Weekend Highlights, August 14-15

…Manzano Mountains, gorgeous sunsets, green chile…here I come!  I’m New Mexico bound, baby…

Thursday

New Haven Vuvuzela Orchestra on the Green in New Haven

Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Group in Guilford

VISA Gymnastic Championships in Hartford (thru Saturday)

The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk in Madison

Melissa Green at Barnes & Noble in Milford (10am)

Tolland County 4H Fair (thru Sunday)

Friday

Farmer’s Market (12pm-4pm) in The Hill

The Lake After Dark at Lake Compounce in Bristol (Fridays thru August 27)

Melissa Green at the Fairfield Library in Fairfield

The Tortoise and the Hare at the Quick Center in Fairfield

Hamden Farmer’s Market (11am-3pm) in Hamden

50 cent Fabulous Fridays at Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury (thru Labor Day)

Toy Story 3 on IMAX at Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk (thru Sunday)

Grease! at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam (thru August 22)

Laser Rock Music Show at the Children’s Museum in West Hartford (weekends, thru August 15)

Saturday

Short Film for the kiddos followed by Alice in Wonderland, movie night at East Rock Park in New Haven (College Woods @ 8:30pm)

Farmer’s Market at Wooster Square (9am-1pm) & Upper State Street (10am-2pm) in New Haven

New Haven Jazz Festival on the Green in New Haven (next Saturday, too)

Open Farm Day at Common Ground in New Haven

Story hour at the Children’s Museum featuring musician George Melillo reading and performing Jamberry in New Haven

Family Maritime Festival in Essex

Get Outside!  Guided Walk for kids in Guilford

Saturday Carloads at Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury (thru Labor Day)

Peach Fest and Sunflower Maze at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield

Family Canoe Tours of Wheeler Salt Marsh in Milford (thru Sept 25)

Milford Farmer’s Market (9am-1pm) in Milford

Mystic Outdoor Art Festival in Mystic (thru Sunday, 10am – 6pm)

Sharon Audubon Nature Festival in Sharon (thru Sunday)

Back to the Future at Southington Drive-In in Southington

Space and Aviation Day at Windsor Locks

Sunday

Edgewood Park Farmer’s Market (10am-2pm) in New Haven

Teddy Bear Fest at Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport

Next Week & Beyond:

in season for Pick Your Own outings: Blueberries, Peaches

Lots of Activities at Main & Branch Libraries in New Haven (July & August)

Free Summer Concert Series in NYC (June-August)

Blues, Berries & Jam at Farmer’s Market on the Green in New Haven (every Wednesday)

Farmer’s Market at Common Ground in New Haven (every Wednesday)

Summer Concert Series at Beecher Park in New Haven (every Wednesday thru August 18)

Pony Rides at Maple View Farm in Orange (every Wednesday)

Museum Wednesdays for Kids at Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury (every Wednesday thru August 18, pre-registration required)

Together at the Table Family Dinner in Westport (August 18)

Oyster Festival with headliner Soul Asylum in Milford (August 21)

Shakespeare on the Green in Ridgefield (August 21)

iMarvel performance at Edgewood Park in New Haven (August 22)

Sharon Audubon Festival in Sharon (August 22)

Fall Migration Festival at Lighthouse Point in New Haven (Sept-Oct)

Taste the Shoreline in Guilford (Sept 4)

CT Folk Festival & Green Expo in New Haven (Sept 10-12)

Tickets on Sale:

• for the Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament in New Haven (August 20-28)
• for the North Pole Express running in November-December in Essex (tickets available Aug 2)
• for Sesame Street Live in Hartford (Sept 4-5)
• for the Big E in West Springfield, MA (Sept 17 – Oct 3)
• for Yale Football upcoming season in New Haven (kids 12 and under are always free!)
• for Hartford Children’s Theatre 10-11 upcoming season, kicking off with Willy Wonka in Hartford
• for the Shubert’s upcoming season including The Cake Boss, A Christmas Carol, Mamma Mia, Anthony Bourdain & Stomp…and lots more…including Swan Lake, which was just added!
• for the Downtown Cabaret Children’s Company upcoming season featuring A Pirate Story, Frosty the Snowman, Rumplestiltskin, Jack and the Beanstalk & Goldilocks

The Great Lemonade Stand Challenge. Held in your driveway or chosen location.  Have a lemonade stand for the homeless. Donate to New Haven Home Recovery’s family and children’s homeless shelter. The children that raise the most money with their lemonade stands will win prizes! The Grand Prize Winner will win a $100 College Savings bond among other fun prizes. Top participants will get to attend the pool party celebration at Oak Lane Country Club in Woodbridge on August 21 from 7-9pm and receive 1 hour play time at Krazy City Arcade! Other prizes include free ice cream, ice skating, horseback riding, zoo tickets, music classes and more. Deadline is August 20, 2010. Children can compete for additional prizes for Most Creative Lemonade Stand, Best Advertising and Signage, and more. Take a picture of your stand and send it in with a description of your business to be considered. All ages allowed, prizes are awarded by age group. Register at 203-676-6128 orjill@signlanguagemedia.com

10K Tree Campaign

The City of New Haven, in partnership with the Urban Resources Initiative, has pledged to plant 10,000 trees over the next 5 years. If you are interested in having a street tree planted in front of your home, or if you’d like pledge to plant a tree, please visit:www.cityofnewhaven.com/sustainability and fill out a “Request a Tree” form or call the Office of Sustainability at: 203-946-7905.