Though summer days are winding down, it’s time for the arts and culture scene in Ridgefield to buzz again! There are still so many summer activities and plenty of great shopping and dining experiences to enjoy while school is out, but theaters, shows, and exhibits are beginning their new season kick-off. So we’ve rounded up our favorite not-to-miss events you can catch during these last days of summer. Whether the weather is hot, rainy, or makes for the perfect evening, you’ll find a plethora of engaging and entertaining events celebrating art, music, and history in Ridgefield!
Ridgefield is known for its vibrant art scene, and our beautiful galleries and fun programming are sure to woo you. In the coming weeks, visit D. Colabella Fine Art Gallery’s Icons & Rock N’ Roll exhibit and RPAC Gallery’s Build and Destroy exhibit. And The Aldrich will host various special tours including a seniors-only tour, their much-loved All Ages Discovery Tour, and a special curator-led tour!
Head down to Weir Farm for their Women and Art talk on August 25th, and on the 26th, engage your inner artist with an Impressionist Painting Workshop with Dmitri Wright. And don’t miss the Ridgefield Guild of Artists annual Art Walk, when the streets of downtown Ridgefield turn into a strolling art gallery!
Music and entertainment venues abound in Ridgefield, and the calendar is really starting to heat up for the season! A summer staple in Ballard Park, CHIRP Concerts will continue Tuesdays and Thursdays through August 31st. The final shows include performances by Funk You, Seth Walker, Johnny Nicholas & Friends, Low Down Brass Band, Nora Jane Struthers, and The Wreckless Strangers. Relax with Music at the Mansion (aka the iconic Lounsbury House) on August 20th with the Harmonia V Woodwind Quintet, or tap your knee with String Busters Blue Grass at The Meetinghouse on the 27th.
The Ridgefield Playhouse never fails with its robust lineup, and includes The Baseball Project, Ann Wilson of Heart & Tripsitter, Al Jardine and His Endless Summer Band, John Pizzarelli Trio, and Air Supply, all in the next few weeks. And we’re excited to share that the Ridgefield Theater Barn, in partnership with the Ridgefield Historical Society, will re-open with Eccentric Women of Ridgefield on September 9th and 10th!
Tickets and a view of the performers aren’t always necessary to enjoy live tunes! Many of Ridgefield’s restaurants offer a live musical accompaniment to dinner, including 850 Degrees Woodfired which plans to serenade your meal on August 26th and September 9th. So grab a seat outside and enjoy a meal al fresco! Nod Hill has a packed and ever-rotating calendar of bands… and food trucks and beer, so it’s the perfect place to enjoy a casual evening outside.
View our Restaurant Directory for more options
Are you looking to mix things up at home? Pick up the best of the season’s local bounty at the Ridgefield Farmers Market, turn on your favorite album, and create your own farm to table picnic or evening at home! The Farmers Market is open every other weekend, including the best weekends of harvest season on August 26th and September 9th (and right through to October 22nd!).
There is something about a quaint New England town that sparks interest in its history, and Ridgefield, with its robust past, is certainly no different. Luckily, our dedicated and passionate historians are hard at work creating wonderful programming to share Ridgefield’s stories! Visit Weir Farm on August 18th when local historian Darla Shaw will take on the role of Alice Paul, a suffragette who lived near the farm.
And delight in knowing First Sundays are back for the season at Keeler Tavern Museum beginning Labor Day Weekend! Their beloved #HandsOnHistory Exhibit also returns with Living off the Land and will explore Ridgefield’s history as a farming community. They are also open for guided and self-guided tours and of course, a summer stroll through their beautifully tended gardens.
The Ridgefield Historical Society has planned a full schedule of fun and educational events for the whole family, too. Reminisce about school days past and learn about Ridgefield’s school and education history at the Ridgefield History Club on August 15th, and Open Schoolhouse Days will begin again at the Peter Parley Schoolhouse on August 27th – just in time for the start of the school year.
Learn about the history and use of the Ballard Park Gardens at the Then & Now talk on the 30th followed by a tour the next day. And believe it or not, the land that Bennett’s Pond State Park sits on has a unique and storied past as well, and you can learn all about it on September 9th with a beautiful walking tour led by town resident Benjamin Hume.
View details about these and many other fun late summer events on our Events Calendar.
Enjoy the rest of your summer in Ridgefield! Show us how you’re making the most of it by tagging #inRidgefield in your adventures.
Thank you to the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce for supporting the Ridgefield community!
