Today Calendar 2025:​ ​CT Farmington​​ Valley​ and​ Beyond​

Farmington Valley and Beyond • Connecticut • USA

• Today Online: Digital News Site • Today Magazine: 2018-2024 

• Info is accurate to our knowledge, but confirm with organizers to be sure

• Today​ Wins Most SPJ Awards ​Among ​CT Magazines 

SEO keyword: Calendar 2025 CT Farmington​​ Valley

+++

Longevity Walks​

• LaSalle Market & Deli​ • Collinsville​​ –​ Tuesday​s • 3:30 ​pm​

• Reservoir 6 rear lot • West Hartfor​d – Thursday​s • 9:30 a​m​

​Free • Register one-time: Kathleen Arky • karky64@att. net

Info – Magna Physical Therapy: 860-679-0430 • office@magnapt. com

• ​Sponsored by The Longevity Zone – no dogs or other animals allowed – for Reservoir 6 walk, look for leader Kathleen Arky with red flag

Kala Farnham – Concert Schedule

Connecticut State Troubadour • Award-Winning Songwriter

• Info + Tickets – some shows free 

• Kala has opened for Don McLean, Tony Bennett and other notables –​ she has performed​ across Connecticut and the East Coast

• Songs on YouTube > David • Connecticut Grown • A Little Ghost Story •

We Are the Sons of Freedom – Exhibit

Avon​ Public Library – History Corner

•​ April and May – regular library hours

Free • Info: Avon Historical Society 

• ​Explore​ the history of Avon’s colonial​ residents in 1775​ and their response to the ​start of the Revolutionary War​

A Witness to History: Life of a Typical Farmer​ i​n 1880s – Lecture

Canton Community Center​

•​ Thursday ​4​/24​ – 7:00 pm

$5​ • lecture only – payable at door​

• Sponsor – Farmington Valley CT Heritage Network​ – relive the Valley’s ​storied ​past​ at sites in Barkhamsted, New Hartford and Collinsville​

Way Back When​: A Witness to History​ – ​Bus Tour ​

Collinsville Canoe & Kayak​ — tour begins here

•​ Saturday​ 4​/26​ – 9:30am​-3:30​pm

$50 •​ Info – Tickets: Mary Zlotnick​ • 860​-841​-8344 • mzlotnick@cox.​ net​

•​ Cost include​s bus tour, goody bag, lunc​h​, pre-tour lecture​ – ​rain or ​shine​

Spring Small Works Juried Exhibition

Kalaveshi Arts​ – Avon

• thru Sunday 4/27

Free • Come celebrate the artistic spirit in our community

Paint Nights​ • Kids Birthday Parties​ • Youth Summer Art Classe​s​ • more

•​ Register​ +​ Info > click Studio drop-down menu

• Today Magazine cover story – From War-Torn To Art Reborn •

College Scholarships

Free to apply – now thru 4/30 deadline

• Info – Avon UNICO 

• HS students from Avon-Simsbury-Canton, ​regardless of school​ location

• More Info – Avon UNICO scholarship co-chairs:

  Tom Gugliotti – tgugli28@gmail.​ com

  James Mahoney – james.m.mahoney@gmail.​ com

Theater – Playhouse 44 

Second Storytelling Night – Relatively Speaking

Avon Congregational Church

• Wednesday 4/30 – 7:00 pm

Free • optional donation • Info • reserve seats – info@playhouse44. org 

• Engaging storytellers share true-life tales – inspired by NPR's Moth Hour – bring nonperishable food for local food banks

Photo Exhibit – Wendy Rosenberg

Roaring Brook Nature Center aka RBNC – Canton

$7-$9 • free for members • Info – 860-693-0263

• View wildlife images by an award-winning Canton photographer who has displayed numerous photo exhibits across the Farmington Valley

• Rosenberg-focused Today Publishing cover stories:

  • Fame and the Forest Gump Effect 

  • Wild Wonder 

  • Seeing Wildlife with Wide-Eyed Wonder 

• Wendy ​has received an SPJ award for this photo​ in Today Magazine:

