The weekend of May 6th and 7th, the Town of Southbury will hold a History Talk and Walk, as part of Southbury’s 350th Anniversary Celebration. Both events are free and open to the public.
On May 6th at 1:00pm will be a History Talk at the Southbury Library entitled “350 Years in 35 Minutes”. Presented by Town Historian John Dwyer, it will highlight the circumstances that brought colonial settlers to set their homesteads on Southbury’s Main Street 350 years ago. Registration is required as space is limited. Go to the Library’s website: www.southburylibrary.org/event/350-years-35-minutes or call (203) 262-0626 to reserve a seat.
On May 7th, from 12pm to 3:00pm, there will be a History Walk at Settlers Park, 280 Crook Horn Road. Take a walk through time, and learn as you go with this fun, outdoor community event. It is open to all, with no registration required or limits to attendance.
Visitors will park in designated areas within Settlers Park, and gather near the gazebo. The event kicks off at noon with food trucks, historical artifacts and games, and live acoustic music. The History Walk portion begins at 1:00pm and includes a military encampment setup with live demonstrations, serving to highlight Southbury’s historical connection to the Revolutionary War. Following the demonstrations, this fife and drum led walk proceeds to Crook Horn Rd, Mansion House Rd and Kingsland, stopping for presentations at key landmarks along the way. The walk will end back in Settlers Park at the gazebo, where the festivities will continue until 3:00pm.
The event is organized by the Southbury Land Trust and Southbury 350th Anniversary Steering Committee, with participation by the Sons of the American Revolution, Mattatuck Fife ‘n Drum Band, Southbury Historical Society, Michael Carrington, Kraftwich and Sonny’s Asian Grinders. Sponsors are Monty’s Downtown: An American Pub, and Senor Panchos. Details on both events may be found on the Town website at: www.southbury-ct.org/350.
The Town of Southbury is holding events and activities all year long to celebrate 350 years of community, culture and history (1673-2023), aimed at highlighting the past and progress of the one and only Southbury.
The 350th Anniversary Steering Committee is John Dwyer and Kevin Bielmeier, co-chairs; Brian Jones, vice-chair; Justin Bette, Lynn Dwyer, Melinda Elliott, Michael Ganem, Kara Kenney, Mary Korsu, and Gosia Liedlich.