top of page
Search

Five Farmington Valley Towns Band Together to present 'Rhythm & Brews' Juneteenth Celebration on June 15

  • jfitts0
  • Jun 4, 2024
  • 2 min read

Submitted release


SIMSBURY – The best in black food, brew, and music comes alive at a unique Juneteenth celebration in Simsbury. The Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center announced today that it will host the Rhythm & Brews Juneteenth Celebration from 1 – 5 pm on Saturday, June 15.  

 

What distinguishes this Juneteenth celebration is that five suburban towns in the Farmington Valley – Avon, Canton, Farmington, Granby, and Simsbury—are banding together to bring the spirit of freedom and fun to the community at large.

 

“We are very excited to have five towns collaborating on this fun-filled Juneteenth celebration, “said Nicole Kodak, Co-Chair of Simsbury’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council. “Feel the beat of freedom and fun at the bigger 2024 Rhythm & Brews Juneteenth celebration with a day of live music, food trucks, and LEGO® themed family-friendly entertainment as we celebrate freedom in America.”

 

This event brings together the best in Black food, brew, and live music. The free community event showcases performances by Nekita Waller, Damian Curtis, the Afro Cuban Jazz Project, and Magic Soul Drumline.  Kids of all ages can experience the world’s largest LEGO® Black Brick Play Zone and full-sized LEGO® Black PantherTM Photo Zone, courtesy of LEGO Systems, Inc!  

 

Have a taste for more? Brewmaster Alisa Bowens-Mercado, owner of CT’s Rhythm Brewing Co, will host her unique “Sips & Salsa” with beer tasting and a brief salsa lesson. Guests may also experience the best in Black cuisine by purchasing from the onsite food trucks: Southern Bell Soul Food, Soulfully Vegan, and Ice Cream Dream. Simsbury Meadows pub will also be open.  

 

Visitors can stop by an on-site history tent, which will provide education on black enslavement and freedom in the Farmington Valley. Carol Clark-Flanagan, a history faculty member at Ethel Walker School, Simsbury’s Jennifer Lopez, and the Historical Societies from the five towns. 

 

All this and more...and admission is FREE thanks to sponsors Eversource Energy, Simsbury Main Street Partnership, Northwest Community Bank, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, iHeartmedia, Elkinson + Sloves, Inc., XL Color/Allied Printing Services, and the towns of Avon, Canton, Farmington, Granby, and Simsbury.  

 

“Our goal is both educate a wider audience and celebrate together the importance of Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery on June 19, 1865,” said Kodak. “Juneteenth is a great time to gather together and celebrate freedom for all of us.” 

 

For more information, visit Simsbury Meadows.org.

 

Schedule:

12:30    Gates open

1:00      Nekita Waller Band

2:30     Magic Soul Drumline 

3:00     Damian Curtis Afro-Cuban Jazz Project

4:30     Raffle Prizes

4:40     Magic Soul Drumline

Holiday Events

November 27

Communal Thanksgiving Dinner

Unionville: Farmington Community Services hosts its annual town-wide Thanksgiving Day Dinner Gathering each year at the Farmington Community and Senior Center located at 321 New Britain Avenue in Unionville. With the help of volunteers and staff a full Thanksgiving dinner is prepared and served.  Participants, volunteers, and donors are always welcome and needed. Please contact Community Services at 860-675-2390 to make your reservation or for more information.

​

November 29

Simsbury celebrates

Simsbury: Simsbury celebrates takes place from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 29 along Hopmeadow Street. Simsbury Celebrates is a free community holiday celebration, sustained primarily through donations from local businesses and private citizens. It is traditionally held the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year, we are celebrating with a variety of events, culminating with our spectacular fireworks show.  

 

Through December

Farmington: The Friends of the Farmington Libraries are excited to announce a holiday book sale, that is continuing into December.  The sale will be held in the Book Nook in the lobby of the main Farmington library during regular library hours.  There will be lots of holiday books for children, adult books, small stocking-stuffer books, and puzzles, all in like-new condition, suitable for holiday gift giving.  The Friends collect donations of books and puzzles throughout the year. Your donations make book sales like this one possible.

