CT Open House Day, June 12

Connecticut residents are invited to discover — and rediscover — the state’s exciting arts, history and tourism offerings with a variety of special incentives, such as discounted or free admission, free gifts or special exhibits and activities during Connecticut Open House Day on Saturday, June 12.

Open House Day is a great way for to experience all the state has to offer. It also encourages residents to become Connecticut Ambassadors who take pride in sharing their new discoveries with visiting family and friends. The annual event is sponsored by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc in support of the state’s 375th anniversary and coordinated by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism.

Participating properties and their special offerings — too many to list here — are all listed at CTvisti.com (scroll down to the gray Interest Points banner, and then click on the CT Open House Day button).

Connecticut Open House Day specials and hours of operation vary by property. Be sure to check back often, as new participating properties are added to the list. Participating locations are listed in alphabetical order by town, then by the name of the property.

Among the local properties that have special events and/or offers include Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden in Bethlehem; Barnum Museum, Beardsley Zoo and The Discovery Museum, all in Bridgeport; Danbury Symphony Orchestra, who will perform at CityCenter Green that evening; Danbury Museum & Historical Society and Danbury Railway Museum; CT Antique Machinery Association Museum and Sloane-Stanley Museum & Kent Furnace, both in Kent; Litchfield Historical Society, Tapping Reeve House & Law School, and White Memorial Conservation Center, all in Litchfield.

Also, Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury; East Village Barn Hill Schoolhouse, Monroe; Naugatuck Historical Society Museum; Hunt Hill Farm, New Milford; The Smart Living Center, Orange; Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Keeler Tavern Museum, and Suzanne Benton Studio & Art Showcase, all in Ridgefield; Shelton History Center; Sherman Historical Society; Gunn Memorial Museum, Washington; CoCo Key Water Resort, The Palace Theater, and Seven Angels Theatre, all in Waterbury; Weir Farm National Historic Site and Wilton Historical Society, Wilton; Abrash Galleries Rugs & Antiquities, and Glebe House Museum & Gertrude Jekyll Garden, Woodbury.