Entertainment
Music
The Simsbury Performing Arts Center is the summer home of the Hartford Symphony. Called the Talcott Mountain Music Festival, it features five concerts in the open air. An annual favorite is the 4th of July Celebrate America Concert which ends with Fireworks. Take a blanket and a picnic, or buy table tickets and order a catered gourmet dinner for a beautiful evening of music under the stars. For more information go to: www.hartfordsymphony.org.
From June through September, the Performing Arts Center is also the site of a Summer Concert Series featuring a variety of contemporary artists. Past performances have featured Harry Connick Jr, Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, Emmy Lou Harris, Earth Wind & Fire and the Beach Boys. For information on these, concerts, go to www.simsburymeadows.com.
More live music in Simsbury
LittleHouse Live: Show dates posted on their website: littlehouselive.com
Old Well Tavern: Weekends. For details go to: theoldwelltavern.com
Maple Tree Café: Friday and Saturday evenings mapletreecafe.com/livemusic
Red Stone Pub: Occasional live music events. For details go to: redstonepubs.com
Simsbury Public Library: Friends Friday Night Coffeehouse & Afternoon Classical Music Series with Hartt School musicians. For events, check: www.simsburylibrary.info or call 860-658-7663 x2200
Theater
The Theatre Guild of Simsbury: Since 1972, this theater group of local residents produce a Broadway style musical each fall at Simsbury High School and a Studio Theater style play in the spring at Eno Memorial Hall. For more information go to: www.theatreguildsimsbury.org
Simsbury Light Opera: Since 1946, SLOCO, a community-based non profit opera company, has specialized in staging Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, as well a light operas by other composers every spring. The performances are at Simsbury High School. Auditions are held in the fall. For more information go to: www.sloco.org
Simsbury Summer Theatre: Since 1966, local high school and college students have been part a Broadway musical production presented at the end of July at the Centennial Theater at Westminster School. Professional staff members provide guidance and direction, and adult volunteers assist with the production of the show. For more info: www.simsburysummertheatre.org
Playgrounds
Rotary Park Playground: One of the most popular parks for children is the Rotary Club of Simsbury-Granby’s accessible playground on Iron Horse Blvd. next to the Performing Arts Center. The soft rubber ground surface provides a safe place for all children to play on the swings, slides, bouncy toys, and numerous other interactive features of the completely fenced- in playground.
Simsbury Farms Children’s Playground: Located at Simsbury Farms on Old Farms Road, this playground is easily accessible from the parking lot. Completely fenced in, it contains two playscapes one of which is surrounded by rubber matting and includes a play house. A second playscape includes bridges, ramps, and slides. Right behind the structures is a covered pavilion and picnic tables. For adults, there is no better place to see the fall foliage.
Simsbury Public Library Children’s Room: Located in the center of Simsbury at 725 Hopmeadow St, children’s programs include everything from puppet shows to live animals. Find out more at: simsburylibrary.info/children
Paw Meadow Dog Park: Located at Simsbury Meadows behind the Performing Arts Center Bandshell, Paw Meadow is a fenced, double gated, off-leash dog park with separate enclosures for big and little dogs. There is water in season and seating for human owners. It is closed on days when the band shell is in use. Dogs must be currently licensed.
Shopping
For a partial list of retailers, go to Simsbury Main Street Partnership: www.shopsimsbury.com
Movies
Hoyts Simsbury Commons 8, 530 Bushy Hill Road. For showtimes go to: www.simsburycinema.com or call 860-658-0303.