Things To Do In Ridgefield Ct

Popular Restaurants In Ridgefield

The Hideaway Kitchen And Bar

The Hideaway Kitchen and Bar is an upbeat gastropub that serves casual fare and craft beers in a friendly and relaxed environment. The Hideaways family-friendly dining room serves a menu of traditional pub fare such as juicy steaks and burgers, fresh salads and starters, and other hearty entrées of pasta, seafood and more. There are of choices for the kids and healthy options for those watching their weight. The Hideaway has an inviting bar with three giant flat-screen televisions and a crackling fireplace where patrons can enjoy a range of craft beer on tap or by the bottle, along with sharing plates and small bites. Daily Happy Hour specials are offered, and handcrafted cocktails are popular with the post-work crowd.

30 Grove St, Ridgefield, CT 06877, Phone: 203-438-7676

Attend An Event At Lounsbury House

Most who visit Lounsbury House are there for a memorable event, most notably, a wedding. This gorgeous National Historic Site was built by Phineas C. Lounsbury, a former state governor, in 1896. A copy of the Connecticut State Building, it is so elegant you can’t help but gawk.

Sweeping staircases, grand columns, and immaculate gardens up the charm factor, while upscale furnishings and fixtures add more than a hint of true luxury. A ballroom, Crystal room, dining room can be found inside.

If you can’t finagle yourself a wedding invite, head online to schedule a tour or attend one of the many community events held in this marvel of an estate. The town’s community center for over 60 years, it plays host to everything from Teddy Bear Tea to art shows to food fairs.

Insider’s tip: Don’t miss the Ridgefield Veterans Memorial. It lies on the lawn in front of the house.

Address: 316 Main Street, Ridgefield, Connecticut

Official site:

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Seth Low Pierrepont State Park

A haven for hiking, fishing and boating, the Seth Low Pierrpont State Park is more than 300 acres of breathtaking, unblemished scenery coursed by trails.

To the west is Lake Naraneka, the lower half of which is hugged by the main, white-blazed trail that then bends north and climbs to the highest point in the park at a beautiful overlook.

At Barlow Mountain you can see across the Redding Hills and as far as Long Island Sound if you pick a clear day.

On the banks of the lake are picnic tables and shelters, fishing berths and a boat launch.

Catch A Concert At Ballard Park

Ballard Park, located on Ridgefields Main Street, is famous for outdoor concerts and other special events.

Summer visits to the town promise to be livelier, with twice-a-week musical performances at this venue.

CHIRP organizes these concerts featuring bands of various genres.

Theres more to enjoy at Ballard Park besides these concerts.

This five-acre green space provides a playground, well-landscaped gardens, and shade trees.

The park also offers picnic tables, making it ideal for family visits.

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Weir Farm National Historic Site

In Ridgefield you can visit the home and studio of the celebrated Impressionist painter J.

Alden Weir . Weir called his property, amid 60 acres of woodland, field and waterways, the Great Good Place. What makes this such an important site for American culture is the number of important painters who stayed at Weir Farm, including Albert Pinkham Ryder, Childe Hassam, John Twachtman and John Singer Sargent.

Weir Farm was Aldens summer home from 1882 to 1919, and he and his famous contemporaries would experiment with light and colour to create enduring masterpieces.

Weir Farm is Americas only national Park devoted to Impressionist painting, and its main appeal lies in the dainty gardens and rural landscapes immortalised by Weir, Sargent and the like.

You can take a tour of the Weir House, Weir Studio and Young Studio, either with a guide or at your own speed.

Art classes are held in this inspiring place, and you can grab a set of the free-to-use art supplies at the visitor center porch between May and October to paint your own masterpiece.

Tour The Peter Parley Schoolhouse

At this centuries-old schoolhouse, visitors can listen to tour guides colorful stories about it.

Also called the Little Red Schoolhouse or the West Lane Schoolhouse, the Peter Parley Schoolhouse traces back to 1756.

