Connecticut Open House Day 2016: Celebrate in Shelton with Freebies and Discounts

By WENDY ANN MITCHELL (Patch Staff)

Join area Nutmeggers for a day-long celebration of what makes Connecticut great as the state celebrates Connecticut Open House Day on Saturday, June 11, 2016

Area museums, galleries and attractions across the Nutmeg state are offering discounted or free admission, giveaways, special offers, hands-on activities for kids and much more. Grab the kids and the camera and check out what's happening near you this Saturday!

Here are some activities taking place in your area on Connecticut Open House Day, Saturday, June 11, 2016.

Bethel

• Bethel Historical Society - Visit the historic building at 40 Main Street at 2 p.m. and listen to Bethel Town Historian Patrick Tierney Wild present his program entitled "Bethel's Past Rediscovered." The lecture features a PowerPoint presentation featuring recently discovered historic photos of Bethel. Photographs include images of the downtown area, local businesses, railroad scenes, schools, hatting, the Barnum Fountain and a few surprises. A $3 donation is suggested.

Brookfield

• Brookfield Craft Center - Reception from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. celebrating the opening of an exhibition of the works of Elizabeth Macdonald, entitled “Fragments of the Whole.” Admission is free and refreshments will be served.
  
• Brookfield Theatre for the Arts - From 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., offering free backstage tours, display of photographs of past shows and workshops.

Danbury

• Trailer Box Gallery - View the Danbury High School Arts honor students art exhibit and enjoy complimentary refreshments from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
• @287 Gallery & Meeting Place - Enjoy light refreshments and browse the art gallery from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
  
• Art at Ives - Free admission for the first 100 visitors to this juried fine arts and crafts show on June 11 only. Event runs from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
  
• Danbury Museum & Historical Society - Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. with opening of the exhibit “Toy Time! Playful Pieces.”
  
• Gallery at Still River Editions - Open from noon until 5 p.m. , featuring an opening reception for the exhibit, “Luminous Intervals: Extended Exposures in Alternative Photography;” with light refreshments, art and conversation.

Derby

• Kellogg Environmental Center & Osborne Homestead Museum - The museum is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and the center is open from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Guest receive free tours and a workshop.

Fairfield

• 1750 Ogden House - Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
  
• Bellarmine Museum of Art - Free family day activities from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
  
• Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Fairfield - Open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. offering guests a 10% discount off any purchase in the Nature Store.
  
• Fairfield Museum and History Center - Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
  
• Walsh Art Gallery - Open from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., offering visitors a free pencil.

Greenwich

• Bruce Museum - Free admission from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Kent

• Eric Sloane Museum - Free admission from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m

Middletown

• Wesleyan Potters - From 12 noon until 4 p.m. the center offers free tours and demonstrations, including pottery wheel throwing and fun children activites.

New Milford

• Pratt Nature Center - Open from dawn until dusk with a self-guided scavenger hunt through the trails. Each participant receive a Pratt Center sticker.

Newtown

• EverWonder Children's Museum - Free admission from 10 a.m. until noon and half off admission from noon until 5 p.m.

Norwalk

• Norwalk Historical Society - Free admission from noon until 4 p.m.

Ridgefield

• Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum - Free admission for Connecticut residents from noon until 5 p.m.
  
• Keeler Tavern Museum - Free admission from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
  
• Suzanne Benton Studio & Art Showcase - Open artist studio from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. with complimentary brochures and invitation cards.
  
• Thali - Get 15 percent off lunch from noon-2:30 p.m. or dinner from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Sharon

• Ellsworth Hill Orchard & Berry Farm - Visitors will receive special discount on pick-your-own strawberries. Open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Shelton

• Shelton History Center - Free admission from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
• SportsCenter of Connecticut - One free activity per person from 9:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Sherman

• Sherman Historical Society - Enjoy cookies and lemonade or ice tea and children’s scavenger hunt from noon until 4 p.m.

Southbury

• Bullet Hill School - Free admission from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Take a tour of one of the oldest brick schoolhouses in the state with costumed docents leading the tour. Play colonial games, write with a quill pen and use slate boards and slate pencils.

Stamford

• Stamford Museum & Nature Center - Free admission for the first 100 visitors from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Stratford

• Captain David Judson House - Free admission from 12 - 3 p.m. with self-guided tours and refreshments.

Washington

• H.O.R.S.E. of CT, Inc. - Free admission from 1 - 3 p.m.
  
• Hollister House Garden - Free admission to the garden all day with lemonade and cookies in the garden house from 12 - 2 p.m.

Westport

• Westport Arts Center - Between the hours of 10 a.m.-12 noon or 1 p.m.-3 p.m., children receive a discount for an art workshop.
  
• Westport Historical Society - Guests receive a 10 percent discount on gift shop items from 12 until 4 p.m.

Woodbury

• Glebe House Museum & Gertrude Jekyll Garden - Free admission from noon until 4 p.m.

Image via CTVisit.com