2018 Festival Events

Hanan Hameen: Hip-Hop Roots Master Class

Explore the evolution of Hip-Hop dance through the Dunham technique.

NEA Big Read: The Word: Citywide Middle School Poetry Jam

Middle school poets from various New Haven Public Schools come together to perform their own poems and raps, some inspired by Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine.

NEA Big Read: The Word: Citywide High School Poetry Jam

High school poets and recent alums from various New Haven Public Schools come together to perform their own poems and raps, some inspired by Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine.

NEA BIG READ: Kick Off!

Kick off the NEA Big Read New Haven with all our partners and Mayor Toni Harp! Listen to spoken word performances by J-sun and Midnight, make your own hoodie art with Katro Storm and sample Sandra’s Soul Food as we gear up to read Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine during May and June 2018.

NEA Big Read: Create A Mural

The Young Minds and Family Learning Department will encourage the public to explore the ideas of race, culture, and poetry via displays, story-time programs, book discussions and community events.

NEA Big Read: Beckerman Jewish Film Series: Sammy Davis Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me

Documentary. Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me explores the life and art of a uniquely gifted entertainer whose trajectory blazed across the major flashpoints of American society from the Depression through the 1980s. Frequently bracketed by the bigotry of white America and the black America, Davis was the most public black figure to embrace Judaism. More Information >

NEA Big Read: Stay and Play

This is a special Stay and Play for children ages 0-4. It will be focused around ideas of self-esteem and appreciation with a reading of I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont.

NEA Big Read: “A Font of Her Own” The Feminist Letters: Writing Party

Calling all Nasty Women! Bring your laptop or borrow one of ours for a creative collective gathering to write emails, tweet or fax our representatives about our concerns. In partnership with the Feminist Letters team, Nasty Women CT and the Institute Library Download the Feminist letters font thefeministletters.com.

NEA Big Read: Domestic Terrorism

A community talk on domestic terrorism in regards to whiteness. Co-hosted by Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ).

NEA Big Read: Create a Mural

Family program, involving creating a mural/murals using words and images from culture (ie, magazines) that invoke the theme of race.

NEA Big Read: Book Discussion: Brown Girl Dreaming

Book Discussion - discuss Brown Girl Dreaming for children 4th grade and up.

NEA Big Read: Book Discussion

Rachel Ranis, Professor Emerita at Quinnipiac University will lead a discussion on Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine.

NEA Big Read: Fun with Fine Art

Join us for this new monthly program where kids can explore the world of fine art! This month with be focused on black out poetry.

HillFest

#CommunityFirst

Let’s Get ActiveLet’s Get CreativeLet’s Get HealthyFeaturing free hamburgers and hotdogs, live local entertainment, activities for children and adults, bike activities and more!Seamos ActivosSeamos CreativosSeamos Saludables¡Con hamburguesas y perritos calientes gratis, entretenimiento local en vivo, actividades para niños y adultos, actividades en bicicleta y más!Festivales emocionantes del...

NEA Big Read: Stay and Play: It's OK to be Different

A regularly scheduled Stay and Play based on the theme of "we're all different colors" using books like Todd Parr's It's OK to be Different.

NEA Big Read: NHFPL Young Minds & Family Learning Programs

A book discussion for One Crazy Summer with children in grades 4 and up.

NEA Big Read: Internalized Racial Oppression

How our biases show up in our interactions with other people hosted by the International Festival of Arts & Ideas' Fellowship class of 2018.

NEA Big Read: Citywide Youth Coalition Dinner & Dialogue: Organzing/ Mobilizing for Racial Justice

How to come together to dismantle the systems of oppression in our communities with CT CORE.

Fair Haven Neighborhood Festival

Celebrating Family

Celebrate with us for the 6th year. This year we will celebrate family in all of its forms. We invite you to enjoy with us food, local live music, bike activities, tours and more.Celebra con nosotros para el 6°año. Este año lo haremos celebrar la familia en todos sus formas. Te invitamos a disfrutar con nosotros comida, música en vivo local, actividades de bicicleta, tours y más.Festivales...

NEA Big Read: YAAA, LGBTQ, & WWN Book Discussion - Citizen: An American Lyric

Join the Yale African American Affinity Group, LGBTQ Affinity Group, and Working Women's Network for a book discussion on Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine. Dessert and beverages will be provided.

NEA Big Read: Reading of "Chocolate Me" by Taye Diggs and Rock Painting

A boy is teased for looking different than the other kids. His mother helps him to see how beautiful he really, truly is. Join us at the library to paint some rocks. Spread some color and joy in our city by decorating colorful rocks and hiding them for people to find. For ages 5 and up.

