In February 2022 - Warm Up To Winter @ Weekend in Norfolk

Considering the recent cold temperatures, 2022 is the perfect time to warm up to winter at Weekend in Norfolk, Connecticut on Saturday, February 26, and Sunday, February 27. This town-wide festival is featuring both in-person and virtual events that highlight the many treasures that this bucolic village in the heart of northwest Connecticut has to offer. 

Known for its scenic beauty, pure mountain air, and fresh spring water, Norwalk has been considered a summer resort since the 1870s and still retains this charming ambiance today. Winter in Norfolk is a very special season that exudes an old-fashioned New England appeal that can be experienced in many of the in-person events planned for this year's Winter WIN. Best of all, every event has been carefully curated and most are free of charge. 

To get a taste of Norfolk's great outdoors, take a walk on the wild side with John Anderson, a member of Norfolk's Conservation Committee, on Saturday, February 26 at 10 a.m. Find out how animals survive in the winter, look for interesting tracks, and learn how to spot porcupine dens. Hikers should meet at the Hub @ 2 Station Place in the center of town. Afterward, you can explore one of Norfolk’s many trails that are perfect for cross-country skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing. 

If you want to sharpen your photography skills, don’t miss the winter photography walk with Doug McDevitt on Sunday, February 27. Participants should meet at the Hub (2 Station Place) at 10 a.m. where there is a photo exhibit of Norfolk’s Land Trusts that is sure to get you in the mood! After a brief introduction participants will head out to the Mountain Road area to shoot some of Norfolk’s most scenic landscapes. Afterward, folks might want to head to the Norfolk Library and its photo exhibition featuring the work of Angus Mudge. 

For art lovers, there is the option to take a self-guided tour of the magnificent Tiffany stained glass windows at the Immaculate Conception Church and the Battell Chapel. 

The extraordinary stained glass windows by Tiffany at the Battell Chapel depict the four seasons, the center window shows a brilliant sunrise, and to its left, is spring and summer and to the right, is autumn and winter. In addition, there are three large stained glass windows designed by D. Maitland Armstrong of opalescent glass using a special layer technique that creates a great depth of field and a shimmering effect, especially on a sunny day. The Battel Chapel will be open both days from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; masks must be worn and social distancing observed. 

The Immaculate Conception Church will be open on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Sunday, after mass, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Here visitors can view ten exquisite stained-glass windows designed by architect Alfredo Taylor and created by Franz Mayer & Company of Munich, Germany. At the time, this company was awarded the status of "Royal Bavarian Art Establishment by King Ludwig II and was named by Pope Leo XIII as a "Pontifical Institute of Christian Art." Today the company is managed by the fifth generation of family members and work with renowned artists around the world. 

Another stop for art lovers is the Norfolk Library where visitors will be greeted by a sculpted owl that adorns the front porch and a children's creative art display that celebrates this beautiful library. An opening of this display with special treats will take place on Saturday, February 26 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

The Norfolk Library is also hosting two fascinating virtual programs. The first, "Ladies, Legends, and Lakeside Dwellings," is perfect for lovers of architectural history. Many of the homes lining the winding roads of Norfolk bear the signature of Alfredo Taylor, a Beaux-Arts architect whose work has come to define the look and style of much of this lovely town. Library Director and local historian, author, and Yale University graduate, Ann Havemeyer will present an illustrated talk on Taylor and his Norfolk works on Sunday, February 27 at 4 p.m. 

Courtesy Movietone News

Did you know that Norfolk once had an active ski jump? To celebrate that tidbit from the past, the Norfolk Historical Society will present a virtual program on Sunday, February 27 at 4 p.m. on Ski Jumping in the Northeast, featuring a talk by Ariel Picton Kobayashi, author, and ski coach. With the U.S. National Junior Ski Jumping Championships concluding in Salisbury, Connecticut on February 26, the timing for this fascinating look at the many ski towers that once dotted the landscape across the northeastern United States is especially meaningful.

If you are interested in Spanish cuisine, don’t miss the online cooking demonstration with Martiña Gago who will show you the step-by-step process of how to make authentic paella.

If you like unusual sports, don’t miss Saturday's, demonstration by the Norfolk Curling Club at the skating rink by the town baseball field on Mountain Road. The public is invited to participate in this ancient Scottish sport. The curling club event is being held in conjunction with the Fire Department’s bonfire and skating event at the rink. After having fun on the ice, warm up next to a bonfire with hot chocolate from the Curling Club and s’mores prepared by the Fire Department. 

ABOUT THE WIN (WEEKEND IN NORFOLK) COMMITTEE 

Now in its seventh year, the all-volunteer WIN Committee organizes two town-wide events annually: the Summer WIN and the Winter WIN. Norfolk’s town officials, the Economic Development Commission, and a multitude of local organizations, institutions, and individuals support the festivals.