National Day of Prayer​ 

Thursday​ 5​/1​ – Local Events

• Carmon Family Center • 860-673-8610 – Avon – 8:00 am – Live-Stream 

• Christ Community Church – Collinsville – 12:00 ​noon

• Eno Memorial Hall –​ Simsbury​ – 12:00 ​noon ​

• New Life in Christ Fellowship • 860-658-9988​ – Simsbury ​–​ 7:30​ pm

Free • Info •​ All welcome – 7​4th annual observance –​ established by Continental Congress in 1775, this tradition predates founding of U.S.​

Spring ​Concert​s –​ Better Together

Farmington Valley Chorale ​

•​ Frida​y 5​/2​ – 8​:00 pm​ – Bethany Covenant Church​, Berlin

•​ Saturday​ 5​/3​ – 8:00 p​m – First Church of Christ​​, Simsbury​  

$25​ • ​students and children free​ – Tickets​ + Info • 860-729-9784

Historic Trades of the Revolution

Simsbury Historical Society

•​ Saturday 5/3 – 10​:00am​-3​:00pm

$5​-$20 • Info – 860-658-2500​ • info@simsburyhistory.​ org

•​ ​Exhibits and demos of Revolutionary War era trades, crafts and tools​

Senior Conference ​And Resource Fair –​ SCARF

Valley Community Baptist Church​ – Avon

• Saturday​ 5/3​ • Thursday 6/12 –​ 9​:00​am-1​:00pm​

Free • RSVP + Info – more info: 860-965-8114​

•​ Sponsored by New Season in Life​​ – topics​: aging in place,​ caregiver support​​, elder care law,​ financ​e/retirement,​ Medicare​, senior living communities​ – RSVP​ required: includes light lunch​

Bird Hike – Canton Land Trust

Sun, Wind and Woodland Preserve – Canton

• Sunday 5/4 – 7:15 am

Free • Info + Directions 

• Led by Jay Kaplan: Land Trust and Roaring Brook Nature Center director – meet at main preserve parking lot off Breezy Hill Road

Memory Walk – 12th Annual

Mary's Place – A Center for Grieving Children and Families

Northwest Park​ – Windsor​

• Sunday​ 5/4​ – 9:30 am​

​$10-$20 • Register + Info

Honor the memory of a loved​ one at this moving fundraiser​ – Mary’s Place ​aims to support children and families grieving a death​

Pine Grove Schoolhouse

Avon – corner of Harris Road + West Avon Road: Route 167

• Open House – Sunday 5/4 – 1:00-4:00 pm

   Schoolhouse hours – Sundays • 2:00-4:00 pm – May thru September

Free • Listed on National Register of Historic Places – built in 1865

• Avon Historical Society • 860-678-7621

​Cruising the ​Rivers of Europe

Avon Public Library

•​ Thursday​ 5​/8 – 6:30 ​pm

Free​ • RSVP: limited​ seating​ – 860-693-2515 • jeanfoisie@yahoo.​ com​

•​ Presented by Jean Foisie​ of TravelVision​​ and AMA Waterways cruise​ line – this event is not sponsored by the Avon Library

Walkie Talkies

LaSalle Market & Deli​ – Collinsville

• Monthly – fourth Tuesday – 1:00 pm – 5/27 • 6/24

Free • usually hosted by Dr. Brian Magna

• Info – Magna Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine 

• 15-minute health-based talk followed by 45-minute walk – bad-weather venue: typically start at LaSalle, then TBD

Theater Shorts – Agent for Change​ • The Debate

Magna Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center​ – Avon

•​ Friday ​5​/30​ – 6:30 ​pm

​Cost – freewill donation to Avon-based Playhouse 44

• RSVP: brian@thelongevity.zone – sponsored by The Longevity Zone – two skits present humor as an essential ingredient for healthy living

Gallery on the Green – Fine Art Shows 

Canton Green Road – Canton – between Dowd Avenue + Route 44

• Gallery Hours – Fridays-Saturdays-Sundays – 1:00-5:00 pm

Member​ + Guest Exhibition

​Solo ​Shows – Kathy Schwartz ​+ Donna Namnoum

• Friday ​5​/30 thr​u​ Saturday ​6​/28

• Opening Reception • Saturday ​5​/31​ – 6:00-8:00​ pm

Free • Farmington Valley artists and beyond – Gallery on the Green is operated by the Canton Artists’ Guild – cantonartistsguild@gmail. com

Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast​ ​

Habitat for Humanity • North Central Connecticut 

Marriott – Downtown Hartford

•​ Wednesday 6/4​ – 8:00-10:00 ​am

Free • Register by email: RSVP@hfhncc.​ org​ – Info: volunteer@hfhncc.​ org

• Habitat celebrates the volunteers who power ​the nonprofit​'s mission

La Sylphide – New England Ballet Theatre 

Miss Porter's School – Farmington

• Saturday 6/7 – 7:00 pm

• Sunday 6/8 – 2:00 pm

$15-$30 • Tickets + Info 

• Avon-based NEBT presents one of the world's oldest surviving ballets

Scholarship – Free Tuition 

CT State Community College

• Info + Apply 

• Thousands have received free tuition statewide

• “It sounds too good to be true, but this is real" – CT State rep

Open Mic Nights

• Talcott Mountain Collective • Simsbury – Tuesdays • 7:00-9:30 pm

Free to play and listen • Register on social media: Facebook – Instagram 

• Space limited: advance online sign-up advised – walk-ins if time allows – hosted by Michael Sasportas Music

• LaSalle Market & Deli • Collinsville – Fridays • 6:00 pm

Free to play and listen • Info: 860-693-8010

• Space limited: same-day sign-up at LaSalle – previously advance online sign-up was advised, but the current website link is old

Blood Pressure Clinic

Blood Sugar Clinic

Canton Senior Center – 40 Dyer Avenue

• Wednesdays – 11:30-1:00 pm

Free • Sponsored by Farmington Valley VNA – appointments not required

• For residents of all towns, not just Canton

Canton Café

Dine-In Lunch Program

Canton Community Center – 40 Dyer Avenue

• Wednesdays • Fridays – 12:00-1:00 pm

$5 – senior citizens • $7 – town employees

• Reservations required two days in advance – call 860-693-5811

Gildo T. Consolini VFW Post 3272 

Ongoing Meetings

• Monthly – fourth Wednesday

• Avon – Prince Thomas of Savoy Italian Club

  5:30 pm – Social

  6:00 pm – Dinner – $10

  6:30 pm – Meeting

• Weekly – each Thursday

• BeanZ & Co. – Avon – 8:30-11:00 am

Free • Veterans from all towns invited for conversation and support

Simsbury Public Library

Recurring Events • Programs

Free • Register + Info • 860-658-7663

Online: Poetry Group

• Monthly – third Tuesday – 6:30 pm

• Write and share poems for constructive feedback

Spanish Conversation Group

• Wednesdays – 11:00 am • Practice speaking Spanish with others

English Conversation Club

• Fridays – 10:30 am • Practice your English with others

• Today Magazine cover story – Burning Book​ ​Passion •

Red Cross Blood Drives

Numerous locations in Farmington Valley

• Various days + times

• Register + find a Valley blood drive – www.redcrossblood.org •

Antique Appraisals

ANTIQ’S – Farmington

• Saturdays – 11:00am-4:00pm

Free • Info – 860-676-2670 • info@antiqs.com

• Free-of-charge appraisal of your antiques – every Saturday

American Parkinson Disease Association​ – Connecticut Chapter​

CT Support Groups​ – ​CT Exercise Classes​

​Free • Various locations – ongoing

• Click the above links to find a group or class near you

• Today Magazine cover story – Parkinson Puzzle •

Autism Programs

Autism Families CONNECTicut

• Register – https://www.autismfamiliesct.org •

• Today Magazine cover story:

   Cogent Focus: 20th Anniversary for Autism Center •

CT Freedom Trail Program • Online

Three Firsts – Pvt. Leverett Holden – Civil War veteran

Free • On-Demand Video 

• Holden was in CT's 29th Regiment Volunteer Infantry: Colored

• His gravesite is on the Connecticut Freedom Trail – a first for Avon CT

• Presented by Avon Historical Society president Terri Wilson 

• Wilson's award-winning Today Magazine story:

   Black soldier answered Lincoln’s Civil War invite •

"We Are Very Likely To Die"

