9th Annual Weekend in Norfolk - Old Fashioned Fun, Art, Music and More! August 2, 3, and 4, 2024

At the 9th annual Weekend in Norfolk (WIN) old-fashioned fun is not out of style! This town-wide celebration makes the most out of the long summer days of August by hosting a wide variety of activities that are sure to banish boredom; without breaking the bank, because most events are free! This year WIN is taking place on Friday, August 2nd, Saturday, August 3rd, and Sunday, August 4th. Events are located conveniently throughout town making them easy to find and enjoy at your own pace. 

All are welcome for old-fashioned fun

While other festivals may focus on thrill rides or big entertainment, Summer WIN focuses on traditional events, both old and new, reflecting simpler times. For example, there are events repeated by popular demand like getting married or renewing your wedding vows on the Green, tours of Tiffany stained glass windows, the rugged Hike the Peaks Challenge, Art Show openings, Music on Robertson Plaza, and self-guided walking tours around Connecticut’s most beautiful Historic District. New events that are sure to intrigue and amuse are added every year to complement popular mainstay events. To find out about everything, or to get the latest updates and directions, visit WIN's website weekendinnorfolk.org. 

You are invited to tour private gardens

 New This Year… 

If you have rhythm, feel free to join the drum circle on Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the Village Green. On Saturday, August 3, from 10 a.m. to noon, kids will have the opportunity to meet Smokey the Bear, play in a bounce house, ride a big wooden train, and participate in a coloring contest. Another event for kids, on Saturday, August 3, at 1 p.m. brings the Amazing Diverman, dressed in scuba gear to advocate for our oceans and marine animals. 

Kids Meet Smokey the Bear!

History buffs, should head to the Little Red School House on Saturday, August 4th from 10 am to 2 p.m. and, afterward visit the Norfolk Historical Society’s evocative new exhibit on the fascinating life of noted inventor Michael Pupin on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Little Red School House courtesy Norfolk Historical Society

On all three days, there will be pop-up shopping along Station Place plus an Open Mic Session from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday night. Garden and landscape lovers don’t miss the chance to stroll through two magnificent private gardens linked by an artful network of pathways and shade plantings on Sunday, August 4, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Watch a Dragon Dance at the Connecticut-Asia Cultural Center

On Saturday, August 3, festivities at the Connecticut-Asia Culture Center include complimentary Asian food from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., a performance by the Dragon Dance Team at 1 p.m., Dragon Boat cart races from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and museum tours that include the new Christian Cultural Exhibit, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Old-Fashioned Fun 

Don’t miss the chance to try Blueberry Betty and ice cream along with live music on Saturday, August 3 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on the lawn of the Meadowbrook Apartments at 9 Shepard Road. This historic dessert dates to colonial times and is part of New England’s heritage celebrated at WIN. 

Blueberries are good for you and scrumptious

Another traditional event, Ice Cream Socials, dates back to the 18th century with the first one recorded in Maryland in 1744. Ice cream socials are rarely found these days, but at WIN we are fortunate to have one at the Yale Summer School of Music’s Music Shed from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. There is also an open house that includes tours of Whitehouse from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and a special concert for kids from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. 

Ice cream social at the Music Shed

Dating back to the 11th century, knitting, an old-fashioned skill, is trending today. If you enjoy this centuries-old craft, don’t miss the yarn sale on August 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hub where you can go on a treasure hunt for fabulous one-of-a-kind yarns, kits, notions, patterns, and more offered by the Norfolk Knitters. 

Go on a treasure hunt for yarn and more

Nature Lovers

If you have always wanted to learn how to fly fish or want to sharpen your skills, join one of expert fisherman Doug McDevitt’s seminars on Saturday, August 3rd, and Sunday, August 4th from 9 to 11 a.m., from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Wood Creek Pond, a sportsman’s paradise. He will demonstrate the art of casting and share many tips and tricks for successful fly fishing. Participants are limited to five people per session; equipment will be loaned courtesy of Orvis's store in Avon. This is the ideal event for fish enthusiasts of all ages and levels. Doug will also hold special Spey casting clinics on both days from 11 a.m. to noon.

