their own pace.
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!
We hope you will join us for a book talk and luncheon at the Griswold Inn, with Drawn Tripp who will be discussing her book, Jackie. The ticket price includes a copy of the book, luncheon, and the opportunity to hear the author's keynote and engage with her through Q & A.
TGIT aka Thank Goodness it's Thursday! Come celebrate the week coming to an end with some champagne and shopping! TGIT happens every Thursday starting May 1st at the RiverLane. We hope to see you soon!