NHdocs: May 31

6pmOpening Reception7pmPizza, A Love Story Director: Gorman BechardThere are only three pizza places in the known universe. This is the new film from Gorman Bechard that tells their story...

NHDocs: June 1

This is Home: A Refugee Story
Dir. Amanda Kulkoski
7:00PM-8:31PM @ Whitney Humanities Center at Yale
Four Syrian families struggling to find their way in America.

Through the Windmill
Dir. Amanda Kulkoski
7:15PM-8:35PM @ Screening Room 208, Whitney Humanities Center
THROUGH THE WINDMILL is a feature-length documentary which looks at the history of miniature golf in the...

NEA Big Read: Urban Experience Book Discussion Series

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine

NHFPL Librarian Marian Huggins will lead this discussion on Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine.

NHDocs: June 2

Short Film Block #1

1:30 PM – New Haven Free Public Library, 133 Elm Street, New Haven

All For This
Dir. Eric Jenkins-Sahlin
2:34 min
Melissa finds her voice by invoking early blues women: “They sang their stories and they were always just so heart-wrenching.” She’s not afraid to let it all out, and laughs about singing “hateful songs” like “God May Forgive You (But I Won’t).”...

NHDocs: June 3

Filmmaking Panel #2: Crowdsourcing Your Film
Gorman Bechard, Michael Galinsky
11:00-12:30PM
Screening Room 208, Whitney Humanities Center

Student Film Competition
1:00PM-4:00PM
Screening Room 208, Whitney Humanities Center
Q&A with award presentation

Compassionfest presents: The Last Pig
Dir. Allison Argo
5:30PM-6:30PM
Whitney Humanities Center
...

Big Read: Film and Discussion: Whose Streets?

An account of the Ferguson uprising as told by the people who lived it. The filmmakers look at how the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown inspired a community to fight back and sparked a global movement. Discussion with Festival Fellows to follow.

NHDocs: June 4

Life on Parole
Dir. Matthew O'Neill
6:30PM-7:25PM @ Whitney Humanities Center

Cooler Bandits
Dir. John Lucas
8:00PM-9:40PM @ Whitney Humanities Center
The Cooler Bandits follows four friends in four stages of incarceration, struggling to confront their future in the old neighborhood, after 20 years in prison.

NHDocs: June 5

Gina's Journey: The Search for William Grimes
Dir. Sean Durant
6:30PM-7:50PM @ Whitney Humanities Center
A woman's journey to discover and trace the steps of her ancestor, who traveled along the Underground Railroad to freedom, and authored the first slave narrative in U.S. history.

The Bottle Never Lets Me Down - music video
What it Takes: film en douze tableaux
Dir. ...

The NEA Big Read: Health Disparities and Race Panel Discussion

Health Disparities & Race is a panel discussion on the issues surrounding health equity based on inspiration from the book Citizen by Claudia Rankine. The discussion is among professionals from New Haven’s health clinics and academia including Cornell Scott Health Center, Fair Haven Health Care, Southern Connecticut State University and Yale University. It will cover this topic from the...

NHDocs: June 6

North Pole, NY
Dir. Ali Cotterill
6:30PM-7:39PM @ Screening Room 208, Whitney Humanities Center
North Pole, NY is a documentary about Santa's Workshop, one of the very first theme parks in the U.S. Battling against a changing economy, the digital world, and a conman who tries to steal Christmas, the dreamers in one small town vow to keep the park open and the magic of Christmas alive...

NHDocs: June 7

Works in Progress Screenings3:00PM @ Screening Room 208, Whitney Humanities CenterBest Video presents: The Village: Life in New Haven's Little Italy Dir. Steve Hamm6:30PM-7:30PMThe Village: Life in New Haven’s Little Italy, tells the story of the city’s Wooster Square neighborhood, which for many years was a tight-knit Italian-American enclave.Out of My HeadDir. Susana Styrom7:00PM-8:17PM @...

NHDocs: June 8

Deliver Us From Evil
Dir. Amy Berg
3:00PM

West of Memphis
Dir. Amy Berg
6:00PM

Janis: Little Girl Blue
Dir. Amy Berg
9:00PM

Portrait of America Opening

Opening Day Celebrations FREE TO THE PUBLIC, Fabulous music, introductory remarks by Mayor Toni Harp, Senator Richard Blumenthal, IRIS.

Homeless: Housed

Columbus House and Yale's Jim Vlock Building Project

Homeless: Housed is an interactive pavilion designed by students at the Yale School of Architecture and organized by Columbus House, a New Haven nonprofit with a longstanding commitment to end homelessness.