Gone Fishin!

If your interest in nature extends to the stars, then head to the top of Dennis Hill State Park on the evening of August 3 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. to learn about astronomy led by Aton Forest's  Matthew Johnson, writer of the Celestial Sphere column in Norfolk Now. He will also hold sun-gazing sessions that afternoon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Inspired By Art 

Norfolk boasts so many talented artists and craftsmen, and two will be sharing their skills with WIN guests. 

Leslie Watkins

Leslie Watkins of Dandelion Cottage Design, Arts and Crafts is offering free art lessons and demonstrations in watercolors and paper crafting on all three days from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Hilary VanWright

On Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 3 p.m. visit the studio of artist Hilary VanWright and share her visually compelling work. Attend an opening reception on Friday of the 17th Anniversary Norfolk Artists and Friends show in the Art Barn, which will be open all three days at the Battell Stoeckel Estate. On Saturday, head to the show at the Norfolk Library celebrating 50 years of art exhibition by displaying the work of 27 artists. 

Dodi Wexler

There is even an art show of all three days of intricate mixed media collages at the Norfolk Hub, which is information central, by Dodi Wexler. 

Music Shed

Music Galore 

Music has always been a feature of Weekend in Norfolk, and this year there is even more. At the famed Music Shed on the Battell-Stoeckel Estate, there are ticketed concerts starting at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and, as a special treat, there is a free Emerging Artists Showcase concert on Saturday, August 3, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Infinity Hall is holding two ticketed concerts on Friday and Saturday, featuring the Yacht Lobsters and Ruthie Foster. At 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, the Litchfield County Choral Union will present its annual concert (also ticketed). To top it all off, throughout the three-day weekend, there will be free live music at Robertson Plaza, including the open mic session on Saturday evening, all sponsored by the National Iron Bank. 

ABOUT THE WIN (WEEKEND IN NORFOLK) COMMITTEE 

Now in its ninth 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 many local organizations, institutions, and individuals support these two town-wide festivals to welcome people from near and far to this lovely town in the Litchfield Hills. "The WIN weekend is important to the town and the bank because it allows us all to showcase what Norfolk has to offer," said Steven Cornell, President of National Iron Bank.

Blueberry Betty - A Classic Dessert @ Summer WIN

There are pies and cobblers, crisps and crumbles, but at the Summer Weekend in Norfolk, you will have the chance to try a real classic dessert that dates to Colonial times, the scrumptious Blueberry Betty. Best of all, folks get to try this sweet, simple, but ever so gratifying dessert for free along with ice cream on Saturday, August 3 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the lawn of the Meadowbrook Apartments at 9 Shepard Road. 

Back in the day, in colonial New England, the most common way to cook something was in the fireplace where most food was either steamed or boiled. Considering the shortage of supplies that had to be shipped from England, colonial cooks were frugal, finding a use for everything shipped in and growing in the environment around them.  The first documented fruit desserts in New England were most often made with apples, huckleberries, blueberries, and anything that was in season. Typically, the fruit was put into a deep pot, topped with a dough mixture, sweetened with honey or maple syrup, a dash of spice was added if available, and then the pot was covered and suspended over the fire in the fireplace, and steamed until the fruit was tender and juicy.

The Apple Brown Betty and its sister dessert, the Blueberry Betty was a no-fuss dessert that used ingredients that colonial women had on hand. Unlike other stewed desserts of the time, the Betty wasn't covered in dough, rather sweetened bread crumbs were placed in layers between the brown sugared and spiced fruit making it the perfect way for these thrifty women to use stale bread. The layering of the bread gives this dessert more of a pudding-like texture than a pie, crisp, or crumble. Just like in today's family kitchens, the recipe was passed down from mother to child. Like all homespun food, there were countless variations from kitchen to kitchen and season to season.  It wasn't until 1856 that a recipe named Apple Brown Betty made its debut in Every Lady's Cookbook by Mrs. T.J. Crowen.  It was also mentioned in 1864 in the Yale Literary Magazine listing it as something to give up if you are in physical training! 

