Family Festival at Music Mountain

FALLS VILLAGE — Bright colorful balloons directed visitors to the second annual Music Mountain Family Festival on Aug. 11 and helpful youngters directed hundreds of cars throughout the day into the grounds and the parking lot across the road.

The free daylong event was blessed with extraordinarily good weather. Early in the morning, the grass was still damp from the rains of the previous day, and from an extremely heavy dew that morning. But the sky was cloudless and the temperatures were warm but not too much so.

Children and their parents swam like schools of brightly colored fish from the inside of the concert hall (where they were treated to performances by Cornwall’s Grumbling Gryphons, Falls Village pianist and composer Josh Stone and Joseph FireCrow of Winsted performing his Grammy-nominated native American flute music) to the rolling lawns outside.

Baked goods galore were for sale at the ticket booth (along with ice cream and soft drinks sold by Mountainside). The D.M. Hunt Library tent displayed items from the upcoming silent auction and the Falls Village volunteer firefighters sponsored a food tent. The firefighters also sold spicey sausage grinders along with the traditional hamburgers and hot dogs. At the entrance to the concert grounds, old-fashioned cotton candy and popcorn were available.

Adding to the circus atmosphere:  life-size puppets from Mark Alexander’s Mortal Beasts and Deities, and mimes and clowns from Matica, who helped participants juggle, balance on oversized inflatable balls and twist rattling hula hoops on their hips.

Despite the excellent weather, the day must be described as a Dog Day: Music Mountain President Nick Gordon wandered the grounds with his oversized friend, a Newfoundland named Boulder, who patiently sat and panted as children ran up and stroked his smooth back and head. Juliet Moore of Sharon brought her new golden retriever puppy, Abigail, who was happy to greet any youngsters who came her way (and there were plenty).

“I looked down at one point during the day and Abigail was just sitting on this boy!� Moore said. (Needless to say, the boy was having a grand time with his new puppy friend.)

Family Day was founded as a way to get families and youngsters familiar with Music Mountain, one of the premier concert halls for chamber music in the country. Gordon (son of founder Jacques Gordon) feels it is essential for the future of classical music that young people learn to feel comfortable with the music. The Bergonzi String Quartet performed Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals, and the Light Opera Company of Salisbury gave a preview performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Iolanthe,� which they will perform over Labor Day Weekend at The Hotchkiss School.

Somewhere between 700 and 800 people attended the event, though Gordon said it’s hard to know exactly how many people showed up.

“We count the cars, but each car has several people in it,� he said. He was delighted with the turnout and with the general atmosphere of peace, tranquility and fun.

“There was no discord, no raised voices, everyone was just having a good time,� he said. “It was a delightful day, all the acts were wonderful and everyone seemed to love it, especially the kids.