The Machine
The Machine, America’s top Pink Floyd show, will perform at The Warehouse at Fairfield Theatre Company on Saturday, Dec. 26, at 9; doors open at 8. Performing Pink Floyd for 26 years, the Machine has appeared across North and Central America, Europe and Asia, at festivals including Bonnaroo, Riverbend, Gathering of the Vibes, Buffalo’s Artpark and Germany’s Rock of Ages.
Tickets are $38 and may be reserved at fairfieldtheatre.org or by calling 203-259-1036. The Warehouse is at 70 Sanford Street in Fairfield.
Holiday dance
Premier Ballroom Dance will host a dance on Saturday, Dec. 26, from 7 to midnight at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Community Center, 4070 Park Avenue, Bridgeport. There will be no performance at this dance evening, but there will be a lesson at 8 p.m., led by Deb Linley from Vitti Dance Studio in Danbury.
Admission is $17 which includes general dancing and the lesson; there are complimentary snacks and a water, juice and soda bar. SIngles and couples are welcome. For information, call 203-374-7308.
New Riders of the Purple Sage
Created by Jerry Garcia and singer Dave Nelson as a Grateful Dead spin-off (it also included Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart), New Riders of the Purple Sage still features original members David Nelson and Buddy Cage. Joining them are Michael Falzarano, Johnny Markowski and Ronnie Penque and they’ll all be on the stage at the Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, on Sunday, Dec. 27, at 8.
The group, with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, recently released its first CD in 20 years, Where I Come From (Woodstock Records). Tickets are $37.50; for reservations, visit ridgefieldplayhouse.org or call 203-438-5795.
School break at Audubon
The Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Fairfield, 2325 Burr Street, will have activities for children ages 4 to 8 on Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 28-30. The programs, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will include nature-based offerings both indoors and out.
The fee is $50 per child and pre-registration is required; children will be given a snack and should bring a nut-free lunch. For information, visit ctaudubon.org or call 203-259-6305 x109.
Discovery workshops
The Discovery Museum at 4450 Park Avenue in Bridgeport will offer a series of science workshops next week, Dec. 28-31. Monday’s topic is Rocket Science, with a session for children 7-11 years old from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and for ages 4-6 from 2 to 2:25 p.m. Happy City Circuits on Tuesday will have sessions for those 7-11 years (10-11:30 a.m.) and 11-15 years (2-3:30 p.m.).
On Wednesday, it’s Shake, Rattle & Roll: ages 7-11, 10 to 11:30 a.m.; 4-6, 2 to 2:25 p.m. The grand finale is the Egg Drop Challenge on Thursday: for ages 7-11 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and for ages 11-15, from 12:30 to 2 (museum closes at 2 and is closed Jan. 1).
Also on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, there will be Snow Storytelling and Craft from noon to 12:30. For more information, visit discoverymuseum.org or call 203-372-3521 x136.
Audubon Bird Count for Kids
The Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby will offer a Christmas Bird Count for Kids, ages 8-16 years, on Tuesday, Dec. 29, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. (Children must be accompanied by an adult.) Following a bird identification program, expert birder Donna Rose Smith will lead a walk on the trails of Osbornedale State Park to use the new skills to count birds.
Following the walk, participants will return to the Environmental Center to record counts and have some hot chocolate and a snack.
The following day, there will be a Fur, Feathers and Ferns Hike starting at 10 a.m. and concluding at 1 p.m. Hikers should bring a beverage and an eco-friendly lunch (one that uses recyclable or reusable items for containers).
The Kellogg Environmental Center is at 500 Hawthorne Avenue in Derby. For more information, email or call 203-734-2513.
New Year’s Eve
There's no First Night celebration in Danbury this year, but the Weston-Westport family festivities will begin at 3 on Thursday, Dec. 31, in downtown Westport, with performances and activities at a number of venues. This year, instead of fireworks along the Saugatuck River to conclude the evening at 10 p.m., the pyrotechnics will be launching at 7:30. Horse-drawn carriage rides will take First Nighters from place to place and a bonfire is planned on Jesup Green. For complete information, visit firstnightww.com.
The Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport will ring in the New Year with the music of Elton John, performed by Bennie and the Jets, on Dec. 31 at 8:30 p.m. Following the performance, DJ Kevin will host a dance party on the cabaret stage. The $75 all-inclusive price includes the concert, dance party, parking, service fees, party favors, concessions, noise makers, balloon drop and coffee and danish. Guests may BYOB and picnic. For tickets and information, visit mycabaret.org or call 203-576-1636 x0.
Milford Arts Council, with Pantochino Productions Inc. will present the musical group DynaMojo on Thursday, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m. The evening of cabaret-style entertainment (guests may BYOB and food) will include a dessert buffet, party favors, a champagne bottle per couple, a live telecast from Times Square on the giant screen, and a midnight balloon drop. Tickets are $45 per person; for reservations, visit milfordarts.org or call 203-878-6647.