Hartford Courant Java columnist MaryEllen Fillo talks about what’s going on in greater Hartford this weekend, including some galas and an adult Halloween party.
Below is some information about this weekend from Fillo. Visit http://courantblogs.com/java for more information.
It’s Halloween my friends and the weekend is nearly here. So hand out your candy, shut off the front light and let’s get going.
Yes, it’s Halloween and that means manning the old homestead to make sure trick-or-treaters are properly rewarded. But if you can slip out for a while head over to the Mark Twain House & Museum for a grown-up party.
Illusionist and entertainer Penn Jillette will be featured at a program about a variety of topics including his book, “Every Day Is an Atheist Holiday.” Show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35. Information: 860-280-3130
Gala season continues when on Friday, The Urban League of Greater Hartford hosts its 49th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Celebration. The ”A Night at Bellagio” themed party features U.S. Rep. John Larson as honorary chair. Honorees for the evening are Bank of America, Goodwin College and Natasha Ruiz. The event also marks the start of the league’s 50th anniversary. Information: 860-527-0147 or ulgh.org.
Back to the Mark Twain House & Museum Saturday, well actually The Hartford Club. The Twain House and its friends and supporters get together for “An Evening in the Gilded Age.” The gala theme will reflect one of the most productive and dynamic periods in the nation’s history and the contrasts of the time as depicted in the novel co-authored by Twain, “The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today.” Information: 860-883-9016 or marktwainhouse.org.
On Sunday you have a couple of choices, finding your inner Zombie or watching a parade, or both!
Beginning at 10 a.m. the Hartford Marathon Foundation will host the “Zombie Xing,” a 5K race benefiting the Ron Foley Foundation, a non-profit supporting pancreatic cancer research and programming. You can be “made up ” as a zombie volunteer for the event at the West Hartford Reservoir or run as a human. The choice is yours. The benefit is an especially worthwhile one because November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Make-up and registration begin at 7:30 a.m.
Sunday is a day to honor veterans at the ”Connecticut Veterans Parade Day” in Hartford. The parade steps off at 12:30 p.m. near the state capitol building.
The 2012 Gand Marshals are Retired Master Sergeant Frank Alvarado of East Haven, Major Linda Cunha of Newington, Retired Staff Sergeant Chandler J. Howard of Farmington, Retired Sergeant Samuel Jacobellis of Danbury and Retired Brigadier General Daniel J.McHale of Avon.
Also on Sunday the Hartford Stage continues its 50th anniversary celebration with a special reception with all five of its past and present artistic directors, Jacques Cartier, Paul Weidner, Mark Lamos, Michael Wilson and Darko Tresnjak. the program begins at 2 p.m. at the University of Hartford’s Millard Auditorium. Admission is free. Information: 860-520-7241
And the Hartford Stage celebration continues on Monday when it hosts some of its most well-regarded actors over the years including Kate Forbes, Richard Thomas, Dana Ivey, Bill Raymond and David Patrick Kelly. The evening includes dinner and a show or show only. Information: 860-520-7241.
For more information, visit www.ronsrun.org.