Connecticut Tree Festival— Reaching A 10-year Milestone
The Connecticut Tree Festival returns to Norwalk’s Cranbury Park May 21 (Saturday) for its 10th year as a free family funfest with an environmental message: to focus attention on trees as natural assets that appreciably enrich community life.
Upwards of 40 exhibitors associated with the ecology form a midway of booths in the park for educational entertainment that has grown to an anticipated attendance of 2,000-plus from a turnout of 250 at the initial festival in 2007.
Everything is available to the public at no charge--admission, parking, chances on a variety of door prizes, expert advice of tree-planting, even a picnic-style lunch—and no one is permitted to sell any product or service on the grounds.
Two bucket rides and a rope-climb carrying youngsters to the tree tops in the park are among the more popular activities with other recreational diversions like face-painting.
The festival runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine, assembled by a committee of Norwalk and Wilton volunteers headed by Paul Sotnik, Norwalk’s senior civil engineer.
Also reprised is the Celebration of Trees Art Show April 17-May 30 at the G&B Cultural Center (at 49 New St.) in Wilton, displaying paintings, sculpture and mixed media, open to the public at no charge. An opening reception is set for April 17, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Exhibits move to Gallaher Mansion in Cranbury Park for the tree festival May 21. For potential exhibitors, information is available from Rob Frazier at rhf158@gmail.com or 917.868.9272.