Stratford Recreation Department
Community Activities

Community Calendar

The Recreation Department serves as editor of the Community Calendar. The Community Organizations Council twice per year publishes the Calendar, in January and August. The Calendar includes information on a wide variety of opportunities open to townspeople to further their learning, to obtain guidance in personal growth, and to find opportunities for the constructive use of their leisure time. The publication is offered to stimulate and encourage more participation and involvement in community activities. It serves as a handy reference.

Black History Month Essay Contest

In collaboration with the Stratford Library Association the South End Community Center will once again be sponsoring a Black History Month Essay contest for Stratford youth.  Categories and themes will be determined for youth ages 5-9 and ages 10-16.  Topics will be distributed in the Stratford Schools, Stratford Library and at the South End Community Center.  Essays must be returned to the South End Community Center by TBA.  All entries must list the child's name, age, grade, and contact number.  Prizes will be distributed to the top three entries in each age group on TBA.

Stratford Night at the Movies

Join us at the Regal Theater for just $4 per person.  The movie is newly released and will be on TBA at a time to be announced.  Tickets will go on sale on May 5 - 30 or until sold out at the Recreation Dept Office at Short Beach Park.  Saturday hours are 9-2 pm and Monday-Friday from 8-4:30 pm.  Tickets can be picked up at the "Will Call" table in the lobby of the theater beginning half an hour before the movie time.  Tickets are limited to 8 per family. 

Community Concert Band

Meets at Stratford High School from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Tuesday evenings. There are no auditions or fees, and the band is open to all area musicians. Throughout the year the band presents concerts at the Baldwin Center, the Jewish Home for the Elderly, the Dinan Memorial Center, a combined concert with the Stratford and Bunnell High School bands, and a summer concert in Fairfield. It also participates in the Sister Cities Program.

Tentative Concert Dates:

Tuesday, June 10  7:00 p.m. Paradise Green (raindate June 17, 7:00 p.m.)

Wednesday, July 22   7:00 p.m. Paradise Green (raindate July 29, 7:00 p.m.)

Memorial Day Parade

The Memorial Day Parade is scheduled for May. Memorial Services will begin at 1:00 pm on Academy Hill and at 2:15 pm the Parade steps off heading north on Main Street to the reviewing stand at Main Street and Hurd Avenue and ending at Paradise Green. The Stratford VFW organizes the Parade.

Fourth of July Fireworks Display

The Fourth of July Fireworks will be held at Short Beach Park on  July 3. The raindate is July 5. The Atwood Express Band will perform on the Deck at 7:00 p.m.  Lynn Lewis will perform at Gull's Landing Miniature Golf Course at Short Beach Park for the youngsters at 7:30 pm.  The Fireworks will be at approximately 9:30 pm.

Summer Concerts on the Green

The Summer Concert Series is held at Paradise Green (unless noted) on the following (tentative) dates. 

Winter Concerts

Paul King with his Big Band Sound will play at the Baldwin Center from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Sunday December 7. Admission is free and open to the general public. We ask that attendees bring a canned good to be donated to the local food banks.  Concert is sponsored by Health Net, Senior Services and the Recreation Department.

Ash Creek String Band will play TBA from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the Baldwin Center. The snow date is TBA. Admission is free. 

Playground Carnival

The Carnival is Wednesday July 30 at Longbrook Park from 10:00 am - 3:00 p.m. Each year proceeds from the Carnival are donated to a local charity. Rides, games and the playground staff plan special activities for a day of fun and laughter. Admission is $1.  Raindate is July 31.

"In The Spotlight"

This is a joint project with Sterling House and Community Services. It is open to youth in Junior and Senior High School that have an interest in the Dramatic Arts and enjoy performing. Auditions are tentatively set for early April and May. Watch for additional information in the paper. 

