Weekend in Norfolk will highlight the town’s best

By Colleen Gundlach

When everyone involved reaches his or her goal and everyone profits in some way, it is colloquially called a win-win situation. Win is just what Norfolk is poised to do in a few weeks when residents and visitors alike benefit as Weekend in Norfolk (WIN) unfolds on August 5, 6 and 7.

Within the roughly 46.41 square miles that constitute the town of Norfolk are a multitude of natural, cultural and historical treasures not often seen in a town of 1,700 people. It is this abundance that prompted three townspeople to launch what may be the most enterprising and expansive weekend Norfolk has ever seen.

Sue Frisch was the chairman, a few years ago, of the committee that brought out the Norfolk Map and Guide. The guide proved to be so helpful and popular that Frisch started thinking about organizing an event that would bring in all the elements of the Map and Guide and draw visitors to the town. She met with Holly Gill and Ruth Melville, who shared her enthusiasm, and Weekend in Norfolk was born.

“We wanted a way to show off what we consider to be wonderful about this town,” says Frisch. “We wanted a way to introduce Norfolk to outsiders and show the aspects of the town that we value the most, and the time was right.”

Last November the trio sent letters to leaders of Norfolk businesses and organizations, inviting them to come to an open meeting to discuss ways they could participate in a townwide open house. Twenty-five people attended that first meeting, and each brought ideas and lots of enthusiasm that resulted in an agenda for August 5, 6 and 7 that will encompass all facets of Norfolk life and will encourage visitors to stay for the whole weekend.

Some of the events planned for WIN include tours of stained glass windows of all three local churches and daylong demonstrations or exhibits at the Artisans Guild, Norfolk Historical Society and Norfolk Library. Norfolk Artists and Friends will have their annual exhibition at the Art Barn, and Haystack Quilters will present a quilt show at the Congregational Church. There will be concerts at Yale School of Music and Infinity Hall, as well as live music on Village Green and Robertson Plaza.

The Norfolk Land Trust is offering a hiking challenge where participants are asked to take a “selfie” at the top of each of the trust’s six trails to win a t-shirt. Aton Forest is offering a wildflower workshop, and Great Mountain Forest is leading a guided hike through the GMF property.

Children, too, will have a full day at WIN, with children’s games, a special concert in the Music Shed, a scavenger hunt and a watermelon-eating contest, just to name a few.

Visitors can even get married or renew their vows, since First Selectman Sue Dyer has offered to conduct ceremonies on the Village Green complete with supplied bouquets and ring bearers, with witnesses standing by. This service is offered free of charge.

All town businesses and organizations who are not yet involved with WIN are invited to do so by planning an event or putting business cards or other handouts at the Weekend in Norfolk visitor tent that will be set up on the town green.

The face of WIN is being supplied by award-winning runners and Norfolk natives Margaret Alexson and Mary Bazzano-Reeve. The twins have been posing throughout town for publicity photos. They are sporting WIN t-shirts and appearing at venues representing quintessential Norfolk—the face of Weekend in Norfolk.

Frisch says that the idea of WIN has struck a chord with the people of Norfolk. “We are all realizing that our town is special, and we want to show people why we value Norfolk.” She is quick to stress, though, that the weekend isn’t just for out-of-towners, but is especially for Norfolkians. “We want the people in town to come out, enjoy and maybe discover some new things about the town that they didn’t know before.”

To see a complete schedule of Weekend in Norfolk events, go to weekendinnorfolk.org. To participate, get in touch with the organizers.

Photo by Bruce Frisch: The WIN twins try on knits at the Artisans Guild, which will be holding craft demonstrations during Weekend in Norfolk.