Early August is the height of Connecticut's blueberry season making this dessert extra special because the berries are so fresh. Today, blueberries are considered to be a superfood because they are bursting with nutrients, many of which are classified as antioxidants and phytochemicals. The Blueberry Betty is part of our New England heritage that is celebrated at Summer WIN, so come join the fun and try this homemade dessert. For the recipe of this one-dish wonder used at WIN click here.

The Beauty of Winter Photography @ Winter WIN

Norfolk, Connecticut, a classic New England town is photogenic any time of year. It is a haven for professional and amateur photographers alike. Known as the "icebox of Connecticut," Norfolk is especially enchanting in winter's ethereal light when its unspoiled landscape is often carpeted with snow giving the countryside, mountains, beautiful homes, and woodlands a magical - almost lost-in-time look.

View of Norfolk from Station Place - Katherine Griswold

Winter photography's palette plays with light, composition, and Mother Nature's artwork, snow and ice. Knowing what to consider when shooting in the winter will help you turn an ordinary scene into one that is picturesque. During Winter Weekend in Norfolk, visitors can participate in a winter photography walk with a pro that will help them compose stunning winter images.

If you can't make Winter Weekend In Norfolk's photography walk, no worries, here are a few things to keep in mind that will help make your winter photos go from frigid to fascinating!

Dress for the Weather

Although this seems obvious, make sure that you bundle up! There is nothing more distracting than trying to shoot and being cold! By keeping warm and dry, you will be able to focus better on that great winter shot!

Lines and More Lines

Winter landscapes beckon with natural leading lines... from stonewalls to long shadows cast by trees along a forest path. Look for lines and shadows when shooting a winter landscape. These help with defining all that textured white snow.

Framing Nature

There is nothing more evocative than a bare branch etched against a deep blue winter sky that frames a colonial home or cozy cabin. A framed shot gives an image depth and projects a feeling of the beauty of nature. Look for contrasts, patterns, colors, and lines that stand out in the snow - these are the things sure to draw the eye of the viewer.

Winter Light

White snow acts as a natural reflector, bouncing light onto subjects creating a soft light. Unlike the harsh light of a mid-summer day, winter light is soft and more diffused making people and objects appear in a less luminous more flattering glow. Winter light is ideal for shooting portraits because of the natural diffused light especially in the hours just before sunset or just after sunrise when winter light is at its most magical.

Exposure

Snow can be tricky so getting the right exposure is critical. Due to its reflective nature, snow can sometimes trick your camera into overexposing the subject. In this case, the snow appears to be white with no recognizable details. You can overcome this by either underexposing your subject or using a polarizing filter that will allow you to capture more detail. Another option is to fix the exposure and white balance in Photoshop or Lightroom. 

Extra Batteries

Although you can use a cell phone, a good quality DSLR camera is best for winter photography because you can manipulate your settings. Always carry an extra set of fully charged batteries. The cold can suck the life out of your camera's batteries in the blink of an eye. And, a pro tip is to try to keep those extra batteries warm.

Temperature Changes

To avoid problems let your camera acclimate to the temperature. Don't take your camera from a hot environment right into a cold environment, this can cause condensation and damage. Keep your camera and batteries in a well-insulated bag when not using them to protect them from the cold.

Just Have Fun!

Weekend in Norfolk, whether it is the summer or winter is all about community, coming together, and enjoying all that the welcoming town of Norfolk has to offer. The crisp air, the beauty of Norfolk, and the frozen landscape all come together at Winter Weekend in Norfolk which will transform your photos from mundane to stunning. For more information about Winter WIN 2024 visit https://www.facebook.com/weekendinnorfolk for up-to-date information!