Fall has officially arrived and there is a virtual cornucopia of events to herald its arrival. Just within the stretch from Guilford – the Guilford Fair – to East Haven – Trolley Museum – there’s a bumper crop as plentiful as the pumpkins at Bishop’s! Paddle your own canoe (or kayak), ride the Super Hero trolley, pedal your bike, or party at the pond. Got a cool event? Email [email protected] by Wednesday noon.
Saturday, Sept. 22
Annual Branford River Parade
Branford Land Trust will celebrate the beauty of the Branford River (above) with kayakers and canoeists from Branford and surrounding communities in a boat parade from behind the Branford High School to Branford Point on Saturday, Sept. 22. The event is free and open to the public.
Boaters should drop boats off behind Branford High School between 9:30 and 10:15 a.m., driving to the parking lot at Parker Park at Branford Point to leave their cars/trucks and taking the shuttle bus (hired for this event) back to the high school for the 11 a.m. parade start.
Paddlers are encouraged to decorate their boats (or persons). Then, bring a picnic and enjoy lunch at Branford Point at the end of the river journey. (The rain date is Sept. 23, starting at 11:30 a.m.; drop-off 10 to 10:45 a.m.)
For updated information call Matt Radulski at 203 – 627-1063.
The Party at the Pond
The Branford Rotary Club Foundation will host “The Party at the Pond,” to benefit the Smilow Center Hospital at Yale-New Haven and the foundation’s Scholarship Program. The event will take place from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at the scenic nine-acre pond tucked behind Van Wilgen’s Garden Center in North Branford under a giant tent beside a field of colorful mums.
Tickets are $100 and include wine, beer from Thimble Islands Brewing, BBQ pork and chicken, clam chowder, live music from “The Muddy Rudders,” locally sourced vegetables, pies from Rose Orchard, and Ashley’s ice cream. There will be a live auction and several fun and unique games. Seating is limited, so reserve a spot for this one-of-a-kind celebration by going to BranfordRotary.org or email [email protected].
The event also celebrates the foundation’s 50th anniversary and the Branford Rotary Club’s 90th anniversary. The organization has grown in membership and resources to become of the state’s largest and most effective service organizations.
Rotary Foundation Treasurer Bill Van Wilgen and his family will also be honored. They established the Male Breast Cancer Van Wilgen Fund at Yale New Haven Hospital. Proceeds will also support the Rotary Foundation’s scholarship fund, which annually awards $7,500 to Branford high school students pursuing higher education.
The party is open to all, but seating is limited. Register at BranfordRotary.org or email [email protected] for more information.
Elks To Celebrate 150 Years
Branford Elks #1939 will celebrate its 150th anniversary from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at its Pavilion, off 158 S. Montowese St.
The all-day celebration includes breakfast, lunch, pig roast, cash bar, games for all ages. Music by Hit List, SteamRoller, DJ Butch & MC Mike. All ages are welcome. Proceeds to Benefit Elks Children’s Charities and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. In case of rain, bands and food will move indoors
Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for kids 8 to 12, free for those under 7. Advanced ticket purchase required at www.branfordelks.com or at the Lodge.
Shoreline Arts and Cool Jazz Festival
The fourth Annual Shoreline Harvest Arts and Cool Jazz Festival will take place under the Big Tent on the Branford Green from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22. More than 40 artists and artisans will display their works of fine art and sculpture, jewelry, wood arts, pottery, metal, stained glass, painting, photography and textiles. Live jazz will be provided by Brasile and friends.
Sponsored by Branford Art Center and Branford Education Foundation, the festival will be held rain or shine. For more information, call Yvonne Gordon-Moser at 860 – 334-4642 or email [email protected] and visit the gallery website, www.branfordartcenterct.com.
Guilford Fair
The 160th annual Guilford Fair, Stonehouse Lane at Lovers Lane, kicks off Friday, Sept. 21 and continues Saturday, Sept. 22, and Sunday, Sept. 23.
Features include horse, pony oxen, and tractor pulls; exhibits, rides, and food. Entertainment includes the AC/DC Experience (Friday), country music star Morgan Wallen (Saturday); Truck Stop Troubadours (Sunday); the Flying Wallendas. The Guilford Fair Parade is Saturday.
Admission is $10, adults; $5, seniors; kids 6 to 11 free. For more information, go to www.guilfordfair.org or call 203 – 453-3542.
