CONNECTICUT, USA — This weekend may be one full of on-and-off showers, but for Saturday at least, it looks like the rain will hold off until the evening. And don't forget, the clocks change this weekend!
If you're looking for some things to do with the family this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, there's plenty to check out around the state!
This Saturday is the 52nd Annual Greater Hartford St. Patrick's Day Parade! This fun-filled, family-friendly event brings together many communities from the Greater Hartford area to celebrate the Celtic culture. Come down to the parade route early and grab your seat! The parade starts at Capitol Avenue by the State Capitol building, takes a left onto Main Street, left onto Asylum Avenue, left on Ford Street, and finally ends at Bushnell Park. The parade steps off at 11 a.m. If you can't make it, you can watch the parade live on CW20 or on FOX61+ beginning at 11 a.m. Learn more about the parade here.
The 96th Annual Academy Awards are this Sunday, and The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook is celebrating in style! Otherwise known as "The Kate," guests can experience the Oscars with all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood as they walk the red carpet, pose for photos, and watch the Academy Awards live on the Kate's big screen! Guests can also bid on items in the online auction and purchase a chance in Katharine Hepburn's Greatest Films Oscar Raffle. Admission is $85 and the event will be held between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Book tickets and learn more about the event here.
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day a little early with the Twelve Percent Beer Project in North Haven! They're holding their 3rd Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration on Saturday. The day will be filled with live music, vendors, dancing, food, fun, friends, and plenty of beer! Admission is $20 and that fee covers entry, your first beer, and a souvenir glass. Designated driver tickets are also available for $5. Those under the age of 21 are also welcome free of charge so long as their parents or legal guardians accompany them. The event begins at 9:30 p.m. Learn more here.
If you want more movement to your St. Patrick's Day celebrations, head to The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat in Essex for their Leprechaun Tea event! The event will be held this Saturday and March 16, the day before St. Patrick's Day. Follow the rainbow, wear your Irish green, and hop aboard the Essex Steam Train with your kids for a festive tea! Families will have a memorable experience riding through the picturesque Connecticut River Valley aboard this celebratory excursion. Delight in an assortment of teas, finger sandwiches, scores, and more aboard a beautifully restored 1920s-era Pullman Dining car. The rides begin at noon and run until 1:30 p.m. Learn more about the event here.
Two maple syrup events are happening this weekend, which is sure to be a sweet treat!
First, head to Plymouth for the Plymouth Maple Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.! Watch maple syrup boiling on an outdoor fire, help tap the trees and collect the sap. Sample sugar on snow and maple-infused goodies while listening to the fiddling of Down Home Frolic! Scavenger hunts and self-guided walks in the historic Plymouth Center will also be available. At 11:30 a.m., there will be a tour of the secret passageways of the Underground Railroad at the Henry Terry House. Learn more about the event here.
The second event is at Ambler Farm in Wilton, where kids and families can tap a tree, take the maple syrup taste test, learn about Native American, colonial, and modern methods of making syrup, and taste the farm's very own syrup over vanilla ice cream! The event is free, open to the public, and starts at 11 a.m. Learn more here.
Grip and slip all the way down Powder Ridge this Saturday for their annual Powder Ridge Downhill Grip & Slip competition! This is an extreme downhill mountain bike competition on snow and/or dirt. The course is gated, and runs will be timed. Your bike will need brakes, and all riders must wear helmets. Prizes will be awarded! Check-in for the competition begins at 9 a.m., with practice runs beginning at 10 a.m. The event starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. Learn more and book tickets here.
Of course, these aren't the only events happening this weekend. For more ideas, head to CT Visit.
See you next weekend!
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Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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