Aliza Shvarts: How does it feel to be a fiction? New Haven Virus

Presented by Nasty Women CT

This public artwork, How does it feel to be a fiction? New Haven Virus by Aliza Shvarts, explores the consequences of living as a “fiction” to power, to history, and to each other.

Bike Tour: East Coast Greenway

Farmington Canal Trail North

Travel North from New Haven to Cheshire and learn about plans to connect the former rail trail to Northampton, MA. Visit historic Locks 12 and 14 before returning to New Haven. A representative of ECG will lead the ride and provide information and background on the trail.

Fitstyle Art Walk

Take a walk and explore Yale and Downtown New Haven in 5,000 steps! Guided by Shana Schneider you will be taken along paths and walkways that you may not have seen before. Learn more about the city and quench your thirst at the end of the walk at Barracuda Bar & Bistro.

Dixwell Freddy Fixer Neighborhood Festival

The Elm City Freddy Fixer Parade and International Festival of Arts & Ideas are collaborating with New Haven Bike Month, Cornell Scott Hill Health Center, New Haven Free Public Library to celebrate the rich culture and history of the Dixwell neighborhood.Featuring a drill team exhibition, live local entertainment, activities for children and adults, bike activities and more!

Art Responding to Citizen—Hoodies with Katro Storm

Join local artist Katro Storm his series of workshops in response to the book, Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine. Participants are invited to create their own hoodie, in reference to the cover art of the book, as well as the murder of 17-year old high school student Trayvon Martin in 2012. Hoodies will be created at the BIG READ Kick-off at Stetson Library on May 2, from 6-8p; at the...

Illstyle and Peace Productions

Presented by the Dixwell Freddy Fixer Neighborhood Festival

Rooted in West African Dance, contemporary and old school hip-hop blended with an eclectic mix of dance and performance disciplines including tap, ballet, DJing, and beatbox.

NHDocs: June 9

Some of Sheila Nevin's Favorites12:30PMReel of Sheila's Documentary Highlights (10min), The Number on Great Grandpa's Arm (Amy Schatz, 2018, , 19min), Saving Pelican 895 (Irene Taylor Brodsky, 2011, 40min), God is the Bigger Elvis (Rebecca Cammisa, 2011, 37min)Class Divided Dir. Marc Levin3:15PM-4:30PMFollowed by a Q & ASolitaryDir. Kristi Jacobson and Julie Goldman5:00PM-6:21PMFollowed by a Q &...

Strong Lady

A genuine strong woman, Betty Brawn presents an exhilarating array of demonstrations of strength: she tears thick books in half with her bare hands, twists solid metal, snaps steel chains and shatters gender cliches as she performs the Human Carousel – carrying the weight of two gigantic men from the crowd.

Movimiento Cultural Afro-Continental

Presented by the Fair Haven Neighborhood Festival

Movimiento Cultural is a traditional Puerto Rican Bomba drum and dance group. The dancing engages the barriles or bomba drummer in an exchange that is a kind of challenge based on a mutual connection. It is a spirited, beat-for-beat collaboration rooted in the Afro-Puerto Rican traditions of the island.

NEA Big Read: NHFPL Young Minds & Family Learning Programs

The Young Minds and Family Learning Department will encourage the public to explore the ideas of race, culture, and poetry via displays, story-time programs, book discussions and community events.

Bike Tour: Bringing in the Rain

Discover bioswales, rain gardens and other green infrastructure in New Haven.

On the Green: live interactive theater

Presented by: Survivors of Society Rising & Theatre of the Oppressed NYC

Survivors of Society Rising is a burgeoning New Haven theater troupe of non-professional actors who use their lived experience to create original short plays. "On the Green" is the culmination of the Survivors' three-day intensive residency with Theatre of the Oppressed NYC.

Manny James

Presented by HillFest

Drawing from survivalist instincts and a go-getter attitude, Manny James' music has an edge that you can feel and hear. Both pain and happiness create an intimate and thought-provoking sound.

Bike Tour: Point to Point

City Point to Lighthouse Point and the history between

Take a tour of Long Wharf, the East Shore and the lovely, and sometimes hidden, parks that surround the area. Learn how commerce has changed over the centuries and how the harbor impacts daily life in New Haven and the region.

Pardee Rose Garden

Experience a guided tour among the beauty of one of Connecticut's finest display of roses and renovated greenhouses.