Ongoing
Fall Family Fun At Bishop’s
Bishop’s Orchards Farm Market & Winery in Guilford will have their Corn Maze, Pick Your Own, Pumpkin Patch and Little Red Barn all open for the fall season, through mid to late October.
Entry into the Corn Maze, created in conjunction with Mystic Aquarium, is $7 per person (includes tax), with children under 2 free. Purchase tickets on site at Bishop’s Orchards’ Main Orchard, located at 480 New England Road. Corn Maze is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m.) on weekends and holidays through the end of October.
Pumpkins, kids activities, Food Truck and Concession, plus Pick Your Own in Guilford and Northford. Weather conditions and crop availability determine hours of operation; call the 24-hour Events/PYO line at 203 – 458-7425.
For more information visit http://bit.ly/2vZLFIw or on Facebook at facebook.com/bishopsorchardsfarmmarket.
Sunday, Sept. 23
Tour de Branford
The fourth annual Tour de Branford takes place along the shoreline and parts of Guilford, beginning and ending at the Stony Creek Brewery, 5 Indian Neck Ave.
The 40-mile tour leaves at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 23 from the Stony Creek Brewery, while the 15-mile tour leaves at 9:30 a.m. Rest stop at 20 miles is at the Sugar Loaf Recreation area.
A free post-event beer will be available the race and additional beer and gourmet food trucks will be on site at the Brewery.
Register online at branfordtv.org. Funds raised go to support Branford Community Television’s production facilities
Super Heroes Day
Ride the trolleys with your favorite Super Heroes Sunday, Sept. 23, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Shoreline Trolley Museum, 17 River St., East Haven. Trolleys leave every half hour.
Children are invited to come in their own costumes. Admission is $10 per person. Community heroes will be admitted for free along with a family of four when arriving in their police, fire or military uniform (or with ID).
Heroes making appearances could be Batman, maybe a soldier, or Wonder Woman, or a fireman, or Superman, or a policeman. Photographs encouraged. You might even get to see Spider-Man’s own laboratory subway car from the 2014 hit Marvel & Sony Pictures “The Amazing Spider-Man 2.”
Alternate Universe Comic Books & Collectibles in New Haven and Milford (www.facebook.com/alternateuniverse) will be on hand sponsoring Super Heroes Day with free comic books (one per child while supplies last) and will be accompanied by a host of costumed characters till 3 p.m. Altered Reality Entertainment will be joining Alternate Universe.
For more information, go to shorelinetrolley.org/.
Thursday, Sept. 27 to Sunday, Sept. 30
Friends Book Sale
Friends of Blackstone Library will hold their annual Book Sale under the tents on the Branford Green. The theme this year is “Books and Beyond.” In conjunction with Trinity Church on the Green, activities will be offered for children on Friday evening with Hogwarts Happenings. On Saturday, local environmental exhibitors will be on the green and a concert will
The sale runs Thursday, 7 p.m. to midnight (preview 5 to 7 p.m. with $15 admission fee); Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, noon to 3 p.m. Fill a bag on Sunday for $10 per bag.
Café Blackstone will feature Hummel’s hot dogs, Chocolate chip brownies, cinnamon buns, crumb cake, chips, lemonade, water and coffee, as well as baked macaroni & cheese by Shoreline Café.
For more information, go to www.booksalefinder.com.
Pumpkin Decorating Contest
In conjunction with the Book Sale, the Friends of the Library will also hold a book-themed pumpkin decorating contest in which kids can create their favorite story book character on a pumpkin. To enter the contest, email name, book title, and character to [email protected]. Drop off the pumpkin and book (or cover) at the Book Sale Wednesday, Sept. 26, between 1 and 4 p.m. They can be picked up Saturday, Sept. 29, between 5 and 7 p.m.
First prize is a Fox Field Farm guided horseback ride, up to two hours. Second prize is a parent-child painting session at Branford Art Center. Third prize is Fired Up gift certificate for $25.
Trinity Church Fair
The 111th annual Trinity Church Fair opens Friday night with a grilled cheese and soup dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Hogwarts Happenings, with scavenger hunt, photo booth, mini Quiddich game and more, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m.
Saturday begins with an all-you-can-eat blueberry pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch (hot dogs, hamburgers, and more). There will also be a silent auction, jewelry sale, baked goods, tag sale, labyrinth, kids’ activities. M.P.Rice Hose Company Co. 2 Fire Engine will be on site to encourage volunteer recruiting; the fire engine will be available for kids to check out the truck.