Incredible True Story of Sinking of Sea Surveyor

Free • On-Demand Video 

• Talk by survivor Walter Banzhaf, longtime Simsbury resident – presented at Simsbury Senior Center, Simsbury Library and elsewhere in CT

SEO keyword: Calendar 2025 CT Farmington​​ Valley

+++

Coping with Grief and Loss during the Holidays – Online

• On-Demand ​Video – cogent talk starts at 21:20 mark after musical intro

  Speaker – Joe Colletti • author • bereavement consultant

• Hosts – Carmon Community Funeral Homes – Avon

  – Mary’s Place – A Center for Grieving Children and Families – Windsor

Free • Info – visit above websites • 860-688-2200 • 860-673-8610

• Nine Carmon locations – Avon • Granby • Hartford • Rockville • South Windsor • Suffield • Vernon • Windsor • Poquonock: also in Windsor

SEO keyword: Calendar 2025 CT Farmington​​ Valley

+++

MLK in CT Memorial

Simsbury Free Library

Free • On-Demand Video – Unveiling Ceremony 

Ceremony occurred on MLK Day 2021 – at Simsbury Free Library 

• Award-winning Today Publishing coverage:

– Today Online feature – Unique memorial honors MLK's time in Valley 

– Today Magazine cover story – Their Dream: MLK Memorial

• Award-winning documentary – produced by Simsbury High students:

   Summers of Freedom: Story of Martin Luther King in Connecticut • 

SEO keyword: Calendar 2025 CT Farmington​​ Valley

+++

Unearthing History 

2024 History Series • Online  • Internationally significant find in Connecticut's Farmington Valley

Discovery in Avon of 12,500-year-old Paleo-Indian Site

Free • Five webinars – available on-demand here:

• Paleo-Indian Discoveries in America 

• Use and Sources of Ohio Hopewell Fossil Shark Teeth​

• Foraging in Paleo-Indian Period: Macrobotanical Analysis​

•​ Bioarchaeology in North America: Ethics​ and Issues in 2024​

•​ History of Native American Archaeology in Connecticut​

– Sponsors – Avon Historical Society • Avon Library • Avon Senior Center

• Today Magazine cover story by Dr. David Leslie:

Archaeological Dig Reveals Valley’s Paleo-Indian Secrets •

• David Leslie was senior archaeologist for the Avon site discovered in 2019

Unearthing History 

2023 History Series • Online 

• Internationally significant find in Connecticut's Farmington Valley

Discovery in Avon of 12,500-year-old Paleo-Indian Site

Free • Five webinars – available on-demand here:

• LIDAR Revolution in Earth Surface Mapping 

• Hunting Techniques of the Paleo-Indian 

• Big Importance of Small Things

   Microscopic and Blood Residue Analysis of Ancient Stone Tools 

• Paleo-Indian Sites, Site Patterns & Travel 

• Update on Brian D. Jones site in Avon CT •

Unearthing History

2022 History Series • Online

• Internationally significant find in Connecticut's Farmington Valley

Discovery in Avon of 12,500-year-old Paleo-Indian Site

Free • Five webinars – available on-demand here:

• What Genetics Teaches Us About the Peopling of North America

• Ice Age Animals of New England

• Paleo-Indian Foodways with Trade & Network Exchange

• Looking into the Past with Ancient DNA

• Update on Scientific Analysis of Brian D. Jones Site in Avon CT

• Dr. David Leslie – Part 1 • Part 2 •

Unearthing History

2021 History Series • Online

• Internationally significant find in Connecticut's Farmington Valley

Discovery in Avon of 12,500-year-old Paleo-Indian Site

Free • Five webinars – available on-demand here:

• Digging into Deep History: Archaeology, Artifacts, Avocation

• A Rift, not the River, Made the Farmington Valley – Part 1 • Part 2

• CT Before History: Deep Story of Valley's Human Settlement

• Connecticut Native American Communities: Past and Present

• Connecticut’s Paleo-Indian Sites: Avon Site + More

• Dr. David Leslie – senior archaeologist • Avon CT site

• Dr. Zachary Singer – research archaeologist

SEO keyword: Calendar 2025 CT Farmington​​ Valley

+++

Valley Town Sites – Avon • Canton • Farmington • Granby • Simsbury 

Valley Libraries – Avon • Canton • Farmington • Granby • Simsbury 

Valley Chambers of Commerce – Avon-Canton • Granby-Simsbury

SEO keyword: Calendar 2025 CT Farmington​​ Valley

+++

PAST EVENTS – events below were listed previously in Calendar above

House of Changes –​ Fundraiser ​

•​ The House of Changes​ nonprofit seeks to help men with mental health, substance abuse and incarceration challenges