NHDocs: June 10

Sink and Swim & Seeing Red
Dir. Su Fredrich
11:00am

Gut Renovation
Dir. Su Fredrich
1:30pm

Panel: What Constitutes a Documentary
with Su Fredrich and Charles Musser
3:00PM

The Ties That Bind & I Cannot Tell You How I Feel
Dir. Su Fredrich
4:15PM

Artist-lead Tour: I'll be your qubit!

with the Yale Quantum Institute

Join visual artist Martha Willette Lewis for a guided tour of her installation I’ll be your qubit, the final artwork of Martha year-long residency at the Yale Quantum Institute where she worked with students and discussed ideas with quantum physicists.

Please meet Martha at the entrance of 17 Hillhouse Avenue, as the tour will start at the staircase on the 1st floor.

Artivism Workshop with Juancarlos Soto

Art is a powerful tool that can be used to create change, share stories and take a stand for justice. In this "Artivism" workshop you will learn about artist who use art as a form of activism. As well as tips and tricks that will help you get started on your Journey as an Activist. Together we will work on "Change Cubes" a three dimensional project in which each participant will reflect on their...

Bike Tour: Immigration, Identity and Citizenship

Ride the Walk New Haven Cultural Heritage Tour created by the Ethnic Heritage Center to explore the themes of immigration, identity and citizenship in New Haven.

Schools of Dance Showcase

New Haven Ballet, Mulan Fitness and Art Academy, Shoreline Ballet

New Haven Ballet, Mulan Fitness and Art Academy, and Shoreline Ballet showcase the work of their students.

Grassroots Organizing with Mothers (and Others) for Justice

Empower yourself through community organizing. Mothers (and Others) for Justice is consistently recognized by the Connecticut General Assembly and by professional advocates throughout the state as an authentic, persistent and consistent voice for people who are poor.

The group will share their experiences with grassroots organizing and listen to your stories about your housing situation....

Largest Salsa Class in New Haven

with Alisa's House of Salsa

Alisa and dancers will perform and teach a dance lesson.

Voci Angelica Trio

Straddling the genres of world folk and classical music, the trio, made up of vocalist/percussionists Jodi Hitzhusen, Meena Malik, and Aristides Rivas, creates an ambitious blend of cultures, reinvigorating traditional songs for contemporary audiences. Vocal harmonies elegantly intertwine with lush cello lines and percussion to create a musical fusion that transcends political and geographic...

Screening: Hindle Wakes

plus Crafting

A lowly mill girl becomes romantically involved with the boss's son while on holiday in Blackpool. She tries to hide it from her interfering parents by saying she spent the time with a female friend, but when her friend dies in a car accident, she is forced to admit the shameful affair to her folks.

PLUS Crafting event: Kid's weaving/crafting event in conjunction with screening of HINDLE...

Elm Shakespeare Teen Troupe presents: Scenes from The Merchant of Venice

Peek into the world of Shakespeare’s play, The Merchant of Venice. Bring the whole family to this performance by Elm Shakespeare Company’s Teen Troupe, made up of talented teens from all over the New Haven area.

Masonic Lodges: Giving Back to New Haven

New Haven Preservation Trust

A private behind-the-scenes tour of the Masonic Lodges and their high-style meeting rooms led by a prominent historian of Masonic tradition.

Shubert Backstage Tour

The Shubert’s hour-long backstage tour is the perfect activity for any theater or history enthusiast. Whether you are visiting New Haven for the first time or a life-long resident, you’ll be amazed by the incredible history of the legendary Shubert!

Master Class: Joe Standart, Portrait of America

"WE ARE: A Nation of Immigrants" A Public Art Engagement

Hear the stories behind photographer Joe Standart’s public art exhibit featuring larger-than-life portraits of local immigrants now appearing on the Upper Green. Learn about his technical approach, why he chose to address the importance of Immigration in American society, and why public art matters.

Brews & BBQ

How can you not love it? Come join Black Hog Brewery and Ricky D’s Rib Shack as they mix two great tastes together in a delightful pairing. Sample the infamous “Kansa-Lina BBQ” that has New Haven in a frenzy and toast in celebration with Black Hog Brewery beer.This is a 21+ event. Valid IDs must be presented at the door.

The Funky Dawgz Brass Band

Emerging from Connecticut, these young men have engulfed the spirit and traditions of New Orleans as well as earned the respect from local musicians who grew up and reside in the city. It is impossible not to enjoy yourself during a show as they play a contagious upbeat mix of traditional New Orleans R&B, original music, hip hop, funk, and today’s top hits with a brass twist.

Tenants Rights Workshop with New Haven Legal Assistance Association

Know your rights. NHLAA will be taking questions about fair housing and provide information about what legal rights you may have if you are unfairly facing housing discrimination, eviction, or landlord abuses.

