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 as EHS celebrates early American crafts and trades skills with demonstrations, hands-on activities, kid crafts, and sales booths. Celebrate the America 250 with Essex Historical Society Saturday, June 27-Sunday, June 28 noon to 4:00. Pratt House will be open for FREE tours during the festival featuring a new exhibit for America 250. This event will feature fiber arts, blacksmithing, glass arts, woodworking, domestic arts, and more! More details to come!
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
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 encourage pre-registration. We ask for a $10 donation per person and tours are FREE to active EHS 2026 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. NEW DAY THIS YEAR! Summer 2026 walks will be on Saturdays: June 27, July 25, August 29 and September 26.
Join us as EHS celebrates early American crafts and trades skills with demonstrations, hands-on activities, kid crafts, and sales booths. Celebrate the America 250 with Essex Historical Society Saturday, June 27-Sunday, June 28 noon to 4:00. Pratt House will be open for FREE tours during the festival featuring a new exhibit for America 250. This event will feature fiber arts, blacksmithing, glass arts, woodworking, domestic arts, and more! More details to come!
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
Join us at St. John's on Sunday June 28, from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. for live folk music and light refreshments. All donations will benefit Bill's Blessings, our free store, that provides basic personal necessities to our Soup Kitchen guests. Please see our flyer to register and for more details.
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
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
Program for kids and teens ages 10-18. Adult helpers are welcome & recommended for youth under 12 yrs. The Summer Reading theme this year is “Plant a Seed, Read!” Each week, join us for a hands-on workshop where we’ll explore a different hobby, skill, or craft. Our second session is all about sewing! Join Andrea from Glimmering Girl Studio for a beginner’s sewing machine class! In this 3-hour workshop, participants will learn beginning sewing skills while making a mug rug, a tiny quilt just big enough for a beverage and a cookie. Students will learn to safely use a sewing machine as well as sustainable practices. All tools and supplies are provided, but attendees are welcome to bring their sewing machine if desired. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required as space is limited. Click here to register.
What’s better than “Taco Tuesday?” Tuesday Nite Trivia at Essex Indoor Golf Center! Join us in our clean, family-friendly atmosphere, against the backdrop of golfers playing courses from around the globe. And yes, you can even combine golf (or mini golf) AND trivia at the same time! Free admission, as well as prizes every week for the ‘smartest smarty pants’ might be enough to get you off the couch on a Tuesday night. Then, declare Tuesdays as a No-Cooking Nite when you order from our fantastic Grumpy Caddy menu, along with our extensive selection of beer, cocktails, and wine from our 35-foot custom bar…Tuesdays might just become your favorite day of the week. So, bring your friends, bring your family, bring your friends’ families! Call (959) 265-8979 or visit essexindoorgolf.com
Program for kids ages birth-5. Join us for a hands-on, child-led play session designed to engage the senses! Sensory Playtime encourages exploration, creativity, and early learning through touch, sound, and movement. Kids are invited to move from station to station, at their own pace, to scoop, squish, pour, and play with a variety of textures and materials in a safe, supportive space alongside their caregivers. This program supports sensory development, fine motor skills, and social interaction—come play, learn, and make a (little) mess with us! Program funded in part by the Community Foundation of Middlesex County, and made possible by the GSB Grant Making Fund, and the Whelen Family Fund. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. No registration required. Drop in!
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
The Summer Reading theme this year is “Plant a Seed, Read!” Beat the afternoon heat, soak up the air conditioning, and join us for family-friendly movies that connect us with food, farms, & nature. Popcorn provided. See the Essex Library Website for Movie Titles, Descriptions, & Age Ratings.
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
Join the Ivoryton Library and decorate your bike to take part in the 4th of July parade! We will provide supplies to make your bike festive to celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation!
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
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 with your family, friends, and 4 legged pals to celebrate our country's 250th birthday with good food and better times! Car show from 9 to 11 am with classic cars, hot rods, vintage trucks and motorcycles Live music from 10 to 12 am Del's frozen lemonade Open 7:30 am to 1 pm
We are happy to announce that we will be open during the Ivoryton Parade selling breakfast sandwiches. This is the first time we will participate in the parade as we are typically closed on this day. We will also set up a kids' table with complimentary bubbles, temporary tattoos and face glitter.
Celebrate the Fourth in Ivoryton!Check out all the fun happening around the village and join us for a great time of community, food, and festivities!Then head to downtown Essex in the afternoon for the boat parade!
