New Haven Tree Lighting Celebration, Photo from the New Haven Department of Arts Culture and Tourism

By Melinda Carter

With the holiday season in full swing, the New Haven area is gearing up for one of its great winter-time events with the Tree Lighting Celebration taking place on Thursday, December 1. The event will serve to kick off the holiday season for New Haven and Connecticut residents, while offering up exciting activities for all families. The lighting celebration will take place at the downtown New Haven Green from 4-8pm on Thursday.

Families alike will be able to take in an extended amount of enjoyable activities including musical performances, crafting, carnival and carriage rides. Kids will be excited to get the chance to take photos with Santa himself, as well as some other popular holiday character including Rudolph in the winter wonderland section of the event. The visits and photos with characters will last from 4 until 730pm during the event. The New Haven Lions Club and New Haven Rotary Club will also be providing some food and snacks during the celebration.

Peoples United Bank will sponsor the tree lighting, as the centerpiece of the events will be a 65 foot tall Norway Spruce provided by Steve and Marie McDermott, who are from Northford. The tree itself will hold over 20,000 different energy efficient LED lights in a multitude of colors.

Musical performances will be the highlight of the night, including appearances from four great local groups. Shows will be put on by musical groups including the Calentano Museum Academy, The Mauro Sheridan Magnet School Choir, the Brennan Rogers School Choir and the Educational Center for the Arts Vocal Ensemble. The event itself will be hosted by WTNH television’s own, Gil Simmons. It will also include appearances from special guests including Ronald McDonald, during the tree lighting.

The celebration will be put on by the Department of Parks and Recreation in a local start to a number of other holiday activities in the New Haven area this winter. Children’s activities at the celebration are being supported by Casey Family Services, as well as the Yale New Haven Hospital. Inclement weather is a possibility, which would lead to the event being rescheduled for Friday, December 2. Following the tree lighting celebration on Thursday, New Haven will be home to great food offers and shopping deals throughout the month of December.

The tree lighting event is a great opportunity for all of the Connecticut residents to take part in an excellent holiday event within the community. This is also great for those families looking to get out of their houses and apartments in New Haven to celebrate a great holiday event. The celebration should mix activities good for both parents and children in an effort to celebrate local culture and the holiday season.

Unique after-work events, hosted by Ocean Blue Catering, held in front of outdoor beluga whale exhibit

MYSTIC, Conn. (May 11, 2011) – Cocktails with the Whales returns this spring and summer to Mystic Aquarium. Enjoy drinks and food by Ocean Blue Catering, as well as live music in front of the Arctic Coast exhibit, home to the aquarium’s resident beluga whales. These gatherings take place on Thursday evenings – May 26, June 23, July 28 and August 25 – from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The evenings include drink specials, including Ocean Blue’s signature “Belugatini”, hors d’ oeuvres such as chowder and quesadillas available for purchase and live music in front of the Arctic Coast’s three 20-foot underwater viewing windows, providing guests an up-close look at the belugas.

WHEN: May 26, June 23, July 28 and August 25
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355

COST: $5 admission per person with cash bar and hors d’oeuvres available for purchase. Reservations are recommended. Please call 860.572.5955 ext. 336 to make a reservation. Attendees must be 21 or older.

Old Saybrook, CT — “Wreaths Across America” (www.wreathsacrossamerica.org) a traveling caravan escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders, will again return to Old Saybrook on Dec. 7, 2010, at 5:30 p.m. where it will be met by local veterans, townspeople and students.

Old Saybrook is a major official stop in Connecticut on WAA’s journey to Arlington National Cemetery, where the group will place wreaths on the graves of thousands of fallen soldiers. The town has turned out in force to honor the traveling caravan in past years, so the Maine-based group will make the shoreline town a major stop again this year.

A wreath-laying at the Town Green War Memorial on Main Street (310 Main St; next door to OSFD fire headquarters) will be held on Tuesday, Dec 7, at 5:30 p.m. Special ceremonies will be held at the Old Saybrook High School at 1111 Boston Post Road in Old Saybrook on Tuesday, Dec, 7, at 7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Special guest Master of Ceremonies will be Gil Simmons (a Marine) and morning TV meteorologist for NEWS8, who is honored to be a part of this special ceremony.

Invited this year as part of the town’s special tribute are U.S. Senator-Elect and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Governor-Elect Dan Malloy, Governor M. Jodi Rell, Lt. Governor-Elect and State Comptroller Nancy Wyman, 2nd District Congressman Joe Courtney, and State Representative Marilyn Giuliano.

Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreaths in Maine, began his generous initiative in 1992 with a trailer full of New England-grown wreaths decorated by volunteers, which he laid at the graves of fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. Over the years, the “Wreaths” mission has grown to encompass its current theme of “Remember, Honor, and Teach” the value of freedom in today’s world.

“We’re honored to be able to pay tribute again this year to Wreaths Across America and its message of honoring our veterans,” says Max Sabrin, one of the event coordinators and a member of the all-volunteer Old Saybrook Fire Department. “Two years ago, we hosted them in town and they were all touched by the generosity and genuine goodwill that this town showed them. So they wanted to stop here again, and everyone in town has pulled together to make Tuesday, Dec. 7, and Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010, a very special time for Morrill & Karen Worcester and the ‘Wreaths Across America’ folks and for those of us in Old Saybrook.”

