November - December 2024 News
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MESSAGE FROM P&R DIRECTOR
I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful time of year and finding time to be outside in the fresh air. Fall is certainly proof that change is beautiful. Every year I make sure I pencil in something outdoors on the last weekday after school before Daylight Saving Time ends. It’s become a Fall tradition for my daughter and me, and we encourage you to do the same! This year that day falls on the day after Halloween - a perfect reason to take your kids to one of our parks or go on a hike, walk, or bike ride the day after consuming all that Halloween candy. It’s a moment I always savor because I know it means we have a long Winter ahead.
Thank-you to everyone who came to carve pumpkins with us last Friday. I enjoyed seeing the designs the kids came up with. And thank-you to the Ladies Auxiliary for hosting everyone outside at the Spooktacular. Before we know it, we’ll be searching through the attic for our turkey hats and socks for the Southbury Women's Club’s Turkey Trot. In the spirit of the next holiday, Thanksgiving, I’d like to express my gratitude to anyone who has ever signed up for our programs, and to all the coaches and instructors who have provided programs for us. I hope to see you on Saturday, December 7th at our Holiday Celebration beginning at 4PM (3PM for sensory friendly hour). We will light the tree and the kinara, illuminate the dreidel, have crafts for all the December holidays, sing carols, serve free hot chocolate and have a food truck with yummy soups for purchase. I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!
Meghan Lennon (she/her)
Parks and Recreation Director
MLennon@southbury-ct.gov
Events - Thank You for Participating!
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SOUTHBURY CELEBRATION
Thank you for joining us at the 26th Southbury Celebration. It was a wonderful day for Food! Fun! Fireworks! More photos on website or Facebook.
HOLIDAY CELEBRATION – Saturday, December 7, 2024, 4:00-6:45pm
Firehouse and the Town Hall Green, 501 Main Street South.
- 3:00pm to 4:00pm: Sensory Friendly activities for those who require accommodations will be held inside the Firehouse.
- 4:00pm to 6:45pm: Activities inside the Firehouse will include: cookie decorating, games, crafts, and live music.
(Last entry into the Fire House will be 6:45. Patrons who are inside the Fire House will complete their activities before 7 pm).
For more information go to southburyct.myrec.com.
- Pumpkin Decorating Contest: until November 4
- Scarecrow Contest: until November 4
- Guessing Game - How Many Leaves in the Jar: until November 7
Details at www.southbury-ct.org/park-rec/events.
4th ANNUAL HOLIDAY HOUSE LIGHTS CONTEST - by December 9, 2024
Southbury Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce the 4th Annual Holiday House Lights Contest. Southbury families and businesses are invited to decorate their house or business to spread holiday cheer for all to see. Once your house or business is decorated, please fill out our entry form at southbury-ct.org/holidaylights. Entries must be submitted by Monday, December 9, 2024.
Contest categories include, but are not limited to:
- Merry & Bright (best use of lights)
- The North Pole (best North Pole design)
- Gingerbread Village (Heritage Village entries only)
- Santa’s Workshop (best use of holiday décor - local business category only)
- Winter Wonderland (best winter themed decor)
- Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (best use of music, inflatables & technology)
LETTERS TO SANTA - November 29 to December 12, 2024
If your child writes to Santa Claus, Santa will return a letter to your child!
Santa wrote a letter to the children and, at his request, we’ve created a template return letter for children to use - check the website for details.
Santa still welcomes handwritten letters and even pictures! Parents/Guardians are recommended to make sure that the mailing address is legible.
Santa has asked Southbury Parks and Recreation's team to collect letters starting on Friday, November 29 to send to Santa. In order to get them to the North Pole in time, the deadline to drop off the letters is Thursday, December 12.
Participants can drop off letters in the Southbury Parks and Recreation's drop box, right outside our office doors (before you enter the building) on 561 Main Street South- Southbury, CT 06488.
A CONVERSATION ON GRIEF – December 4, 2024, 7:00-8:30pm
How to survive and thrive after the loss of a child. A conversation with Diane Slater. Details and registration.
HOLIDAY PARENTS' DAY OUT! - Saturday, December 14 (8:00 - 3:30 pm)
Parents can go shopping, prepare for the holidays, or enjoy a day alone, while Southbury Parks and Recreation entertains their children with Holiday-themed crafts and activities including gingerbread house and ornament activities. Lunch/food is not provided. Please pack a bagged lunch, refillable water bottle, and snack! Register by 12/9.
PARKS & REC CLUBHOUSE - Ball Python & Snakes Lab
This lab offers a fun way of learning about certain snakes as pets and in the wild, including all the different snakes in Connecticut. Each lab offers something different and each class ends with hands-on experience with pet ball pythons.
Snakes 101: Identifying different snakes (venomous vs. non-venomous), a brief introduction to most snake's anatomy, and how to read the body language of a snake (when they may bite you). Each Snake 101 class offers a different craft or activity at the end of each class!
Ball Python 102: In this class, we take up to 4 families (1 child and 1 parent/guardian), so each family is paired with 1 of our ball pythons. Each family will hold each ball python and interact with them before pairing up.
One of these classes (labeled Ball Python 102 + FEEDING) will allow the participant to feed their snake at the end of the class (with an instructor's assistance)! If you do not want to feed your snake, you can have more handling/bonding time with the snake.
Register for one of these classes by 10/28.
