A Gift Worth Giving...Norwalk Seaport Association

Calling all lovers of Long Island Sound, lighthouses, the natural beauty of Sheffield Island and our maritime heritage, to make a tax-deductible donation to the Seaport Association to help us fulfill our mission in 2019 of conservation, preservation, and education.

First Place Winner of the Photo Contest - Jeff Klein

2018 was a banner year for the Seaport Association. We initiated several new events including the 150- year celebration of the iconic Sheffield Island Lighthouse, a structure that is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

A snapshot of some of the Association’s new 2018 programming includes:

Coordinated a photo contest with more than 100 entrants in order to increase the visibility of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse and Island on social media outlets.

Created a blog to enhance the visitor experience, promote the island and inform the media of events and activities.

Implemented a Brick Walk Program to beautify the Island and to serve as a reminder of the generosity of people that support the Association’s mission.

Welcomed and educated more than 400 school children by offering programs to engage and interest them in the conservation and history of Sheffield Island.

Coordinated programming for 2019 with area high school science teachers in order to expand our educational and conservation mission.

Organized several new and successful fundraising events including Docktails and Oysters, a BBQ Feast and Italian Night as well as gala events celebrating the 150^th birthday of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse.

Second-Place-Winner-Inkeri-Saiku

What will your donation help us accomplish in 2019? A lot…here are just a few things on our “to do” list:

The construction and completion of a new permanent pavilion

Continuing restoration such as the metal work on the Lighthouse Tower

Replacement of the windows in the historic Light keeper's Cottage

Additional Plantings to help reduce the erosion and to enhance the beauty of Sheffield Island

Make structural improvements to the Island’s Docks and Ramps to enhance the visitor experience

 Organize cleanup and removal of hundreds of yards of stone that washed ashore due to the recent storm and tidal surge.

Create a newsletter to continue to inform members and the visiting public of the activities of the Seaport Association throughout the year in order to foster and enhance our mission.

Third Place Winner – John Lucas

The conservation work of the Seaport Association on Sheffield Island can only occur with your support.  A gift at any level helps the Seaport Association fulfill its mission to inspire interest and encourage learning about our maritime past by preserving and conserving Sheffield Island and Sheffield Island Lighthouse.  (Please consider a donation of $150 in honor of 150 years of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse to the Seaport Association). 

To make a donation call 203-838-9444 or visit us online at https://seaport.org

Sunset Cruise October 5- Last Cruise of 2018

The Seaport Association of Norwalk has a plan that lets summer lovers hold on to that season just a little longer by offering the final sunset cruise of the season on Friday, October 5.  This is the perfect way to kick off the first weekend in October!  Visitors can board the Seaport Association's 45-foot C.J. Toth catamaran that leaves from the dock on 4 North Water Street in Norwalk at 6:30 p.m. and returns at 8:30 p.m. 

On this relaxing two-hour cruise through Norwalk Harbor and into Long Island Sound gives passengers beautiful views of the city of Norwalk with its beautiful waterfront homes and marinas. Along the way, passengers can look for seabirds and spot nests made by them.  This excursion will take you by several islands, including Sheffield Island, the crown jewel that has the 150-year-old Sheffield Island Lighthouse as its centerpiece. As the sun sinks slowly into the horizon, don't forget to bring your camera for unforgettable early autumn sunsets, on the water.

Passengers can bring wine or beer and snacks onboard.  Don't forget to bring a bottle or wine opener, plastic cups and a bag to carry them off the vessel.  Parking is available at the Maritime Garage and boarding the vessel begins at 6 p.m.  It is good to arrive a little early to snag the best seats, although, on this ride, every seat offers a fabulous view! Tickets are available online and advance reservations are recommended as this cruise is popular and could sell out. Tickets are a deal at $25 per person ($26.87 with service fee).  If you are a last minute planner, there may be tickets available at the dock the night of the cruise; however, by Coast Guard Regulations, the vessel can only accommodate 49 very lucky people!

September Acoustic Cruises Sept. 5 & 12, 19, 26, & Oct. 3 2018

September is a month of transition when kids go back to school; we harvest the last tomatoes and corn from the garden and start thinking about apple picking.  Even though summer is over, on paper, the Seaport Association has scheduled four Wednesday Night Acoustic Cruises that are not to be missed.  An added bonus on this relaxing cruise is that the nights remain warm and the sunsets are stunning on Long Island Sound; so don’t forget your camera.

On September 5 guitarist Glen Roth will dazzle you with his fingerstyle guitar work.  His compositions suggest multiple guitars, but it really is just the talent of one man and his ten flying fingers and one instrument.  You may have even run into Glen when in Grand Central Terminal or on one of the tunnel platforms because he is a licensed performer in the MTA’s Music Under New York program.  Tonight though, he is there to entertain just you and 48 other lucky people.

Next, on board, the ferry is the delightful trio, Josie, Taylor, and Martin.  Listening to them is the perfect way to welcome autumn on Long Island Sound.  

