Calendar of Events
- July 4 - July 5, 2009
31st Annual LobsterFest & Chicken BBQ and the
- 49th Niantic Outdoor Arts & Crafts ShowCome support the Niantic Lions Club as they once again sponsor the 31st Annual LobsterFest and Chicken BBQ. Lobsterfest 2009 will be held on July 4th (Saturday from 10:00 am - 7:00 pm) and July 5th (Sunday from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm). Located on the East Lyme Town Hall grounds (Pennsylvania Ave.), this annual Niantic summer tradition is sure to kick start your summer.
In addition to the above Niantic Lions LobsterFest and Chicken BBQ, the 49th Niantic Outdoor Arts & Crafts Show will also be held at the same location, on the same dates and same times. Admission to the Arts & Crafts show is free, and over 110 vendors are expected to be at the show.
Two great events, one great weekend !- July 4 - July 5, 2009
Flea & Farm Market and Crafts & Collectibles Show
The East Lyme Historical Society will host their Annual Fourth of July Weekend Flea Market on Saturday, July 4th, and Sunday July 5th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. This will take place on the Thomas Lee House Grounds, Route 156, just east of Rocky Neck State Park. Vendors from across the state participate in this well attended event. The Society itself has a table at this event, look for us in the barn, with great flea market finds. And of course, refreshments will be available for purchase. Additionally, free tours of the Thomas Lee House and the Little Boston School House will take place. As with all Society events, this is free and open to the public. Learn more about the Society’s work at: www.eastlymehistoricalsociety.org
- July 18, 2009
Celebrate East Lyme Festival
Join us on Saturday, July 18th from 3 to 9 pm, when a mile of Main Street in Downtown Niantic transforms into our 10th annual bash by the bay! Main Street, closed to vehicular traffic, will be filled with food, fun and entertainment for everyone! Over 100 vendors showcasing local business and creative communities will be on hand. Festivities also include live music and performances from the Town Green down to McCooks Point Park.
Visit our many live music stages and the performance stage sponsored by Arthur Murry featuring Core Rhythms, Ballroom and performances by Street Elite, Jazzercise, Gabriels Karate and more!
East Lyme Parks & Recreation Department sponsors Hole in the Wall Beach activities this year including the Sand Castle competition from 9a-11a and the first-ever Great Niantic Bay Raft Races at 6pm! Dunk First Selectman Paul Formica on the Town Green at 5pm to benefit Kids Cancer-vive! The Basket Bonanza by the Bay and Fair Share of Pie Sale are also back this year, both to benefit Care & Share of East Lyme!
Stop by Methodist Street and take a ride on the Roaming Railroad to benefit the Children's Museum of SECT and Care & Share of East Lyme.
Come on out and have some great family fun at our 10th annual Celebrate East Lyme and support your community! You will find something for every member of the family and loads of fun for all. Best of all, the day will end with a spectacular fireworks display over Niantic Bay, produced by East Lyme's own Tom Quinn, sponsored by Dominion! For more information or to become a vendor for 2010, email Heather Caulkins, Event Coordinator at GuppiesCT@sbcglobal.net or visit: www.CelebrateEastLyme.com- August 9, 2009
Niantic Bay Triathlon
East Lyme will once again serve as host site for the 2009 Niantic Bay Triathlon. The triathlon will be held on Sunday, August 9th beginning at 07:30 a.m. and features a 1/2 mile swim, 12-mile bike, and a 3.5 mile run through scenic East Lyme with water views and shaded streets. The Niantic Bay Triathlon is a flat, sprint distance race. Come support the athletes, shop for that special gift and dine at one of our many great shoreline restaurants in town.
For additional information about the triathlon, call
Beth Shluger at (860) 652-8866 or visit: Hartford Marathon website- September 20, 2009
Niantic Bay Half Marathon & 5K Road Race
The Niantic Bay Half Marathon and 5K is back for a 3rd year. The race will be held on Sunday, September 20th, at Rocky Neck State Park, Niantic.
This year brings two new additions to the event, a 5K walk and a special health expo. The 5K walk will be held in conjunction with the 5K race and will help raise money for the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation. The health expo, organized by the Chamber's Health Care Council, will provide spectators and participants with free health screenings and information on how to live a healthy lifestyle.
The Run and Walk start is at 10 a.m. with the Marathon start at 10:05 a.m. The event is limited to 1,500 participants. For more information or to register, contact John Bysiewicz at (203) 481-5933 or
visit: www.nianticbayhalfmarathon.com- October 3 - October 4, 2009
Heritage Weekend & Apple Pie Contest
The Smith-Harris House, located at 33 Society Road in Niantic, will again host their annual Heritage Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, October 3rd & 4th. This is a family oriented, fun and educational event for all ages, with costumed role-players, activities, music, children's games and food from bygone eras. Activities begin each day starting at 10:00 a.m.
In addition, the Smith-Harris House will again host their Apple Pie Contest on Sunday, October 4th starting at 2:30 p.m. The contest is open to all women, men and children. If interested in entering a pie for the contest, please call Betty Purvis at 739-9297.
