Celebrate New London 2026 fills downtown New London with live music throughout the afternoon and evening on Saturday, July 11, transforming parks, piers, galleries, restaurants, and public spaces into outdoor stages. As visitors explore the festival, they’ll find performances taking place just steps apart, making it easy to wander from one venue to another while enjoying food, shopping, waterfront views, and the city’s signature summer celebration.
Rather than centering around a single stage, Celebrate New London spreads performances across multiple downtown venues, each offering its own lineup throughout the day. Whether you’re planning your afternoon around a favorite band or simply strolling from stage to stage, this guide brings together the complete live music schedule in one place.
Event Details
- Event: Celebrate New London 2026 Live Music
- Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
- Location: Multiple venues throughout Downtown New London
- Admission: Free
Parade Plaza
Address: State Street & S. Water St., New London, CT 06320
Located in the heart of downtown, Parade Plaza features live performances throughout the afternoon, followed by dancing and evening entertainment.
Schedule
- 2:00 p.m. — Legalized
- 3:15 p.m. — The Pneumatics
- 4:30 p.m. — The Scatter Bandits
- 6:00 p.m. — DJ & Salsa Lessons
- 6:30 p.m. — Con-Fusion Grupo Musical
Custom House Pier
Address: S. Water St., New London, CT 06320
The waterfront stage at Custom House Pier hosts an afternoon and evening lineup overlooking the Thames River.
Schedule
- 2:00 p.m. — Red Lion
- 3:30 p.m. — John Fries Band
- 5:00 p.m. — Suave-Ski & Smoke The World
- 6:00 p.m. — The Hempsteads
- 7:30 p.m. — The Franklin Brothers
Telegraph Autonomous Zone
Address: 137 Bank St., New London, CT 06320
Telegraph Autonomous Zone offers an afternoon lineup featuring DJs and live performances.
Schedule
- 2:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
- DJ Sir Round Sound
- Lord Lewis
- Heavy Sound & Vision
The Social Bar + Kitchen
Address: 208 Bank St., New London, CT 06320
The Social hosts an evening lineup beginning in the late afternoon with live performances throughout the night.
Schedule
- 4:30 p.m. — Straight To VHS
- 6:00 p.m. — Smoke The World Cipher
- 7:30 p.m. — Flowers & Kain
Tuskers
Address: 470 Bank St., New London, CT 06320
Tuskers features two live performances during the afternoon and early evening.
Schedule
- 3:00-6:00 p.m. — Andre & Friends
- 6:00-9:00 p.m. — Malaena Band
Thames River Gallery
Address: 239 Bank St., New London, CT 06320
The Thames River Gallery hosts an afternoon performance as part of the city’s live music celebration.
Schedule
- 4:00 p.m. — Ken Atkins & The Honky Tonk Kind
Hygienic Art Park – New London Folk Fest
Address: 79 Bank St, New London, CT 06320
| Time | Artist |
|---|---|
| 3:30 p.m. | Frank Critelli & Steve Elci |
| 4:00 p.m. | Undercover Cameo |
| 4:45 p.m. | Anne Marie Menta & Bruce Thorndike |
| 5:15 p.m. | Brian Gore & The Tender Fritters |
| 6:00 p.m. | Mike Iula & Hugh Birdsall |
| 6:30 p.m. | The Rivergods |
| 7:15 p.m. | American Elm & Lauren Agnelli |
| 7:45 p.m. | Goodnight Moonshine |
| 8:45 p.m. | Sarah Mac & John Fries with Corina Malbaurn |
| 9:30 p.m. | The Hope Collective |
Planning Your Day
With performances spread across six downtown venues, it’s easy to spend the afternoon exploring New London’s restaurants, shops, galleries, waterfront parks, and festival attractions while enjoying live entertainment along the way. Most venues are within walking distance of one another, allowing visitors to catch multiple performances throughout the day before the evening fireworks.
