Fun & Free Things To Do With Kids This Weekend In CT: Milford Oyster Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Teddy Bear Fest 8/20-21

8/18/11 - By Mary Beth Lawlor

Here we are, the second to last weekend in August. School days are right around the corner so savor these last days of summer while you can. There's plenty of fun to be had this weekend including one of the largest annual festivals in CT: Annual Milford Oyster Festival. In Hartford the Riverfront Dragon Boat and Asian Festival looks like a great cultural event and the Peach Festival at Lyman Orchards gets me craving warm peach pie just thinking about it.

PS Don't miss out on our $50 Give Away at Three Monkeys & Me Children's Boutique and Toy Store. Drawing ends Thursday night.

Here's our list of best bets for the weekend. You can always check for more on our calendar.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

ALL WEEKEND

Annual Milford Oyster Festival - Milford
The Annual Milford Oyster Festival is the largest one-day Festival in Connecticut that attracts over 50,000 people a year.  There's various entertainment acts seen free of charge, over 200 arts and crafts vendors from around the country, rIdes, games, kayak races, car shows, you name it. They expect to sell almost 20,000 oysters and clams, and more than 1,000 portions of cooked shellfish, too, from a 60-foot long food booth staffed by about 50 volunteers.

Riverfront Dragon Boat and Asian Festival - Hartford
Witness the exciting sport of dragon boat racing on the Connecticut River!  This 11 year old event is comprised of two full days of dragon boat racing accompanied by a culture-rich Asian Festival – complete with authentic Asian cuisine, an Asian beer garden and a full schedule of cultural entertainment, activities for children and martial arts demonstrations.

SATURDAY

New Britain Museum of American Art Free Admission
- New Britain

Peach Festival - Middlefield
Pick your own peaches, go on pony and wagon rides, listen to live music and get your face painted. The Apple Barrel will open for breakfast at 8 a.m.

"Dinosaur State Park Day"  - Rocky Hill
Participate in games and activities at the park, watch live entertainers and animal shows, win prizes and more. Food will be available. Most outdoor activities are free.

Mother & Daughter Makeover - Washington
Join us for fun-filled day of beauty with experts from Paul Mitchell and MaryKay cosmetics.  They'll share advice and ideas on hair and skincare while they provide personal hair-dos or makeovers for participants. Be sure to register for this terrific event!

Teddy Bear Fest at Beardsley Zoo - Bridgeport
Bring your favorite teddy bear friend to the Zoo! This “beary” fun day also will feature children’s crafts and storytelling focusing on Bear Awareness and the facts about real bears. FREE admission for children under age 12 who bring their teddy bear to the “Teddy Bear Clinic” and are accompanied by a paying adult.

Southington Drive-In Saturday Nights - Stonington
Field of Dreams is playing tonight.

2011 Corn Maze Adventure Opening Day - Thompson
Opening day features free admission to the children's section of the maze, live music from local band Big Yellow Taxi and wagon rides. The farm's creamery will also be serving ice cream.

Music Mountain - Falls Village
New Orleans blues, stomps and spirituals: The Galvanized Jazz Band. A Music Mountain Regular. High energy renditions of New Orleans blues, stomps and spiritual.

SUNDAY

26th annual Family Day Festival in Hartford's Keney Park - Hartford
Features live entertainment including a performance by Jus Us Band (old school R&B/soul band from Springfield), a Pro-Am basketball tournament, guided nature walks, hay rides and more. Family activities include bounce houses, swimming and a Zumba dance party.

SkyQuest for younger children - New Haven
Show consists of a 5-7 minute live show about tonight's sky followed by "Sky Quest", a show about constellations, the Moon, and planets. This show is particularly suitable for young children.

Celebrate the discovery of Jurassic dinosaur footprints! - Rocky Hill
The day will feature a wide variety of programs for families. They will include: Live animal demonstrations by Riverside Reptiles and Sharon Audubon, games with prizes, Face painting, Musical entertainment, Costumed characters, Mining for gems or fossils (a small materials fee is charged). Guided nature walks and an extensive crafts area.

Fun Sundays at the Litchfield Historical Society Museum - Litchfield
Stop byfor fun, games, or to learn a new skill. Activities will range from outdoor games to quill pen writing to ice cream making.

Take Part in Art at Weir Farm - Wilton
Experience first-hand the fun of plein air painting and sketching while becoming a part of an enduring artistic tradition.Watercolor supplies will be available for free.

Florence Griswold Museum - Old Lyme
Try your hand painting plein air, in the open air, just like the Lyme Art Colony artists. Painters are given brushes, palette, paint, canvas, and a smock and are invited to paint down by the river or in Miss Florence's garden.