On September 19, Joni and the Keepers are sure to lift your mid-week blues spirits with their entertaining set. Joni's sound was originally rooted in Country and Gospel, but over the years, her repertoire has expanded to include blues and rock as well any genre where great songs for great women singers can be found. Joni has fronted several bands in her career in the Midwest and on the East Coast, opened for Nashville acts in the New York area, and continues to evolve her music by surrounding herself with eclectic and outstanding musicians, like The Keepers.  This is a cruise not to be missed!

The last cruise in September, on the 26th, is with the always entertaining and amazing Glen Roth that always dazzles audiences with his banter and with his fingerstyle guitar work.  Glen amazes because his compositions suggest multiple guitars, but it really is just the talent of one man and his ten flying fingers and one instrument.   He often plays in Grand Central Terminal, but tonight he is performing for 49 very special passengers on the C.J. Toth.  A bonus of cruising this time of year is that you will catch a sunset on Long Island Sound!

The final Wednesday night Acoustic Cruise of the 2018 season takes place on October 3.  

To Book the Cruise

The boat departs at 6:30 p.m. and returns at 8:30 p.m., it is advisable for passengers to arrive by 6 p.m. to snag the best seats.  Please feel free to bring your own bottle, don't forget a corkscrew or bottle opener and plastic cups or goblets, and of course snacks! Parking is available at the Maritime Garage or in the parking lot by the dock at 4 North Water Street. Reservations can be made online or by calling the Seaport Association at 203-838-9444. 

The capacity is limited to 49 because of U.S. Coast Guard regulations so it is best to purchase tickets in advance. Walk-up tickets are also sold, space permitting.

About the Seaport Association

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had a vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. 

The Norwalk Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands.  The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue, which strives to increase awareness, appreciation and consideration for our environment and how the preservation of historic buildings and nature contribute to our quality of life.

It is our belief that preservation strengthens the perpetual partnership between the past, the present and the future. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment and maritime heritage.

Sheffield Island Lighthouse 150 Anniversary Dinner Sept. 15

Sheffield Island is the site for one of fall’s most highly anticipated events, the Anniversary Dinner on Sheffield Island to fete the 150th birthday of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse.   “As caretakers of this iconic maritime treasure, we have planned an exceptional night out for friends, old and new that support the conservation efforts of the Seaport Association.   We want this dinner to be memorable because it is not every day that an iconic edifice like the lighthouse turns 150 in a state that is just over 360 years old.”

This evening’s celebratory dinner menu has been inspired for the most discerning palates and has been organized with foodies and lovers of lighthouses in mind.  The menu will showcase the bounty of the sea with a raw bar featuring oysters three ways from Copps Island, grilled and chilled cilantro shrimp, lobster tails and Rhode Island clam chowder, and all the fixings.  There will be a dessert table and even s’mores by the fire pit!  Mixers, soda, and water for alcoholic beverages are included. 

Tickets to this exceptional dining experience are $100 per person and include the cruise to Sheffield Island, dinner and entertainment. Advance reservations are required. Please RSVP to the Seaport Association at 203-838-9444 or online at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3598573.  The boat departs from the Sheffield Island Ferry Dock on 10 North Water Street at 4 p.m. and returns to the dock at 8:30 p.m. Ticketing fees are applied to all reservations and all tickets are nonrefundable unless there is a weather cancellation. Parking is available at the Maritime Garage.

Proceeds support the Sheffield Island Lighthouse.

Heineken Tent Entertainment Schedule

The music and fun @ the 2018 Norwalk Oyster Festival features a different band each hour, on all three festival days.  This musical extravaganza highlights outstanding entertainment by many top area musicians and bands that keep the party going at the Heineken Entertainment Tent!  It's the place where party action happens and where fairgoers can see their old and new favorite bands perform.  All entertainment is included in the price of the ticket making this an affordable day out!

Line up- Friday, September 7, 2018

On Friday night, the entertainment opens with Oyster Stew at 7 p.m. so bring your dancing shoes because they will come in handy when listening to the dynamic sound of this band.

Next on tap is the  60's Satisfaction Band is sure to get you in a party mood where you will relive an era -- and, what better way to ramp up the 2018 Oyster Festival than with a  60's band that performs all your bubblegum, psychedelic and Motown favorites that will get you into the TGIF mood!  Pierce Campbell is on guitar and vocals, Tony Pasqualoni on bass, Loren Evarts on piano and vocals and  John Rispoli is on drums.  This band is pro and has been wowing audiences together since the 1980s.  You will be dancing on your feet from start to finish!

The final performance on Friday is School of Rock at  9 p.m. Join the best and most hardworking students from School of Rock Fairfield, School of Rock Bedford, and School of Rock New Canaan as they rock the audience on the first night of the festival.

Line Up - Saturday - September 8, 2018

The music begins at 12 noon sharp with  Rubber Band. MN8 takes the stage at 1 p.m. with music that is sure to get the audience moving.  For a change of pace, Joni and the Keepers take the stage at 2 p.m.  Singer-songwriter Joni Wallace and the Keepers bring to the stage acoustic music from top female artists. Her show spans Country, Rock, Folk, Gospel, and original tunes that are sure to inspire.

