Guilford, CT - The Hammonassett Festival comes to the Guilford Fairgrounds this fall for two days of celebration, education and entertainment. Honoring nature and Native America, the 7th Festival will take place on Saturday, September 30, from 10 AM to 7 PM and Sunday, October 1, from 10 AM to 5 PM.
Each day will begin with a Native American blessing and smudging ceremony, led by Allan Saunders (Mohegan), followed by music, dance, art and craft vendors, exhibits and demonstrations, activities for the whole family, storytelling and a variety of food choices.
Featured performers:
--The popular Native Nations Dance Troupe, led by Erin Meeches (Schaghticoke), will gather in the Dance Circle to share their dances and interpretations. There will be multiple presentations on Saturday and Sunday.
--Kalpulli Huehuetlahtolli will present Aztec Dance. Each dance is a prayer, a way of life utilized to communicate with each other and the world. There will be multiple presentations daily.
--The Chankas of Peru will present the Scissors Dance, a cultural expression of the Andean of Peru. There will be one presentation each day.
Featured wildlife shows:
--Live raptor show by A Place Called Hope, a raptor rehabilitation center in Killingworth, CT. Christine Cummings and Todd Secki will introduce you to the “ambassador birds”, those that cannot be returned to the wild due to injuries, who help educate the public on ways to better co-exist with all wildlife. Birds will be on-site Saturday and Sunday, 1pm to 5pm; there will be one raptor show daily.
--Live reptile show presented by the Meigs Point Nature Center of Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, CT. Ranger Russ Miller will present exhibits and lead discussions on the snakes and turtles you see throughout Connecticut. There will be two live reptile shows on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Other special attractions:
--Multiple performances of Native American flute music and guitar by Allan Madahbee (Ojibway) in the Concert Area
--Performance on Saturday by local music group, Ponybird with Jennifer Dauphinais, Jason Bates, and Rob Dauphinais
--Special guest speakers: Gary O'Neil (Wangunk), Winona Kasto (Cheyenne River Sioux), The Ramapough Lenape, Hawk Storm (Sachem Schaghticoke First Nation), Dale Carson (Abenaki).
--Expanded Children’s Area offering stories, games and crafts presented by the Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS), local libraries, and Friends of Hammonasset; also a mock dig, teepee painting, scavenger hunt, and touch table.
--The New England Atlatl Championship, where attendees can also try their hand at the ancient skill of spear-throwing
-- Artifact Identification Day: Dr Lucianne Lavin, IAIS Director of Research and Collections, invites the public to bring in artifacts from their personal collections for identification and discussion (Sunday October 1st, from 1pm to 4pm).
-- Environmental exhibits, museum outreach programs, and demonstrations presented by organizations such as Menunkatuck Audubon, CT DEEP, Friends of the Office of State Archaeology, Shoreline Outdoor Education Center, Trout Unlimited, and the US Coast Guard
--A variety of food choices in our Food Court
The above features and special attractions are subject to change. For latest updates, visit our Facebook page, HammonassettFestival, or email us at HammonassettFestival@gmail.com.
Exhibitors and vendors: pre-registration is required. Contact: HammonassettFestival @gmail.com
The Festival is presented by Friends of Hammonasset, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and is sponsored by Friends of Hammonasset and the Robert F. Schumann Foundation.
SEE YOU THERE
What: Hammonassett Festival
When: 10 AM-7 PM, Saturday, September 30 and 10 AM-5 PM, Sunday, October 1, 2017
Where: Guilford Fairgrounds, 111 Lovers Lane, Guilford, CT
Directions: Exit 59 off the Connecticut Turnpike, south on Goose Lane and across Boston Post Road, right on 146 (Boston Street), left onto Lovers Lane.
Parking: Free on-site parking
Admission: adults, $5; children under 12, free
Note: No pets or alcohol at the Fairgrounds, including the parking lots
Find more information and schedule of events at Facebook.com/HammonassettFestival or email hammonassettfestival@gmail.com
About the Friends of Hammonasset
The Friends of Hammonasset is a “not for profit” 501(c)(3) volunteer organization, working in cooperation with State and local park management and the Friends of Connecticut State parks. The purpose of the organization is to provide environmental education, preserve the integrity of Hammonasset Beach State Park’s natural resources, and serve as an advocate for the park.
About the Robert F. Schumann Foundation
The Robert F. Schumann Foundation was created by Robert F. Schumann, a Madison resident who died in 2011. The Robert F. Schumann Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life of both humans and animals by supporting environmental, educational, arts and cultural