What's Up This Weekend: Beer Fest, Art Festival, Dog Days

Whether you're in search of something fun to do with the kids or you have a babysitter and are planning a night out, look no further because Patch editors have picked a variety of events taking place today and tomorrow to help you make the most of your weekend. Click on the headline of each for more information.

Oxford: Gallery of Art Showcase

The Oxford Cultural Arts Committee's exhibit will take place in the Meeting room at Oxford Town Hall 486 Oxford Road, Oxford, CT 06478 with a Gala Opening Friday Sept. 28th from 6 to 9 p.m., Sat. Sept. 29th and Sun. Sept. 30th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  There will be a variety of activities all weekend including music, theater samples, artist demonstrations, gallery tours for adults and kids.

Oxford: Dog Days of Oxford

Oxford’s 12th Dog Days of Oxford event is Saturday (Sept. 29) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event, at Oxford Center School, 462 Oxford Road, will benefit the Oxford Animal Shelter. Admission is $3, and free for kids 5 and under. It will feature a family fun activity center with an obstacle course, sand art, and games, in addition to demonstrations by the Newtown Police K9 unit, the Obedience Dog Training Club of Waterbury, and the Yankee Flyers Disc and Dog Club.

Naugatuck: Naug-ToberFest

On Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, the 18thAnnual CT Craft Brewers’ Beer Festival will be held in Naugatuck. Different breweries, brew pubs and wine distributors will be offering up a taste of their best seasonal beers and wines for your tasting pleasure under the Biergarten tents at Jesse Camille’s Restaurant in Naugatuck. The event runs from 1 to 5 p.m.  

Middlebury: A Taste of Rotary

The event includes unlimited park rides, parking, wine tasting, chocolate tasting, cheese tasting and a sampling of everything organic courtesy of local businesses. There will also be live entertainment, a silent auction and a door prize of a 50” flat screen television.

Southbury Celebration Fireworks

The Annual Southbury Celebration offers music, food and fireworks. The event takes place at Lake Stibbs at the Southbury Training School. Admission is free and gates open at 5:30 p.m. with fireworks beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Woodbury: Go the Distance for Scholars

The Woodbury Scholarship Fund will be holding its second annual fundraiser.  There are bike rides for a variety of riders: 50 miles (7:45 a.m.), 25 miles 8:30 a.m.), 10 (9:15 a.m.), and 5 (9:30 a.m.) miles.  There will be a 5K Run at 9 a.m. and a 5 K walk.

Brookfield: Annual Book Sale

Brookfield Library is holding its annual Friends of the Library Book Sale this weekend, beginning Thursday, Sept. 27, and running through Sunday, Sept. 30.

Thursday kicks off with a $15 admission for early bird buyers. Those that wait until Sunday can fill a bag with whatever is left over for just $5. Check out the event listing above for more details.

Darien: 'To the Table' Art Show Benefits Historical Society

To the Table is a five-week long juried art sale with paintings, watercolors and photographs depicting the farm to table phenomenon and more: Farms, barns, farm animals, fruits and vegetables, flowers and orchards, roadside stands and markets and fishing. To the Table runs from Friday, August 24 to Sunday, September 30. Free wine and cheese receptions are offered on all Friday nights, except for Labor Day weekend (closed that Sunday as well). These Friday night viewings and receptions are all from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm on August 24 (opening night) and on September 7, 14, 21 and 28.

Stamford Paint the Town Pink Campaign Kick-off

Breast Cancer Survivors & Supporters Kick Off “Paint the Town Pink” Campaign on Sept. 29 at 10:30 a.m. at Stamford's Veterans Park. Decked out in pink attire, local breast cancer survivors and supporters will stand alongside Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia and WABC-TV’s Senior Meteorologist Bill Evans to literally “Paint the Town Pink” in Veteran’s Park.This year marks the 8th annual “Paint the Town Pink” campaign. Sponsored by Stamford Hospital and a number of community partners, it stresses the importance of screening and early detection of breast cancer.

Norwalk Open House and Touch-a-Truck

The Norwalk Fire Department and Department of Public Works will be sponsoring a joint Open House on Saturday, September 29 from 10:00am- 1:00 pm at the Public Works Center and NFD Training tower on South Smith Street. As an early celebration of Fire Prevention Week, the Fire Department will have their trucks on display, give safety trailer tours and teach about the importance of smoke alarms and escape plans. The Department of Public Works will help residents learn what happens to garbage and recyclables, how traffic signals work and how roads are paved. In support of the Food Pantry at Christan Community Action (CCA) in Norwalk, the Departments are sponsoring a food drive as part of this year’s open house. All visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items; especially peanut butter, jelly, soup and kid friendly school snacks,

Trumbull Fall Craft Festival

Craft festival will take place on field next to Marisa's Restaurant located at 6540 Main Street in Trumbull.  Rain or shine.  Admission is free.

Trumbull Animal Shelter Adoption Day

Trumbull Animal Shelter has many cats & kittens and some dogs available for adoption.

THSGEMB 30th Annual Fall Classic

Musical Arts Conference (MAC) competition featuring 10 high school marching bands at Trumbull High School.

Coffeehouse for Teens

Westport-Weston Restaurant Week

Dine in one of Westport or Weston’s fine dining establishments, trying a new restaurant or supporting a “favorite” during the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce Restaurant Week.

Our new monthly coffeehouse for teens begins on Saturday, September 29th, 7-9 pm and will happen on the last Saturday of the month, thereafter. The coffeehouse will be a chaperoned, sober event sponsored by Grace Church and offered to the teens of Trumbull and surrounding communities for the purpose of providing a welcoming and accepting space for teens to be themselves, to enjoy music and the arts, and to grow in community.

 About this column: From our neighborhood to the towns around us, if you're looking for something to do this weekend we've got you covered.