Its current, larger building was built during the 19th century and operational until the early 1900s.

On display in the schoolhouse are memorabilia, including childrens period workbooks, desks, and toys.

The Peter Parley Schoolhouse, located on the corner of West Lane and South Salem Road, now also serves as the headquarters of the Ridgefield Historical Society.

The Ridgefield Garden Club, the towns green-thumb advocate since 1914, maintains the schoolhouse grounds.

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Get Inspired At The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

You never know what you’re going to see at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Chock full of intriguing exhibits, this interesting spot is one of America’s oldest contemporary art museums. From giant babies to sculptures of grocery bags, it contains a world of unique wonders.

The fascinating displays have been crafted by emerging artists and those who are mid-career yet struggling to find a larger audience. Famous creators who have shown their works here include Frank Stella, Jack Whitten, Cindy Sherman, and Jeffrey Gibson.

The museum was originally housed in the “Old Hundred,” a 1783 grocery store turned post office turned home turned church. Today, it is located next door in a state-of-the art architectural masterpiece built in 2004. Behind lies a unique sculpture garden you won’t want to miss.

Insider’s tip: Be sure to ask the museum guards about the works on display. They have a wealth of in-depth knowledge.

Address: 258 Main Street, Ridgefield, Connecticut

Ridgefield Theater Barn Ridgefield Connecticut

The Ridgefield Theater Barn is a charming converted dairy barn with heat and air conditioning with 1,000 square foot addition that hosts the Ridgefield Workshop for the Performing Arts, Inc. The family-friendly community theater presents a variety of shows ranging from comedy and drama to musicals that includes a production schedule of four concerts per year performed by a team of raw amateurs and seasoned professionals. The barn theater offers a comfortable, intimate setting with cabaret seating, a reception gallery on the main level, and handicap accessible restrooms. Audience members are allowed to bring their food and beverages to enjoy before the show and during intermission.

37 Halpin Ln, Ridgefield, CT 06877, Phone: 203-431-9850

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Explore Ridgefield Through The Museum In The Streets

Go on a unique heritage discovery trail via the 30 stations of The Museum in the Streets.

This walking and driving tour will take you to various historical markers across Ridgefield.

One marker sampling can be appreciated on North Salem Road, where a Settlers Rock Marker is located.

Other markers along The Museum in the Streets include those for the 1777 Battle of Ridgefield, Smith Tavern, Elms Inn and Stebbins Homestead, and the Titicus School.

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 60 reviews

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum advances creative thinking by connecting todays artists with individuals and communities in unexpected and stimulating ways.

Reviewed By 62Debbi – New York City, United States

A ride in the country from the city is not complete unless one lists the charming Aldrich Museum in Ridgefield Ct. The shows are highly contemporary in a typical charming New England town adding a diverse array of contemporary artists. Small enough giving the viewer an opportunity to become intimately involved and truly enlighing the spectator. Once you try it I promise you’ll enjoy going again guaranteed no two experiences are the same.

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Connecticut’s First Cultural District

So Much to See and Do in Ridgefield, CT

We’re blushing a little.

In May 2021, the Connecticut Office of the Arts designated Ridgefield as Connecticut’s first Cultural District!

Walk, bike, or drive Ridgefields Cultural District. Enjoy arts, history, music, performance, and more.Plus, lots of mouthwatering dining options, and shopping, too.

Art. History. Performance. Experience the Ridgefield Cultural District

Ridgefield Playhouse Ridgefield Ct

The Ridgefield Playhouse is a community theater that hosts a variety of entertainment ranging from plays, musical performances, films, and other events. The 500-seat theater was opened in 2000 after being remodeled from the 1940s Cass Gilbert Jr.-designed auditorium at Ridgefield High School, preserving the halls excellent acoustics and making it an ideal venue for musical performance and live theater. A hand-painted mural with familiar scenes of historical Ridgefield adorns the lobby walls giving the nod to the importance of the town of Ridgefield. The theater has hosted a wealth of well-known performers, including Clint Black, Michael Feinstein, The Doobie Brothers, Gregg Allman, Diana Krall and more.