For more information on the Heritage weekend, call 739-9297 or 739-2688 or visit: www.smithharris.org- October 25, 2009
Niantic Village Halloween Parade
Come one, come all, to one of the most highly entertaining events in town ~ the annual Niantic Halloween Parade.
Sponsored by the East Lyme Business Organization, the parade will take place on Sunday, October 25, 2009 beginning at 1:00 p.m., when children are welcome to browse the downtown shops for "Tricks and Treats".
Among the parade's signature features is the always popular Halloween Parade which will begin at 2:00 p.m. (starting at Hole-in-the-Wall)
Candy for the kids and costume prizes to be awarded.
For additional information, contact Terri Smith at 691-0528 or e-mail her at: jsmith5@snet.net- November 11, 2009
Veterans Day Observation
Come remember our veterans at a Candlelight Vigil on Wednesday, November 11, 2009. Festivities will begin at 12:00 noon on the Liberty Green (downtown Niantic - corner of Main St. and Pennsylvania Ave.). In the event of rain, the vigil will move to the American Legion facility on York Ave.
- November 21, 2009
2nd Annual Spirits of Sharing (Wine & Beer Tasting and Silent Auction)
Come fill a glass to help fill our Care & Share Food Pantry at the Spirits of Sharing Wine & Beer Tasting and Silent Auction. After such a huge success last year (in 2008), this 2nd annual event will take place on Saturday, November 21, 2009 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Smith's Acres (4 West Main St., Niantic). Hot and cold hors d'oeuvres will be served as well as a variety of fine wines and beers. A keepsake wine glass will also be provide to each person. So come toast in the upcoming holiday season and help benefit the local Care & Share organization. Tickets are just $25.
For additional information, contact:
* Mermaid Liquors @ 739-2300
* Smith Acres @ 691-0528
* Care & Share @ 739-8502
- November 28, 2009
6th Annual Holiday Stroll
As an escape from high pressure holiday shopping in big box stores and congested parking lots at this time of year, the East Lyme villages of Niantic and Flanders are hosting the 5th Annual Holiday Stroll
on Saturday, November 28 from 3:00 – 8:00 pm.
This family-friendly day features horse-drawn carriage rides, carolers along the quaint shop-lined streets, sips of hot cider and cocoa, and the arrival of Santa on a shiny red fire truck to the town green in time for a tree lighting ceremony at 5:00 pm on Liberty Green in the heart of Niantic Village.
Volunteers and local merchants have joined forces to capture the spirit of the season in this picturesque small-town celebration. Stroll organizers will once again provide the “Snowball Drop” which encourages residents to shop locally. From the top of the fire truck ladder a blizzard of “snowballs,” little white ping pong balls, drop into the streets for strollers to pick up. Each “snowball” is marked with business names offering discounts or surprises. This year, several red “Rudolph Noses” will be added to the snowdrop, offering even grander prizes.
It’s a rare occasion when almost everyone gets to be a ‘winner’ and it’s just a lot of fun for the strollers and the retailers. Throughout the evening, local businesses and restaurants will offer refreshments and special discounts and giveaways. Additional children’s activities and crafts will be coordinated by East Lyme Youth Services.
- November 29 - December 6, 2009
4th Annual ~ Home for the Holidays
Come celebrate the holiday spirit at the 4th Annual “Home for the Holidays” sponsored by The Smith-Harris House and Niantic Main St. This year’s event will take place from Sunday, November 29th thru Sunday, December 6th, 2009.
Local businesses and patrons will decorate a fanciful array of holiday trees, which will be on display for the entire family to view and enjoy beginning on Sunday, November 29th at the Smith-Harris House.
Visitors can bid to win the decorated trees in an ongoing silent auction throughout the week, and/or vote for their favorite tree.
The silent auction concludes on December 6th, when Smith-Harris House will host an old fashion Wassail Party. The festivities include live authentic 19th century holiday music, wassail punch, home-baked treats and even a visit from an historic 19th century Santa. The Smith Harris House is located at 33 Society Road and a $3 donation is requested. All proceeds from the tree and wreath sale go to Friends of Smith-Harris House and Niantic Main Street, in support of community programming.
For further information visit: SmithHarris.org or contact either:
Carol Marelli at 739-2688 or via e-mail at: camarelli@sbcglobal.net or
Meg Mahon at 691-1561 or via e-mail her at: meg@ashorespace.com- December 13, 2009
21st Annual Niantic (East Lyme) Light Parade
Marking its 21st Anniversary, the 2009 Niantic (East Lyme) Light Parade is sure to be an event folks will be talking about. Come join the thousands who line Niantic's Main Street each year for this very special annual holiday event and see the beauty and creativity of the nearly 60 floats that parade down Niantic's Main St. Bring your family and friends, and start your holiday season off with the feeling of the holidays. This year, in honor of the parade’s 21st anniversary, a mobile food drive float will be featured in the parade. Please bring non-perishable food items to the parade, and you can help the parade elves FILL A FLOAT and help feed local families this holiday season.
For additional East Lyme Light Parade information, visit: www.EastLymeLightParade.com