Spring
Stamford has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in March of each year since 1996 with a kick-off event that introduces the Grand Marshals to the crowd. This community event is highlighted by a parade that starts at Main Street and includes marching bands, vintage cars, costumed revellers, and floats.
May sees the thousands of blooming dogwood trees in Fairfield usher in the Dogwood Festival, featuring concerts and barbecues, plus activities like fun runs, art shows, and games for the kids. Also in May is the annual Spring on the Farm Festival Weekend, which has been hosted by the Stamford Museum & Nature Center for more than 50 years.
The Bruce Museum in Greenwich also holds its annual Outdoor Crafts Festival regularly one week before Memorial Day, showcasing over 70 craft artists and their work, as well as family craft activities, live music and delicious food. Finally, Fairfield honors our national and local veterans with its own Memorial Day Parade, along with their annual Memorial Day Community Picnic held at the Fairfield Museum and History Center.
Summer
The annual Georgetown Day Festival is held in Georgetown around early June and features live music, food, artisans and craft vendors. Fairfield hosts Fairfield County’s very own Irish Festival during a three-day weekend in June, showcasing the best in Irish entertainment and food with a special hospitality that welcomes all who come to the festival.
Bridgeport honors its most famous resident, Phineas Taylor Barnum, with the Barnum Festival, an annual event held in June that’s well into its 60th year, featuring parades, marching bands, clowns, and concludes with a grand fireworks display. And if art’s your thing, head to the annual Westport Fine Arts Festival at Westport around mid-July to view beautiful artwork and enjoy live music, special performances, and children’s activities.
Autumn
In September, The Norwalk Seaport Association hosts its annual Oyster Festival in East Norwalk, which feature oyster shucking contests, live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, and food and refreshments.
The Bruce Museum in Greenwich has been hosting its Outdoor Arts Festival in October for more than 30 years, showcasing close to 100 artists from all over the country with their paintings, sculptures, photography, and more.
You can’t truly celebrate Thanksgiving without a parade, and Stamford does so in a grand way with its annual UBS Parade Spectacular that was first held in 1993. Featuring giant helium-filled balloons, the parade has become one of the largest events of its kind in the country.
Winter
The historic Burr Homestead in Fairfield is magically transformed in early December into a Christmas-filled wonder during the Christmas Tree Festival. It features a Christmas Boutique, designer-decorated rooms, and appearances by none other than Santa Claus himself.
Kids can also welcome Santa and his reindeer during the Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop in Greenwich, which features photo sessions and other fun activities.
Finally, children can be part of a grand event when they attend the annual Winter Wonderland Children’s Ball held at Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk, where they can dress up in their finest gala attire for a magical evening.