Sunday, Oct. 7
Animal Awareness Day
Branford Compassion Club will host its annual Animal Awareness Day, featuring the Blessing of the Animals, from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, on the Branford Green. The event is a celebration of the furry, feathered, scaly and finned members of our families – a Petoberfest of music, food, bake sale, special kids’ activities, surprises, education and awareness and fun for all.
The highlight of the day is the Blessing of the Animals at 1:30 p.m., held annually around the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. One can expect to see an impressive variety of dogs, cats, birds, gerbils, ferrets, and perhaps even a horse or rabbit or two, filling the Green to be blessed by local clergy from several denominations.
BCC also uses the event to teach the public about humane treatment of animals, especially for young visitors. Quinnipiac University Prof. Donna Latella returns with Mooka, Mabel and Willy, her popular mini therapy horses, who may look cute and cuddly, but are serious about their role as therapy horses. Therapy dog Gelato joins the trio. Caesar, the very affectionate miniature poodle, makes an encore appearance to the Kissing Booth.
At 3 p.m., New Haven Police Officer Martin and his K‑9-unit partner Ax, will demonstrate the skills of a four-legged police officer. The 4‑year-old German Shepard is dually trained for both Narcotic Detection and Patrol Work, which includes everything from tracking and evidence recovery to building search and suspect apprehension.
Visitors to the Green also can help care for homeless felines by bringing donations of food or shelter supplies to fill the Sprinter van supplied by Black Rock Truck Group of Branford. Check the Wish List posted at www.branfordcompassionclub.org.
For more information about donating or volunteering at the shelter, visit www.branfordcompassionclub.org or call 203 – 483-6369.
Saturday, Oct. 13
An Evening with the Spirits
An Evening with the Spirits, presented by Blackstone Library and Branford Wine & Liquor, features a variety of whiskeys and other spirits to sample, plus psychics and mediums to help discover otherworldly spirits.
Psychic Chrystyne McGrath will conduct a large group reading at 7:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. — one session or the other can be attended. Additionally, psychics will be available throughout the evening to sit one-on-one for a brief individual reading.
Tickets are $40 per person, open to ages 21+.
Appetizers included with ticket. No physical tickets will be issued, check-in at the door. Silent auction will also be held.
This fundraiser benefits the Blackstone Library, supporting the innovative programs and crucial services we offer to the Branford community.
For more information and to buy tickets, go to http://www.blackstone.lioninc.org/eveningspirits/.
Sunday, Oct. 14
Music from South of the Border
Elaine Thoma, flute, and Neal Fitzpatrick, guitar, will perform “Suite Buenos Aires” by Maximo Diego Pujol, and other Latin American classics, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, at the First Baptist Church of Branford, 975 Main St.
Thoma, a flute faculty member at the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, studied with Jean-Pierre Rampal and James Galway and holds degrees from Syracuse University, Boston University, and the Tanglewood Institute.
Fitzpatrick has performed with the New Haven Symphony, the Aspen Music Festival, and the 92nd Street Y in New York. He teaches from his studio in Branford, both classical and jazz guitar.
The concert is free; donations are welcome. The event is sponsored by Musical Art Society of Branford, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 to support and promote music in the community. The concert begins the society’s 99th musical season.
Monday, Oct. 15
Swing Into Rotary Golf
The Branford Rotary Club’s seventh annual Golf Classic takes place Monday, Oct. 15, at the Wallingford Country Club, 195 Long Hill Road, Wallingford, located off I‑91 and just minutes from Route 15. The schedule for the tourney is as follows – 7:30 a.m., registration; 8 a.m., continental breakfast; 9:30 a.m., shotgun start; 1 p.m. BBQ buffet, cocktail hour (open bar) raffle, and auction. Prizes will be awarded.
The event will benefit the Branford Counseling Center Basic Needs Program, Cosgrove Animal Shelter, local veterans’ groups, Soundview YMCA Annual Campaign, and the Orchard House.
Registration is $150 per golfer. Appropriate attire and spikeless shoes are required; jeans are prohibited. Spectators are welcome. Cocktail party and lunch buffet available for non-golfers at $30. For more information, call or email Ed Vescovi, 203 – 415-9191 or [email protected]; or Doug Shaw, 203 – 494-8510 or [email protected]. Register online at www.branfordrotary.org. Register online at www.branfordrotary.org.
