We’re celebrating a big one and you supported us in getting here!

Check back as details continue to develop.

The Birthday Weekend at a Glance

Friday, June 5th – Sunday, June 7th

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Friday, June 5th

Sailing Masters of 1812 Fife & Drum Corps
Starting at 5pm

   

The weekend begins with the sounds and spirit of the Revolutionary era with the Essex Sailing Masters of 1812 welcoming in the celebration and our patrons! 

Wander through history, snap photos with America’s founding characters – #Gris250! Engage with George and Martha – living interpreters – who will be on deck all weekend! Throughout ​some of the Inn’s historic spaces you’ll also encounter historical figures Betsy Ross, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson dressed in authentic period costumes ready for their selfie with you!

Tavern Night
Starting at 5pm

 

   

Step into our 1738 Tap Room and be transported back to the spirit of centuries past.

Patrons will be immersed in the lively sounds of a convivial colonial-era tavern, brought to life by Bill Hart, a seasoned musician steeped in early American musical traditions. Bill’s repertoire features music played on the wooden Irish flute and the penny whistle. These instruments, common in 18th-century taverns on both sides of the Atlantic, will fill the Tap Room with spirited music heard by sailors, soldiers, and tavern-goers during the Revolutionary Era.

Complimentary Premium Rum Tasting: 5:30 – 7:00 pm

Get in the spirit and toast to life with our signature Liberty Lemonade, our own Revolutionary Ale, a glass of our Gris250 Sparkling Rosé, bottled expressly for the occasion, or one of our craft cocktails or mocktails! We also invite you to raise a glass much as our predecessors did, with a complimentary rum tasting. We’re offering a premium selection – Probitas, White Blended Rum; Mezan, XO Jamaica Extra Old Rum; Bumbu Rum Company, The Original Rum, Ron Zacapa, 23-year Old Centenario Gran Reserva Rum.

Our Wine Bar & Bistro
Friday, June 5th | Opens at 5:30pm

 

While our Wine Bar is a “new” addition to our 1776 establishment – est. 2005 – it will be integrated into this historic celebration in more subtle ways.

• Special menu additions – a culinary nod to our colonial heritage with a contemporary twist
• “Historic” wine flights, including Madeira, much enjoyed by the Founding Fathers

Reservations may be made by calling, 860.767.1776 or online.

Featured Evening Entertainment: The Jovial Crew
Friday, June 5th | 8-11pm

   

More festivity is on tap with sea chanteys, authentic songs of the sea that would have been heard during Essex’s history as a seafaring community. If you haven’t experienced a night with the Jovial Crew – you’re in for a treat! It’s lively and quite spirited – perfect for our festive 18th-century celebration!

Guests may also enjoy:

• Revolutionary Ale, a complimentary rum tasting, and other featured beverages of the day
• Engaging with George + Martha Washington
• An evening of camaraderie and sing-alongs

Dinner Reservations may be made by calling, 860.767.1776 or online.

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Saturday, June 6th

A Taste of History: Storytelling with George + Martha Washington
Saturday, June 6 | 10-10:45am | Tap Room

A program designed to entertain children from 5 to 8 will be hosted in our Tap Room.

Did you know… Our Tap Room is the oldest part of The Griswold Inn. Built in 1738, it served as the first schoolhouse in Essex and was originally located just up the street. In 1801 it was moved to its present location by a team of oxen on rolling logs and, of course, now serves as a spirited space to enjoy food, drink, camaraderie and music!

George and Martha will be on tap to talk a bit about who they are, why they are important and share a story from the Revolutionary Era that features a dog at its center. Complimentary popcorn and a beverage will be served. What a delicious way to enjoy a Taste of History!

The Stony Creek Fife & Drum Corps
Welcoming patrons at 5:00pm

A Taste of History

Friday, June 6th | Opens at 5:00pm
Dinner in our Historic Dining Rooms and Tap Room

   

This celebratory spirit can be experienced throughout The Gris! Guests joining us for dinner may enjoy a Taste of History – a  special menu offering a thoughtful culinary nod to our colonial heritage that will please modern palates as well! Our Tavern Fare menu, featuring favorites like the Gris250 Burger paired with our own refreshing Revolutionary Ale, is also an option! All will be served by costumed waitstaff. Whatever you choose, a complimentary piece of Gris250 Birthday Cake, and a celebratory splash of our own Sparkling Rosé created for the occasion is included, so everyone feels a part of this historic and festive occasion!

 

Reservations may be made by calling, 860.767.1776 or online.

Courses in History Dinner Party
Sold Out

 

This special celebration takes place in our Covered Bridge Dining Room. 
Advance reservations/ticket purchase required for attendance.

Reservations may be made by calling, 860.767.1776 or online.

What a Glorious CRASH They Made: Musick of the American Revolution
Saturday, June 6th | 8:00-8:45pm | The Tap Room

 

Richard Franklin Donohue, Historian, Tenor & Harpsichordist, will explore the fiery repertoire of Revolutionary Era songs that in the words of John Adams “cultivated the sensations of Freedom.” This spirited musical program performed in our 18th-century Tap Room will bring us back to the early days of The Gris! Of course our own Revolutionary Ale will be on Tap!

Our Wine Bar & Bistro
Opens at 5:30pm

While our Wine Bar is a “new” addition to our 1776 establishment – est. 2005 – it will be integrated into this historic celebration in more subtle ways.

• Special menu additions – a culinary nod to our colonial heritage with a contemporary twist
• “Historic” wine flights, including Madeira, much enjoyed by the Founding Fathers

Dinner Reservations may be made by calling, 860.767.1776 or online.

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Sunday, June 7th

We close out the weekend with more nods to the Inn’s layered past including:

Hunt Brunch
Sunday, June 7th | 11:00am-1:00pm

The brunch commemorates a tradition inspired by a brief but significant historical event during the British Raid on Essex in 1814 when Captain Coote and British soldiers commandeered the Inn for a brief 24-hour period. A hearty breakfast was demanded in the style of an English hunt. Today, Hunt Brunch honors that legacy with a thoughtfully prepared à la carte menu, blending breakfast and luncheon dishes in the spirit of the original table, reflecting the preferences of today’s diners.

Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling, 860.767.1776 or online.

Dixieland Jazz
Sunday, June 7th | 12:30pm-2:30pm

Join us for Hunt Brunch from 11am – 1pm and stay for the music! A Sunday afternoon tradition for years, The Corinthian Jazz Band of Essex brings the joyous sounds of Dixieland back to our Tap Room – with lively brass, upbeat rhythms, and timeless entertainment. 

Steeped in History: An Author’s Tea with Julie Gerstenblatt
Sunday, June 7th | 3:30-5:00pm

 

This literary event will punctuate The Griswold Inn’s 250th Birthday Weekend celebration, offering guests an afternoon of tea, conversation, and book talk! Award-winning author Julie Gerstenblatt returns to The Griswold Inn with the upcoming release of her second work of historical fiction, The Stargazer of Nantucket. A meticulously researched novel, it’s an adventurous maritime story featuring a courageous female protagonist.

The Gris marks the first stop on the author’s book tour and serves as a pre-launch celebration, taking place just days before the novel’s official release. Guests may enjoy afternoon tea, receive a copy of the book, and have the opportunity to engage with the author. Advance registration is required.

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Sunday, June 25th – July 26th

The Spirit of 1776: Stay & Play
A creative collaboration with the Ivoryton Playhouse

 

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July 4th, 5pm

The Sailing Masters of 1812 will set the tone for a festive evening at The Gris. Details to follow soon!