Yale University Library Research Guides: Lewis Walpole Library Fellows' Guide: Local Activities

Farmington Cultural and Heritage Organizations

The Farmington Heritage Alliance is a group of local non-profit heritage- or cultural-related, site-based organizations.

Farmington Historical Society P.O. Box 1645, Farmington 860-678-1645

Farmington Land Trust, 119 Coppermine Road, Unionville, CT 06085 (860) 674-8545

Hill-Stead Museum, 5 Mountain Road, Farmington 860-677-4787

Farmington Libraries

Main Library: 6 Monteith Drive, Farmington 860-673-6791 x1

Barney Library: 71 Main Street, Farmington 860-673-6791 x2

The Lewis Walpole Library, 154 Main Street, Farmington 860-677-2140

Miss Porter's School, 60 Main Street, Farmington 860-409-3500

Stanley-Whitman House, 37 High Street, Farmington 860-677-9222

The Univionville Museum, 16 School Street, Unionville

The Unionville Village Improvement Association, P.O. Box 587, Unionville 860-577-0246

Local Farmington History

Local and national farm animal and wildlife webcams

Farmington Walking Map

Walking Map of Farmington, interactive map of historic sites, cultural institutions, and Freedom Trail locations along Main Street and vicinity in central Farmington.

Music and Entertainment

Hill-Stead Museum located on Mountain Rd, Farmington, offering programs throughout the year 860-677-4787

The Hartford Stage One of the leading resident theatres in the United States. 860- 527-5151

Trinity College, Hartford (summer series and open-air carillon concerts on Wednesday evenings during summer)

The Bushnell Performing Arts Center Connecticut’s premier performing arts center. Home of traveling Broadway shows, the Connecticut Forum, the Hartford Symphony and the Connecticut Opera 860-987-5900

Talcott Mountain Music Festival Enjoy summer weekends with Talcott Mountain Music Festival, a five-concert series each summer held at the Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center. Performances by the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.

(Yale) Norfolk Chamber Music Festival Nestled among northwest Connecticut's pastoral LItchfield hills, the village of Norfolk has hosted the summer programs of the Yale School of Music and Norfolk Chamber Music Festival since 1941.

Yale School of Music on the Yale Campus in New Haven. Professional and student performances during term.

Yale Repertory Theatre, on the Yale Campus in New Haven

Long Wharf Theatre, 222 Sargent Drive, New Haven

International Festival and Arts and Ideas, New Haven, held each summer in June in New Haven and on the Yale campus.

Cinemas

AMC Loews Plainville 20, 220 New Britain Avenue, Plainville. For listings call, 860-793-6661 Guest Services: 860-747-1071

CineStudio, Cinestudio is an independent film theater located on the campus of Trinity College in Hartford. The fare varies from independent and foreign films to second-run major studio pictures. The theater is a single-screen venue with a seating capacity of approximately 500. at Trinity College, Hartford. 860-297-2463

Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas 42 South Main Street, West Hartford.

Outdoor Activities

Antiquing:

Brimfield Antique Flea Markets, held for a week in May, July, and September each year in Brimfield, MA, about an hour's drive east on 84 then west on 20.

Antiquing in Connecticut -- Connecticut Antique Trail

Art Classes:

Farmington Valley Arts Center Farmington Valley Arts Center offers a wide variety of classes, workshops, events, parties, exhibitions, and open studios that enrich our communities and support local artists

Bicycling:

*The Library has two bicycles from which to choose. For details see the Accommodations page.

Bicycle trails. Farmington Canal Heritage Trail (FCHT) and the Farmington River Trail.

Hiking/walking:

Farmington Trail System Farmington offers a wide variety of trails to connect everyone to the great outdoors. It has a National Scenic Trail, two trails on the Farmington Valley Greenway, eight historic trails connecting to at least five eras, several handicapped trails to fishing piers, and a number of short hikes through Farmington's forests. If the trails appear too wet, try one of six historic walks through Unionville and Farmington.

Farmington Land Trust maintains land in Farmington. A map of FLT property and trails is available in the Root House.

Hill-Stead Museum, offers self-guided and guided tours along outdoor trails across the 152-acre property in Farmington.

trail map

Talcott Mountain State Park and Heublein Tower, located in Simsbury, the Tower Trail is 1.25 miles long and leads to the Heublein Tower, an observation tower on top of Talcott Mountain; a walk to the Tower takes approximately 30 - 40 minutes. Also running through the park is a section of the Metacomet Trail, developed and maintained with volunteer assistance by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. For more info see Friends of the Heublein tower and Connecticut state DEI site .

Horseback riding:

There are a number of stables in the area offering adult riding lessons; however none offers trail rides.

Avon Valley Show Stables the closest stable that offers single adult lessons

Golf:

Tower Ridge Disc Golf, 18-hold public golf course

Tunxis Plantation Country Club, 45-hole public golf course

Miniature golf:

Farmington Miniature Golf and Ice Cream Parlor, classic mini-golf experiences alongside an old-fashioned ice cream parlor

Polo:

Farmington Polo Club. Play or watch. Games most Sunday afternoons from late spring through late September.

Wine trail:

Connecticut Wine Trail, including nearby Rosedale Farms and Vineyard, the Connecticut Vineyard and Winery Association’s blue wine trail signs will help guide you to the 25 wineries comprising the Connecticut Wine Trail.

Other:

Clatter Ridge Farm Local farm neighbor of the Hill-Stead Museum; raises sheep, pigs & chickens & sells products online.

Farmington River Tubing, 2.5 mile tube ride down the Farmington River: