By Janet Serra

Weekend in Norfolk, Aug. 4, 5 and 6, is a three-day, town-wide art, music and nature festival. This year, WIN has a large selection of things that kids and their families will especially enjoy. The fun starts Friday with bocce at the court behind 10 Station Place. The court, complete with equipment, will be open all weekend for anyone who wants to play.

On Saturday, Aug. 5, at 11 a.m., kids will be intrigued and delighted as they watch an award-winning puppet show, “The Snowflake Man,” performed by PuppetKabob at the Norfolk Library. Creative storytelling, intricately designed Czech-style marionettes and a striking pop-up book of watercolor scenery take children on a journey to the 1920s.

Kids who like science should head to the Norfolk Hub on Saturday morning to try out Richard Kessin’s “magical microscopes” before making their way up to kids’ day at the Norfolk Farmers Market. Running from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the market will have live music and all kinds of special events like a scavenger hunt, corn hole toss and face painting. 

On Saturday afternoon at the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department’s open house, from 1 to 3 p.m., kids can enjoy a ceremonial wet-down of Norfolk’s new fire tanker, then cross the street to the Meadowbrook Apartments for Blueberry Betty and music, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Finally, at dusk, everyone is invited to go stargazing at Great Mountain Forest to learn about the constellations and other lore. Norfolk has one of the state’s darkest night skies, so a look through a telescope here is a real thrill.

On Sunday, Aug. 6, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival will hold its open house in and around the Music Shed. Children who love music shouldn’t miss the free concert, put together especially for budding musicians, from 1:30 to 2 p.m. After the concert, kids are invited to an ice cream social, from 2 to 3 p.m., followed by a performance by world-renowned animal trainer Bill Berloni and some of his trained dogs.

For details and the latest updates, visit WIN’s website, weekendinnorfolk.org.