Avon's History Weekend Rolls Into the America 250 Celebration

There’s a buzz in town this September. Avon’s annual “History Weekend,” tucked into the larger America 250 festivities, invites anyone with a curiosity about the nation’s founding to stop by the library, the senior center, or simply linger on the sidewalks while history comes alive.

Kick‑off begins Thursday, September 17, at 6:30 p.m. in the Avon Free Public Library. Music historian Richard Franklin Donohue will spin a set of Connecticut‑sourced Revolutionary‑War songs, complete with period‑style décor and a modest spread of refreshments. No sign‑up is needed—just a willingness to tap your foot and maybe hum along.

Saturday turns into a full‑day immersion. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the library hosts “Printing Revolution,” a hands‑on look at how colonial presses shaped New England from 1638 to 1787. Attendees can actually run a press between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., while supplies last. At 1 p.m., historian‑author Claire Bellerjeau will share the gripping tale of Cato, an enslaved Black man who aided spy‑tailor Hercules Mulligan. Then at 3 p.m., she returns for a second talk, this time spotlighting Elizabeth “Liss,” another enslaved figure linked to the famous Townsend spy network. Both sessions include an opportunity to purchase her books.

The evening wraps up at 6:30 p.m. with Playhouse 44’s “Patriotic Salute: Voices of Liberty” at the Avon Senior Center. Think songs, poems, satire, a snack table, and a community sing‑along—all free, all a tribute to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The production is a gift from American Eagle Financial Credit Union and the Friends of the Avon Library.

All events are open to the public at no cost. While the concerts and demos need no registration, the two lectures have a simple sign‑up through the library’s website. It’s a chance to reflect, celebrate, and feel a little bit of that original civic pride that helped shape the country.