Future Shorts Film Festival

May 16-20th
$20-25
Bijou Theater
275 Fairfield Avenue
Bridgeport
http://thebijoutheatre.com/films/future-shorts-film-festival/
Future Shorts is the world’s biggest pop up film festival that promotes and celebrates short film around the world. Since launching, screenings have taken place in over 144 cities and 55 countries with an audience of more than 25,000 people experiencing a showcase of the best short films. Our spring screenings will be mixed in with a pop up dj party, a pop up art gallery, and a special Midnight Pop-Up Cult Classic.

Our Town
May 17-19th
$15 Adults, $8 Students and Seniors
Middletown
http://www.oddfellows.org/teenRep.php 
Let the Stage Manager take you on a journey through the life of a small New England town. A Pulitzer Prize-winning play set in the early twentieth century, Our Town is famed for daring both the actors and audience to interact in order to weave the themes of family, marriage, death, and eternity into the story of what was daily life.

Autism Speaks!
May 18th
McLaddens Irish Publick House
3 Lasalle Road
West Hartford
http://www.facebook.com/AutismSpeaksUUSJ
Come join us for dinner, drinks and cake!  The Autism Speaks U, USJ chapter will be holding a fundraising might at McLadden's in support of Autism Speaks.  We will be providing the cake and holding a raffle.  Drinks and dinner can be purchased at the event as well.  Join us for a night out that you can feel good about!

Mystic Ballet School Performance
May 19th
$15-40
Mashantucket Pequot Theater
110 Pequot Trail
Mashantucket
http://mysticballet.org/performances/season/school-performance/
Come watch the students perform techniques they have learned throughout the year!

Night Picnic!
May 19th
Artspace
50 Orange Street
New Haven
http://artspacenh.org/include/404.asp?404;https://artspacenh.org:443/galleries/gallery1
Join the artists behindIlluminated Universe for an exclusive night picnic in Artspace’s gallery-turned-night garden. Bring your own picnic dinner and blanket and join artists and friends for an intimate, unique experience. Cash bar. Email: johanna.bresnick@gmail.com.

13: The Musical
May 19th
$15-50
Theater Artist's Workshop
5 Gregory Boulevard
Norwalk
http://www.musictheatreofct.com/13.html
When his parents get divorced and he's forced to move from New York to a small town in Indiana, Evan Goldman just wants to make friends and survive the school year. Easier said than done. With an unforgettable rock score from Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown, this hilarious, high-energy musical is about discovering that cool is where you find it, and sometimes where you least expect it.

Touch a Truck (Southington)
May 19th
$3 for kids, parents are FREE
Derynoski Elementary School
240 Main Street
Southington
http://www.southington.org/content/54/482.aspx?CALENDAR_ID=132
The American Legion Auxiliary and the Southington Parks & Recreation Department are proud to co-sponsor the 10th Annual "Touch-a-Truck" event!  The event will take place in the rear parking lot of Derynoski School - entrance on Eden Ave., Southington.  Rain date is Sunday, May 20th.  Children will enjoy climbing on/into construction, military, rescue and other vehicles, face painting, music, an obstacle course and much more.  Refreshments and raffles will also be available.

Touch a Truck (Niantic)
May 19th
$4 for kids, parents are FREE
McCook's Point Park
Niantic
http://www.discovereastlyme.com/calendar.php 
This family fun event which also features Crafts, Food, Games, Photos and a Raffle from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at McCook’s Point Park/Beach in Niantic, CT.
It's an event not to be missed, the Touch-A-Truck experience is for one and all, no matter how big or small. An educational experience that will make you a “hero” with your child or grandchild. Children can climb various vehicles, sit in the driver’s seat and discover the world of trucks. They will be able to reach the sky in a cherry picker, see, touch, and interact with big trucks and learn their functions. This unique event will feature a large array of trucks and heavy equipment including, police cars, fire trucks, dump trucks, tractors and many, many more. 

Meriden Family Fun Day
May 19th
FREE
Hubbard Park
W. Main Street
Meriden
http://www.meridenffd.org/
A fun filled family day with entertainment, family walk, children's activities, food, vendors, community providers and much more.

Shoreline Spring Festival
May 19th
FREE
Madison Green
Madison
http://www.shorelineunitarian.org/suus/npo.jsp?pg=detail44
An exciting and profitable day on the Madison Green sponsored by Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society: a melding of craftsmen, artists, artisans, local farmers, fair trade, non-profit and community organizations. 

Ryerson Elementary School Family Fun Fair
May 19th
Cost unknown
Ryerson Elementary School
982 Durham Road
Madison
http://www.zvents.com/madison_ct/events/show/253763544-ryerson-elementary-fun-fair
This is a fun, affordable, and family friendly event for all ages. There are games, activities, food, and special guests from Rocky the Rock cat and The CT Whale. News Channel 8 weather van will also be stopping in!! Please come on by and join the fun!! 
RAIN OR SHINE!!

May Days Country Fair
May 19th
St. Gregory the Great Church
85 Great Plain Road
Danbury
http://www.zvents.com/danbury_ct/events/show/207609845-may-days-country-fair
Country Fair days with food booth fried dough, hot dogs, burgers, fair food, face painting, ice cream, crafters, vendors, games for children, fun for the whole family. More details as we get closer. 

