By Tyler R. Morrissey
Each month we will highlight a few events happening in each of the communities William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty serves.
As the calendar flips from October to November, there are plenty of activities to take part in. Below are just a few events to enjoy as we enter the 2018 holiday season.
Westchester County
At the Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, the Westchester Parks Foundation is celebrating the opening of Westchester’s Winter Wonderland with the lighting of a 40-foot Christmas tree. Returning for its fifth year on Friday, November 23 at 5 p.m, the tree lighting ceremony will begin at 6p.m. and will be led by County Executive George Latimer and Westchester Parks Foundation Chairperson Joanne Fernandez. The event will feature entertainment for all ages and includes a signature appearance by Santa. The Winter Wonderland Holiday circus will also return with acts run by ringmaster Joe Barney, who has appeared with The Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus and The Big Apple Circus. For more information, click here.
Fairfield County
Can’t make it to New York City for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Then you are in luck. On Sunday, November 18, Stamford’s annual parade will step off from the corner of Summer Street at noon. The parade is one of the largest helium balloon parades in the country, featuring everyone’s favorite giant balloon characters, award winning marching bands and fabulous floats. Last year the parade drew over 100,000 people from different parts of the country, and this year you can expect an even bigger crowd. For more information, click here.
Litchfield County
Have you ever wanted to walk a beautiful trail with a llama? Now is your chance. On November 3 from 10-11 a.m. you and your family are in for a treat at the White Memorial Conversation Center Museum. After walking with the llamas, plan to explore a beautiful wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary is comprised of 4,000 acres, laced with 40 miles of trails and home to an infinite variety of plants and animals. Take a break from the hiking and visit the family-friendly nature museum, where patrons can see a life-sized beaver lodge, learn about alternative energy and touch real animal fur. For more information, click here.
Greater Hartford
A Thanksgiving tradition unlike any other will take place on November 22 when more than 13,000 runners participate in the 82nd Annual Manchester Road Race. First run in 1927, the 4.74 mile race regularly attracts accomplished runners from across the United States as well as internationally recognized competitors. This year’s race will also include a new feature, Veteran’s Row. The Manchester Road Race Committee will host a pre-race reception on Thanksgiving Day morning for all registered runners who are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. This gathering will be held from 8:30 am until just before the race starts at 10 a.m. at the Vietnam Memorial at the top of Main Street. For more information, click here.
Connecticut Shoreline
As the high school and college football season winds down, many Connecticut schools will host their annual rivalry football games around the Thanksgiving holiday. On Saturday, November 10 at 12:30 p.m. Yale University will host Princeton University for the annual Yale/Princeton game in one of the oldest football rivalries in American sports. The first meeting between the two Ivy League foes dates back to 1873. Since then, the two teams have met 140 times, with Yale leading the all-time series with 77 victories. Prior to kickoff at historic Yale Bowl in New Haven, thousands of fans will host tailgate parties and reunions in what will be a festive afternoon celebrating the 2018 season for both schools. For more information, click here.
Berkshires
On November 10 from 6-8 p.m. the Hancock Shaker Village will host “Food for Thought: Dinner with Andrea Barrett.” Winner of the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Andrea Barrett is an admired and beloved writer. In her magnificent new story collection Archangel, Barrett explains five pivotal moments in the lives of her characters. The MacArthur Award recipient talks about the history behind her exciting stories, what we think about history today and the personal monologue that shapes human knowledge. A ticket to the event includes a seasonal dinner by farm-to-table chef Brian Alberg, wine and a copy of Barrett’s most recent work. For more information, click here.