Text&Textile: The Literature and Song of Resistance

Beinecke Library

The Song of the Shirt. (ca 1 hour) A reading program of powerful 19th and 20th C literary texts--from famous anthems to newly-translated poems and drama--about the situation and struggles of weavers, mill-girls, milliners, sweat-shop seamstresses, and other textile workers, in various parts of Europe, as in New York, Massachussetts, and New Haven.

If You Knew You Then & ESCAPADE

Elm City Dance Collective and Luis Antonio Productions

ECDC will be showing their latest work, choreographed by Kellie Lynch, If You Knew You Then, followed by Luis Antonio Productions' ESCAPADE.

Tanglewood Marionettes: The Dragon King!

An underwater fantasy based on Chinese folklore, The Dragon King tells the tale of an intrepid Grandmother who journeys to the bottom of the sea in search of the elusive Dragon King, and the answers to why he has forsaken the land above.

The Courier: Tales from the Great War

Join award-winning comic-book illustrator Nadir Balan for a look at “The Courier: Tales from the Great War,” an exhibit based on the WWI diary and scrapbook of Lt. Philip H. English of New Haven. He’ll discuss how his personal interest in WWI led to the creation of six dynamic, graphic-style murals, depicting the adventure, horror and pathos of the front lines witnessed firsthand by English.

Master Class: Story-Telling as Performance

with Ain Gordon from Radicals in Miniature

Bring your autobiographical stories to share as material for creating new performance.

Master Class: A Billion Nights on Earth

Join Michael Fegley, co-creator of and the parental star of A Billion Nights on Earth for a master class in developing theater for Kids n Parents. This session features simple yet dynamic theater games that involve parents and kids in creating multi-generational theater that expands both the imagination and the notion of what can actually happen on a stage.

Farnam Memorial Gardens Notable Tree Tour

A walk through Farnam Memorial Gardens and Marsh Botanic Gardens highlighting a number of notable trees. A few of the trees are state champions, meaning that they are the largest of their kind in Connecticut. Trees covered on the walk will include both native and non-native species.

NEA Big Read: Community Conversations with Youth About Race

Community Conversations with youth about race at the Stetson Library.

Bike Tour: East Shore History Live

What do you know about our shores to the East? Ride the soon to be developed East Shore History Trail. After stopping the British invasion cold, we’ll head for colder ice cream at Cozy Beach.

Long Table Evening

Set along a communal dining table, this is a perfect time to get together with old friends or make some new ones! Enjoy a main course by Jason Sobocinski from Caseus, featuring locally-sourced, farm-fresh ingredients from Massaro Community Farm.This is a 21+ event. Valid IDs must be presented at the door.

Whodini

Coming out of the fertile early-'80s New York rap scene, Whodini were one of the first rap groups to add a straight R&B twist to their music, thus laying the groundwork for the new jack swing movement. Whodini made its name with good-humored songs like "Magic's Wand" (the first rap song to feature an accompanying video), "The Haunted House of Rock" (a rewrite of "Monster Mash"), and "Freaks Come...

Haven String Quartet

As the permanent quartet-in-residence of Music Haven, the Haven String Quartet spearheads a nationally-recognized, free after-school lessons program for more than 80 students from New Haven’s most under-served neighborhoods.

Night Songs of the World with Aaron Larget-Caplan

Explore the sounds and secrets of night-music through compositions written for virtuoso guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan’s New Lullaby Project, with composers from Spain, Australia, India, and the USA. The concert features two world premieres commissioned by the International Festival of Arts & Ideas by Koji Nakano (Japan) and Milad Yousufi (Afghanistan). Come and explore time and movement, timbre...

Brewery Square Apartments: Repurposing a New Haven Landmark

New Haven Preservation Trust

A special opportunity to visit a pioneering historic preservation project in New Haven led by the architect/developers who adapted the Quinnipiac Brewery for modern living in the early 1980s. Leaders: Simeon Bruner and Leland Cott.

Trap Yoga

with Thema Graves

Trap Yoga is Vinyasa style yoga coupled with Trap Music (hip hop music that originated in the south) beats. Aligning mind, body, and spirit, while getting it in, and having fun! Every level of experience is welcome, and dancing is highly encouraged. Led by Thema Graves, RYT 200.

Trinity on the Green: A Historic Church Building thru Time

This National Historic Landmark building offers us an understanding of the origins of Gothic Revival church architecture in the United States. It served as home for an Episcopal congregation since its current building was consecrated in 1816, it also evidences a wealth of architectural nuance and change accrued over time. The tour will begin outside and continue inside. Leader: MJ (Peg) Chambers

East Meets West Pairing

Ever wondered what happens when the flavors of two continents collide? Join this tasting event and explore the culinary gifts of modern Mediterranean restaurant Midpoint Istanbul. Indulge in the fusion of European and Asian cuisine accompanied by the fabulous mixology from the historic Ordinary.This is a 21+ event. Valid IDs must be presented at the door.

