May Market at Hill-Stead Museum | May 5 & 6 | 10 am – 4 pm daily

May Market features premium exhibitors, rare and unusual plants, live entertainment, children’s activities, gourmet food and a museum open house!

2018 MAY MARKET

One of the Farmington Valley’s finest and longest-running springtime celebrations returns to Hill-Stead Museum on Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6, 10am–4pm.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Hops & Vines, a Tasting in the Garden (21+ Event)

Your May Market admission includes free tastings with popular and up-and-coming wineries, craft breweries and distilleries! This event, sited in Hill-Stead’s beautiful Sunken Garden, is brought to us by Hill-Stead’s Impressionists Council, a group of young philanthropists who share a love of art and culture.

• Artisan Exhibitors

May Market will host more than 60 select “home, garden and gourmet” exhibitors in a spacious festival tent on the west lawn and throughout the historic buildings and grounds. Browse a beautiful collection of hand-crafted baskets, soaps, pottery, stationary, jewelry and couture accessories, textiles, garden ornaments, linens and original artwork, specialty teas, spices, honey and much more. Gardeners in particular will delight in the carefully curated collection of specialty plants and shrubs on offer.  List of Exhibitors here.

• The Hill-Steaders’ Perennials, Artwork, Treasures and Treats

The Museum’s Hill-Steaders volunteers will offer their much-anticipated selection of fine unique perennials sourced from leading local nurseries, Hill-Stead’s own Sunken Garden, and gardening friends. Treasure hunters should be sure to visit volunteer-curated Theodate’s Attic to enjoy a large selection of donated linens, glassware, gardening books, jewelry and more, to browse donated artwork at Theodate’s Gallery. Visit The Hill-Steaders Monet’s Express tables to enjoy amazing sweets and treats. New this year: visit Hillstead.org to pre-order exclusive dwarf perennials selected especially for you by master gardeners on the Hill-Steaders’ perennials committee.

• Family Time

Enjoy a full schedule of children’s activities from 11am-3pm both days, including free Mother’s Day gift-making at Hill-Stead’s Education Station, scavenger hunts, a visit with Hill-Stead’s lambs and kid-friendly food. May Market admission is free for children 17 and under.

• Demonstrations

Learn something new at demonstrations and workshops throughout the weekend. Learn about pollinator plants at booth-side talks, and enjoy a book-signing with golf journalist and expert Anthony Pioppi, author of To the Nines, The History of The Minikahda Club Golf Course and the newly-released The Finest Nines, North America’s Best Nine-Hole Golf Courses.

• Amazing Food

Seasonal Catering, Culteavo Tea Shop, Chet’s Italian Ice, Hill-Stead’s volunteer-run Monet’s Express tables, and an exciting variety of exhibitors selling specialty tea, olive oil, exquisite baked goods, salts and spices, artisan cheese and more will delight the gourmet in you. Hill-Stead is pleased to welcome Seasonal Catering of Milford, CT this year, whose chef, Jim Calkins, will anchor festival food offerings with a fabulous farm-to-table menu.

• Inside the Museum

Tour the museum at your leisure, taking in the beauty of Hill-Stead’s French Impressionist masterpieces. The weekend’s special Open House format will allow you to linger over famous paintings by Monet, Manet, Degas, Whistler and Mary Cassatt. Art lovers and experts alike will delight in seeing these incredible paintings in their beautifully appointed, historic setting.

• A Benefit Event

May Market helps to support the museum’s 152 acres of beautiful gardens, grounds and trails. Underwritten by 2018 Presenting Sponsor, Simsbury Bank, May Market earned Yankee Magazine’s “Editor’s Choice – Top 20 Event” recognition in 2014 and 2015.

Tickets

Two-day admission tickets are $15 advance/on-line or $20 at the gate. (Children under 18 are FREE).

Learn More and buy tickets here