Day 25 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Swing High Big Blue Sky", oil, 6x6. $85

Today is Day 25 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge that I signed on to be apart of with Leslie Saeta and over 260 other artists.

My theme is: Connecticut Treasures. 
Another warm summer scene on a freezing cold snowy January day. Lake Compound Amusement Park in Bristol, CT has been a long time favorite place for me and my kids to go on hot summer days. I can remember our first time visit... I was taken back by how beautiful the grounds were, it's cleanliness, how friendly all the employees were and just how much fun my kids had! It was a perfect place to stroll along the walkways and so many rides for the little ones. I can remember my son Ray had to ride the motorcycle a dozen times in one day. And of course, Veronica loved the flying elephants. The swings were Victoria's favorite. One of the oldest rides there is the wooden carousel and my kids (they were really young) thought it went too fast! Now a days it's the fastest, steepest, craziest, make-your-hair-stand-up- straight rides that thrill them!  This photo was taken on a trip with my husband and his girls, Hope, Allison and Gretchen and our friends, the Beckley family.

What I didn't know about Lake Compounds is that it's the oldest, continuously-operated amusement part in North America, first opening in 1846! And was a huge attraction for celebrity big bands from the 1940's. Here's a quote directly from Lake Compound's website:

"On Easter Sunday, Glenn Gray and the Casa Loma Band opened the "Starlite Ballroom" to a full house of "big band" enthusiasts. Most big bands played Lake Compounce. From Dorsey to Calloway, Basie to Kenton, James to Goodman, the ballroom was packed for each performance. The all time attendance record of 5,000 dancers was set in spring, 1941, when Tommy Dorsey's reorganized band featured a young, up and coming vocalist, Frank Sinatra."

Join in the Journey
 Hope you join me on this 30 day painting challenge... you can sign-up for these blog posts to be delivered right in your inbox... just look for the email sign-up box in the right column. Feel free to comment below and share either your  favorite places and/or things to do in CT or... Have you ever been to Lake Compounds in Bristol, CT? and if so what's your favorite ride?

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click here to purchase this painting

Links to:
Linda S. Marino Art 
Leslie Saeta 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge Blog
Lake Compound Amusement Park, Bristol, CT