MONROE, CT — Stepney Baptist Church will celebrate its 175th year anniversary with a special service on Sunday, May 28, at 10 a.m.
The service will be held in the sanctuary of the church, 423 Main St.
A community picnic on the back lawn with music and food will follow from noon to 4 p.m. The event is free and all are welcome to attend.
Bicentennial Picnic
The Monroe Bicentennial Picnic will be held at Wolfe Park from 2 to 6 p.m.
The family day in the park will include games, a moon bounce, tug-of-war, sack races, cornhole, horseshoes, face painting and more fun for children and adults. Food services and beverages will be available throughout the day.
Live music will be performed throughout the day featuring local artists.
Arts in the Park
The Monroe Parks and Recreational Department is hosting its Arts in the Park concerts with two shows for Monroe’s Bicentennial Weekend.
On Saturday, May 27, KSF-Tribute to Kansas Styx Foreigner band, will perform at 6:30 p.m.
On Sunday, Abba Mia will perform hits from Abba, the Bee Gees and other 70s favorites at 6:30 p.m.
Arts in the Park is sponsored by Manny’s Barber Shop, 148 Main St.; Newtown Savings Bank, and My Smile Orthodontics.
For information, call the Monroe Parks and Recreation Department at 203-452-2806.
Bicentennial Time Capsule
The official viewing of the contents of the 2023 Time Capsule will be held at Monroe Town Hall on Tuesday, May 23, at 6:30 p.m.
The event is part of the celebration of Monroe’s Bicentennial. For information, visit MonroeBicentennial.org.
Memorial Day closings
The Monroe Town Hall offices, library, Highway Department, Senior Center and Food Pantry, will be closed on Monday, May 29, 2023 in observance of Memorial Day.
Normal hours will resume on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.
Recycling will not be picked up on Monday (May 29). All pickups will be delayed one day that week.
The Spring Hill Road transfer station and Garder Road landfill will be open on Saturday, May 27, 2023.
Chamber Golf Tournament
The Monroe Chamber of Commerce is having its annual Golf Tournament at Whitney Farms Golf Course, 175 Shelton Road, on Tuesday, July 11.
The tournament needs golfers and sponsors. This year’s title sponsor is Clarkson’s Shipping Services.
Proceeds raised fund scholarships for Monroe high school seniors.
A $175 registration includes green fees, lunch, a golf cart, refreshments, dinner and awards.
Sponsorship opportunities include a $1,000 donation to be a dinner sponsor, $750 to be a lunch sponsor, $750 to be a golf cart sponsor, $500 for the longest drive, $500 for closest to the pin, $500 for a hole-in-one, $125 for a tee, $75 for the buffet dinner only, a $450 golf special for two players and a tee sponsor (a $25 savings).
For a registration and sponsorship form, click here. Registration can be done by mail or online.
The day of the tournament begins with a 10 a.m. check in and registration, followed by lunch in the afternoon.
There is an 11 a.m. shotgun start. A cocktail hour will follow the golf and there will be a 5:30 p.m. awards dinner.
Mile Down the Pike
The M&T Bank Mile Down the Pike, a road race on Monroe Turnpike before the start of the annual Memorial Day Parade on Sunday, May 28, will feature times and prizes for different genders and age groups.
To register for the race online, click here. It costs $20 for early registration, which runs through May 20 and the first 200 to register will get an event T-shirt. From May 21 to the day of the race, registration costs $25.
Money raised from the event will be used for the Bicentennial fireworks and other events celebrating Monroe’s 200th birthday.
On May 28, registration and check in will be on Fireman’s Field, at the corner of routes 110 and 111, where runners can also park, at around 11 a.m. The race, which is downhill, will begin just below the traffic circle on Monroe Turnpike at 12:30 p.m. and finish at the intersection with Elm Street.
