Arts and Culture

Westport Public Library
The Westport Public Library serves residents of Westport and other Towns through its programs, book circulation, and special events. It is one of the most active libraries in the state.

Westport Historical Society
The Westport Historical Society, founded in 1889, is an educational organization dedicated to preserving, presenting and celebrating the history of Westport, Connecticut. It is committed to increasing awareness of the importance of preserving the town's heritage and its historic buildings and landmarks.

Lifetime Learners Institute at Norwalk Community College
Lifetime Learners Institute is an all-volunteer organization of people over 50 who want to continue learning. Each spring and fall, LLI offers about 40 courses, as well as the Brown Bag Lunch and Learn lecture series, and day trips.

Levitt Pavilion
Every summer for the past 32 years, people throughout Fairfield County and beyond have come to the Pavilion with picnics, blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the high-quality, free-of-charge, evening's entertainment.

Westport Arts Center
Westport is a community with a rich, proud heritage in the arts - and the Westport Arts Center provides many programs so that the arts can be a regular part of your experience.

Westport Country Playhouse
The Westport Country Playhouse is internationally known. It has reopened for 2005, following an extensive renovation to the building and grounds. See their website for details and information on the current season. 

League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization which encourages informed and active participation in government. As an organization it may take action on governmental measures and policies on which members have reached consensus and have formulated a position.

Westport Young Woman's League
The Westport Young Woman's League (WYWL) is a group of 200 women who contribute their talents in many ways to a variety of community service, fundraising and social activities.

Westport Woman's Club
The Westport Woman’s Club, (WWC) organized in 1907, is a non-profit philanthropic organization dedicated to volunteerism and the raising of funds in support of the charitable, educational, cultural and public health services in Westport and surrounding towns.

First Night Westport/Weston
First Night Westport/Weston is the alcohol-free, community-wide Celebration of New Year’s Eve through the arts.  It takes place in downtown Westport and is the number one destination in Fairfield County for an entertaining, safe, and diverse New Year’s Eve. 

Westport Community Band
The Westport Community Band, founded in 1977, is a  65-piece concert band performs at community venues including the Levitt Pavilion, the Memorial Day parade, and various schools and nursing homes.

Services

AARP
AARP is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to addressing the needs and interests of persons 50 and older. This link is to the Connecticut AARP home page.

Infoline
Infoline is an integrated system of help via the telephone - a single source for information about community services, referrals to human services, and crisis intervention. It is accessed toll-free from anywhere in Connecticut by simply dialing 2-1-1. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Multilingual caseworkers and TDD access is available.

Westport/Weston YMCA
The Westport/Weston YMCA enriches the community by developing youth and strengthening families, while promoting healthy lifestyles for adults.

Y's Men of Westport/Weston
The Y's Men of Westport/Weston is an organization of about 400 retired and semi-retired men. It is the largest group of its kind in Fairfield County. Any retired or semi-retired man in Westport or Weston is invited to join this organization.

Interfaith Housing Association
The Interfaith Housing Association (IHA), is a not-for-profit agency. With a professional staff and the help of more than 400 volunteers, IHA assists people who have lost their ability to lead normal lives.

Westport Youth Commission
The WYC is an advocate for youth in Westport. It acts as a catalyst for programs and activities that promote the positive development of all youth in their families, schools, community and among their peers.

Toquet Hall
Toquet Hall is Westport's student coffeehouse, located downtown and created by teens for teens in conjunction with the town's Youth Commission

Elderhouse
ElderHouse is a medical model Adult Day Care Service that promotes independence, purpose, dignity and vitality for individuals and their families. ElderHouse is an alternative to institutional living and serves the residents of Mid-Fairfield County regardless of their race, color, national origin, handicap, age or socio-economic status.

Community Emergency Response Team
The mission of Westport CERT, a division of the Police Department within the Public Safety Office, is to serve Westport, and provide a way for members to serve their community by promoting safety education, emergency and disaster preparedness, and by supporting the local emergency service agencies in disaster, crisis and emergency response

A Better Chance
Beginning in 2000, a group of Westport citizens got together to start a program that would help young minority students. A Better Chance will ultimately host 8 young men who will attend Staples High School.

Make A Difference Day
The "Make A Difference Day" is a national day of service on the fourth Saturday of each October. Westport has been nationally recognized for its participation. The "Make A Difference Day" organizing committee, appointed by the First Selectwoman, coordinates the projects and volunteers.

Goodwill of Connecticut
Goodwill Industries of western Connecticut serves people with disabilities, economic disadvantages, and other barriers to employment throughout western Connecticut. Their mission is to help people achieve independence and self-sufficiency through employment and related support services.  Find the local Westport store at the link above.

Recreational Organizations

Westport Soccer Association
The Westport Soccer Association runs extensive soccer activities for Westport youth.

Longshore Women's Golf Association
LWGA is a community of women playing 18 holes of golf every Tuesday morning with different women of different ages and varying levels of skill. Being in the LWGA provides an opportunity to meet other Westport residents. Activities and tournament results are reported in the local paper. Membership is open to Westport women.

Longshore Men's Golf Association
The Longshore Men's Golf Association (the LMGA), is a non-profit, voluntary association that has a membership drawn from the men who play at Longshore Golf Course in Westport. The Town of Westport owns and operates the Golf Course.

Westport Community Gardens
The Westport Community Garden is open to any Westport resident between school age and senior status. The garden is located on Hyde Lane next to Long Lots Elementary School. Because the garden is on official school property there are attendance restrictions.

Earth and Sky

Earthplace
The mission of Earthplace is to educate the community about nature and the environment and about ways of taking action to preserve, protect and enjoy nature and the environment. Several programs for the entire family are offered.

Westport Astronomical Society
The Westport Astronomical Society (WAS) maintains and operates the Rolnick Observatory, which is open to the public on selected nights. It consists of a 40-foot tower and two auxiliary buildings at 182 Bayberry Lane in Westport. The tower houses a 12.5-inch, f/4.8 Newtonian reflector. One of the adjacent buildings serves as the WAS office, containing a library of both books and videotapes. The other building is the Fred Bump Education Center, where classes and regular meetings are held.