Torrington Recreation will be hosting a pickleball tournament on May 3rd for three divisions: Co-ed, Women's & Men's. Teams can sign up for one division by April 24th in person at the Recreation office, or online using the link below. The tournament will be a three game minimum style. If you have any questions call, email, or stop by the Recreation office!

Sign up here

Examine the bold and direct capabilities of woodcut and monotype in combination. Learn to print multiple layers of transparent inks and observe how images develop with lush color relationships and luminous surfaces. Participants will develop skills in color ink mixing, registration, printing, and stencil making.

Layered Color Woodcut/Monotype

with Jim Lee

Saturdays, May 3, 10 & 17, 2025

9 AM – 5 PM

Members: $252 / Non-Members: $280

MORE INFO & REGISTER

Create four beautiful abstract landscapes using fluid acrylics, mediums, layering, and distinctive mark-making techniques. Instructor, Heather Neilson will teach you how to work with GOLDEN fluid paints and mediums to build layers to add depth and complexity to your pieces. You will also learn color principles to apply to your paintings and experiment with mark-making to bring character and texture to your artwork.

Instructor: Heather Neilson

Saturday, May 3, 2025

10 AM - 2:30 PM

Ages: 18+

Members: $81

Non-Members: $90

MORE INFO & REGISTER

Join Jay Ignaszewski in an afternoon’s exploration diving into the creative pitfalls of moviemaking – the causes and potential resolutions to these problems.

This presentation will examine four examples of such feature films he worked on during his more than 50 years’ experience:

• “The Mean Season” with Kurt Russell
• “Roar” with Tippi Hedren
• “Throw Momma From the Train” with Danny DeVito
• “The Vagrant” with Bill Paxton

“Why Some Films Fail”

Presented by: Jay Ignaszewski

Saturday, May 3, 2025

3 – 5 PM

Five Points Arts Center

MORE INFO & RSVP

Join us for Duck Day at Ripley!

A fun-filled, educational day for all ages featuring:

• Live raptor show by Skyhunters in Flight (2 PM)
• Reptile programs by Riverside Reptiles (11:30 AM & 1 PM)
• Rubber Duck Derby Race (12 PM)
• Face painting & hands-on activities
• Conservation games & educational exhibits
• Nature-inspired vendors
• Explore our aviaries & endangered waterfowl
• ...and so much more!

$10 per person | Kids 12 & under + Members FREE

Celebrate nature, conservation, and community with us!

Spotty Dog Rescue is having a Cornhole Tournament. Get your team together and sign up.

Strangers become friends through art making

Global artists have been randomly paired and tasked to create an artwork together.

See the results and watch the video of their relationships,

You can also check out the earlier Stranger Show of two years ago. https://personaland.com/hut/exhibition/strangers

Personaland is an artist-driven global village transforming the world of art by using technology to bridge time zones and cultural boundaries. Our mission is to promote humanity, creativity, and community through a mix of entertainment, enchantment, and imagination.

Since its 2018 launch, Personaland, in its global reach, has showcased over 800 visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and poets from 67 countries in 31 group art shows and 55 individual exhibitions, many with videos of artist profiles. https://www.personaland.com

HOTCHKISS-FYLER HOUSE MUSEUM

Torrington Historical Society 

192 Main Street, Torrington, CT

2025 hours: Wednesday through Saturdays, April 16 - October 31, 2025

Guided tours at 1, 2 and 3 pm 

Phone: (860) 482-8260   info@torringtonhistoricalsociety.org

Admission: Adults $10 per person; children under 8 free

The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum (b. 1900) will open for the season Wednesday April 16th. The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum is a Victorian mansion that was home to two generations of Torrington residents. Gertrude F. Hotchkiss, the last family member to occupy the home, bequeathed the house and contents to the Society in 1956.  The interior of this grand house features mahogany paneling, ornate carvings, stenciled walls, murals, parquet floors and ornamental plaster treatments. Original family furnishings collections of fine and decorative arts. Artists represented are: Ammi Phillips, E.I. Couse, Winfield Scott Clime and George Lawrence Nelson.