Monroe Music Festival
The Monroe Music Festival at Wolfe Park will be held on Saturday, May 27. The event is sponsored by the Creative Music Center in Monroe and will feature a lineup of local musical talent that will entertain audiences at the Bicentennial Picnic celebrating the town of Monroe’s 200 year anniversary.
The live music is scheduled to be from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Honoring Our Heroes
Monroe’s Memorial Day Parade: Honoring Our Heroes, Past and Present, will also celebrate the town’s Bicentennial when marchers proceed down Monroe Turnpike in authentic WWII vehicles, cars, floats and on foot at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 28.
This year’s parade will recognize Monroe residents and veterans, Noreene Thomas Martin and John Thomas, who are husband and wife.
Immediately following the parade, the town’s Memorial Day Ceremony will take place at the War Memorial located directly in front of Town Hall.
In the event of rain, the parade will be cancelled, but the ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Monroe Town Hall. Cancellation information will be announced on WICC, WMNR and on the Town Hall’s Parks & Recreation cancellation line (203-339-6106).
On the day of the parade, participants will line up on lower Elm Street, beginning at 12 p.m. Marchers should refer to the map included with their application.
To participate in the parade, visit the town’s website at monroect.gov. Information on the parade is listed on the scroller. Any questions regarding the parade should be directed to Vida Stone at 203-452-2811.
Barnum Car Show
One year after bringing the former Stevenson Lumber property to life with huge crowds for a car show with amusement rides, music and food trucks, the Barnum Festival fundraiser is back.
The Barnum Festival’s 2nd Annual Car Show Swap Meet and Food Truck Festival, Wheels, Meals and Deals will be held on Friday, June 2, and Saturday, June 3. Click here for more details.
The first day will feature a concert, carnival and food truck festival and the car show will be held the next day. Admission to both events is five dollars and children age 12-and-younger get in free.
Free parking with handicap spaces on the 1545 Monroe Turnpike site by entering the driveway of Production Metals, 421 Old Zoar Road. Golf carts circulating the property will give rides to anyone who needs assistance.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
FAIRFIELD, CT — Put on your walking shoes – maybe some red heels – and get ready to raise awareness about preventing violence against women and girls during The Center for Family Justice’s 11th Annual Walk A Mile in Her Shoes® on Saturday, June 3.
Presented by the Aquarion Water Company, Walk A Mile will begin with registration at 8 a.m. at the Fairfield Train Station. The walk will begin at 9 a.m. To register as an individual or a team, go to bit.ly/cfjwam2023.
Open Mic Night
A five dollar donation is requested at the door and refreshments available for purchase.
SOS Bicentennial Celebration
For information, or to be apart of the Stepney Green Bicentennial celebration, contact Kathie Loehr at 203-261-7892. Follow the Save Our Stepney Task Force on Facebook.
MCC Strawberry Festival
Monroe Congregational Church’s annual Strawberry Festival will be held June 17-18.
The festival features over 100 crafters selling their wares on the green at the corner of Route 111 and Fan Hill Road, live entertainment, the church food tent and homemade strawberry-flavored items, including jams, pies and shortcakes.
The event will have a bounce house and facepainting for children and more.
Musical entertainers include live bluegrass from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and country band Gunsmoke from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 17. Sunday, June 18, features the award-winning Silver Steel Band from 1 to 3 p.m.
Concerts on the Hill
Christ Church, 59 Church Road in Easton, is hosting Concerts on the Hill Sundays at 6 p.m.
Admission costs $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and children get in for free.
The events include food trucks, BYOB picnics, leashed dogs are welcome. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and rain dates are Mondays.
The lineup of performers include:
June 18: The Carters: Carl and Florisca
June 25: Symphonic Bodega and Laura Schuler
July 2: Amber Anchor
July 9: Benny Mikula
July 16: Hitch & Giddyup
July 23: The Low Darts
July 30: CT Grateful Dead All Stars
The concerts are sponsored by Tidewater Electronics, Inc.
