Virtual Weekend in Norfolk - Ready - Set -Go July 31, August 1 and 2!

For the past four years, the bucolic village of Norfolk, Connecticut has welcomed visitors to a town-wide festival where all the events are free. Rather than totally canceling the event because of the pandemic, more than 25 businesses, organizations, and individuals have come together to welcome folks from near and far to a Virtual Weekend in Norfolk on July 31, August 1, and August 2.  This year all events will be online, some will be live, and others, will be On-Demand allowing viewers to watch them from home at their convenience. Best of all, every event is free of charge.

A special Virtual Weekend in Norfolk website has been set up that lists live and On-Demand events by category. The length of each video and a description are included to make planning your viewing time easy. On-Demand events begin at 12:01 a.m., July 31, and run through August 2. Five live events are also scheduled.

 On-Demand Event Highlights

Natural foods and herbs have been used medicinally for centuries. If you want to learn more about how to prepare healthy food don't miss the 39-minute video by Wendy Roberts from Norfolk's Mountain View Green Retreat on how to prepare a variety of food from Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers, Chocolates with coconut oil, good for  HDL cholesterol levels, a virgin Pina Colada, Nut Cheese made with heart-healthy raw cashews, and fresh-pressed juice to supercharge your health. These fun and instructive videos guide viewers in a step by step presentation with recipes included.

Viewers are invited to take a 20-minute virtual walking tour of the delightful village of Norfolk. Highlights of this tour include the classic village green, an extraordinary fountain, and interesting architectural buildings, and homes. The highlight is a tour of Battell Chapel's Stained Glass windows designed by D. Maitland Armstrong and Louis Comfort Tiffany. An in-depth view of the techniques used that make these windows special and a discussion on the restoration process of these historic gems makes this video riveting. 

One of the most interesting ways to understand the history and cultural heritage of a town is to visit a graveyard. The backstory told on the gravestones helps to define the character and tradition that gives people a sense of place. Don't miss the chance to dive into Norfolk's history with Historian William Hosley, former curator of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, and the former Director of the Connecticut Landmarks Society. Hosley's fascinating 12-minute video visits Norfolk's Center Cemetery established in 1757. Every stone here tells a story from first settlers dating back to the 1770s and war heroes, to children, ministers, and politicians. A highlight is the story of Jupiter Morris. No rural town has the depth and richness of African American history as Norfolk; this video explains why.

If you have always wondered what it was like to live on a farm with goats, chickens, and pigs, then plan to spend a few minutes to see what life is like on Lost Ruby Farm in Norfolk, makers of some of the best goat cheese you will ever taste. Join owners Adair Mali and Antonio Guindon as they share their life on the farm and the love they have for their animals, and their commitment to fresh healthy food. 

If architecture is of interest don't miss the four-minute architectural glimpse of four of Norfolk's most historic homes with Tom McGowan. Highlighted homes include The Joseph Battell House circa 1799 known locally as "The White House," Knolly Brook circa 1875 that offers a melange of architectural styles, Beechwood Cottage, 1895 that looks like it should be in the English Cotswolds, and the Victorian style Tea Cozy Cottage, circa 1898. Another video details the story of the Victorian-styled Norfolk Library that was designed in the 19th century's Golden Age of architecture and compares it to different libraries throughout the U.S. designed in a similar style.

Kids are not forgotten at this year's Virtual Win.  They can tune in any time over the course of this three-day weekend to watch a fun, 18-minute video with artist and printmaker, Susan Rood. Kids and adults are guided through the process of printmaking using paper, paint, leaves, and found material.  This video encourages imaginations to run wild with artistic creations!

Live Events

Virtual Weekend in Norfolk also features five live streaming videos including a Puppet Show called Lisa the Wise on Friday, July 31, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. that is perfect for kids and family fun. On Saturday, August 1 there are two different concerts by The Norfolk Chamber Music Festival's Emerging Artist Showcase at 10:30 a.m. - 12 noon and from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. For art lovers don't miss Saturday's watercolor workshop with artist Pamela Harnois from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. On Sunday, August 2, the final live virtual workshop from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. is with renowned artist and metal sculptor, Karen Rossi; participants will learn how to make metal flowers with soda cans! Visit the website to register for a live event. After registration, a Zoom link will be sent about 30 minutes before the event streams live. 

Live Events @ Virtual Weekend in Norfolk July 31, August 1, and 2, 2020

No holds barred! Virtual fun for all is the watchword in Norfolk, Conn., this coming July 31, August 1, and 2 during the town’s fifth annual three-day, town-wide festival that will be held all online this year.

