RUNNING CORNER UPCOMING ROAD RACES
--Summer Poker Run Exciting News!! We will repeat tremendously popular Summer Poker Runs on Wednesday nights this summer in Veterans Memorial Park at 6:00 p.m. on June 20, 27; July 11, 18, 25; August 1, 8. Please meet at the lower basketball court. For more information contact the Watertown Parks & Recreation Department at (860)945-5246. --Harvest Ramble Run 5 Mile Road Race, Sunday, November 25, 2018 at 9:00 A.M. at Crestbrook Park, Northfield Road, Watertown 
WATERTOWN FALL FESTIVAL
Save the date: Saturday September 15th! The 2018 Fall Festival committee is already underway to make the 40th anniversary of the annual Watertown Fall Festival even better than last year's. The committee is always in need of new blood and new ideas! If you are interested in helping, or are interested in buying booth space, please contact the Watertown Parks & Recreation Department today at (860)945-5246. Click here for Watertown Fall Festival Application. 
HARVEST CRUZE CAR SHOW
Co-Sponsored by: The Watertown Lions Club and the Watertown Parks & Recreation Department When: Sunday; September 30, 2018 12:00pm – 5:00pm Raindate: Sunday, October 7th Where: Watertown High School parking lot Rules: Any year welcome Good Stuff: 23 Class Trophies, Giveaways, Raffles, Music, Food & Fun! Admission: Show Cars: $10.00 each. Free admission for spectators. Info: 1st 50 Cars get a free t-shirt All car clubs are welcome. Please join the fun! Proceeds to benefit the Watertown Lions Club Community Service Projects 
TOWN-WIDE SCARECROW CONTEST
The Town of Watertown Parks & Recreation Department is presenting the Town-Wide Scarecrow Contest! We would like families, businesses, schools, and organizations to flood the town with scarecrows of your making. We’re sure you’ve seen some before: scarecrows on skis, horseback, bikes, behind a tractor or a lawn mower, sport theme scarecrows, farmers watching TV, even brides and grooms. It’s up to you to decide what you can come up with. It’s so easy to participate:
Click here for the registration form. 
SANTA’S LIGHT PARADE & FESTIVAL
Celebrating SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd We continue to celebrate the arrival of Santa Claus with our annual parade and festival. This event is based upon a 20 year partnership between the Watertown Parks & Recreation and Watertown Fire Departments. Once again, for 2018, Santa’s “escort” Parade will be a fully illuminated Light Parade. All participants must incorporate lighting into their parade costume, float, etc. The Parade, which will be led by special holiday characters, is open to children, families, school & private music groups, theatre & performance groups, civic organizations and churches. Plan your participation early and start working on your plans now! In continuing with our tradition, Santa Claus will bring up the rear of the Parade along with the Big Red Fire Engine. “Winter Wonderland” is the theme for the parade route (Main Street from the Fire Department to the Gazebo) and so we are requesting that businesses and homes decorate with white lights and turn them on during the event. When you arrive at the Gazebo, the Festival will continue with lots of fun activities for everyone in the family:
Dress warmly…..lots of hot chocolate…..a great family holiday tradition……join us! Please email godfrey@watertownct.org if you want to be part of the festivities. FREE OF CHARGE LOCATIONS: WATERTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT 935 MAIN STREET GAZEBO – CORNER OF ROUTES 6 & 63 DATE: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2018 TIME: 3:30PM AT THE FIREHOUSE 5:00PM AT THE GAZEBO Click here for Guidelines and Application. 