80 E Ridge Rd, Ridgefield, CT 06877, Phone: 203-438-5795

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What Kind Of Entertainment Will Be At The Apple Harvest Festival

Festival-goers can also expect live entertainment like a laser light show, fireworks, apple fritter and pie eating contests and the annual Apple Harvest Festival Parade. Additionally, there will be live arts and crafts show Oct. 8 and 9 at 11:00 a.m. where handmade goods and crafts will be displayed at various vendors. There are also 5-mile, 5K and 2-mile Apple Harvest road races that runners or walkers can register for here. The full entertainment schedule and times can be seen here.

Hammond Museum And Japanese Stroll Garden

Cross the state line into North Salem, New York and in a few short minutes youll come to this museum for Japanese and world art paired with a seven-acre Japanese stroll garden.

When we compiled this list in August 2019 there were four concurrent exhibitions: Works by master potter Jay Lindsay paintings and monotypes by artist Richard Jacobs pieces by acclaimed artist Elisa Pritzker inspired by the native Argentine Selknam tribe, and finally an outdoor sculpture display, Full Bloom.

This is all matched by a rich permanent collection that has just been bolstered by two important Masami Kodama sculptures in marble.

The Stroll Garden is integral to a visit, and along a circuitous path youll journey through a multi-sensory space to hear the sound of pebbles underfoot, catch the scent of katsura trees in early autumn, feel pine needles brush against your skin and delight in the visual beauty of the garden as a whole.

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On The National Register Of Historic Places

Part of the town center is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Ridgefield Center Historic District. The district was added to the Register in 1984 and includes representations of mid-19th-century revival, Late Victorian, and Colonial revival architectural styles. Noted architect Cass Gilbert purchased historic Keeler Tavern within the district and renovated it for his use as a summer home. Roughly bounded by Pound Street, Fairview Avenue, Prospect Ridge, and Whipstick Roads, the district was added on October 7, 1984. In addition to the town center historic district, there are a number of individual properties and at least one other historic district in the town that are NRHP-listed:

Ridgefield has nine public schools and two private schools. The public schools are managed by Ridgefield Public Schools. The six public elementary schools are Veterans Park, Branchville, Farmingville, Scotland, Barlow Mountain, and Ridgebury. Scotts Ridge Middle School and East Ridge are the town’s two middle schools. The high school is Ridgefield High School. The high school’s teams are called the Tigers.

Ridgefield’s Roman Catholic schools are St. Mary, serving preschool through eighth grade, and St. Padre Pio Academy, serving kindergarten through eighth grade and run by the Society of St. Pius X.

Bennett’s Pond State Park Ridgefield Connecticut

Bennett’s Pond State Park is a state park and public recreation area that is home to the 56-acre Bennett Pond, after which it is named. Occupying a portion of the 1,500-acre estate that was once the home of industrialist Louis D. Conley, the park is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, boasts many miles of hiking trails in a pristine woodland environment and is contiguous with the Wooster Mountain State Park. In addition to hiking in the park and along the Ivy Trail, which crosses through the park, visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, canoeing, mountain biking, and seasonal bow hunting.

550-698 Bennetts Farm Rd, Ridgefield, CT 06877, Phone: 860-424-3000

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Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

Established in 1964 this respected independent art museum gives a platform to innovative young or under-appreciated artists whose interpretations of the world help foster creative thinking.

The Aldrich has no permanent collection, and instead hosts the first exhibitions for emerging artists, as well as shows for artists in the middle of their careers who havent yet found a large audience.