Music of the East & West with Aaron Larget-Caplan

Aaron Larget-Caplan explores the sounds, poetry, culture and aesthetics of classical music from the East & West. Includes works from his latest CD ‘The Legend of Hagoromo’, works by J.S. Bach and Modest Mussorgsky as well as premieres by Vineet Shende and more!

Moving Forward Training with Connecticut Fair Housing Center

This training session is designed to help you if you are going through the moving process. Learn about resources and get tips on staying organized as you look for housing.

Connecticut Fair Housing Center will answer questions about your fair housing rights and and help you understand what tools you have if you are a victim of discrimination.

Toxic Holiday

Toxic Holiday is 4 piece indie-soul band based in New Haven, CT. The band has been together for nearly a year and the oldest member is 18, but their music is not limited by age. They have played such venues as Toad's Place, The Space, Quinnipiac University, Lilly's Pad and many more. They were recently featured on the 91.7 WHUS and the WSIN 1590 radio stations. Their music expresses tinges of The...

In the Shadow of the Mountain

In this 40 minute presentation, storyteller Lou Del Bianco portrays his grandfather Luigi Del Bianco and tells the story of his unique contribution to the carving of our nation’s greatest memorial. Lou uses authentic photos, maps and timelines to bring Luigi’s story to life! Connects perfectly to Social Studies curriculum and primary source research.

Run, ye spindles, run, Drawing the threads from which the fates are spun: Text and Textiles and the Beinecke Library

Even as the Fates spin the thread of our lives, text and textile enshroud the body in the fabric of myth, the costume of the domestic or the exotic, the imperatives of the industrious or the industrial. This exhibition draws on Yale University’s extraordinary collections to explore the intersections of text and textile in literature and politics, from Eve spinning in a thirteenth-century...

Invertebrate Paleontology Tour

From Anthropology to Zoology, the 13 million objects and specimens in the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History’s collections represent a world-class record of the history of Earth and its cultures. Yet less than a tenth of one percent is on display in the public galleries! Explore and discover the fossils of the past.

Soul Food Experience

Anchor Spa's Executive Chef Stephen J. Ross serves some of his favorite dishes inspired by his grandmother, paired with drinks from Jamaican-born mixologist Bootleg Greg.This is a 21+ event. Valid IDs must be presented at the door.

Gospel Fest

Back again this year is the 2nd Annual New Haven GospelFest- some of New Haven’s richest talents will be displayed.

Bike Tour: East Coast Greenway South

Travel South on the East Coast Greenway to Silver Sands State Park in Milford. This section of the ECG incorporates the Vision Trail, the Harbor side trail, the Long Wharf Nature Preserve, and the Savin Rock Trail. A representative of ECG will lead the ride and provide information and background on the trails.

Chef's Lunch and Show

Join Omni Hotel’s Executive Chef Todd Ruiz and Restaurant Manager Tom Fallon for a stroll to the City Seed Farmer’s Market to hand select seasonal ingredients to be prepared in a culinary demonstration at John Davenport’s.There you will enjoy a taste of New Haven flavor while enjoying the best views of the Elm City. Then, head over to the University Theatre to see the fantasy adventure A Billion...

MakeHaven: A Peek Inside the Workshop

Come see a variety of makers as they work on their projects in electronics, laser cutting, woodworking, 3d printing, sewing and more. The tour will stop and chat with these creatives as we venture through the various areas of MakeHaven.

The 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration

Happy Juneteenth! Join us Saturday, June 16th from 11:45am - 5:30pm on the western end of the New Haven Green between Temple and College Streets for the 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration as part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas in collaboration with several active New Haven organizations. Junteenth Celebration 2018 will present a variety of performance art mediums, galleries,...

Bonsai Workshop For Children

Members of the Bonsai Society will provide trees, pots, and soil for the children. The members will work alongside the children while the children design, wire, and pot their trees. The trees will be theirs to bring home.

Kayak and Oyster Tasting

Best suited for advanced kayakers comfortable with 4 miles of paddling. This outdoor adventure begins with a paddle down the scenic Quinnipiac River and continues on an exploration of the sea life of the Sound. With your appetite whetted, land at Shell & Bones for a tantalizing pairing of oysters and beer.

