Signs of spring are emerging at Weir Farm National Historical Park, and we are gearing up for the 2023 season. Park grounds are open daily, sunrise to sunset. Visit the park on your own using maps, brochures, self-guided tours, the National Park Passport Stamp, and Junior Ranger activities located on the front porch of the Visitor Center, or visit virtually by exploring the resources on the park website at www.nps.gov/wefa. 

2023 Season Hours and Tours - Starting May 3

Starting May 3rd, the park will begin offering visitor services from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Wednesdays through Sundays, including public restrooms, Visitor Center, self-guided viewing of the Young Studio and Weir Barn spaces, and tours of the wildly artistic Weir House, Weir Studio, and Young Studio. Learn more about what is available by visiting the Basic Information page and the event calendar on the park website.

Weir and Young Studios - Pop-In Tours
Wednesdays to Sundays 10:00 – 11:30 am and 1:00 – 3:30 pm
Join knowledgeable volunteer tour guides for informal tours to learn more about these wildly artistic spaces and the masterpieces created inside. No registration required. 

Weir House Pop-In Tours
Wednesdays to Sundays 12:30 – 3:30 pm
Tour the iconic Weir House on 15-minute pop-in tours with a Park Ranger anytime between 12:30 and 3:30 pm. No registration required. 

Preserving a Legacy, 30-minute guided Weir House Tour
In May: Saturdays and Sundays at 10:45 am
Learn about the legacy of creativity started by America’s most beloved Impressionist, Julian Alden Weir, and the three generations of artists who called Weir Farm home. Registration is free, but space is limited, and first come first served. Sign up at the visitor center.

May Programs - Now Open For Registration! 

Sign up for a free art class or special program today, and stay tuned for our next newsletter coming out May 10th when we open registration for June programs.

Nature, Stories, & Art; Mixed Media Workshop
led by former Artist-in-Residence Alissa Siegal
Saturday May 6, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Artist Alissa Siegal empowers you to share stories through mixed media art-making. Create a narrative tapestry, inspired by the powerful story quilts of artist Faith Ringgold. Siegal will guide participants through sketching, painting, and fabric work to create a narrative tapestry that highlights personal connections to the natural environment. Teens and adults are encouraged to register by calling 203-834-1896 x 28.

Volunteer Service Day - Invasive Plant Pull
Sunday May 7, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Sign up to volunteer for this special habitat restoration event! Volunteers ages 10 and up will help with invasive plant removal, focusing on Garlic Mustard before it goes to seed. Join your local national park in an effort to improve park resources! Register by calling 203-834-1896 x 28.

Impressionist Plein Air Painting Workshop 
Saturday May 13, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Register now for the wildly popular Impressionist Painting Workshop with Dmitri Wright! This workshop is open to all skill levels. Classes fill up quickly, so call 203-834-1896 x 28 ASAP to reserve a spot! 

NEW Opportunity for Local Artists!
Weir Farm Artists Collective
Thursday May 18 from 10:00 to 11:30 am
The Park is offering a new opportunity for local artists to connect and share during monthly gatherings, led by artists, for artists. The kick-off program on May 18th will include a discussion facilitated by artists Leslie Carone and Bobbi Eike Mullen. Come by for coffee and refreshments, discussion with your peers, and feel free to bring a work of Weir Farm art to share with the group. The Weir Farm Artist Collective is a collaboration of independent artists following the tradition of creativity within the Weir Farm landscape. Its purpose is to inform, support, encourage and engage accomplished artists of all mediums to share ideas, opportunities and technical solutions. No registration required.

Artist-in-Residence Open Studio Program
Saturday May 20, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Stop by the Artist-in-Residence Studio between 10:30 and 12:00 to meet May Artist Amanda Parry Oglesbee, view her work, and learn more about the Park's Artist-in-Residence program. Light refreshments will be provided by the Friends of Weir Farm. No registration required. 

Kids to Parks Day with Friends of Weir Farm
Saturday May 20 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Kids to Parks Day is a national day of outdoor play celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. Stop by the activity tent anytime between 1:00 and 4:00 pm for some outdoor fun with the Friends of Weir Farm! No registration required. 

Take Part in Art - Informal Instruction in Watercolor and Landscape Painting
Sunday May 28 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Want a little help creating a masterpiece? Art Instructor Bobbi Eike Mullen provides informal instruction with our Take Part in Art watercolor supplies. Stop by and ask Bobbi for some pro tips on May 28th anytime between 1:00 to 4:00 pm, and remember free-to-use supplies are always available during Visitor Center hours! No registration required.

2023 Exhibits 

William B. Carlin: Passionately Dedicated to the Preservation of Weir Farm 
This exhibit runs May 3 - October 29, 2023 in the Visitor Center Gallery, and features five paintings recently donated to Weir Farm from The William B. Carlin Trust. This exhibition explores Carlin's instrumental role in the preservation and establishment of The Weir Preserve and Weir Farm National Historical Park. Pictured: Julian Alden Weir, Connecticut Birches, oil on canvas, ca. 1898; Gift of the William B. Carlin Trust and the family of William B. Carlin.

Art Bears Outdoor Installation
Friends of Weir Farm is proud to present Art Bears, 
an outdoor art installation to inspire connections between
art, nature, and the environment. The exbibit includes eight life-size black bear silhouettes featuring colorful
paintings by contemporary artists. Pictured: Art Bear featuring Weir Farm Tiger Lilies and Apples by Dmitri Wright.