Downtown Torrington got LIT for the Third Annual Litchfield Hills Creative Festival on Saturday, August 19!

Crowd on Main Street from the roof of KidsPlay Children's Museum. Photo by DaSilva Wata

From left: Adelaide Punkin on Main Stage; Mushrooms & Dino designed by vendor Jasmine Bailey; Community Art Project with Mental Health CT. Photos by Jamie J. Tilley

An estimated over 7,000+ people roamed Main Street, exploring 34 talented artists from CT at the artists fair, as well as the talented musicians on the main stage and roaming performances throughout the day.

“This event is vital to Torrington,” says Rhys Maskowitz, local artist and ½ of M&M Creatives,  “It brings in so many young and new creative faces to the area, and really opens up an important day of bonding for the arts community.”

From left: Nick Palazzo & booth; Jennifer Wyzykowski & booth; Skip Marsh & booth. Photos by Jamie J. Tilley

Opening the festival on the Main Stage, hosted by Rock Yer Block’s Adelaide Punkin, was the Our Culture is Beautiful (OCIB) Drum Circle, led by Angaza Mwando. Following OCIB’s Drum Circle was Torrington native Ian Matthew and Co., performing a variety of original works. Up next, one man music project, the Forest Room, shared his unique tunes, blending and layering organic and acoustic melodies for a distinct sound that separates him from the crowd. Closing out the Main Stage performances was James Burke, serenading the crowd with his perfect combination of electronica and synthpop.

From left: Our Culture is Beautiful's Drum Circle; Ian Matthew & Co., the Forest Room; James Burke; Performers on Main Stage. Photos by Jamie J. Tilley

Businesses, galleries, and organizations downtown shared in the excitement of the Creative Festival, offering workshops and activities that were fun for the whole family! The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory offered open ballet classes for children of various ages, welcoming kids as young as 3, and as old as 14 and up. Sanctuary Power Yoga partnered with KidsPlay to host family yoga classes every hour throughout the day. Also at KidsPlay, Artroom Atelier helped host a collaborative sculpture workshop to bring a fairy tale beanstalk to life. Up at the Nutmeg Fudge Company, guests learned how to make and pull taffy the old fashioned way.

“Our collaboration with Artroom Atelier for our giant hanging beanstalk is our most remarkable art installation up to date,” says KidsPlay Museum, “It would not have been possible without the Litchfield Hills Creative Festival and the work it does to inspire art, creativity, and fun in the region.”

From left: Giant Beanstalk at KidsPlay; Family Friendly Yoga at KidsPlay; Giant Jenga in front of KidsPlay; Taffy Pulling at Nutmeg Fudge Company. Photos by Jessica Jane Russel of ArtRoom Atelier, KidsPlay Children's Museum, and Jamie J. Tilley

Five Points Arts opened their galleries, as well as the Launchpad studios, showcasing works from the Launchpad Biennial Exhibition, as well as works from their featured artist, Peter Brown. At Howard’s Bookstore, a new gallery called the Catacombs gallery opened, showing “A Requiem for a Shoe Store”, featuring works by Sophia De Jesus-Sabella. On Main Street, next to the Artist Fair, the gallery of local artist Joe Kopler was open for guests to view his intricate 3D paintings.

From left: The Catacombs Gallery; Joe Koppler Gallery. Photos by Pete Cote & Our Culture is Beautiful

Meanwhile at Salt 2.0, members of the Torrington Collective hosted Reface 2.0, a collaborative community art project that allows participants to draw on tables, chairs, and other things you wouldn’t typically draw on. Next door at the Warner Theatre, 12 of the region's most talented singers competed to dazzle the crowd and judges to be crowned the winner of this year’s Northwest Vocal Showcase. Trinity Episcopal Church opened their doors for self-guided tours of their beautiful stained glass windows, accompanied by parishioners who can share insight on each piece. At night, the Church welcomed local singers, musicians, and poets to share their talents at their Open Mic.

“We were able to connect with many new people through the shared appreciation of the arts,” Reverend Carrie Combs of Trinity Episcopal Church shared with us, “The festival brought a vibrant, creative, and engaging energy to the downtown.”

From left: Ethan Brewerton of the Torrington Collective; Drawing at Reface 2.0; Miss CT USA Karla Aponte Roque & Casey McKenna, hosts of the Northwest Vocal Showcase. Photos by Jamie J. Tilley & the Northwest Vocal Showcase

Wandering on Main Street, patrons were able to see some eye-catching roaming performers, engaging and interacting with the musicians and crowds. From the Matica Circus, Heidi Kirchofer took to the stilts dawning a monarch butterfly costume, floating majestically above the crowds. Later in the day, Adelka Polak from the Sova Puppet Theater would bring a couple of puppets to wow the crowd, including a monarch butterfly to match Heidi's costume, and an eye catching giant from Midsummer Night's Dream.

From left: Heidi Kirchofer & Ribbon Dancer; Adelka Polak & Butterfly Puppet with crowd; Adelka Polak & Giant Puppet. Photos by Steph Burr, Shane Scully, and Jamie J. Tilley.

As the sun set, members of Culture for a Cause gathered a crowd for the showing of, “His Truth Marching On,” a musical documentary about local abolitionist, John Brown. Alongside the musical documentary, fire spinners amazed the crowds with their breathtaking choreographic display of fire.

From left: "His Truth Marching On" Musical Documentary Viewing on Main Street; Fire Spinner from Cinderfella; Fire Spinner from Cinderfella. By Shane Scully and Jamie J. Tilley

With the sun fully set in Downtown Torrington, the members of Pilobolus took to the streets, ready to light up the night with their immersive experience of UP! the Umbrella Project. Participants were given light-up umbrellas as the members of Pilobolus guided the crowd in this choreographed movement piece. The entire performance is filmed from above and projected in real time, so participants may see the interesting shapes and motions they are making together! Participants had the opportunity to participate at 8 pm or at 9 pm.

From left: UP! view from roof of KidsPlay; Matt Kent, Artistic Director of Pilobolus; UP! view in crowd. Photos by Jamie J. Tilley

The creative energy that was made on Main Street lingered as guests and participants made their way home, excited to see what will happen next year.

The NWCT Arts Council would like to thank everyone who volunteered at this year’s Creative Festival. We are so grateful for all your help making this event possible.

The NWCT Arts Council would also like to thank everyone who attended this year’s festival. We love being able to celebrate and share the creativity in Litchfield County with our supporters and our community. 

Visit us on Facebook to more pictures from the Litchfield Hills Creative Festival.

Special thanks to the following organizations for sponsoring the third annual Litchfield Hills Creative Festival:

Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area

Torrington Savings Bank

Aquarion Water Company

Northwest CT Community Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts

City of Torrington

Thomaston Savings Bank

Torrington Downtown Partners

Media Sponsors

Republican-American

WAPJ Torrington Community Radio

WSHU Radio Station

Main Stage Sponsor

Rock Yer Block