Free ​admission

to

the public

August

10&11

Witch Trials

Festival

Vendors,

Special ​Guests, ​Authors

and Much ​More!

Historic 88

Pratt Street

Downtown ​Hartford

Witch Trials

Festival

The event celebrates them being exonerated in 2023 (which is why this ​wasn’t done prior) - and also honors the “witches” themselves - with the ​utmost respect and due regard. It is also presented to raise further awareness ​of the trials that happened in Connecticut, and the history. Connecticut ​House Joint Resolution 34, RESOLUTION CONCERNING CERTAIN ​WITCHCRAFT CONVICTIONS IN COLONIAL CONNECTICUT, ​was adopted by the House of Representatives on May 10, 2023 by a vote ​of 121 to 30 and was then adopted by the Senate by a margin of 33 to 1 ​on May 25, 2023. This bipartisan resolution absolved the innocent victims ​of the witch trials and apologized to their descendants.

Guest Speakers

Catherine Nadal

CATHERINE NADAL is a Reverend in Our Lord ​and Lady of the Trinacrian Church in Salem, MA. ​founded by Italian Strega Rev. Lori Bruno. Catherine ​worked as a psychic medium in Salem and has been a ​certified psychic medium with the Forever Family ​Foundation since 2013. She realized her psychic abilities ​at age nine. Over the years, she has collaborated with a ​number of psychic investigators, and explored many ​haunted locations, including ones in Connecticut. ​Catherine is the author of two books, “And She Danced ​by the Light of The Moon” and “Seeing More Than ​Clouds in Your Coffee.” She has been a guest on “Coast ​to Coast with George Noory” and “Signs of Life ​Radio.” In December 2023, she began to host a weekly ​radio show in Tampa, FL called “Bringing the ​Darkness to The Light.” Catherine runs her company, ​“Dream Central Station, LLC” and resides in ​Westchester County, NY.

Dr. Richard Ross

DR. RICHARD S. ROSS III is Professor Emeritus and ​former College Librarian at Trinity College, Hartford, CT. ​His book “Before Salem: Witch Hunting in the Connecticut ​River Valley 1647-1663” was released in 2017 by ​McFarland Publishing. He has a forthcoming book due titled ​"American Body Snatchers Merchandising the Dead

in Nineteenth Century New England and Washington D.C.” ​(2024), also from McFarland Publishing. His books have ​reached an international audience of scholars and readers. They ​are held in research and national libraries throughout the globe.

The August 10, 2024 talk will be entitled "The Hartford ​Witch Panic 1662-1663."

The August 11, 2024 talk will be entitled "The Witch in ​Old Connecticut: Righting a Troubled Legacy."

Lori Bruno

REV. LORI BRUNO is a Hereditary High Priestess and ​Elder of the Sicilian Strega line of the Craft of the Wise, ​founder and Head Mother of Our Lord and Lady of the ​Trinacrian Rose Church, Inc. The church was founded in ​1993 and is based in Salem, Massachusetts.

Lori also founded the Sacred Paths Alliance Network (SPAN) ​charitable efforts organization, and the Protective Order of ​Witches and Earth Religions (POWER) in 1995 for ​religious freedoms. When asked about the meaning of ​“Witchcraft,” Lori took the very word WITCH and said ​the following: W is for Wisdom, I is for Integrity, T is for ​Truth, C is for Courage and H is for Honor. Lori was ​taught that Priests and Priestess should respect humanity, all ​living creatures, and above all, one’s self as the Goddess and ​God abide within. In 1996, Governor Michael Dukakis ​presented Lori with an award for the “Protection of the ​Children of the Commonwealth,” which hangs proudly next ​to her at her shop, Magika. Lori is world renowned, loved ​by many, and respected throughout her community. To Craft ​members and non-Crafters, she is affectionately known as ​“Strega Nona” or “Grandmother Witch.”

Guest Speakers

F.R.Rivers

Rande Goodwin

F.R. RIVERS is a Connecticut author whose books to ​date have not directly dealt with witchcraft, but his third ​book will. It a deep dive into the world of ​witchcraft/occult with an unlikely heroine.

“The Gathering III” will look into the occult, ​specifically witchcraft history. The book idea requires ​him to study the origins of witchcraft and the many ​forms that it can take. As most of you know, witchcraft ​or mediums as they were called, were mentioned in the ​bible. However, it is the author’s belief that witches, ​mediums, sorceresses, fortune tellers etc., have a far ​deeper history than biblical times or during the times of ​the witch trials. It is his hope to share his opinions with ​you through his presentation and a preview of his latest ​book.

RANDE GOODWIN is also a Connecticut author who was ​ecstatic to hear about this festival. His book, “The ​Witchfinder’s Serpent,” builds upon the early CT witch trials.

It’s primarily a modern-day YA fantasy that builds upon the ​CT witch trial history. Although it is about magical witches, ​it was important to the author to treat the witch trial victims ​with utmost respect and to help spread word of their plight.

Eperience the Hampden County Hexenbruts dance troupe ​from Western MA - inspired by the lovely ladies from ​Wolfshäger Hexenbrut, a German dance troupe that ​performs every year at Walpurgis in German.

This group performs and supports other troupes around ​New England throughout the year to raise funds for ​local charities and non-profits, participates in community ​events & activities, and gathers

together for fun and frivolity.

They perform such songs as Schuttel Deinen Speck by ​Peter Fox, Diese Kalte Nacht by Faun, and one with ​their own choreography, called Witches in Bikinis by ​Witches in Bikinis (all songs can be purchased on ​Amazon Music or Spotify).

Festival performance times are ​11:30am, 1:30pm, and 4pm.

Samaia Eldrath

S​aturday

Guest Speakers

Danielle Van Doren

S​unday

The Shaman and the Showman LLC

Vendors

Witchy Things / Rev Cathy Nadal / Moon Dark Boutique / ​Magickal Occult Handmade / Author Jessica Lucci / Enlightened ​Channels / Haus Draggonborne / The Vine Cottage / Perfectly ​Wicked Shop / Sage Light / Author F.R. Rivers / Such Sweet ​Relief / Crystal Music / The Halloween Witch Costumer / ​Author RandeGoodwin / EverIntentional / Lainverse / Samaia’s ​Golden Pyramid / Thomas Gormley / Archangel of the ​Paranormal / Author Charles F. Rosenay!!! / The Shaman & ​The Showman

With Respect

Presented by the Producers of

CT ParaConn and

the Salem Paranormal Horror Convention.

.Info: (203) 795-4737

email CTWitchTrialsFest@gmail.com