Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center

The Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center is a cultural hub located amidst the picturesque New England scenery of Simsbury, Connecticut. Established in 2005, the center was originally conceived to serve as the home for the Hartford Symphony Orchestra's Talcott Mountain Music Festival. However, its role in the community quickly expanded to include a wider array of events, such as benefit concerts, sporting events, dance recitals, and various community gatherings. The genesis of the Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center can be traced back to 2002 when the Town of Simsbury acquired the Baker Farm, a 400-acre scenic expanse nestled between the Farmington River and the Town Center. The town's residents, known for their vibrancy, education, and creativity, expressed a strong desire for a dedicated venue to enjoy live performances. In response, a temporary bandshell was erected on the site, and for several years, it hosted summer evening concerts that attracted audiences from across the region. As the popularity of the venue grew, the need for a more permanent structure became apparent. In 2004, a group of enthusiastic residents, in collaboration with the Town of Simsbury, embarked on a journey to realize this vision. They developed plans and secured funding through a State Department of Economic Community Development grant, supplemented by private fundraising efforts, to construct what is now known as the Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center. The center officially opened its doors to the public in 2005, featuring a new permanent stage capable of accommodating the full Hartford Symphony Orchestra. The state-of-the-art facility boasted additional storage space, improved lighting, and enhanced acoustics, representing a significant upgrade from the temporary bandshell. The new venue was met with widespread acclaim and quickly became a beloved destination for entertainment. Since its inauguration, the Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center has attracted a diverse array of performances and artists, turning it into a premier destination for entertainment in the region. The venue has hosted internationally acclaimed acts such as Alison Krauss, The Beach Boys, Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves, Slightly Stoopid, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tedeschi Trucks, Kansas, The Temptations, Cirque De La Symphonie, Earth, Wind and Fire, The Four Tops, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Harry Connick, Jr., and Emmylou Harris, among others. The Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center continues to enrich the cultural landscape of Simsbury and the surrounding areas, providing a space where the community can come together to celebrate the arts and enjoy a wide range of live performances.