Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Martha Hall Kelly’s best-selling book Lilac Girls at the museum that first inspired her!
12 noon–4 pm • A Vintage Parisian Festival
The grounds will be open for exploration throughout the afternoon, with representatives from Connecticut Landmarks and other local businesses and organizations sharing information, offering themed photo ops, and facilitating activities. Through the break in the hemlock hedge, visitors may enter the garden designed by Lilac Girls heroine Caroline Ferriday and her mother Eliza. Staff will be on hand to answer questions about the garden’s care.
12:15 pm–1:00 pm • Tour “The Hay” with Martha Hall Kelly
Site administrator Peg Shimer and author Martha Hall Kelly take guests on a special house tour to point out some of Caroline’s favorite places in the summer home her family called “The Hay.” Martha Hall Kelly will reminisce about the first time she visited the property in 2000, and the many memories she’s made there since.
1:00–1:30 pm • Book Signings in Caroline’s Playhouse
Nestled in a quiet corner of the property is a charming playhouse, a childhood retreat of Caroline Ferriday’s. Inside, Martha Hall Kelly will be signing your copies of Lilac Girls, Lost Roses, Sunflower Sisters, and more. Books will be available for purchase.
(Included with all ticket types. House Tour Attendees will receive priority access.)
2:00 pm–3:00 pm • Tea in the Bellamy-Ferriday Kitchen
Tea and conversation will both be flowing in the kitchen where Caroline Ferriday gathered with the ladies of Ravensbrück in 1958. The Penny Farthing Tea Room and Bakery will provide light refreshments to share with friends old and new – including Martha Hall Kelly. As the afternoon draws to a close, raise a glass in celebration of 10 years of Lilac Girls.
1:00–1:30 pm • Book Signings in Caroline’s Playhouse
Those who have not yet had their books signed may visit Caroline’s Playhouse before bidding the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden adieu!
(Included with all ticket types. Tea Attendees will receive priority access.)
The Inspiration
On Mother’s Day in 2000, Martha Hall Kelly drove to Bethlehem, Connecticut, to tour the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden. She had first read about the property’s last resident, Caroline Woolsey Ferriday, in a May 1999 issue of Victoria Magazine. Ferriday had worked to secure medical care for survivors of Ravensbruck, Hitler’s only all-women concentration camp during World War II. Women in the camp, many of them Polish, had been victims of medical experimentation, and many of them suffered long term health complications from their time in the camp. Martha Hall Kelly was the only person on the tour that day. The guide shared the story of Ferriday, who had worked from the rooms of the summer home her family called “The Hay.” Kelly departed the property with a deeper understanding of the profoundly moving actions of Caroline Ferriday—and an idea.
Caroline Ferriday with Ravensbruck survivors, image from the collections of Connecticut Landmarks.
The Author
Martha’s debut novel Lilac Girls, became a New York Times bestseller the week it was published in 2016 and then went on to sell over two million copies and publish in 50 countries. The novel is based on the true story of 75 women who were imprisoned and experimented on at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp and how Caroline Ferriday, an American philanthropist brought them to the U.S. for rehabilitation and the trip of a lifetime.
Martha followed Lilac Girls with Lost Roses about Caroline’s mother, and Sunflower Sisters about Caroline’s great grandmother, which also became Instant New York Times best sellers. The Golden Doves, which returns to WWII is now available in paperback wherever books are sold.
Her newest novel The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club explores the story of two sisters living on Martha’s Vineyard during World War II who find hope in the power of storytelling when they start a wartime book club for women.
Martha grew up in Massachusetts and now splits her time between Litchfield, Connecticut, Hobe Sound, Florida, and New York City.
Find more info about the incredible, true stories behind all of Martha’s books on her website and social media channels.
Tickets
Put together your perfect day by selecting from the menu of tickets below!
If you would only like to explore the grounds and access a book signing, purchase a Grounds Ticket. Access to the grounds and a book signing are included with House Tour Tickets and Tea Tickets.
Tickets for this event are very limited, and we anticipate that they will sell out.
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Proceeds support the continuing preservation of the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, the longtime summer home of Caroline Ferriday and her family before her.
Members’ Presale Information
CTL Members will have the first chance to purchase tickets for this special event beginning at 10 am on Bastille Day—Tuesday, July 14. Remaining tickets will be available for the general public at 10 am on Tuesday, July 28. Tickets for this event are very limited, and we anticipate that they will sell out.
Members must sign in to our online ticketing system using the account linked to your membership to purchase tickets.
To access the presale and Member pricing:
- Click the link for the ticket you’d like to purchase to be taken to our ticketing site.
- Sign in to our ticketing site with the email address associated with your membership to verify membership.
- Once signed in, enter your desired number of each ticket type in the standard ticket fields on the event page.
- Click the “Register” button and add your information. The prices on this page will remain the same, and the member’s discount will automatically be applied at checkout on the last page.
- Click the “Add to Cart” button and check out.
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