A true Milford 'supergroup' formed in summer 2014 The Void takes the stage at 3 p.m.  This band brings members of Inside/Out, Murray The Wheel, The Barrelhouse Boys, Outside Chance, and ROAR together in one group, with a huge catalog of great songs to perform.  The passion of this band is sure to get you up on your feet and dancing! 

If you like the blues you are in for a treat when the  Jay Willie Blues Band takes the stage at 4 p.m. with music steeped in lyrical emotion and sultry melodies that are open to endless improvisations bothy lyrically and musically. The drummer, Bobby T Torello was named to the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame and has toured with Johnny Winter, Grace Slick, and Michael Bolton.

 At 5 p.m. The Cold Ones will rock your world with high energy rock and roll. Their style is influenced by a range of bands from the Black Crowes and Aerosmith to Lady Gaga, Rihanna to Kansas, Bush, and Puddle of Mud.

The evening starts with the Gunn Street Revival Band at  6 p.m. whose musical tastes range from the 60s to the 90s. These local professional musicians have been playing the Connecticut circuit for many years to audiences that have consistently enjoyed their performance, and so will you @ Oyster Festival 2018.

For a Saturday night adrenaline, audiences will groove to the sounds of this premier party rock cover band, Bad Boy at 7 p.m.  Danny Mariano is dynamic on vocals, Pete Ruello on Bass, Frank Calarco on Drums and Dave Aaron is on Guitar.  When they start to play, you will find yourself dancing this set away -- a great way to kick off Saturday night @ the Norwalk Oyster Festival!

At 8 p.m. experience the vibrant sound of Neo Sound,  that is composed of a diverse group of musicians connected through a shared desire to create a stage show that captivates their audience.  You can expect an hour filled with r&b, pop, funk, Motown, and dance hits from the 60’s to current radio favorites.  

The final band to take the stage at 9 p.m. is Killer D that performs music by Pink, Alanis Morrissette, Pat Benatar, and others.

Line - Up - Sunday, September 9, 2018

The fun on Sunday, the final day of the  Norwalk Oyster Festival begins at 12 noon with the award-winning Silver Steel Band that takes the stage at 12 noon sharp. Get ready for a trip to the Caribbean when this band starts to play some of their favorite styled music from Trinidad and Tobago as well as Soca and Calypso, Rock, Latin and your Disney Favorites!

At 1 p.m. get ready for the music of the vibrant, high energy band called the Juicy Grapes. This popular band has been performing high energy funk, rock and soul since the late '90s and are sure to get you up and dancing! The Juicy Grapes love to create a scene that's high on good vibes.

Get ready to be wowed by the young musicians from The Paul Green Rock Academy who take the stage at 2 p.m.  These talented and very serious young musicians between the ages of 10 and 18 aspire to put on a professional show that you will be talking about for the rest of the day!

For a change of pace, the Summertime Band will take you back to the 50s and 60s with Swing, Doo Wop and classic rock tunes at  3 p.m. You will be up on your feet dancing as they play all your classic favorites. 

Next on tap is Bobby T's All-Star at 4 p.m.headed up by Classic Hall of Fame Drummer Bobby T. whose talent has wowed audiences around the world.  Next on stage is RD3 at 5 p.m.

At 6 p.m. the dynamic Ratso and Friends will be belting out blues that is sure to charm the audience. You won't want to miss the sound of these amazing professional musicians. Ratso is also an inspiring teacher at the Lenox School of Music in Stamford.

The final performers of the night the Norwalk Oyster Festival is Logical Pretzel at 7 p.m.  Close out this year's Oyster Festival to the blues beat of this band that has a serious groove.

Tickets, Parking & Metro-North

The event is held at Veteran’s Park, adjacent to Norwalk Harbor on Seaview Avenue in Norwalk, CT.  Admission for adults is $10 on Friday, $12 on Saturday and Sunday.  Senior tickets are $10 all days.  Children 5-12 year’s old are $5.  Children under 5 and U.S. military personnel on active duty are free.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.seaport.org.  On Sunday, Sept. 9 children 12 and under free with paying adult.

Festival Hours: Friday, Sept. 7, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, September 8 from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., and Sunday, September 9 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

For those that want to take the train Metro-North is offering a discount package with free shuttle service from the train station to the Oyster Festival.

Free parking and shuttle service available from Calf Pasture Beach, Norwalk City Hall, and Norwalk Community College.

About the Norwalk Seaport Association

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, education and public awareness of Norwalk’s maritime environment and heritage.  The Seaport Association and its volunteers are solely responsible for organizing and financing the Oyster Festival.  In addition to the Oyster Festival, the Norwalk Seaport Association owns Sheffield Lighthouse and its volunteers maintain the lighthouse and grounds as a museum and nature preserve. For more information, visit www.seaport.org. or call (203) 838-9444.