 

 

December 6

Winterfest

Avon: The town of Avon, CT, will host its 3rd Annual Winterfest and Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Avon Town Gazebo & Green. The event includes caroling, a “biergarten” in a heated tent, food trucks, vendors, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus for the tree lighting ceremony. It is a fundraising event for the Bottoms Up Patient/Family Support Funds and care packages, and guests should dress for the weather.

 

 

December 6

Christmas in Collinsville 

Collinsville: Christmas in Collinsville takes place Saturday, December 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Craft Show in the Town Hall Auditorium, Face Painting (11:30 - 1:30 p.m. at Town Hall and 1 -3 p.m. at the Mu

seum), Story Time with Mrs. Claus (11a.m. to 1 p.m. in 

Museum). Balloons, Magician, and The Gallery of Trees at the Canton Historical Museum.

 

December 6

A Children’s Festival with Santa 

& Mrs. Claus

Avon: Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, who will share stories, lead sing-a-longs  and pose with children for pictures. Also, games with elves, cookie decorating, crafts, snacks and hot cocoa. December 6th, 2 – 4 p.m. Children $15, Adults $10. The Historic Meetinghouse of Avon Congregational Church, 6 West Main St Avon. Tickets at www.Avon-Church.org or available at the door.

 

December 6

Holiday Tapestries
Farmington: Valley Chorale presents “Holiday Tapestries” a collection of festive carols and lullabies from around the world to celebrate the season. The concert will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 2 p.m., First Church of Christ Congregational, 75 Main Street, Farmington, CT.  Melodies from Spanish lullabies to the jubilant sound of the Yoruba language, familiar carols and everything in between will be woven into this tapestry of sound accompanied by harp, guitar, percussion and keyboard. An ideal way to ring in the holiday season! Adult tickets $25.00. Students-free. Tickets available through Eventbrite, at the door on the day of the concert  or on the Farmington Valley Chorale website. For more information, please email info@farmingtonvalleychorale.org.  

 

December 7

Gallery of Trees 

Canton: Canton Historical Society Inc.’s Gallery of Trees returns through Dec. 7. Opening night gala takes place 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Other hours are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, noon to 7 p.m. on Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. See more at www.canton museum.org or cantonhistoricalmuseum on Facebook. For information on donating a tree, send a message to galleryoftrees@cantonmuseum.org

 

 

December 13

Music at Greenwood: KC Sisters Holiday Extravaganza
Avon: On Saturday, December 13, the KC Sisters will present their beloved Holiday Extravaganza for the first time at St. Matthew Lutheran Church! This fully orchestrated show will remind you of the variety shows of old such as The Andy Williams Family Christmas Show or The Mandrell Sisters variety show with a touch of modern sisterly charm. Afterwards, plan to stay for a light reception. Suggested donation: $10. Join us at 224 Lovely Street, Avon, for lots of holiday fun!

 

December 13

Wreaths Across America

Simsbury: Dec. 13 at 12 p.m. Wreaths Across America will be at 16 Plank Hill Rd Simsbury in Simsbury Cemetery (near the flagpole) to Remember and Honor our veterans through the laying of Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of each and every veteran aloud.

Remember to dress for the weather as it can be a bit windy at the top of Plank Hill Rd and bring a portable chair if necessary. Our ceremony is generally a half hour in length and starts promptly at noon.

Please help our location lay wreaths at as many graves as possible by sponsoring a wreath for a veteran’s grave through the “sponsorship group” CT0025P Or, if you would like to volunteer to participate in the wreath laying ceremony, please click the “Volunteer” button at https://shorturl.at/S2y50. More information is also available at the link. 

Have a press release or story idea? Send me a note.

Thanks for submitting!

© 2023 by Train of Thoughts. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page