HarttWorks​ – ​Dance​-Music ​Performance

University of Hartford​ – Millard Auditorium ​

• Info – 860-768-4451 or 768-4228 – harttcomm@hartford .edu

•​ Presented by ​The Hartt School Community Division​ aka HCD  — offer​ing music and dance progra​ms for all ages​

Diabetes Plus with Dave Oliver

Magna Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine – Avon

Free • 860-679-0430 • Sponsored by Magna PT and The Longevity Zone •

Group​ Art Exhibition –​ Inspire Art​s 

Free • Info – Rebecca Maloney​ – 860​-382-3020​

• Supported Living Group​ offers platform for artists living with disabilitie​s

PAST EVENTS – these events were listed previously in the main Calendar

New Avon History Museum – Buy A Brick 

• ​Fund 200-year-old schoolhouse renovated as museum

Have A Heart – benefit campaign

Mary’s Place: A Center for Grieving Children and Families 

• This nonprofit aims to support children and families grieving a death

Saturday Night Dinner and a Movie – Sound of Hope 

Valley Community Baptist Church – Avon

• ​Film ​based on a true foster-care-and-adoption story

• Today Magazine award-winning cover story:

   Fostering Home Hope – Special Report on Foster Care in CT •

Avon Historical Society – 50th Anniversary Exhibit

Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center

SMPAC – Iron Horse Boulevard – Simsbury

• Today Magazine cover story:

​Orchestra Back At SMPAC​ – Jubilant return for HSO •

PAST EVENTS – these events were listed previously in the main Calendar

Open House

Mary’s Place – A Center for Grieving Children and Families – Windsor

Free • 860-688-9621 – info@marysplacect. org

Habitat Ambassador Workshops 

Habitat for Humanity • North Central Connecticut 

Free • Register • Info – 860-541-2208 – volunteer@hfhncc.org

• Today Magazine cover story – Homegrown Hope: Making Dreams Reality 

• Today Magazine follow-up – Local Habitat Celebrates 35th Birthday •

Art Exhibition – Rhythms in Time

Solo Show – Edith Skiba LaMonica 

Free • LaMonica's work has been featured in Philadelphia Museum of Art, New Britain Museum of American Art, Canton-based Gallery on the Green

Red Stone Pub – Simsbury

• Tuesday Trivia – 7:00 pm

Unite In Love Luncheon ​

Fundraiser – Mary’s Place: A Center for Grieving Children and Families 

Casino Night to End Alzheimer's – Anthology of Simsbury •

Play Auditions – Playhouse 44 

• Brand-new theater venture – many age ranges – join email list •

PAST EVENTS – these events were listed previously in the main Calendar

Warehouse Tag Sale – Journey Home 

• Info – 860-808-0336 – volunteer@journeyhomect. org

• Journey Home seeks to end homelessness

Roaring Brook Nature Center

Summer 2024 – Discovery Days Programs

RBNC – Canton • Info – 860-693-0263

• Today Magazine cover story – Nature and Nurture •

​Painting Party – Avon Historical Society 

Derrin House – Avon

• Info – 860-678-7621 – info@avonhistoricalsociety.org

Habitat Youth Advocacy & Engagement Conference

Habitat – Winter Warrior Public Build Days 

Habitat for Humanity • North Central Connecticut 

Free • Register + Info • 860-541-2208 – volunteer@hfhncc. org

Driving Away Parkinson’s Golf Tournament​

American Parkinson Disease Association​ – Connecticut Chapter​ ​

• Today Magazine cover story – Parkinson Puzzle •

TableScapes

Fundraiser – Avon Historical Society

• PAST EVENTS – Today Calendar 2022-23 •

SEO keyword: Calendar 2025 CT Farmington​​ Valley