COACH BUS TRIP TO THE RADIO CITY ROCKETTES - Friday, December 27 (12:00 - 8:00 pm)
Credit: www.rockettes.com
Experience the Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes at Radio City this December with Parks and Rec! This 8-hour day includes coach bus transportation from Southbury Parks and Recreation to New York City, and your admission to the Radio City Rockettes show. (It does not include any meals). The bus will depart at 12PM on Friday 12/27, and return at 8PM, with tickets to the 4:00PM show. The show is 90 minutes long without an intermission. You will have some time before the show to freely explore the magic of NYC during the holidays. The bus will depart at 6:15PM for our return back to CT. This trip is open to anyone, although all minors must be accompanied by an adult. Spots are limited to the first 50 registrants. NO REFUNDS will be given once your ticket is purchased. Registration opens for non-residents on Tuesday November 12, 2024.
Click to register.
Stay tuned for winter aquatics pool hours and programming, including swim lessons! An aquatics based newsletter will be sent out once the Pomperaug High School Pool renovations are completed, and dates are secured.
Toddler Programs
- Holiday Sensory Friendly Toddler Class | Ages 2 & under | Tuesday, 12/3 | 9:00 – 10:00AM | FREE to attend | Register by 11/27 | Details and Registration
Youth Programs
- December Vacation Camp | Grades K-8 | Monday 12/23, Friday 12/27, Monday 12/30, Tuesday 12/31 | 7:30am-3:30pm | After camp hours offered 12/23, 12/27 and 12/30 only from 3:30 – 5:30pm | Register by 12/16 | Details and Registration
- Half Day Adventure | GES, PES and LMES Grades K-5 | Wednesday, 12/4 | 1:00pm-4:00pm | Register by 11/20 | Details and Registration
- Renew Kids Yoga | Ages 5-11 | 11/09-12/28 | 10:00am-10:45am | Register by 11/4 | Details and Registration
- Holiday Parents' Night Out | Grades K-9 | Saturday, 12/14 | 8:00am-3:30pm | Register by 12/9 | Details and Registration
All Ages
- Golf Lessons - Details and Registration
- Women Only | Ages 15+ | Fridays, 12/6-12/27 | 6:00pm-7:00pm | Register by 11/29
- Adult Novice Lessons | Ages 15+ | Mondays, 12/2-12/30 excluding 12/9 | 6:00pm-7:00pm | Register by 11/25
- Painting Classes | Ages 6+ | 12:00pm-2:00pm | Register by 11/4 for first class | Details and Registration
- Octopus | Sunday, 11/10
- Shark | Sunday, 11/17
- Penguin | Sunday, 12/1
- Polar Bear | Sunday,12/8
- Reindeer | Sunday, 12/15
- Parks & Rec Clubhouse: Ball Python & Snakes Lab | Details and Registration
- Snakes 101 | Ages 5+ | Saturday, 11/2 | 9:00am-10:15am | Register by 10/28
- Ball Python 102 | Ages 3+ | Saturday, 11/2 | 10:30am-11:15am | Register by 10/28
- Parks & Rec Clubhouse | Details and Registration
- Slime Lab | Ages 5+ | Friday, 11/22 | 4:30pm-5:15pm | Register by 11/14
- Holiday Lab | Ages 2+ | Saturday, 12/14 | 4:00pm-5:00pm | Register by 12/9
REGISTER NOW FOR PROGRAMS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!
To serve you better, all schedules of Southbury Parks & Recreation are subject to change. All Parks and Recreation programs are covered by the Universal Disclaimer.
Southbury Parks and Recreation would like to share these announcements from the local Youth Sports organizations. Please note that these programs are not run by the Southbury Parks and Recreation Department. All questions and comments should be sent to the organizations.
Pomperaug Basketball Community
Pomperaug Basketball Community is taking registrations for their recreational high school basketball leagues, grades K-12. Register here.
PBC Fundraiser Tournament
The 8th grade boys’ and girls’ PBC basketball teams will kick off their ‘24-25 season with a Sideline Cancer Jamboree on Saturday, November 23, starting at 9:00am at Pomperaug High School. PBC will compete against the New Milford YBC. You can purchase a Sideline Cancer shirt or hoodie and wear it to the event!
Proceeds from the event will be used to support local families that are currently affected by cancer by means of gas and grocery gift cards, Uber gift cards, appreciation gifts for the medical staff, and more. The day of the event there will also be raffle items and snacks for sale with all proceeds going back to our cause. Together we can “SIDELINE CANCER!”
Visit this website for more information and details.
Pomperaug Youth Lacrosse
Pomperaug Youth Lacrosse is offering a Free K-4th Clinic to try the sport (first-timers). Sunday November 17th 10:30am-11:30am at NYA Sports & Fitness in Newtown (indoor turf field). This is a non-contact fun experience to learn the basics of lacrosse.
Registration link
Programs coming soon through Southbury Parks and Recreation: Winter Swim Lessons, February Vacation Camp, Parents Night Out, Parks & Rec Clubhouse, Taekwon-Do, and Yoga by Flow to Fit Studio. Registration for Summer Camp 2025 will be opening this winter! Visit our Programs Page regularly for more information.
Programs coming soon through Pomperaug Basketball Community (PBC): Little Swishers starting in January. Visit PBC’s website for updated information.
WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Do you have a talent that you would like to share? The Southbury Parks and Recreation Department is always looking for new instructors for our classes. To submit a class for consideration, download the form and return to our office.
Is there a class or event you would like us to offer? Please email us at lpolasek@southbury-ct.gov and let us know.
If you have any other comments or suggestions, please email us at lpolasek@southbury-ct.gov.
YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES
For information regarding youth sports organizations in town, please click here.