School's Out for Rosh Hashanah in Fairfield County

9/16/14 - By Jacqueline Miller

Rosh Hashanah is the annual Jewish New Year Celebration. In 2014, it begins at sundown on Wednesday, September 24th and ends at nightfall on Friday, September 26th. In observation of this festive holiday of apples and honey, many public school districts in Fairfield County are closed on Thursday and/or Friday. Whether you plan to spend those days celebrating with your family (at the Congregation for Humanistic Judiasm's family service in Westport, for example) or are instead focusing on apple picking, pumpkin patch visiting, or corn maze exploring, we've rounded up our best suggestions for you.

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Some of the most popular and family friendly events (that are open to all members of the community and do not require congregation or temple membership) include:

Selah Rosh Hashanah Children's Service
Selah, a reconstructionst congregation in Stamford, holds a children's service that is free and open to the public on Thursday from 1 to 2 pm. The service, which is held on the grounds of the Long Ridge School, includes music as well as lessons. It is geared toward children 7 and under.
Long Ridge School, 478 Erskine Rd, Stamford

Family Rosh Hashanah Celebration at Temple Sholom
Families with young children (pre-k and younger) are invited to join the family celebration in the Main Sanctuary at Temple Sholom. Unlike the other celebrations at the Temple, tickets are not required, and all members of the community are welcome.
Temple Sholom, 300 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich

Congregation for Humanistic Judaism Family Service
This young people’s service is suitable for children ages 4 to 14 and their families. It has been carefully crafted over the years to represent the congregation’s philosophy of Humanistic Judaism. If you have young children, these services are a wonderful way to create a family experience of the holidays.
Unitarian Church of Westport 10 Lyons Plains Road, Westport

ShaNahNah with Sandi
Children ages 6 months to 2 years and their parents or caregivers are invited to celebrate the holiday with Sandi Waldstreicher and the Sara Walker Nursery School at the Stamford JCC. This celebration will have songs, movement activities, stories and a snack. The fee is $5 per child per event., and pre-registration is required.
JCC Sara Walker Nursery School, 458 Lakeside Drive, Stamford

If you do not celebrate Rosh Hashanah and are instead focusing on activities to fill the school vacation day, there are plenty of activities to keep kids of all ages busy.

Break Out Day: Get to Work
Head to the Stamford Nature Center for a day of special programs and self-guided activities to journey back in time and learn about farm work the way it used to be. Get a rare chance to see their antique farm tool collection. Do some hands-on work, including helping to make apple cider and butter. Learn the art of processing fibers such as wool and flax. Discover the milling history of Stamford and try your hand at grinding corn. There will also be hayrides around the farm and self-guided crafts to take home.
Stamford Museum and Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Rd, Stamford


Zelda the Zany Owl or Game On at Stepping Stones
Even my older kids can happily spend most of a day exploring Stepping Stones (with at least half of that time spent splashing about in the Energy Lab that we will forever refer to as "the water room"), but on Thursday they have two special programs that require neither pre-registration nor additional fees. Zelda the Zany Owl is a learning program from 1:30 to 2:30 that teaches kids 36 months and younger their ABCs and 123s via Zelda, their peppy, purple professor.  Game On engages kids ages 4 and up in games led by a museum coach to learn teamwork, accomplishment, responsibility, friendship and more. Both programs are first come, first served so sign up at the Welcome Desk.
Stepping Stones, 303 West Avenue, Norwalk

Jump N Art Camp
Your child is invited to come and spend his/her vacation day playing on the giant, soft, fun-filled interactive inflatables with Miss Melissa. She will engage your kids laughing, bouncing, playing games, and making crafts.
Pump It Up, 145 Main Street, Norwalk