Southport's Pequot Library Sets April Programs Around History, Books, Music, Community

FAIRFIELD, CT — Pequot Library in Southport is rolling out an April lineup built around history, public conversation and community events as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. The library said the month will include exhibitions, author talks, performances and gatherings designed to connect ideas from the past with current issues.

Founded in 1889, Pequot Library described itself as a place where scholarship and community life meet. According to the library, its Special Collections, public programming and historic setting help make it a cultural destination in the region, welcoming more than 56,000 visitors each year. The library said it continues to serve as both a steward of history and a place for shared experience.

With the nation's semiquincentennial on the horizon, the April programming focuses on forces that shaped American identity. A talk by Philadelphia Museum of Art curator Colin Fanning will examine the cultural impact of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. Yale historian Mark Peterson is scheduled to lead a conversation on the evolving meaning of the Constitution.

Visitors can also see Print Revolution: Pamphlets, Persuasion, and the Path to Independence, an exhibition drawn from the library's Special Collections. According to the library, the exhibition shows how the written word helped ignite a revolution. The month's schedule also includes a conversation with novelist Emma Grey about her latest work.

Pequot Library said artistic programming will continue through performances by emerging classical musicians. The library described those appearances as part of its role as a home for both established and rising talent. The April calendar also reaches beyond lectures and performances with events centered on community participation.

Among those events are the annual Easter Egg Roll, the Spring Book Sale and guided walking tours through historic Southport. The library said those gatherings reflect its mission to bring people together across generations in meaningful and memorable ways. It also said it remains dedicated to offering free access to cultural and intellectual engagement.

Pequot Library is located at 720 Pequot Ave. in Southport.

From the announcement:

CELEBRATING THE NATION’S 250th ANNIVERSARY

*Thursday, April 2, at 6:00 p.m. — Perseverance & Progress: Industry and Art at the Centennial Exhibition with Colin Fanning, curator at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Learn
how the 1876 Centennial Exhibition shaped the future of American art, craft, and industry.

*Thursday, April 9, at 6:00 p.m. — Meet the Author: Mark Peterson on The Making and Breaking of the American Constitution. Yale historian Mark Peterson discusses how the nation’s evolving democracy tests the endurance of its founding principles.

Saturday, April 11, at 2:00 p.m. — Exhibition Tour: Print Revolution: Pamphlets, Persuasion, and the Path to Independence. Take a behind-the-scenes look at Pequot Library’s latest Special Collections exhibition and learn about the powerful voices that helped spark a revolution. The exhibition, Print Revolution: Pamphlets, Persuasion, and the Path to Revolution, remains on view through May 2.

LITERATURE AND CONVERSATION

Friday, April 24, at 11:00 a.m. — Meet the Author: Emma Grey. Join author Emma Grey in conversation with Hayes Pages’ Susy Hayes Jones. They discuss her moving new novel, Start at the End. Books will be available for purchase courtesy of Barrett Bookstore.

MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS

Saturday, April 25, at 2:00 p.m. — Pianist Junwen Liang performs Romantic Encounter, a lyrical journey through works by Ravel, Chopin, and Stephen Hough.

Thursday, April 30, at 6:00 p.m. — Music for Youth Emerging Artists Concert with pianist Vitaly Starikov, whose expressive performances have been praised as “raw, deeply felt, and
powerful.”

COMMUNITY AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

*Saturday, April 4, at 10:00 a.m. — Annual Easter Egg Roll. Celebrate spring with crafts, games, music, and a visit from the Easter Bunny.

Saturday, April 18, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. — Spring Blowout Book Sale. Discover treasures and bargains while supporting the Library’s operating costs; admission is free.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS (PLUS LOCAL HISTORY)

Mondays, April 20 & 27, May 11 & 18, at 10:00 a.m. — Monday Meanders. Take a guided walk through Southport’s historic village to promote wellness and connection.

Saturday, April 25, at 10:00 a.m. — Historic Southport Walking Tour. Explore Southport’s architectural and cultural heritage. $10 per person.

About Pequot Library
Founded in 1889, Pequot Library is a nonprofit public association library dedicated to enriching lives through cultural, educational, and intellectual engagement. Serving more than 56,000 people annually, the Pequot Library offers extensive programming for all ages and relies on the support of donors, members, and community partners to sustain its mission.

*Events have already been held