In the Spotlight Schedule

Town Wide Talent Show

The Department will sponsor its fourth annual talent show for anyone in town.  Youth, adults and groups who play a musical instrument, sing and/or dance are invited to participate.  Groups may also participate.  Auditions dates are: TBA at Flood, TBA at the Baldwin Center, and TBA at Birdseye Complex from 6-8 pm.  These dates are to review content of material.  There is a $5 per person fee to enter.  Registration may be done beginning TBA.  The show will be 7:00 pm on TBA at Johnson House Academy.  Please call the office to schedule auditions and for more information 385-4052.

Hot Shot Basketball Contest - online registration

Hot Shot Contest

Contest participants. Click here to see more!

The Dept. in cooperation with the Connecticut Recreation and Parks Association will sponsor the Hot Shot Contest for boys and girls ages 9-15 on Saturday TBA from 9-11 am.  Top winners in each division will advance to the County and State levels of competition.  Raindate is TBA.  Each player will have one minute to shoot from the "hot spots" placed on half the basketball court.  Starting at the center of half court, the players dribble into shooting range and shoot at the designated spots.  The total from three rounds is added together.  The contest challenges a player's speed, shooting, dribbling and rebounding ability.  Three one-minute rounds constitute the duration of play for each participant.  The top scorer in each division will move up to the next level.  The divisions are based on their age before December 31, 2007.  A birth certificate is required.  Registration will be through TBA at the Recreation Department at Short Beach Park.

There were 53 participants and places 1-3 are listed by division:

Boys 9-10 Division -

1. John DoCarmo 103 points

2. Jake Amoroso    74 points 

3. Brandon Russo   70 points

Girls 11-12 Division                    Boys 11-12 Division

1. Marisa Dowling  102 points     Rick Dowling  115 points

2. Kayla Martino     74 points     Carl Russo      101 points

3. Kirstin Barbary    55 points     John Amoroso  86 points

Girls 13-15 Division                    Boys 13-15 Division

1. Alyssa Jones      115 points    Barry Powell      82 points

2. Lauren Sara          84 points   Taivan Curry      73 points

3. Alyssa Zadrovicz   76 points   John Santiago    62 points

Marisa Dowling was the State Champion in 2005 in the 9-10 yr old division.

Stratford Night at the Sound Tigers

The Sound Tiger Hockey organization in cooperation with the Town will sponsor Stratford Night on TBA at 4:00 pm.  The Sound Tigers will face their in state rivals the Hartford Wolfpack at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport.  Tickets will be discounted for Stratford residents and a percentage of the proceeds from the ticket sales will go toward purchasing AED devices for public buildings in Stratford.  Tickets go on sale at the Arena beginning TBA.  Please mention Stratford Night when ordering tickets to get special pricing.

V.I.T.A. (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program)

The South End Community Center in collaboration with the Internal Revenue Service and other agencies prepare income taxes for individuals in need during tax season.  This program also serves as a financial literacy program encouraging participants to get checking and or savings accounts, repair your credit as well as Earned Income Tax Credit on their returns.  This program runs every Monday at Franklin School from 4-8 pm by appointment only starting Monday TBA.  It also runs every Thursday from 6-8 pm and Saturday from 9:30-12:00 pm starting TBA by appointment only at the South End Community Center.

South End Community Food Pantry

The South End Community Center offers emergency food pantry services to Stratford residents on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.  All food pantry participants must show identification and/or proof of Stratford residency.  Emergency food services are also available for those individuals who receive food stamp assistance or come with an agency referral regardless of residency.  Non perishable canned goods and supermarket gift cards are needed.  Call 377-0689 to make arrangements.

South End Community Center Coat Closet

This program provides hats, coats, gloves and socks to individuals in need from October-March.  Interested individuals must stop by the center or get a referral from area agencies to received merchandise from the Coat Closet.  Collaborations have been made with area agencies and businesses to assist us in gathering coats and other items needed for the coat closet.  New or slightly used donations are welcome.  Call 377-0689 to make arrangements.

- Top of Page -