“LIGHT UP THE HOLIDAYS”
HOUSE/BUSINESS DECORATING CONTEST It’s back by popular demand! Does your house shine with holiday cheer? Or maybe your neighbor’s house lights up the block. The Town of Watertown’s Park & Recreation Department invites you to enter any Watertown/Oakville home in our “Light up the Holidays” house decorating contest. Now is your chance to shine and be involved in some friendly, fun competition while brightening up the community. It’s so easy to participate:
Click here for the registration form. |
SUMMER BLOCK PARTIES
July 21 & August 18 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM It’s Block Party time! Main Streets in Watertown will be closed to traffic on 3 Saturday nights throughout the summer to bring residents and visitors together for good, old-fashioned fun during summer block parties! Each of these nights will follow the theme of: A Night Out On Main Street! The Summer Concert Series brings live entertainment to each events. People of all ages enjoy fabulous food and delightful desserts sold by local eateries. Main Street business storefronts open their doors, and a variety of artisans line the street. This year, events will be located on Watertown's Main Street, between Woodruff Avenue & Echo Lake Road. (Rite Aid Pharmacy and St. John's Church will still be accessible via limited access). Be on the lookout for the always popular Lip Sync Battle! Each block party offers a great evening of entertainment, dining, and fun with the community! Please contact the Recreation Department with any questions! Call (860)945-5246 or email wtnspecialevents.hc@gmail.com. Click here to download the Summer Block Parties Application 
WATERTOWN DAY AT QUASSY
SATURDAY, OCT 6TH & SUNDAY, OCT 7TH What a better way to say “so long” to the summer of 2018 than an afternoon at historic Quassy Amusement Park. Quassy is offering a day of rides for ONLY $5.00/per Watertown/Oakville resident. You will need a valid license stating that you live in Watertown/Oakville. Anyone bringing a guest from out of town will be charged a $10.00 fee. This is a way of thanking our local and area communities for helping us celebrate “Many Years of Fun”. An area will be set up for any residents of Watertown/Oakville to come and check in. At the gate a representative of Quassy will stamp that person and any kids that are with that person, provided they are immediate family members living in the same town. Then the group will enjoy all the land rides the rest of the day at the park. There is a $7.00 parking charge per car and if you wish to eat, our restaurant and other stands will be open for business. Quassy Amusement Park, is on Route 64, Middlebury, CT. 
TOWN-WIDE TAG SALE (YARD SALE)
Sales will occur in front yards, garages and on sidewalks throughout the town. A uniquely Watertown/Oakville event involving citizens, businesses, churches, civic groups, associations, Town leaders, neighbors and visitors building community and identity. Look for the “original green signs” by Watertown Parks & Recreation. Yard sales are a regular occurrence any weekend throughout the state. Several organizations hold annual fundraising rummage and book sales that have become anticipated events. Town-wide tag sales have long been a tradition in New England and in many Connecticut communities as well. The intent is that while cleaning out in the Fall everyone not toss everything but instead offer an opportunity to turn trash into treasure. All this to help build community through a shared experience and other celebrations one weekend in the Fall. DATE: SATURDAY; OCTOBER 6 RAINDATE: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7 TIME: EARLY BIRD: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM REGULAR HOURS: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM COST: $20.00/PER HOUSEHOLD Registrations are due by Friday, September 28th by 12pm. Click here for the Application. 
HALLOWEEN EVENTS
Event 1: Saturday, October 20th (Raindate: October 21st) Join us in A Trunk or Treat where we urge everyone to gather and park their vehicles Veterans’ Memorial Park, 570 Nova Scotia Hill Rd, Watertown, CT from 3pm-4pm. This event is absolutely free but we do have a few simple rules by which to abide to make the program run safely and smoothly.
THE SPIRIT OF GIVING HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE
The 9th annual The Spirit of Giving: Holiday Marketplace will be held from 10am – 2pm as part of the town-wide Santa’s Light Parade and Festival. This Holiday Marketplace has developed a reputation and following because all of our venders are local artists and artisans and offer their own hand-crafted and unique arts and crafts (no commercial vendors permitted). Applications for vendors are available at the Watertown Parks & Recreation Department. Come out for all your holiday gift shopping! There is something unique for everyone on your list. November 24th is also Small Business Saturday and in celebrating the many great businesses in Watertown/Oakville, we will work with local merchants, restaurants and businesses to offer great incentives to stay and shop local. Businesses who want to participate may contact Carrie Godfrey at 860-945-5246 or email her at godfrey@watertownct.org if you want to be part of the festivities. FREE OF CHARGE LOCATION: SWIFT MIDDLE SCHOOL, GYMNASIUM DATE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2018 TIME: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Click here for the Application. 
COOKIES AND MILK WITH SANTA
DATE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8TH 1PM – 3PM Come have Milk & Cookies with Santa! The Watertown Parks & Recreation Department & Water-Oak Community Women's Club formerly the Watertown Junior Women's Club sponsor this program. Come enjoy cookies & milk (or other beverage) with Santa from 1pm-3pm at John Trumbull Primary School. Also featuring raffles, Santa’s adventure face painting and have fun with “Make-and-Take” projects. Look out for a flyer that will be sent through the schools. 
NORTH POLE CALLING
Sponsored by the Watertown Parks & Recreation Department and The Watertown Recreation Commission. Children in Pre-K and Kindergarten can receive a call from Santa. Even with Santa's busy schedule, he will find time to call you directly from the North Pole. A special notice will be coming through the schools to help Santa schedule his call. For more information call The Watertown Parks & Recreation Office at 860-945-5246. Click here for the registration form. |
Watertown Parks & Recreation – Your Quality of Life Department