2015 Hammonassett Festival - It's Not Just Another Day at the Beach!

2015 Hammonassett Festival - It’s not just another day at the beach!
October 3rd and 4th 2015
10 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

The 6th biannual Hammonassett Festival will take place at Meigs Point, Hammonasset Beach

State Park, in Madison, CT on October 3rd and 4th. Hours are 10AM to 5PM both days. This

popular event honors Native American culture and tradition and celebrates our natural world.

Returning for multiple performances each day will be the talented and award winning Native

American recording artist Arvel Bird (Paiute), as well as the Native Nations Dance Troupe led by

Erin Meeches (Schaghticoke). Allan Saunders (Mohegan) will lead an opening blessing and

smudging ceremony each morning at 10:30AM.

Authentic Native American arts and crafts will be available for purchase, including beadwork,

gourd art and wood carvings, wampum jewelry and knotted jewelry, clothing and accessories,

and much more. Non-profit museums and learning centers will present cultural and

educational exhibits and demonstrations and will be offering books for sale.

The New England Atlatl Championships will take place during the festival. Public participation is

available for those wanting to learn an ancient skill. Flintknapping and archaeology exhibits will

be available for viewing. Friends of the Office of State Archaeology, the World Atlatl Association

and the Museum of Natural History at Uconn will also have displays.

A Place Called Hope, a Killingworth based wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility, will offer live

raptor shows each day at 2PM in the Discovery Tent. The Meigs Point Nature Center will offer

live reptile shows both days, and will exhibit along with Ansonia Nature Center (Saturday only.)

Environmental and nature groups including the Shoreline Greenway Trail, Shoreline Outdoor

Education Center, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Connecticut Audubon, Menunkatuck Audubon, and

Sierra Club will have exhibits. Trout Unlimited will offer fly casting to attendees both days.

Vendors will be on-site preparing and serving a variety of foods, including traditional and

contemporary Native American cuisine.

The Hammonassett Festival is presented by Friends of Hammonasset (FOH) and supported by

the Madison Foundation and the Madison Jaycess. Admission is $5/person; children under 12

are admitted free. There is free admission to the Park and parking at the event site is free as

well. Handicapped parking is available. Pets are not permitted in the event area.

Vendor participation is by invitation from FOH.

Check us out on Facebook at HammonassettFestival2015.

Call 203 245 9192 or contact HammonassettFestival@gmail.com for more information.

Photo Credit: the Friends of Hammonasset