Free Family Events

June 2018
Public Access

Category: All

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
					01 Hartford: Puerto Rican Parade and Festival Various Locations: Spring Outdoors 10am» Branford: Mini-Maker Table 10:30am» Rocky Hill: Art Start 6pm» Putnam: First Fridays	02 Hartford: Puerto Rican Parade and Festival Various Locations: Spring Outdoors 9am» Home Depot Stores: Kids' Workshop 10am» Branford: Mini-Maker Table 10am» New London: Free First Saturday
03 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors 11am» Woodbridge: Touch a Truck	04 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors 3pm» Fairfield: Mix it Up Mondays	05 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors 3pm» Fairfield: Game Day Tuesdays	06 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors 3pm» Fairfield: Crafty Wednesdays	07 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors 3pm» Fairfield: Trivia Thursdays 6:30pm» Branford: PJ Stories	08 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors 10am» Branford: Mini-Maker Table	09 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors 10am» Branford: Mini-Maker Table 10am» Guilford: Open House Day
10 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors	11 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors	12 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors	13 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors	14 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors 6:30pm» Branford: PJ Stories	15 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors 10am» Branford: Mini-Maker Table	16 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors 10am» Branford: Mini-Maker Table
17 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors	18 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors	19 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors	20 Various Locations: Spring Outdoors	21 6:30pm» Branford: PJ Stories 7pm» Glastonbury: Outdoor Movie Night	22 10am» Branford: Mini-Maker Table	23 10am» Branford: Mini-Maker Table
24	25	26	27	28 6:30pm» Branford: PJ Stories	29 10am» Branford: Mini-Maker Table	30 10am» Branford: Mini-Maker Table

Time:: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location:: Downtown, Main Street, Putnam
Description:: This year’s theme, First Fridays Mill Town Mosaics, is a celebration of the cultural heritage of the Quiet Corner of northeast Connecticut. Throughout the season, each event will serve as a way to explore the mosaic of diverse local history and culture. May through October, downtown Putnam will be filled with art, music, crafts and costumes, focusing on a different culture each month. The "Cultural Celebration Station" is a must-visit each month!

Driving through the scenic towns of the region, it is commonplace to pass brick and stone mill buildings set alongside powerful rivers. Some mills have been revitalized, but many have been lost to time. These structures represent more than just a bygone era of industrialism; they symbolize much of our local cultural heritage. At the turn of the 19th century, Samuel Slater introduced the concept of inviting entire families to move to factory towns. Next to the factories, houses were built for the new workers. Company stores and company-financed civic buildings filled the streets of the towns.

Many current residents of the community are a product of our small mill towns, with roots and deep memories extending to Canada, Poland, Greece, Finland, and other parts of the globe. Each month, First Fridays will celebrate the mosaic of our Quiet Corner Heritage, with art, music, food, dance, family memories and more!

May 4 – Polish-Americans: Come and dance the polka! Bring your recipes for Pierogi and Gobalki.

June 1 – African-Americans

July 6 – French Canadian-Americans: Come stand side by each to drool over memories of your memere's toutiere.

August 3 – Greek-Americans: Come dressed up and ready to dance again this month!

September 7 – Native-Americans: Did you know: the name "Connecticut" is an Algonquian Indian word Quinnehtukqut meaning "beside the long tidal river" or "long river" and refers to the Connecticut River.

October 5– Scandinavian-Americans

First Fridays invites you to “Discover” why Putnam is such a great place to work, live, and visit - combining a vintage feel with modern appeal.

Every month during First Fridays you will experience something new to see, and hear. Be on the lookout for dynamic performance art and featured artists while participating in family-friendly community art projects. There will be something for everyone to enjoy. While you are in town, choose from a variety of wonderful restaurants, visit the many shops, galleries and boutiques. Listen to the local musicians play lively music or take in a live show at the theater.