Join the Connecticut River Museum this Independence Day for an afternoon of excitement, learning and fun! Enjoy a spectacle of dazzling boat displays and cannon fire after visiting the Museum exhibits and participating in a children’s activity. In celebration of America’s 250th, admission to the Museum will have a discount of $2.50. Event Schedule: 12:00 pm: Museum opens 2:00 pm: Independence Day Boat Parade begins 3:00 pm: Museum closes
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
Join Connecticut River Artisans on Sunday, July 5th for a reception celebrating quilter & crochet artist, Deborah Sierpinski. Deb will have a variety of her beautiful quilts for all seasons, and other sewn items including nautical placemats & table runners. Also highlighted will be her awesome crocheted animals and baby sweaters. Deb's creations will be 15% off and light refreshments will be served. Deb will also demonstrate how she creates her quilted book marks. 1-4 PM
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
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
Since 1991 the annual program of SummerSings, co-sponsored by Con Brio and Cappella Cantorum, has provided an opportunity to enjoy choral works without the pressure of preparing for performance. It offers the experience to work with acclaimed conductors and professional soloists. The 2025 season was tremendously successful with over 500 singers participating. Note that the Brahms Requiem (July 6) will be sung in German, as composed: Ein deutsches Requiem (Edition Peters).
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
Kids and families can join the Ivoryton Library to celebrate all things chocolate! Learn about some of the history, and taste test different chocolates to discover your new favorite!
Program for kids ages 8-12. The Summer Reading theme this year is “Plant a Seed, Read!” Each week, join us for a hands-on workshop where we’ll explore a different hobby, skill, or craft. Do you love animals? Ever wonder what it takes to keep a pet happy, healthy, and thriving? Join Zoe and Kerry from the Connecticut Humane Society for a fun, hands-on adventure into the world of pet care! Throughout this interactive program, kids will learn the ins and outs of pet ownership, reviewing what they already know about pets and building upon their knowledge to better understand what pets need to thrive in their environment. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required as space is limited. Click here to register.
What’s better than “Taco Tuesday?” Tuesday Nite Trivia at Essex Indoor Golf Center! Join us in our clean, family-friendly atmosphere, against the backdrop of golfers playing courses from around the globe. And yes, you can even combine golf (or mini golf) AND trivia at the same time! Free admission, as well as prizes every week for the ‘smartest smarty pants’ might be enough to get you off the couch on a Tuesday night. Then, declare Tuesdays as a No-Cooking Nite when you order from our fantastic Grumpy Caddy menu, along with our extensive selection of beer, cocktails, and wine from our 35-foot custom bar…Tuesdays might just become your favorite day of the week. So, bring your friends, bring your family, bring your friends’ families! Call (959) 265-8979 or visit essexindoorgolf.com
Program for kids ages birth-5. Join us for a hands-on, child-led play session designed to engage the senses! Sensory Playtime encourages exploration, creativity, and early learning through touch, sound, and movement. Kids are invited to move from station to station, at their own pace, to scoop, squish, pour, and play with a variety of textures and materials in a safe, supportive space alongside their caregivers. This program supports sensory development, fine motor skills, and social interaction—come play, learn, and make a (little) mess with us! Program funded in part by the Community Foundation of Middlesex County, and made possible by the GSB Grant Making Fund, and the Whelen Family Fund. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. No registration required. Drop in!
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
The Summer Reading theme this year is “Plant a Seed, Read!” Beat the afternoon heat, soak up the air conditioning, and join us for family-friendly movies that connect us with food, farms, & nature. Popcorn provided. See the Essex Library Website for movie titles, descriptions & age ratings.
Register HERE. Join us virtually as we host nationally renowned textile expert Lynne Bassett, who will present an illustrated lecture entitled “Federalist Fathers and Republican Mothers: The Fashions of John and Abigail Adams.” Through a variety of different primary artifacts, Bassett will show how both early and contemporary American have expressed their national and personal character through their clothing choices. This program is free and open to the public. Registration is required for all virtual programs. About Lynne Bassett Lynne Zacek Bassett is an independent scholar specializing in American historic costume and textiles. Bassett graduated with honors with a degree in American studies from Mount Holyoke College and earned a master’s degree in costume and textile history from the University of Connecticut. From 1995‒2000 she was the curator of textiles and fine arts at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Since going independent, Bassett has undertaken a number of large projects, including award-winning exhibitions and publications on textile topics ranging from the 17th century to the present day, which have taken her all over the United States and Zoomed to England. Her contribution to the field of historic costume and textiles has been recognized by the American Antiquarian Society, the Massachusetts […]
Join the Ivoryton Library for a special Storytime with Sugar the therapy dog!
