UPDATE (September 22, 2023): The outdoor events planned for 2023 Newtown Arts Festival have been canceled due to the impending weather forecast, according to the Newtown Arts Festival Committee. The two concerts (Red Matter tonight, Flagpole Radio Cafe with Loudon Wainwright III tomorrow night) will go on as planned.

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Red Matter, a Greenwich-based band that “combines cosmic jams, Americana song writing and Grace Slick style vocals,” will headline the Friday night concert on September 22 on the grounds of Fairfield Hills to mark the beginning of the 11th Newtown Arts Festival.

The concert will begin at 7 pm.

Tickets are $25 and available through newtownartsfestival.com.

The Wine and Beer Garden will be open during the concert. As in the past, guests will be able to take their wine or beer and sit at the concert. Food trucks will also be on-site.

(Outside food or beverages will not be allowed.)

The 11th Newtown Arts Festival will then continue Saturday and Sunday, September 23-24, 11 am to 5 pm rain or shine both days. Entrance will be at the corner of Trades Lane and DG Beers Boulevard, near the main entrance of the Fairfield Hills campus.

Sponsored by Newtown Cultural Arts Commission, proceeds of the art festival funds scholarships for Newtown residents who are graduating high school seniors and grants for Newtown artists and organizations that bring the arts to Newtown.

More than 75 artisans, from woodturning and jewelry to jams and jellies, will be in the center of the Arts Festival.

Also returning is The Freeway, with four tents hosting arts and craft activities to see and do, all included in festival admission.

The Dance Tent will have performances both days with a master class from the Hartford Ballet on Saturday. The Make and Take Tent will have different crafts, members of The Society for Creative Arts in Newtown (SCAN) will be demonstrating plein-air painting at The Art Oasis, and Weaving Newtown will be in the Fiber Arts tent.

The Art of Science Tent is also on the schedule again, with Everwonder Children’s Museum leading activities Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets for the two-day festival are $5, and also available now at newtownartsfestival.com. Children under age 5 are admitted free.

Cash, credit, and debit cards will all be accepted at the gate; online payment is through credit and debit cards only.