Sabrin says this year’s third annual tribute will include local Connecticut veterans, citizen volunteers, as well as high school students, local Boy Scouts, and the Color/Honor Guards from the U.S. Navy Sub Base, the U.S.Coast Guard, the Old Saybrook Police Department, the Old Saybrook Fire Department, CT Statewide Honor Guard and the Connecticut State Police.

There will be a special half-hour assembly and presentation emceed by Kevin Hogan, WFSB Eyewitness News anchor and New London Bureau Chief on Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 9 a.m. at the Old Saybrook Middle School, 60 Sheffield Street. It is free and open to the public. Anyone interested in helping to defray expenses can make a donation to the Old Saybrook Fire Department, 310 Main St., Old Saybrook, CT, 06475. Please note on the check “Wreaths Across America Donation.”

Playhouse on Park presents A Special New Year’s Eve Interactive Murder Mystery Party - Viva West Hartford: Murder of Park Road Strip

Playhouse on Park presents A Special New Year’s Eve Interactive Murder Mystery Party – Viva West Hartford: Murder of Park Road Strip, December 31, 8pm

Playhouse on Park’s holding its second annual New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery Party and this time we’re heading to Las Vegas! This is an interactive party where YOU are involved. Discover your “character” and come “dressed to kill”! The party includes beer/wine, hearty hors d’oeuvres, a champagne toast, coffee, dessert and an evening of lies, scandal and murder. Ring in the New Year while uncovering clues that will point you to the killer! Once you purchase your ticket, you will be sent details pertaining to your “role” for the evening. Space is limited. Tickets must be purchased in advance, there will be no tickets sold at the door. And remember…What happens at the Playhouse stays at the Playhouse!

Don’t miss out on your chance to solve the murder mystery! Tickets are $55 per person and the event will take place on New Year’s Eve, December 31st from 8pm-1am. This event sold out last year! Playhouse on Park is located at 244 Park Road, West Hartford, CT.

For more information or ticket reservations please visit www.playhouseonpark.org or call  (860) 523-5900 x10.

The Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk’s annual Winterfair Gift Market features exciting vendors who offer a variety of unique merchandise and beautifully handcrafted items to suit all tastes and price points! Shoppers return year after year to find gourmet food items, accessories for their homes, fashions for the entire family and those one-of-a-kind gift items that add sparkle and fun to holiday gift giving.

This year’s Winterfair will host a variety of events for children such as complimentary professional face painting, among other special activities!

The Where: Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa, 243 Tresser Blvd, Stamford,CT 06901

The When: Friday, November 12th 10AM – 7PM
Saturday, November 13th 9AM – 4PM

The Cost: Adults $5, Seniors $4 and children under 12 free

For more information, please visit: http://www.jlsn.org/?nd=winterfair

(October 29, 2010) — A beloved 47-year-old holiday tradition in the City of Hartford is getting reinvigorated thanks to a strengthened public-private partnership. The Hartford Festival of Light® is moving to historic Bushnell Park from Constitution Plaza in order to add a new interactive family feature— an outdoor skating rink.

“Skating in the park will make ringing in the holiday season more than a day in the Capital City, it will be an experience for residents and visitors alike to enjoy over and over again,” said Hartford Mayor Pedro E. Segarra. “By working with our team of gracious partners, we’ll be able to have Santa’s helpers in his workshop start building the rink the day after Thanksgiving so that families can enjoy the facility for approximately four weeks.”

The more centrally located venue for the event will make it more accessible to the Theatre and entertainment district and restaurants. Again, the date of the extravaganza is still the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 26.

Time and details of the pageantry and procession to the park will be unveiled as we get closer to the arrival of the holiday season.

Joining the City of Hartford in producing this year’s Hartford Festival of Light® are the Greater Hartford Arts Council, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, and the Connecticut Whale. Title sponsors of the event are Connecticut Light & Power, Mohegan Sun and United Technologies.

Museum Day is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian Media in which participating museums across the country open their doors for free to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket. The Museum Day Ticket provides free admission to one person, plus a guest.  Take advantage and visit that place you’ve always wanted to visit, but never had the time.

• One ticket per household
• A ticket will gain entry in only one museum and only participating museums
• Only an official Museum Day ticket is eligible for free entry. Official tickets can be found here on the Museum Day website.

Participating Connecticut Museums: 

• Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield
• American Clock & Watch Museum, Bristol
• Bruce Museum,  Greenwich
• Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut,  Niantic
• Custom House Maritime Museum,  New London
• Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center, Westport
• Fairfield Museum and History Center, Fairfield
• Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme
• Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Hartford
• Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington
• Jonathan Trumbull Jr. House, Lebanon
• Lebanon Historical Society Museum & Visitor Center, Lebanon
• Lyman Allyn Art Museum, New London
• Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, Mashantucket
• Nathan Hale Schoolhouse East Haddam
•  Nathan Hale Schoolhouse, New London 
• New England Civil War Museum, Rockville
• New Milford Historical Society, New Milford
• Old Tolland County Courthouse, Tolland
• Old Tolland County Jail & Museum,  Tolland
• Roseland Cottage, Woodstock
• Saint Joseph College Art Gallery, West Hartford
• Shore Line Trolley Museum, East Haven
• Skitch Henderson Museum, New Milford
• Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford
• War Office, Lebanon

More Info and how to get your tickets at: http://www.smithsonian.org/museumday