Best Things to Do in Connecticut: May 2013

Our event calendar is a wonderful resource full of fun events happening all over Connecticut. We've curated the "best of" each month to save you some time and frustration (when it's too late to fit a fun event into your already packed schedule). Now you'll have plenty of notice to plan for the most memorable and fun things to do around town. We only include experiences that are worth your time and money. Bonus: many of our picks are mostly free or inexpensive. We know you may not have time to drive across the state for a super cool science exhibit so we will try to include a few of the best in each region. Here are 11 of our most favorite things to do with kids in Connecticut this month. If you click through to the full listing you can then add them to your calendar. Have fun planning!

1) Friday, May 3rd - Sunday May 5th, Dogwood Festival, Fairfield For 78 years and counting, members of Greenfield Hill Congregational Church and thousands across Fairfield County have celebrated the beauty of spring with the Dogwood Festival. The Dogwood Festival offers a variety of entertainment for all ages featuring local history and culture. Admission is FREE and proceeds benefit charities near and far.

2) Saturday, May 4th- New Britain Youth Museum at Hungerford Park - Family Earth Day  From 11am - 2pm celebrate Earth Day by visiting with Riverside Reptiles, Birds of Prey and other animal programs. Enjoy trail walks, special nature presentations and crafts. Lunch items will be for sale.

3) Saturday, May 4th - Into the Garden, Washington Montessori School Live and Silent Auction, New Preston Enjoy a beautiful night out in Litchfield County in support of the Washington Montessori School. Into the Garden will have food from the delicious Pantry of Washington, drinks from County Wine and Spirits as well as hundreds of amazing experiences, products and services up for auction.

4) Saturday, May 11th - Caroline’s Enchanted Garden Fairy and Wizard Festival, Bethlehem A fun-filled afternoon of hands-on craft activities, music, storytelling, pony rides, puppetry, magic, woodland walks and more. Children and families can make a fairy house out of all natural materials to take home and follow the path through the garden of fairy house's made by staff and volunteers to the Fairy Village.

5) Saturday, May 11th - Celebration of Young Writers Event and Auction, Washington The evening will begin at 5 p.m. with a cocktail reception under a beautiful tent on the Washington Green. Featured celebrity readers will include Frank Delaney, Paul Doherty, Mia Farrow, Jack Gilpin, Fran Brill Kelly, Audrey Meyer, and Ellen McCourt who will provide readings of poetry and prose written by talented young writers from our area. The reception will include live and silent auctions, with all proceeds benefiting ASAP.

6) Saturday, May 11th - Festival of the Arts at Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury Sidewalk chalk art competition for elementary, middle and high school teams. Jazz bands will be performing in the Carousel Theatre and there will be a trash can art competition.

7) Saturday, May 18th -Sunday May 19th - 50th Annual Spring on the Farm Stamford Museum and Nature Center, Stamford Meet the latest additions to the Heckscher Farm family at Spring on the Farm. Watch as their flock of sheep gets its annual shearing and learn about what happens with their wooly coats. See firsthand how to turn wool into felt or yarn, among a variety of other hands-on demonstrations. There will be activities for all ages including storytelling, face painting, crafts, a plant and herb sale, and more.

8) Saturday, May 18th - June 2nd - Robin Hood Springtime Festival, Guilford Fairgrounds
Bring the family to this Medieval Festival and learn the steps of courtly dance. Challenge the Black Knight to a duel and take arms in their “Smite the Knight” ring located at the Hitting & Stabbing Emporium. Stroll down our Kids Alley for games designed for our younger guests. Win an award and get knighted! Take the time to watch armored knights on horseback trying to knock each other off with colored lances. Cheer for your favorite knight.

9) Sunday, May 19th - Spring has Sprung Family Event, Kent  Children can partake in hooping classes, mural painting, a photo booth, art projects, face painting and a drumming circle during this FREE family event. Live acoustic music will be performed. Snacks provided by J.P. Gifford's. Everyone is invited to this event co-sponsored by Kids Night Out and Mommy Poppins CT.

10) Saturday, May 25th - Great Pootatuck Duck Race, Newtown Watch as thousands of rubber ducks are dumped into the river and make their way to the finish line. You can sponsor a duck for $5 at various locations throughout Newtown.  The day will be filled with food, entertainment, face painting and a bouncy house for the kids.  Attendance at the event is free of charge.

11) Saturday, May 25th - Monday May 27th - Lobster Days, Mystic Seaport Crack your first lobster claw of the season at Mystic Seaport's butter-dribbling, shell-sucking, quintessentially New England Lobster Days during Memorial Day Weekend.

[UPDATED 4/27/13]