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
Register HERE or call the Library at 860-767-1560. It's Shark Week! In celebration, the Essex library will host an author talk with Christopher Shaw Myers. Christopher is the nephew of actor Robert Shaw, the shark-obsessed fisherman Sam Quint in Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster, Jaws. Christopher will share insights and entertaining tidbits from his book, Robert Shaw: An Actor’s Life on the Set of Jaws and Beyond. For adults and teens. A screening of Jaws will follow the book talk promptly at 3:30 p.m. This program is free and open to the public at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Christopher Shaw Myers Chris Myers attended Trinity College, where he double majored in English Literature and Mathematics, and Columbia University, where he received a Master of Business Administration. After a thirty-year career in the hi-tech field, working with companies across the U.S. and Europe, Chris delved deeper into his family’s history to explore the magic that the Shaws cultivated in their lives. ROBERT SHAW: An Actor’s Life On The Set Of JAWS And Beyond is not your traditional biography. Written in narrative style, it tells the story of actor and writer Robert Shaw—best known as Quint in Jaws—from the perspective of the women who shaped his life. At its heart are […]
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
Program designed around The Food Group book series by Jory John, written for an audience age 4-8. Kids ages 4-12 are welcome to join! Today we will be reading The Big Cheese! The Big Cheese is the best at everything, and brags about it, too. When the annual Cheese-cathlon comes around, the Big Cheese is prepared to win, as always. But what happens when the quiet new kid, Wedge Wedgeman, comes out on top? Is a slice of humility all the Big Cheese needs to discover that some things are better than being the best? Cook, read, and explore with us in this deliciously fun program inspired by Jory John’s Food Group series, one of our featured authors in our “Plant a Seed, Read!” Summer Reading theme. This program will combine stories with simple snack-making. We’ll kick things off by washing hands and learning a few basic food safety tips, because every great chef starts with good habits. Then, we’ll introduce the day’s featured book, and participants will create a themed snack inspired by the story. While our creations bake, chill, or come together, we’ll gather for an interactive read-aloud of the book. Once everything is ready, participants can enjoy their snack or take it to […]
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!
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
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
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
Kids can join the Ivoryton Library in celebrating National French Fry Day by tasting fries from local businesses and ranking their favorites!
Since 1991 the annual program of SummerSings, co-sponsored by Con Brio and Cappella Cantorum, has provided an opportunity to enjoy choral works without the pressure of preparing for performance. It offers the experience to work with acclaimed conductors and professional soloists. The 2025 season was tremendously successful with over 500 singers participating. Note that the Brahms Requiem (July 6) will be sung in German, as composed: Ein deutsches Requiem (Edition Peters).
A play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers! (Ages birth - 3) This story time will take place every Tuesday morning. Join us! No registration required. Due to space, Please choose 1 session to attend.
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
Program for kids ages 8-12. The Summer Reading theme this year is “Plant a Seed, Read!” Each week, join us for a hands-on workshop where we’ll explore a different hobby, skill, or craft. This session is an introduction to embroidery string bracelet making! Join Miss Nicole for a fun and creative afternoon of crafting & chatting while learning how to make colorful embroidery floss bracelets. Participants will learn simple knotting techniques and create two classic friendship bracelet patterns: the Candy Stripe and the Chevron. Whether you're a beginner or have made bracelets before, this hands-on workshop is a great way to learn a new skill and express your creativity. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required as space is limited. Click here to register.
What’s better than “Taco Tuesday?” Tuesday Nite Trivia at Essex Indoor Golf Center! Join us in our clean, family-friendly atmosphere, against the backdrop of golfers playing courses from around the globe. And yes, you can even combine golf (or mini golf) AND trivia at the same time! Free admission, as well as prizes every week for the ‘smartest smarty pants’ might be enough to get you off the couch on a Tuesday night. Then, declare Tuesdays as a No-Cooking Nite when you order from our fantastic Grumpy Caddy menu, along with our extensive selection of beer, cocktails, and wine from our 35-foot custom bar…Tuesdays might just become your favorite day of the week. So, bring your friends, bring your family, bring your friends’ families! Call (959) 265-8979 or visit essexindoorgolf.com