Mark Your Calendars: “Heritage Days”--the Main Event in Clinton’s 350th Year-long Birthday Celebration is Labor Day Weekend

Heritage Days, will take place over Labor Day weekend (Aug. 31 and Sept. 1) utilizing historic Main Street, the Indian River, harbor and beach.  The festival will commence with an authentic Native American Smudging Ceremony Demonstration at Clinton Landing bringing Native American ancestors into the event for a successful celebration.  A parade featuring many fife and drum corps, pipers, antique cars, local groups and many floats will head up Commerce Street and onto Main Street ending at Liberty Green. U.S. Senator Blumenthal, State Senator Art Linares and State Representative Tom Vicino will join our Town Dignitaries and Gil Simmons of Channel 8 will be the Parade Announcer.

Following the parade, onlookers will gather alongside Indian River.  Festivities will continue there with the Kenyon Grill Food Court, beer garden and main stage where dignitaries will speak, and live music will be performed throughout the day including performances by Eight to the Bar (multi-time Best Live Band), Caribbean Beach Bums (opening for Josh Turner at the Durham Fair), and closing with an evening concert by one of Clinton’s favorites, Rock Bottom.  Along Main Street, a host of activities and a variety of entertainment will take place, including an Artisans’ Market, and local actors from Kidz Konnection will perform vignettes of local historic events.  Additionally, there will be kayak, stand-up-paddle, and build-a-boat contests and Native American demonstrations

The Clinton Historical Society has secured exhibitors that will provide us a look into Historic Trades of early Clintonians: Blacksmiths, Candlemakers, Wood Carvers, Bee Keepers, Spinners, Basket Makers, Spinners and Sheep Shearers.  They will be exhibiting on the Old Brick grounds.

Folks can also take tours of the The Captain Elisha White House (aka Old Brick); the oldest brick house on the shoreline from New Haven to New London. The lot in which the house was built was purchased in 1750 by a sea captain, Elisha White. The bricks used to build the house were thought to have been brought from England by ship as ballast. Features in the Captain Elisha White House are a colonial herb garden and 19th century American portraits.

There will be several opportunities to interact with the tradesmen.  The Clinton Art Society will feature artists painting the town, a plein aire demonstration, along the magnificent Indian River, which has long been a popular subject for local artists.  Visitors will have the opportunity to speak with the artists and purchase the paintings that are completed.  There will be talks and demonstrations on drumming, spear throwing, and archaeology exhibits to honor Clinton’s Native American heritage. Sunday morning (Sept. 1) will bring a close to Heritage Days with a sunrise service, Blessing of the Fleet, build-a-boat races and a dog dock diving contest. 

For more information on events or to volunteer, please visit Clinton350.org or find us on Facebook.  350th . Headquarters is located on Main Street, Clinton and is open Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Sundays between 12 noon and 2 p.m.  Additional summer hours will be added.  There is plenty of 350 memorabilia for sale at headquarters including:  T-shirts, hats, tote bags, wine totes and assorted wine and beer glasses engraved with the 350th logo.