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Arts & Entertainment

Ridgefield Art Studio Offers Unique Events & Glow Parties

The Arts & Nature School of Ridgefield has unique activities planned for this week including glow parties, pop-in art and more.

Wendy Ann Mitchell's profile picture
Wendy Ann Mitchell, Community Contributor

RIDGEFIELD, CT — A new Ridgefield art studio and party place opened up on Route 7 on November 11 and is booking up quickly for their one-of-a-kind holiday and art activities. From "Splatterday Saturday" sensory activities for toddlers to family gnome making, from Soul Sisters Swag Night: A Different Kind of Paint & Sip to Messy Mondays, GLOW parties and school break camp days, the Arts & Nature School of Ridgefield has already made their unique mark on the Ridgefield, Redding and Wilton community.

Opened by Ridgefield resident Wendy Mitchell, founder and director of the Sandy Hook Arts Center for Kids, the studio is part educational, part self-esteem building and a whole lot of fun. The most popular offering so far is their GLOW party. It's a DJ dance party where everything glows in the dark.

Glow parties include glow sticks, a glow-in-the-dark chalk wall, DJ dance music, games, a birthday banner, and optional glow add-ons. One 9-year-old Ridgefield girl recently celebrated at the Arts & Nature School and said it was "the best party ever."

Kids and teens of all ages will get to try it too on the following dates and times:

Black Friday Middle School Glow Party 11/24: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-friday-black-light-middle-school-glow-party-tickets-39894296916

Trial Class Week 11/27 - 12/1: https://www.facebook.com/events/129630937703599/

  • Try a class the week of Nov. 27th and get a preview of our awesome winter session of offerings in clay, 3D sculpture, cartooning, graffiti arts, musical theater, knitting and more! All classes are $20 per class. Art class students please add on an additional $5 per student for a supply fee. Winter session begins in early January and this is a great way to get a feel for which offerings are a good match for your student.

Kid's Karaoke 12/2: https://www.facebook.com/events/254127985113486/

  • Grab the kids and some friends and join us for Kids Karaoke at the Arts & Nature School! Kids as young as 3 years old are invited to come sing- NO READING SKILLS required! As you know, kids learn lyrics of songs much quicker than they learn to read so if they know the words to a favorite song, they will do just fine! :) Bring your own dinner & BYOB and prepare to be entertained by your young superstar! Each child gets to be the star as they sing their favorite Disney songs, Broadway showtunes or popular favorites. Mom & Dad can come join them on the mic if they're a litle shy. Kid's Karaoke is always a great time and builds self-esteem to be able to get into front of a crowd- a lifelong skill

Kid's Paint & Sip 12/3: https://www.facebook.com/events/501412896912463/

  • Grab your family and friends and join local artist Jessica Ventura for a festive winter-themed Paint 'n Sip Day! We will be painting a snowman! Our talented teacher will give step-by-step instructions and you will leave with a beautiful painting. Come on out and unleash your inner artist!

Splatterday Saturday 12/9: https://www.facebook.com/events/314180119061142/

  • Your child will get to BE the painting as they throw, fling, stomp and splat paint in our portable splat room. Kids age 2+ up will get a set of goggles and a shower cap/paint cap to wear. Please dress them in clothes that can get messy and bring clothes to change into. Paintings stay here to dry- come back the next day or during the week to pick up your unique abstract creation. This is a great sensory activitiy for toddler, preschoolers and kids of all ages.

Nog n' Gnome Holiday Craft Workshop, Sunday, Dec. 3, from 3-5pm:

  • Come to a very special family art workshop: Nog n’ Gnome! Make a felted wool gnome with your family while sipping on eggnog and listening to festive holiday music. Enjoy the company of your friends and neighbors while making a one-of-a-kind creation to add to your holiday collection. The Swedish mythological creature from Nordic folklore is associated with the winter solstice and the Christmas season. It is generally described as being 35 inches with a long white beard, wearing a pointy knit colorful hat. In the English editions of the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, the word nisse (or gnome) has been inaccurately translated as goblin (a more accurate translation is brownie or hob). Cost for this 2-hour workshop is $25 per person which also includes festive holiday refreshments. Call or email the Arts & Nature School of Ridgefield to register today!

Pictures, Cookies & Crafts with Santa, Sun. Dec. 10:

  • Ho ho ho and away we go! Put on your holiday best and get ready for an awesome afternoon of pictures & cookie decorating with Santa at The Arts & Nature School of Ridgefield! This event is also a benefit for Family & Children's Aid of Danbury. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to help local foster kids have a happy holiday. Ridgefield photographer Michele Williams will capture images of your family with Santa, and then you'll get smocks to decorate holiday crafts while enjoying songs of the season! All cookies are made in a nut-free facility. Cost is $65 per family which includes photos with Santa, 2 digital images and holiday craft decorating. Space is limited. Buy your tickets online today on Eventbrite! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/p...

Adult Events

  • Soul Sisters Swag Night: Door Swag Making 12/1
  • Soul Sisters Swag: Take 2 12/8
  • Paint & Sip - Winter Cardinals 12/15: https://www.facebook.com/events/188455555044459/
    • Grab some wine and friends and join local artist Jessica Ventura for a festive winter-themed Paint 'n Sip Night! We will be painting a cardinal. The bird is named for the red plumage of the male, which was said to look similar to a cardinal’s red vestments. During the courtship process, male Northern Cardinals are known to exhibit affection toward females by feeding her beak-to-beak. The Northern Cardinal is a favorite of backyard birders because of its bright red colors, joyful songs and year-round presence. Unlike many other songbirds in North America, both the male and female cardinals can sing. Usually, only a male songbird is capable of singing. When a female cardinal sings from the nest, it usually means she’s telling the male she needs more food. Our teacher will give step-by-step instructions and you will leave with a beautiful painting. Have a great night out with your date, girlfriends, co-workers and family. Come on out and unleash your inner artist!

The Arts & Nature School of Ridgefield is conveniently located at 280 Ethan Allen Hwy, Rt 7, Ridgefield, right next to Empire Fence Co. Call or email for more information: artsandnatureschool@gmail.com or (475) 215-5582.

Photo credit: Wendy Ann Mitchell

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