Join Blippi to make music in your hometown in the brand new live Blippi: Join the Band Tour !

Blippi will be joined onstage by Meekah along with their singing and dancing buddies and LIVE musicians. They’ll explore what makes music, including sounds, rhythms and instruments, with fan-favorite Blippi hits.

So grab your drumsticks, tune up your guitar, and move those feet with Blippi and get ready for a musical performance that’s fun for the whole family!

Blippi Photo Experience Add-On available.

Yoga is open to everyone 13 and older of all skills and abilities. Whether you are a beginner or experienced, anyone can participate in our Tuesday night class. Pace yourself, practice at your level, rest when needed. A yoga mat is extremely recommenced. All classes are from 6:30p-7:30p at the Coe Park Civic Center (101 Litchfield Street) Click here to register

Open to all levels of experience, this workshop offers an in-depth exploration of oil painting techniques and traditional still life. Develop foundational painting skills, including glazing and layering oil paints to create luminosity and depth.

Oil Painting: Explorations in Still Life

with Sarah Paolucci

Wednesdays, May 7, 14, 21 & 28, 2025

10 AM – 1 PM

Members: $162 / Non-Members: $180

MORE INFO & REGISTER

Yarn Bomb Drop-in Sessions are taking place at Five Points Arts Center throughout the winter and spring - free and open to the public of all ages, skills and techniques welcome!

MORE INFO HERE

Wednesdays (weekly):

2 - 4 PM

Jan 8 - May 28

Saturdays:

2 -4 PM

January 11 & 25

February 8 &22

March 8 & 22

April 12 & 26

May 10

This program focuses on the evolution of beekeeping from the collection of honey from wild hives to the domestication of bees into managed hives. We will discuss how ancient civilizations collected and used honey, how bees came to the US, the rising popularity of beekeeping as a hobby in Connecticut and the importance of hives in modern agricultural practices. Information is presented via slides and short clips with hands-on teaching materials and a featured object from Torrington’s own collection. Participants can taste early summer and fall honey to observe the differences. Information on planting for bee health will be provided.

This program is sponsored by Thomaston Savings Bank.

Tammi Worsham, the Chair of the Outreach Committee of the Back Yard Beekeepers Association with present this program. Tammi has kept bees in three states over a span of a decade and a half. Now she keeps bees in four different towns and talks about her hobby throughout the state. Connecticut’s colder winters have given her new issues to learn about and overcome. Tammi is committed to continuing her education and broadening her knowledge of how to best keep bees healthy and nourished in this region and looks forward to working in our community to share the benefits of these very special social insects.

Seating is limited registration is recommended.

Unlock the mind of a murderer.

Join forensic psychologist Dr. Rachel Toles for an illuminating journey into the darkest corners of a killer’s psyche. In The Psychology of a Murderer, Dr. Toles delves deep into the twisted minds and motives of infamous killers, including Jeffrey Dahmer, Aaron Hernandez, Chris Watts, Aileen Wuornos, the Menendez Brothers, and more.

Discover the psychological factors that drive individuals to commit these heinous acts, and explore the complex interplay of trauma, environment, and mental health. Through gripping case studies, expert analysis, and audience Q&A, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of what turns ordinary people into murderers.

Whether you’re a true crime aficionado or simply curious about the human mind, The Psychology of a Murderer promises to be an unforgettable experience. Don’t miss this captivating evening of insight, discussion, and reflection.

Basic Italian I, a 13-session beginner class, will be held on Thursdays, May 8 to July 31, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The class will cover pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, conversation, and culture. The required text is Learn Italian the Fast and Fun Way by Marcel Danesi, Barron's Publisher, any edition, available online at abebooks.com and other retailers. 

Torrington Recreation is hosting a Mother's Day Bouquet Arrangement Class on May 8th. Come learn how to design and shape your own bouquet just in time for Mother's Day! Taught by the Master Gardeners from UConn's Litchfield County Campus here in Torrington. Starting at 6pm, learn some techniques to make your bouquets look beautiful, whether that is in a vase or bundled, when you are done, bring your creation home for yourself to have for Mothers Day! This program is open to ages 16+.