Think outside the box
After months of most concerts, plays, and festivals being canceled due to COVID- 19, it is still difficult to find any outdoor events to attend. As of press time, the state has paused its stage 3 reopening, which would have been in late July, further limiting sizes of group gatherings allowed. While some iconic events such as the Bridgewater and Durham fairs and the Norwalk Oyster Festival remain on hiatus until 2021, smaller scale events have started to return, albeit with social distancing practices in place.
For its third annual Five Senses Festival, July 31- Aug. 2 at Spring Hill Vineyards in New Preston, the renowned modern dance company Pilobolus took the opportunity to reimagine the festival as a series of short performances. This allows audiences to take in the festival together but stay apart. The long road that meanders through the vineyard will serve as an art safari and festival- goers will register for timed tickets with staggered entry times to view the dancers and musicians at different stations. fivesensesfestival.com
Every Thursday night at 5: 30 this summer through Sept. 24, the Seymour Lions Club will hold its Summer Cruise Nights at Tri- Town Plaza, offering family- friendly fun for car enthusiasts and even those just casually interested. The weekly event celebrates the beauty of classic cars along with hot rods, street rods, rat rods, custom cars, trucks, motorcycles, and antique models. Trophies are awarded for the top three places for cars and trucks and one motorcycle trophy is given out. Music, raffles, and more round out the night. e- clubhouse.org/sites/seymourct/page- 8.php
For a night of racing, set your GPS for the Stafford Motor Raceway in Stafford Springs for Friday night races, and check the schedule for added special events. Unlike at Lime Rock Park ( which is still having races this season but not allowing spectators), attendees can watch the races here but have to first complete a COVID- 19 waiver and practice social distancing ( details online). staffordmotorspeedway.com
Traditionally, the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary in Newtown celebrates
Catherine’s birthday in June with a community- wide event, open to all. This year’s circumstances forced it to reschedule this animal- friendly event that raises awareness of pet adoption to June 2021. Her life cut short at age 6 at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Catherine had a deep love for animals and the sanctuary created to honor her will shelter animals in need. Though the party was canceled for this year, the sanctuary property at the end of Old Farm Road is open to visitors for walking or picnicking dawn to sunset.cvhfoundation.org
The Ridgefield Playhouse, which canceled dozens of events starting in March, will hold its first live event since then on July 25 at 7 p. m. under a tent on the field next to the Playhouse. The evening of music and comedy will feature 2019
American Idol finalist Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon and comedian Christine O’Leary. Tickets are $ 25. ridgefieldplayhouse.org
Celebrating its 350th anniversary, the town of Simsbury has brought back its Simsbury Art Trail, last held here in 2018, with 37 life- size bronze sculptures by the late artist Seward Johnson on display outdoors all around town. Only a few are repeats from the 2018 showing. A map is available online and as this is a self- guided tour, people can visit the sculptures in any order. Johnson’s sculptures are part of his “Celebrating the Familiar” series and capture life’s ordinary moments, from reading a book or a big sister helping a little sister tie her shoes to a couple dancing and a man fishing with his child. simsburyarttrail.com
The 13th annual Garlic Fest at Olde Mistick Village in Mystic is a perennial fall favorite, and this year’s event, which is free and runs Sept. 19- 20 from 11 to 6, will celebrate all things garlic. For newbies, garlic ice cream is a musttry. Farmers from around the area will have a wide assortment of garlic from fresh bulbs ( try roasting them in the oven with a bit of olive oil, wrapped in foil) to garlic- based foods. Nongarlic related vendors and artists will also be on hand and Olde Mistick Village shops will have special products available.
Besides providing a fresh bounty of healthy food, farm markets also serve as a great outdoor activity. Masks are required and some markets require pre- ordering online in advance, so check the website or call before going. No sampling this year and some markets will have vendors pre- bag or handle items for customers to limit touching. There are farm markets located around the state, including Seymour on Tuesdays ( check Facebook page for details); downtown Stamford at two locations Wednesdays and Saturdays ( stamford- downtown. com); Westport, Thursdays ( westportfarmersmarket.com); Madison, Fridays ( madisonctfarmersmarket.com); CityCenter Danbury, Fridays ( danburyfarmersmarket.org); New Milford Farmers Market, Saturdays ( newmilfordfarmersmarket.com); Greenfield Hills market in Fairfield Saturdays ( Facebook); and Ashford, Sundays ( ashfordfarmersmarket.wordpress.com). Some like the Bozrah Farmers Market on Fridays ( bozrahfarmersmarket.org) are operating this summer as a drive- through model, and most of the markets run through some time in October.