Bike Tour: Strawberry Festival / Hindinger Farm

Ride to Hindinger Farm in Hamden for the annual Strawberry Festival. Events include family hayrides, clowns, lots of food and entertainment, and of course, beautiful, delicious red juicy strawberries!

Sound Sculpture

SOUND SCULPTURE is an interactive public art work that allows participants of most ages to move and play with blocks, in this way creating changeable and dynamic light and sound structures. These portable and location-responsive blocks are designed to open a spatial and tangible aspect to musical composition, along with a sonic aspect to sculptural creations. This project is designed for...

Paddington Storytime with Be Homeful Project

Paddington is homeless when he first travels from Darkest Peru to London in search of a home. How would Paddington have felt when he didn't have a home? Why is it important to have a home? How can we help families who don’t have homes be safe and comfortable?

After listening to Paddington's story, kids can draw what having a home means to them and learn how they can help to make sure there...

LIMITLESS 3rd Annual Dance Competition

Curated by Bryce Howard of Future Project and New Haven Academy. An all style dance competition where dancers are given a chance to compete and show off amazing talents for a cash prize and to be crowned the LIMITLESS KING or QUEEN.

Union Station: New Haven’s Transportation Hub

New Haven Preservation Trust

Explore this grand Beaux-Arts-style building (1918) designed by Cass Gilbert, a prominent early 20th-century architect. The tour will explain the landmark’s historical significance and recount citizen efforts to restore the station for use as a transportation center. Leader: Robert Grzywacz.

Evolution of Hip Hop

with Artsucation™ Academy Network

Through African dance, drumming, and songs the Artsucation™ Academy Network will present an excerpt of our Evolution of Hip Hop concert from our New Haven Hip-Hop Conference through our high in demand 'Africa Is Me!' and Ms. Hanan's Dance and Beyond programs in collaboration with the New Haven Village Drummers and surprise guests.

Bike Tour: Getting to the fork

where your locally produced food comes from

Local farms, farm shares, food producers, and farmers markets abound in New Haven. Join us on a tour highlighting these local entrepreneurs.

Yale Campus Tour

Experience the architectural wonders of the Yale campus, featuring stories of student life and the history of the University. The tour will include stops in Sterling Memorial Library and Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Peeking into New Haven's Closet: LGBTQ+ History Walking Tour

Join us for a special LGBTQ+ history walking tour of New Haven with New Haven Pride Center founder and Board Co-President, John D. Allen, Ed.D. Includes 10 stops throughout downtown New Haven - hear back the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, the arrest of Jim Morrison, the secret gay meet-up spots at Yale and more! Hosted in partnership with the New Haven Pride Center.

Bike Tour: New Haven Treasures

A Passport to Your City Parks

Granite rubbing stones are scattered throughout New Haven Parks. Get your passport and start collecting your stone rubbings on this tour. Representatives from the Parks Department will guide you along the way.

Rudolph Hall: Home of the Yale School of Architecture

Explore the vast, open spaces of the recently renovated Rudolph Hall. The tour features highlights of this nine-story structure, uniquely designed and split into 37 levels, and will also include a visit to the School of Architecture’s exhibition hall.

Excursion to Outer Island

Have you ever visited a wildlife refuge? Join us for a day of fun activities as we explore the Outer Island Unit of the Stewart B McKinney NWR. We will explore local wildlife and the outdoors while learning about the Service, our urban partnership, and how you can get involved in conserving our public lands. This event is sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Friends of Outer...

NEA Big Read: Storytime and Craft: "Each Kindness"

Storytime and Craft - read Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson followed by a discussion about the book. We will then make a craft.

International Fusion at the Orchid Cafe

Come and enjoy an amazing fusion of dishes made by ConnCAT's culinary students. Bring your taste buds an exciting adventure while sampling food from some of the future top chefs of New Haven.

Master Class: Kaki King

Attend a technical rehearsal and ask questions of Kaki King and engineer Max Bernstein as they set up the equipment and software for the evening’s performance.

East Rock Park

East Rock Park is more than a dramatic cliff with wonderful views of New Haven, and more than a peaceful respite or a prime birdwatching spot. Relatively unknown are its botanical riches; in the middle of intense urbanization, East Rock is an island of native trap rock vegetation that is usually found only on the larger, more pristine ridges to the north, east, and west.

Canoe on the West River

Join the New Haven Parks and Recreation Outdoor Adventure Program for a scenic paddle along the West River.

