Come to Essex on Saturday, February 15th for a celebration of the amazing small businesses in our community! Pick up a passport at Grace & Haven or J. Alden Clothiers. Collect stamps as you shop across town, visit local venues and restaurants, and earn an entry to win a fabulous prize from the participating business of your choice. Support local businesses, discover new favorites, and enjoy a chance to take home something special.
The Town of Essex – Government Park and Recreations Commission is pleased to announce the 2025 Essex go Bragh Irish Parade Grand Marshal, Anthony Mosa, currently the longest serving Commissioner will lead the parade down through the Village of Essex on Sat March 22. The parade steps off at 11 am from Essex Town Hall and makes its way to Ferry Street turning up Pratt and disbursing at Cross Street. This annual tradition is the signature event of Essex Park and Recreation's Spring season and will consist of units of Irish Dancers. pipers and drum corps, local nonprofits, businesses, students, scouting, and sports groups. All are welcome to attend and if you would like to participate, gather up a group and come March with us. For more information Contact Mary Ellen Barnes. 860-767-4340 x110 or email mbarnes@essexct.gov
The 2025 Connecticut Spring Boat Show will be held Friday, April 25th 1-6pm, Saturday, April 26th 10am-5pm and Sunday, April 27th 1st 10am-5pm at Safe Harbor Essex Island 11 Ferry Street, Essex, CT. Tickets may be purchased at: https://www.windcheckmagazine.com/shop/. Advance Three-Day Tickets are available now at $20 per adult and are free for children 13 and under. Tickets grant access to the show all weekend long. Walk-up, day-of tickets are $22 per adult. 50% of the ticket proceeds will benefit Sails Up 4 Cancer. In past years over $25,000 was raised for the organization. Boaters from all over New England down to New York get excited to visit the Connecticut Spring Boat Show. Visitors will enjoy seeing a wide range of new and brokerage, power and sail models ranging from 20ft to larger than 65ft from leading boat brands. In addition to boats on the dock, the show will have yacht brokers, gear, artists, accessories, and service companies exhibiting on the lawn, and live music throughout the weekend. The in-water boat show is the first of the season, featuring the latest innovations in boating, sailing, and fishing while supporting a great cause. Show attendees from Connecticut, New York, New England and […]
The 2025 Connecticut Spring Boat Show will be held Friday, April 25th 1-6pm, Saturday, April 26th 10am-5pm and Sunday, April 27th 1st 10am-5pm at Safe Harbor Essex Island 11 Ferry Street, Essex, CT. Tickets may be purchased at: https://www.windcheckmagazine.com/shop/. Advance Three-Day Tickets are available now at $20 per adult and are free for children 13 and under. Tickets grant access to the show all weekend long. Walk-up, day-of tickets are $22 per adult. 50% of the ticket proceeds will benefit Sails Up 4 Cancer. In past years over $25,000 was raised for the organization. Boaters from all over New England down to New York get excited to visit the Connecticut Spring Boat Show. Visitors will enjoy seeing a wide range of new and brokerage, power and sail models ranging from 20ft to larger than 65ft from leading boat brands. In addition to boats on the dock, the show will have yacht brokers, gear, artists, accessories, and service companies exhibiting on the lawn, and live music throughout the weekend. The in-water boat show is the first of the season, featuring the latest innovations in boating, sailing, and fishing while supporting a great cause. Show attendees from Connecticut, New York, New England and […]
The 2025 Connecticut Spring Boat Show will be held Friday, April 25th 1-6pm, Saturday, April 26th 10am-5pm and Sunday, April 27th 1st 10am-5pm at Safe Harbor Essex Island 11 Ferry Street, Essex, CT. Tickets may be purchased at: https://www.windcheckmagazine.com/shop/. Advance Three-Day Tickets are available now at $20 per adult and are free for children 13 and under. Tickets grant access to the show all weekend long. Walk-up, day-of tickets are $22 per adult. 50% of the ticket proceeds will benefit Sails Up 4 Cancer. In past years over $25,000 was raised for the organization. Boaters from all over New England down to New York get excited to visit the Connecticut Spring Boat Show. Visitors will enjoy seeing a wide range of new and brokerage, power and sail models ranging from 20ft to larger than 65ft from leading boat brands. In addition to boats on the dock, the show will have yacht brokers, gear, artists, accessories, and service companies exhibiting on the lawn, and live music throughout the weekend. The in-water boat show is the first of the season, featuring the latest innovations in boating, sailing, and fishing while supporting a great cause. Show attendees from Connecticut, New York, New England and […]
This fundraising event is a garden extravaganza featuring annuals, members’ perennial plants, herbs, shrubs, and fresh cut flowers as well as our world famous garlic salt, gently used home and garden treasures, garden gifts and jewelry. Join us at the Town Park. The Essex Garden Club was established in 1952 and soon after became a member of the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut. Their mission focuses on civic beautification, conserving natural resources, and horticulture & environmental education. For latest news, check out their website: https://www.essexgardenclubct.org/
Every year, the second Saturday in May, the Sailing Masters hosts the “Burning of the Ships” commemoration. This is a “mini-muster” to which the Corps invites area fife and drum corps to participate. The Grand parade will start at 2:00 p.m. at the Essex Town Hall and end head down Main Street to the CT River Museum. Following the parade there will be a short ceremony and each fife and drum corps will play! This commemoration is in remembrance of the burning of the fleet in Essex Harbor in April of 1814. Essex was widely known for building privateer ships to harass the British fleet during the War of 1812. In April of 1814 the British rowed up the Connecticut River in the cloak of darkness and burned all the ships, cordage and sail lofts in the village. This was a devastating blow to the War effort. It became the largest naval loss the Country had experienced until the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After this disastrous event, the town of Essex rebuilt the shipyard and eventually produced more ships than before the Raid. We come together every year to remember the loss but to also celebrate the tremendous recovery made […]
The Tradition Continues! Join Us for the Rotary Club of Essex Shad Bake 2025! Get ready for an unforgettable afternoon at this annual culinary tradition, dating back to 1958, that is a quintessential Spring ritual of the Connecticut River. Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025 ⏰ Time: 3:00 – 6:00 PM Location: Essex Island Marina, 11 Ferry Street, Essex, CT Getting There: Park in Essex and take the ferry at the corner of Pratt and Ferry Streets. What’s on the Menu? New England clam chowder, oyster & clam appetizers start at 3:00 PM (available at an additional cost) Cash bar with beer, wine, and soda open from 3:00 – 6:00 PM Shad Bake Dinner served between 4:30 – 6:00 PM Live Entertainment by As Time Goes By Swing Band! ️ Tickets: ✅ $40 Online (available until June 6) ✅ $50 at the event Sponsorship opportunities are available: Captain $5,000 Fisherman $2,500 Shad $1,000 Roe $500 ️ Watch the Shad Bake in Action! Click to view Don’t miss out on this historic tradition! Secure your tickets today and be part of a true Connecticut River experience. We can't wait to see you there!