Everyone’s invited to view live streaming and online demand events starting July 31 with family and friends. Viewers will enjoy more than 20 events that Norfolk’s organizations, businesses, and individuals have put together to share the resilience, art, music, food, and natural beauty of this delightful community located in the heart of the Litchfield Hills.  

 

Live streaming events are a highlight of this year's Virtual Weekend in Norfolk. It is easy to sign up for a live event by visiting the website and registering. After registration, which is quick and simple a Zoom link will be sent to you about 30 minutes before the event streams live. Best of all, every event is free of charge!

 

The first live event on July 31 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. is a Puppet Show called Lisa the Wise that is sure to delight young and old alike. This colorful Russian folktale is told with imaginative shadow puppets and features a brave young girl, witches, enchanted dolls, and even dancing houses! This story has a contemporary twist sure to entertain and is recommended for children ages four and older. Expect lots of laughter and fun while watching these amazing puppets that will take you on an adventure without leaving home!

 

On the second virtual day of Weekend in Norfolk, Saturday, August 1 is perfect for art and music lovers. 

The day kicks off with a very special concert from the highly acclaimed and internationally known Norfolk Chamber Music Festival from 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon. The program is the rebroadcast of an Emerging Artist Showcase concert that features the works of Klughart, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn for winds and strings. If you miss the live stream of this event, no worries, the event will be available via the Weekend In Norfolk website on-demand section on Sunday, August 2, 2020.

If you have always wanted to be a watercolor painter or if you have wondered how to improve your technique, don’t miss the loose watercolor painting demonstration by Pamela Harnois, a visual artist specializing in transparent watercolor from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. This is your chance to learn from an award-winning artist - free. Classically trained in watercolor, Pamela’s work has appeared nationally in art shows and in various publications. She has spent the last decade documenting woodland landscapes and wildflowers from across the country from Connecticut to California.

 

Saturday concludes with a final concert from the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. making it a perfect prelude to cocktail hour and dinner.  This rebroadcast of the Emerging Artist Showcase features the works of Mozart, Beethoven, and Schumann for piano ensembles. If you miss this live stream broadcast, you can see it on-demand on Sunday, August 2, at 10 a.m.

On Sunday, August 2, from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. get ready to have some fun at the final live streaming event that features nationally renowned artist and metal sculptor, Karen Rossi. Limited to 12 adults this fascinating workshop will teach you how to make upcycled metal flowers from something as simple as aluminum soda cans! Have fun drilling, punching and riveting these whimsical flower creations together and decorating them with mixed media to create stunning three- dimensional flowers! No experience is needed and this event is free.

In addition, to live events, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 31, Weekend in Norfolk offers a series of on-demand events that can be watched any time of day or night! On-demand events are conveniently organized on the website by category making it easy to pick and choose what you want to watch. Here you will find everything from art studio tours and nature hikes to craft workshops for kids', and a demonstration of ways to prepare healthy food. 

 

 

Weekend In Norfolk 2020 Goes Virtual

The town of Norfolk Connecticut is hard at work this summer organizing virtual events for 2020 WIN that is taking place this year on July 31, August 1, and 2! The residents, businesses, historic and natural attractions, and other organizations have pulled together, once again, this year to showcase Norfolk’s many treasures.

The only difference is that this year WIN will take place only online rather than at various locations throughout this peaceful hamlet. “We believe that our online WIN series of events and videos show the resilience of the citizens of Norfolk. Our goal is to be a bright spot in people’s lives at this uncertain time. We’re striving to entertain and educate all our WIN fans with the variety of videos that we are developing,” said Sue Frisch one of the founders of the WIN event.

 Now in its fifth year, this family fun event has managed to evolve with the times. They hope to reach even more people with their virtual programs and videos that have an irresistible price tag -- they are all free of charge! Best of all, all videos can be viewed from the comfort of your home.

 

A new WIN website makes planning your time in advance easy so you don’t miss a thing. The website has a day by day schedule that highlights virtual events that will be happening live and those events that will be posted to celebrate WIN 2020 on demand. Get ready to see an exciting line-up! The virtual events range from a not to be missed tour of the Tiffany stained glass windows at the Battell Chapel, and a demonstration by a professional artist, to a cooking demonstration on how to prepare healthy foods that could have medicinal advantages.

 

For the most up to date information visit https://weekendinnorfolk.org/