News
Fairfield Museum’s Fall Festival, Native American style
By Fairfield Museum and History Center
Sep 19, 2008 - 12:36 PM

Two year old Ellie Wheeler of Fairfield dons a feathered headband she made in the KidZone

If you were in the vicinity of Fairfield’s Town Green last Sunday, you may have heard beating drums, chanting and even the loud bang an authentic musket firing. That was because last Sunday was the Fairfield Museum and History Center’s annual Fall Festival, featuring performances by Native Americans of Algonquin, Iroquois, Pequot and Nipmuc descent.

Attendees were treated to a free event packed full of storytelling, dance, song, drumming, exhibitions and more. Crowds participated in Condor dances after attentively listening to Crowhill Shane Long’s prayer giving thanks for the Earth, and requesting assistance for a successful day from his ancestors. Children were captivated by tales of the buffalo, skunk and bear as told by Native American storytellers. Cornhusk dolls, rainsticks and feathered headbands were crafts available in the KidZone. The newly renovated Sun Tavern was open for touring, which saw a steady stream of visitors all afternoon, and colonial crafters showed off their skills. The Museum was free of charge for the day, and visitors were treated to an exhibit by internationally-renowned photographer Philip Trager entitled Philip Trager Photography: Selections from the Connecticut Series, 1974-1976, which closes on September 21st. There was even a mid-19th century school experience made available by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

“Native Americans, and particularly the Great Swamp Fight, occupied a special period in Fairfield’s history,” said Michael Jehle, Executive Director of Fairfield Museum and History Center. “Visitors to the Fall Festival were treated to the rich culture and heritage that makes Native Americans so unique.”

Gabby Bigos performs a butterfly dance

The Fairfield Museum and History Center would like to thank its generous sponsors who helped make this free community event possible: Lead sponsor Newman’s Own and sponsors: Webster Bank, the Junior Women’s Club of Fairfield and the Fairfield Citizen~News. The Museum also extends a heartfelt thank you to all those volunteers that helped to make the weekend such a success.

To learn about upcoming programs and events held at the Fairfield Museum, please visit our website at www.fairfieldhs.org or come visit us at 370 Beach Road in Fairfield. The Museum is open seven days a week, and offers a variety of programs for adults, children and families. Next month the Museum proudly hosts StoryCorps on October 3 & 4 and will unveil a new exhibit on October 2 entitled, Family Connections: Telling Our Stories Through Heirlooms. Be sure to come visit!

About Fairfield Museum and History Center

The Fairfield Museum and History Center was established in 2007 by the Fairfield Historical Society. The 13,000 square-foot museum presents engaging exhibition galleries, a special collection library and reading room, a family education center, an 80 seat theater overlooking Fairfield's Town Green and a delightful museum shop. The Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting the history of Fairfield, Connecticut and surrounding regions for present and future generations. The museum provides educational programs to schools in and around Fairfield County, and helps to enrich the cultural and social life of the area. The Museum has quickly become an integral part of Fairfield, serving nearly 10,000 visitors in its inaugural year.

The museum, located at 370 Beach Road in Fairfield, CT, is open seven days a week. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors, members of the museum and children age 5 and under are free of charge. For current program and exhibition information, visit www.fairfieldhs.org and for group tour reservations and information, please call 203-259-1598

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