Columbus Day Weekend Events

#Middlebury

Columbus Day Weekend events
Oct. 5 – 8, 2018

This weekend’s events include the Blessing of the Animals, an art exhibit, a rummage sale, a fundraiser for the Master’s Table free meal program and a Columbus Day Flanders Nature Center activity.

Blessing of the Animals

Rev. Zeman blesses Elsa. (Marc Dassonville photo)

The annual Blessing of the Animals will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. George’s Episcopal Church at 393 Tucker Hill Road in Middlebury, rain or shine. Animals will be blessed by the Rev. Dr. Andrew Zeman throughout the day.

Brass City Alliance and possibly other rescues will be there with adoptable pets. Also at the event will be dog trainers Eagle K-9 Academy of Bethany, and artist Shawna Lee Kwashnak, who creates pet portraits. Blue Moon Raptors will bring birds of prey and information on raptors and raptor rehabilitation. There will be on-site dog grooming, and vendors will sell dog clothing and dog collars. African jewelry and statues and pictures made of natural items. A pet basket will be raffled off.

Refreshments for people and for pets will be available for purchase. All proceeds go to local pet rescues.

Fall art exhibit

Tapestry, pastel by Mally DeSomma

“A Fall Gathering of Artists” exhibit will be open to the public Friday, Oct. 5, to Monday, Oct. 8, at the Litchfield Firehouse at 258 West St. in Litchfield. Hours Friday through Sunday will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Monday will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. An artists’ reception will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ample parking is available. Admission is free. Please contact Mally DeSomma at 203-574-3954 for more information.

Rummage sale

The UMW of the Watertown Methodist Church annual Fall Rummage Sale will be Saturday, Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the first floor of the church, in Fellowship Hall. Customers get a large shopping bag to fill with items. At checkout, they pay the amount they believe the items in the bag are worth. This means the price is never above what the person can afford and is always a good value.

Sale items will include clothes for men, women and children as well as shoes, purses, belts, small kitchen articles, knick-knacks, games, books, and other household items. The church at 305 Main St. in Watertown at the intersection of Routes 6 and 63 is handicap accessible. Enter at the rear, right off the parking area. Profits from this sale help support the church and its outreach programs.

Master’s Table Fundraiser

The annual fundraiser, At the Hop, will be Saturday, Oct. 6, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at Assumption Church at 61 N. Cliff St. in Ansonia and will feature the doo wop band, Sharades. Bring your own beverage and snacks. Ice, set-ups, coffee and dessert are included in the $20 ticket price. For more information, call Vin LaRoccca at 203-929-0452, visit www.masterstablemeals.org or call 293-732-7792.

Columbus Day at Flanders

Area kids in grades kindergarten through 5 off from school for the Columbus Day holiday on Monday, Oct. 8, are invited to Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury for a “Columbus Day Animal Adventure,”

They will visit the North Barn to learn about the sheep, goats, horses, cows, pig, and chickens that make their home there. Then they will explore the meadow for insects and hike to the pond to discover amphibians. Age-appropriate stories, games and art projects will be included in this fun-filled day.

Choose from three different sessions for this special adventure: the morning session from 9 a.m to 1 p.m., the afternoon session from 1 to 5 p.m., or a full-day session from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Parents are asked to have their children dress for the weather and bring a bag lunch or snack. Pre-registration is required. The cost per child for either the morning or afternoon session is $30 members and $40 for nonmembers. Full day cost is $60 for members and $80 for nonmembers. Early care from 7 a.m. also is available at $8 per hour.

To register, call Flanders at 203-263-3711, ext. 10. To see all the programs for kids and adults coming up at Flanders, visit www.flandersnaturecenter.org or find them on Facebook.