A healthy childhood depends on a surprising thing: play!
Through creative play, kids explore their physical world, build their curiosity, and expand their imaginations. But often, time spent on ad-supported screens displaces the kind of creative play kids need to thrive.
Not only does Screen-Free Weekends allow people to enjoy time away from news feeds, targeted ads, and auto play videos, but it gives families and communities an opportunity to come together and connect with each other.
Check out all these fun activities in Middletown, CT over the course of May!
Brought to you by the Middletown Department of Recreation and the Gaian Way.
Screen Free Weekend Events This May:
5/3 (Sat) 7:30am Registration, 8-10:30am: Middletown Youth Fishing Derby (Butternut Pond). $2 Residents / $4 Non-Residents.
5/3 (Sat) 9:30am: SyncoCize Dance Fitness (Vinnie’s Jump & Jive) First class free. No registration required. More Info. Classes also 5/10; 5/17; 5/24 and 5/31
5/3 (Sat) 10-11:30am: Nature Hike (Guida Farm Conservation Area). Free with nature pass. More info and register here.
5/3 (Sat) 10am: Turtle Talk – Preschool Children – by Meigs Nature Center (Russell Library) More info.
5/3 (Sat) 10am-2pm: Take a Moment – Mental Health Fair – Activities, Resources, Food. Sponsored by the Middletown Rotary Club. (Harbor Park) Free. More Information.
5/3 (Sat) 10:30am: Make Greeting Cards Mother’s Day/Father’s Day or for someone special! (Middletown Rec) (pre-registration required) $5 Residents/ $7 Non-Residents
5/3 (Sat) 12-6 pm: 13th Annual Capoeira Celebration (Oddfellows Playhouse) Tickets $40 – $150. Info and registration
5/3 (Sat) 2pm: “May the 4th Be With You” Star Wars Craft time for children. (Russell Library) Free. Click here for more info.
5/3 (Sat) 2pm: Dungeons & Dragons for Young Adults. (Russell Library) Free. Click here for more info.
5/3 (Sat) 7:30pm: Javanese Gamelan and Dance Spring Concert (World Music Hall, Wesleyan). Free. Learn more and register here.
5/4 (Sun) 2pm: Worlds of Dance Spring Showcase (Crowell Concert Hall, Wesleyan). Free. Learn more and register here.
5/9 (Fri) 3pm: West African Drumming and Dance Concert (CFA Green, Wesleyan–Rain location: Crowell Concert Hall). Free. Learn more and register here.
5/4 (Sun) 4pm: Korean Drumming and Creative Music Ensemble and Taiko Japanese Drumming Ensemble Spring Concert (World Music Hall, Wesleyan). Free. Learn more and register here.
5/4 (Sun) 5pm: Belly Dance with Gia (Vinnie’s Jump & Jive) $18 ($9 first lesson). Learn more and register here. Classes also 5/11; 5/18; and 5/25
5/9 (Fri) 8pm: African Pop Music (World Music Hall, Wesleyan). Free. Learn more and register here.
5/10 (Sat) 10:30am: Yoga for Littles: Babies, Toddlers, and Children (Russell Library) Free. Click here for more info.
5/10 (Sat) 12-10pm: Communication Games Day. Come play board games that rely on communicating with others even when talking is limited. Play enters you in a raffle to win one of these games. (Back Again Board Game Cafe) Game pass to play $10/person. About us.
5/10 (Sat) 7:30-10:30pm: Saturday Swing Dance with the band Java Groove (Vinnie’s Jump & Jive). Admission comes with Free Swing Lesson from 7:00-7:30pm. Admission $15. More info.
5/16 (Fri) 5:30pm: Bring on Summer Bingo (Middletown Rec) (pre-registration required). $5.
5/16 & 5/17 (Fri-Sat) 7pm: Teen Repertory Theater – Everybody (Oddfellows Playhouse). Tickets $18 for adults; $10 for students; $25 for Big-Hearted Oddfellows, Thursday, May 15 is a “Pay-What-You-Can” Preview. For reservations, call 860-347-6143.
5/17 (Sat) 9am: Women of the Woods hike (Palmer-Tayor Preserve in Portland). Free. More information and register here.
5/17 (Sat) 9:15am: Riverside Yoga 10am: Riverside Clean up with Cinder + Salt (Harbor Park). Join Yoga Instructor Karen Sevenoff for yoga by the river at 9:15 (near Tate’s). More info and register here.
5/17 (Sat) 9:30am: Family Fun Science – Kids 3-5 and a parent participant (Middletown Rec) (pre-registration required) $13 Resident / $16 Non-Resident
5/17 (Sat) 10am: Saturday Play Pals – Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, Children (Russell Library) Click here for more info.
5/17 (Sat) 11am: Family Fun Science – kids 6-9 and a parent participant. (Middletown Rec) (pre-registration required) $13 Resident / $16 Non-Resident
5/18 (Sun) 10am-12:30pm: Invasive Plant Workshop and Cleanup Party with Rockfall Foundation and Everyone Outside. (Middlefield Memorial School Parking Lot) More info.
5/18 (Sun) 4 pm: Circus for All! – Ages 6-adult. A fun and welcoming introduction to circus arts for anyone. Families encouraged to come circus together! Led by Teaching Artists from Children’s Circus of Middletown. Free! (Donovan Park, MacDonough School)
5/24 (Sat) 9 & 10:30am: ARPA Family Swim (Middletown Rec) (pre-registration required). Free.
5/24 (Sat) 9am: Jonah Center Paddle with a Purpose river clean up. (Canoe launch: 181 Johnson Street). Free. Dependent on Good weather. Learn more and register here.
5/24 (Sat) 2:30pm: Jazz Up Close – Adults (Russell Library) Click here for more info.
5/24 (Sat) 3:30pm: Yoga for Young Adults (Russell Library) Click here for more info.
5/25 (Sun) 10-11:30am: Forest Bathing 101 (McCutcheon Park at Crystal Lake). Free with Department of Recreation nature pass. More info and register here.
5/31 (Sat) 9:30-11am: Introductory Karate Class (at Washin-Ryu Karate Dojo, 565 High Street) Free first class.5/31 (Sat) 2-4pm: Open House & Family Fun Day (YMCA, Camp Ingersoll, Portland). Free. No registration required. More Information here.