Antique Car Show
May 19th
$10 Adult, $8 Senior, $6 Children
Shore Line Trolley Museum
17 River Street
East Haven
http://www.shorelinetrolley.com/stm/modules/tinycontent/index.php?id=8 
Here is a chance to really experience the way your grandparents traveled around town. The 2012 Antique car show and trolley rides provide an opportunity to see the vehicles your father or grandfather drove, and experience a ride on a trolley car of the same period. On display will be cars that date from 1892 to 1936, operating that day will be trolleys from the 1920’s to the late 1930’s.  

Saturday Movie Matinee: Bridesmaids
May 19th 
FREE
Black Rock Branch Library
2705 Fairfield Avenue
Bridgeport
http://www.zvents.com/bridgeport_ct/events/show/249358224-saturday-movie-matinee-bridesmaids
Free refreshments will be served – but feel free to bring a nonperishable food item for donation to the Black Rock Food Pantry.

Fifth Annual Duckie Derby to Benefit St. Catherine Academy
May 19th
FREE
834 Brookside Drive
Fairfield
http://monroe.patch.com/events/fifth-annual-duckie-derby-to-benefit-saint-catherine-academy-2d17d2dd
During this fast-paced race beginning at 1:00 PM, over one thousand rubber ducks will race down Mill River for an exciting float to the finish. Fun for children and adults of all ages, there are events such as the Duckie Decorating contest as well as games, food, friendly duck mascots, and a lively atmosphere. Trophies and prize ribbons will be awarded! 

Zoo's 90th Birthday Party
May 19th
1875 Noble Avenue
Bridgeport
http://beardsleyzoo.org/calendar-wne1
It's our birthday, and we're having a party! Kids of all ages will enjoy activities galore and spectacular surprises all day long. You never know who will be here with special birthday greetings and tasty treats to share... so plan to be here and bring the whole family!

Fairfield County Duckie Derby
May 19th
Fairfield
http://fairfieldcountyduckiederby.com/
 Over 1000 little rubber duckies will be released into the Mill River at 1:30 for a race to the finish line. Large sized rubber ducks will be decorated ahead of time and entered into the "Decorate Me Duck" contest. Trophies and prize ribbons will be awarded. Games, food, and two fuzzy, friendly duck mascots will be on hand to entertain the "young at heart".

ArtWalk Simsbury!
May 19th
FREE
Simsbury
http://www.artwalksimsbury.com/
Stroll along Simsbury town center and enjoy painters, musicians, dancers, crafters and performers at the first-ever ArtWalk Simsbury! on Saturday, May 19, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.  From the traditional to non-traditional, you’ll experience everything from glass and pottery to ballroom dancing and chamber music, as well as interactive activities for children.More than 50 exhibitors will display their wares, including painters, quilters, jewelers, photographers and woodworkers. Some items will be for sale.

Bridgeport Day at the Zoo
May 20th
$5 admission with Bridgeport ID
1875 Noble Avenue
Bridgeport
http://beardsleyzoo.org/calendar-wne1
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is proud to invite ALL Bridgeport residents to come to the Zoo for a reduced admission fee of just $5 with proper I.D. Meet and greet with city officials, business and civic leaders, friends, and neighbors during a fun-filled day to please the whole family. Spend the day visiting new animals at the Zoo and enjoying the great outdoors. This event is presented in partnership with the Mayor Bill Finch and the City of Bridgeport. Rain date: June 10.

Old Town Hall Museum Opening Day and FREE Ice Cream!
May 20th
Enfield Historical Society
1294 Enfield Street (Route 5)
Enfield
http://www.enfieldhistoricalsociety.org/EHScalendar.html
2:00P.M. to 4:30 P.M.  This year we celebrate Enfield's manufacturing past with our new "Made in Enfield" exhibit. Vast quantities of materials and equipment for our troops in both World Wars - all were made in Enfield.  Scores of products made by our local inventors and manufacturers are featured in exhibits throughout the museum.  Be sure to browse the hundreds of patents that were granted to Enfield inventors while you are here. You won't be disappointed. Remember - the public is very welcome to this FREE museum, so don't be shy!

FOUND Outside: Sculpture Exhibition and Garden Party
May 20th
FREE for members, FREE with the price of admission
The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
258 Main Street
Ridgefield
http://www.aldrichart.org/events/?id=1450

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum will present FOUND Outside, six sculpture projects by artists working with salvaged materials and reclaimed objects, from May 20 to October 21, 2012. The presentation of new work in the Museum’s two-acre sculpture garden complements the series of FOUND exhibitions currently in the galleries.   Pack a blanket and prepare to picnic with the hottest, and coolest, food trucks in Fairfield County. Melt Mobile—made famous by celebrity chef and legendary restaurateur Bobby Flay—will dispatch their foodie fleet to serve Aldrich guests gourmet grilled cheese all afternoon. The truck specializes in creative, comforting sandwiches made with local artisanal breads, imported and local cheeses, and the highest quality fresh, organic ingredients. After lunch, stop by Piccolo’s Gelato Bar for a selection of traditional homemade fresh and flavorful chilled treats.

 

EDITOR: Kelly Johnson