DEP Connecticut
Boating Guide

(downloadable version)


Connecticut River
Speed Zones

What's Happening

Essex is a small village in the lower Connecticut River valley steeped in tradition and unspoiled character. Take a walk down Main Street and ask anyone which is the best small town in America, and you will hear the heralds of Essex. Norm Crampton has verified what our residents have known for years in his 1995 edition of 100 Best Small Towns in America. (Previously holding the #2 position, Essex moved to the top spot in the 1995 edition.)

While Mr. Crampton used quantitative data to reach his conclusion, there are more qualitative aspects of Essex that really define the character of the town ~ Farmer’s Market on Friday afternoons in the park, Summer Concerts in the Park, the view of the Connecticut River and its shore, a walk down a tree-shaded lane on a hot summer's day, or a friendly "Hello" from a passerby. As our Guests, you have the opportunity to share in these experiences, too.

There is a little bit of something for everyone in Essex and the neighboring area. Our Guest Services Staff has many contacts, and our local knowledge is keen. You will find some well known sites in the following, as well as a few hidden treasures that typify the charm and spirit of our area:

Calendar of Events Walking Distance
Less than 10 minutes away 10 – 20 minutes away
20 – 30 minutes away 30 – 45 minutes away


Spring, Summer and Fall 2008

Events are added as they are confirmed ~ please check back often!

DATE

TIME

EVENT

PLACE

Feb 2

2:00 PM

Essex Ed Parade

Main Street, Essex

Feb 16 & 17

events vary

9thAnnual CT River Eagle Festival

Main Street, Essex

April 11 - June 29

Wed - Sun shows

Happy Days - A New Musical

Goodspeed Opera House

May 3

Opening Day

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

May 7 - 25

Wed - Sun shows

Glass Menagerie

Ivoryton Playhouse

May 10

2:00 PM

Burning of the Ships Parade

Main Street, Essex

May 26

9:00 AM

Memorial Day Parade

Main Street, Essex

June 7

4:30 - ?

Essex Rotary Club's 50th Shad Bake

Essex Elementary School

mid-June - Oct

3:00 PM Fridays

Farmers Market

Essex Village

June 18 - July 6

Wed - Sun shows

They're Playing Our Song

Ivoryton Playhouse

June 22

Essex Fire Dept. 175th Anniversary Parade & Celebration

Ivoryton, Centerbrook, Essex

June 27 - 29

1-800-348-0003

Hot Steamed Jazz Festival

Essex Steam Train and Riverboat

July & August

7:00 PM Wednesdays

Concert in the Park

Essex & Ivoryton Park (alternating)

July 12

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Antique & Classic Boat Show

Connecticut River Museum

July 11 - Sept 19

Wed - Sun shows

Half a Sixpence - A Sidesplitting Musical Comedy

Goodspeed Opera House

July 16 - Aug 3

Wed - Sun shows

Moon Over Buffalo

Ivoryton Playhouse

July 25 - 27

1-800-HOT-EVENT

Great CT Traditional Jazz Festival

Sunrise Resort, Moodus,CT

Aug 2

3:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Essex Lions Club Lobster & Steak Bake

Essex Town Park

Aug 13 - 31

Wed - Sun shows

Evita

Ivoryton Playhouse

Aug 16

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Juried Crafts Fair

Essex Town Park

Sept 17 - Oct 5

Wed - Sun shows

Steel Magnolias

Ivoryton Playhouse

Sept 26 - Nov 30

Wed - Sun shows

Big River - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Goodspeed Opera House

Oct 31

6:00 PM

Halloween Parade

Main Street, Essex

Nov 30 (raindate Dec. 7)

4:30 PM

Trees in the Rigging Parade

Essex Town Hall to Conn. River Museum

 

Within walking distance  
Connecticut River Museum Griswold Inn
RIVERQUEST Essex Town Park
Black Seal Seafood Grille Main Street shops
Essex Historical Society Essex Art Association
Canfield Woods hiking Tennis Courts behind Town Hall
Sunset Pond fishing


Less than 10 minutes away  
Nott Island Picnicking Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
Essex Clipper Dinner Train Bennie's Farm Market
Gabrielle's River Road biking
Oliver's Taverne Copper Beech Inn
Ivoryton Playhouse Museum of Fife & Drum
Scott's CT Valley Orchards Old Saybrook Antiques Center


10 - 20 minutes away  
Hamburg Cove The River Tavern
Sig's Water Street Café Pattaconk 1850 Bar & Grille
Restaurant du Village Sage American Bar and Grill
Goodspeed at Chester Lupo
Chester Charter plane rides Rosemary & Sage Mediterranean Grill & Wine Bar
Saybrook Point Mini Golf Dock and Dine
Penny Lane Pub Paperback Café
Jack's Saybrook Steak Stella D'oro
Saigon City Luigi's Restaurant
Cuckoo's Nest Mexican Restaurant Water's Edge Resort
Westbrook Factory Stores Westbrook Cinema 12
Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets Chamard Vineyards
Bee and Thistle Inn Florence Griswold Museum
Old Lyme Inn Lyme Academy of Fine Arts
Hallmark's Drive-In Goodspeed Opera House


20 - 30 minutes away  
Sundial Gardens & Tea Room Gillette Castle State Park
Devil's Hopyard State Park Wadsworth Mansion
Kidcity Children's Museum Rocky Neck State Park
Harkness Memorial State Park Waterford Speedbowl
Ocean Beach Park Lyman Allyn Art Museum
Garde Arts Center Eugene O'Neill Theater
USCG Academy USS Nautilus Submarine Tour


30 - 45 minutes away  
Banner Country Club & Golf Course Lyman Orchards Golf Club
Chevrolet Theatre Mohegan Sun Casino
Foxwoods Resort Casino Mashantucket Pequot Museum
Mystic Carousel & Fun Center Mystic Seaport
Mystic Aquarium Yale Repertory Theatre
Yale Center for British Art Peabody Museum of Natural History
Yale University Art Gallery Shubert Performing Arts Center


Rental Car and Taxi Info  

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Thrifty Car Rental

Essex Taxi

Executive Taxi

 

 

Today is: 


       Our Address:
         Essex Island Marina
         Foot of Ferry Street
         Essex, CT 06426
         Phone: 860-767-1267
         Fax: 860-767-0075


Scenes from the Essex area

 

Today's Weather
 

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