CT US District Courthouse: Temple of Justice and Citizenship

New Haven Preservation Trust

A rare privilege to see the majestic interiors of one of New Haven’s outstanding Neo-Classical Revival civic buildings designed in 1913 by New York City architect James Gamble Rogers. In recognition of the Festival's theme, Citizenship, participants will be invited to witness an actual naturalization ceremony as part of the tour. Leaders: Robin Tobora and the Honorable Jeffrey Meyer

Kayaking the Q River

Join the New Haven Parks and Recreation Outdoor Adventure Program for a scenic paddle along the Quinnipiac River.

Make Music New Haven

Join the Festival in celebrating Make Music New Haven in Temple Plaza with Music, activites, food and fun!Performance Schedule:5:30 pm Outside Reality6:15 pm Terri and Rob Duo6:55 pm Tang Sauce & DJ Stealth

Bike Tour: Prepare for International Make Music Day

Got rhythm? Don’t worry, every one is invited to International Make Music Day. Ride to locations throughout New Haven where music reigns, and is often free.

NEA Big Read: Healing from the Trauma of Racism

Healing practices.

Massaro Farms Tour

Join farm staff for a ramble around our dairy farm-turned-organic vegetable operation. Hear a first-hand account of what goes into managing this 100 year old bio-diverse farm in our community and how we manage the land with an eye on securing production for years to come.

Dance for PD Master Class

with Mark Morris Dance Group and Neighborhood Music School

Teaching artists from Mark Morris Dance Group's Dance for PD® program, including founding teacher and Dance for PD program director David Leventhal, will offer a stimulating, accessible and enjoyable class that includes excerpts from Mark Morris' Pepperland, an homage to the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album. No dance experience required. All levels of ability and mobility are...

Master Class: Mark Morris Dance Group

Members of Mark Morris Dance Group teach this intermediate-level modern class, including choreography from Pepperland.

Please come dressed in dance or movement clothing and bring a bottle of water.

Yale’s New Residential Colleges

Tour Yale’s newest additions to the residential college system, Pauli Murray College and Benjamin Franklin College. The new colleges opened in August 2017 and were designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects.

Gallery Tour: Gilbert

Join guest curator Deborah Rossi for a tour of the exhibition, “Gilbert,” featuring the artwork and correspondence of WWI aviator Gilbert Nelson Jerome of New Haven. In his frequent letters home, Jerome enclosed small sketches, drawings, and watercolors depicting Army life, the French countryside, and the wonder and excitement of flight.

Bike Tour: The Year of the Dog

and some Cool Cats too

Your four footed family friends are the feature of this ride as we meet local proprietors of the pet friendly set. Learn about new opportunities to pamper your pet and get great tips for keeping them healthy.

NEA Big Read: Drop-In Poetry

Get inspired to write a poem of your own! We will offer examples of different styles, including haiku and blackout poetry.

Industrial Heritage and the Future City

Discover, learn, and share ideas about the built heritage of New Haven’s industrial neighborhoods.

Master Class: Commedia with Compagnia de' Colombari

An intensive on the art of Commedia with Compagnia de' Colombari’s members: Francesca Sarah Toich and Walter Valeri.

Juneteenth Celebration at the Peabody Museum

“Africa Is Me!” is a structured, fun-filled, family-oriented program that uses the Artsucational™ curriculum methods for all ages based on History of melanated people, the connection between African traditions and current social issues, and trends involving the global Black community (diaspora). Each session consists of comprehensive, levelled, connected activities that include African dance,...

Bike Tour: Whodunnit?

A New Haven Murder Mystery on Your Two Wheels

Solve the unsolvable murder mystery in New Haven. Or just come along for the ride.

Ely Center of Contemporary Art

Artist Workspace Residency Program

Meet ECOCA artists-in-residence participating in a workspace residency that runs from June 8 to July 22. Engage with the artists, learn about their inspiration and overall artistic practice while meandering through the John Slade Ely House Galleries.

NEA Big Read: Stay and Play: Celebrate Yourself!

Join us for a fun and uplifting story time where we will read inspirational books about the wonder in us all!

Community Gardens & Greenhouses

Towards a Sustainable Community

Visit many of New Haven’s gardens, greenspaces, hoop houses, and greenhouses and survey the greenification of New Haven. Difficulty Level: Easy

New Haven Parks

Take a moment to spend some time in the lovely parks that surround you. Difficulty Level: Easy

Rudolph Hall: Home of Yale School of Architecture

Explore the vast, open spaces of Rudolph Hall. The tour features highlights of this nine-story structure, uniquely designed and split into 37 levels, and will also include a visit to the School of Architecture’s exhibition hall. Space is Limited

Sterling Memorial Library Tour

The tour will showcase the restoration of the nave’s stained glass windows, stone surfaces and the mural painting of Alma Mater. Space is Limited