The list of groundbreaking artists to have featured at the Aldrich is formidable and includes Frank Stella, Cy Twombly, Robert Rauschenberg, Olafur Eliasson, Eva Hesse and Jasper Johns.

The museums programs are designed to engage people of all ages with contemporary art through expert presentations, tours and workshops.

Swim At Martin Park Beach

Passes for individuals and families are traditionally available on starting from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day in September.

Besides swimming, this beach on Great Pond Road is also great for kayaking and picnics.

Lifeguards are on duty during the beachs operating hours.

Fishing is allowed at the Great Pond, where various types of bass, sunnies, bluegills, and eels can be caught.

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Explore Seth Low Pierrepont State Park

Seth Low Pierrepont State Park covers 305 acres and is accessible via Barlow Mountain Road, a few minutes from the town center.

A diplomat namesake of the park donated its acreage to Ridgefield in 1956, and the town designated it as a walk-in facility with no entrance fee.

Hiking, boating, fishing, and picnics are the activities to be enjoyed at Seth Low Pierrepont State Park.

The park features five blazed trails, including one looping around the south edge of its pond.

This water feature, alternatively called Lake Naraneka and Pierrepont Pond, covers 38 acres and has a launch for non-motorized boating.

Keeler Tavern Museum And History Center

Steeped in history, the Keeler Tavern was first built in 1713 and was caught up in the Battle of Ridgefield in 1777. The landlords at the time, Timothy and Ester Keeler, had revolutionary sympathies, and for that reason the inn was fired upon by British troops.

One of the British cannonballs is still visibly stuck in a corner post more than 240 years later.

Cass Gilbert , the architect behind the Woolworth Building and Supreme Court Building, used the property as a summer home from 1907, making additions and plotting a garden.

The museum is filled with period furniture, art and ceramics from the 18th century to the 20th century to reflect the changing lifestyles of its occupants.

Some of the standout pieces in the collection are an original engraving of the Battle of Ridgefield, the original inn sign, family portraits and a broadside of Columbus, an elephant that came to the tavern at the start of the 19th century.

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Best Things To Do In Ridgefield New Jersey

Have you ever visited a new place and felt wow about it? For many visitors, it happens at Ridgefield.

Ridgefield may not be as popular as other cities in United States, but dont let that fool you. Ridgefield is a smaller but beautiful upcoming tourist destination that is worth a visit. You will be surprised by some of the unique things to do and places you can explore at this hidden destination.

You can definitely plan a few hours of a side trip here while traveling to New York City or Jersey City. You might wish to revisit it someday again, to take a break and relax at Ridgefield.

If you have plans to visit United States and are not sure if Ridgefield should be included in your itinerary, keep reading. In this list, we have put together some of the things to do in Ridgefield and around. We have a hunch that if you include this city in your travel plans, you will be thrilled you did so.

Tickets Are The Official Currency Of The Pound Ridge Harvest Festival They’re Good For Food Drinks Rides And Activities For A Limited Time Get A 20% Bonus When You Buy 100 Tickets With This Tickets Pre

The Pound Ridge Partnership invites you to celebrate the 10th Pound Ridge Harvest Festival. This year, the festival will feature BLUES TRAVELER, as its headliner! ! The Grammy Award-winning alternative rock band is making Pound Ridge its last stop in the northeast leg of its tour! The band that started almost 30 years ago in Princeton, NJ has released 13 studio albums, played over 2,000 live shows in front of more than 30 million people and had the longest-charting single in Billboard history with “Run Around”. Opening acts for the band include Badger Scratch and Platinum Moon, selected this June at the Pound Ridge Proud Day Battle of the Bands.

At Pound Ridge Harvest Festival there’s something for every member of the family. Kids can enjoy rides and inflatables with crafts, fun games and prizes. Local restaurants, food trucks, and a wine & craft beer garden add to the “Oktoberfest feel” of the event. This year Harvest Festival is excited to welcome Craft New York, and Sony Hall as its Presenting Partners!

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