Daffodil Day welcomes families on April 23

MIDDLETOWN >> The Wadsworth Mansion will host its annual spring event, Daffodil Day, on Sunday, April 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate, 421 Wadsworth Street, Middletown.

This family event will be held rain or shine and there is no charge for admission. Donations are welcome and appreciated. Indoor and outdoor activities include docent tours, a variety comedy show with Mr. Bungles, Vernal Pool Exploration with Lucy Meigs of Everyone Outside; “Daffodil Dash” a Field Day for the whole family; live music performance with Cash Lane Slim in West Ballroom; a letterboxing lesson; and “Who The Wadsworths Were” historical chronicle in the East Ballroom.

The annual “Daffodil Dash,” is a mini-Olympiad of classic Wadsworth Era games. Competitors of all ages should be prepared to hop, leap, toss, and race their way across the vista beginning at 2. For those satisfied with their blue ribbon collections, this will be a spectator sport. Start putting together your teams (families, friends, neighbors) to compete and become the Daffodil Dash Champions. To participate, pre-register your team at events@wadsworthmansion.com or register on the day from 1:30-2 p.m., until contest is full.

Chet’s Italian Ice, NoRA Cupcakes, Mercado Food Truck, Frank’s Woodfired Pizza Truck, and Not Just BBQ Truck will tantalize visitors with delicious fare sold from their food trucks.

At 1:15 p.m. in the East Ballroom, Mr. Bungles will entertain children with comedy routines, magic, juggling, music, games, and balloons. Goody bags will be available for children who attend. Afterwards a bubble station on the terrace will include a machine that shoots out hundreds of bubbles a minute, wands of all sizes, and super-strong, proprietary bubble fluid that can make bubbles up to 10 feet long.

Lucy Meigs of Everyone Outside (www.EveryoneOutside.org) will be at the Vernal Pool on the east side of the mansion to show the amazing creatures found in vernal pools at this time of year including frogs, salamander eggs, tadpoles, salamanders, insect larvae, and more. Viewing scopes will be available. Come visit the vernal pool any time between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. At 3 p.m., there will be a lesson in letterboxing.

Guests can enjoy live music in the West Ballroom at 2:30 p.m. by Cash Lane Slim, an acoustic hybrid guitarist and vocalist; a songwriter in the American experience. His musical styling will take you on a trip through the heart of Americana with a blend of folk, rock, blues, and more.

Ongoing throughout the afternoon, docents from the Friends of Long Hill Estate will lead guided tours of the Mansion providing a narrative that details the history of the estate. Furniture donated by the Wadsworth Family will be on display in the History Room. Additionally at 3 p.m., a special history lesson on “Who The Wadsworths Were” will be given in the East Ballroom.

Guests are encouraged bring a kite to fly on the vista, enjoy 103 acres of parklands on your own, and view the daffodils that will bloom sometime in April, assuring us all that spring has finally arrived.

Information will be available at the Wadsworth Mansion by calling 860347-1064 or visiting www. WadsworthMansion.com.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Families are welcome to celebrate the arrival of spring at the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown on Sunday, April 23. A variety of activities are planned for children and adults.