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SUMMARY:Summer Sound Waves at Esker Point Beach
DESCRIPTION:Summer Sound Waves at Esker Point Beach returns for another season of free outdoor concerts along the shoreline\, bringing live music\, food trucks\, and summer evenings together at one of Groton’s most scenic waterfront locations. Held Thursday nights throughout the summer\, the series invites visitors to bring a chair\, gather with friends and family\, and enjoy live performances overlooking Fishers Island Sound. \nThe concert series features a variety of local and regional acts performing everything from rock and pop favorites to tribute music and original material. Food trucks will be on-site during each event\, giving concertgoers the opportunity to enjoy dinner and refreshments while taking in the music. Parking is available at Esker Point Beach\, and a free shuttle service is offered from Fitch High School for added convenience. \nSummer Sound Waves is perfect for anyone looking to make the most of a summer evening on the shoreline. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the featured performers\, searching for a family-friendly outing\, or simply looking to relax by the water with live music in the background\, the series offers a welcoming atmosphere throughout the season. \n2026 Concert Schedule\nJune 18\nCaswell & The Peel n’ Eats\nSt. Mary’s Shuttle Site \nJune 25\nWill Evans \nJuly 2\nSUGAR \nJuly 9\nShaded Soul \nJuly 16\nRyan Montbleau Trio \nJuly 23\nMystic Dead \nJuly 30\nRed Lion \nAugust 6\nDon’t Tell Lisa \nAdditional Details\n\nLocation: Esker Point Beach\, Groton\nSchedule: Thursdays\nTime: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.\nAdmission: Free\nFood trucks available\nNo dogs allowed\nParking: $5 for motorcycles\, $10 for cars\nFree shuttle service available from Fitch High School\nJune 18 shuttle pickup available at Saint Mary’s Church\nBring lawn chairs or blankets for seating\nWeather and event details subject to change
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/summer-sound-waves-at-esker-point-beach/2026-08-06/
LOCATION:Esker Point Beach\, 900 Groton Long Point Rd\, Groton\, 06340\, United States
CATEGORIES:Esker Point Beach
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Summer-Sound-Waves-at-Esker-Point-Beach-Thursdays-6pm-to-8pm.jpg
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SUMMARY:Inaugural Island Run Paddle Challenge 2026
DESCRIPTION:Inaugural Island Run Paddle Challenge 2026 sends paddlers onto the waters off Esker Point Beach in Groton on Saturday\, August 22\, with three courses ranging from a one-mile fun paddle to an eight-mile run toward Fishers Island\, followed by an afternoon celebration featuring a barbecue\, live music and SURFRIDER sprints. \nThe new event is designed to work for more than serious racers. Participants can choose a course based on experience and ambition\, with divisions for stand-up paddleboards\, C1 canoes and K1 kayaks. Everyone who completes the challenge receives a finisher medal\, while the fastest paddlers compete for prizes from local businesses. \nMore importantly\, the day benefits a Mystic-based organization with an unusual approach to helping veterans rebuild their working lives: Work Vessels for Veterans. \nThree Courses\, Three Different Challenges\nThe Island Run Paddle Challenge starts and finishes from Esker Point Beach\, with three distances available. \nThe Long Course covers approximately eight miles and takes paddlers toward Fishers Island. It begins at 9 a.m. and provides the day’s biggest endurance challenge. \nThe Short Course is a four-mile route around Ram Island\, beginning at 9:30 a.m. \nFor paddlers looking for something more approachable\, the Fun Course covers one mile around Palmers Cove and begins at 10 a.m. \nCheck-in for all participants begins at 8 a.m. \nThe three distances make this less intimidating than an event built exclusively around an eight-mile open-water race. Experienced paddlers can tackle Fishers Island while recreational participants can still get onto the water and be part of the day without committing to the longest course. \nSUPs\, Kayaks and Canoes\nThe competition is open to several types of paddle craft. \nParticipants can race using a stand-up paddleboard (SUP)\, C1 canoe or K1 kayak. \nRegistration is $99\, and all paddlers receive a finisher medal. \nFirst-\, second- and third-place finishers will receive gift cards and swag contributed by local businesses. \nThe event listing currently states that registration ends August 31\, although the race itself is August 22. That appears to be a date error in the registration information\, so anyone planning to participate should register before race day rather than relying on the listed deadline. \nRegister for the event by clicking Event Ticketing below\nThe Party Starts at Noon\nYou don’t necessarily have to spend the entire day racing. \nThe competitive portion leads into a noon trophy ceremony\, followed by a barbecue and live music at Esker Point Beach. \nSURFRIDER sprints are also planned after the barbecue\, with Surfrider Foundation Connecticut serving as co-host of the event. \nThat makes the afternoon portion particularly accessible for friends and family who aren’t getting into a kayak or onto a paddleboard themselves. They can watch the paddlers return\, stick around for the awards and then join the post-race gathering. \nSupporting Work Vessels for Veterans\nThe beneficiary gives the inaugural race a strong local connection. \nWork Vessels for Veterans is a West Mystic-based nonprofit founded in 2008 to help injured veterans establish businesses and pursue career education by providing them with the equipment they need. \nAnd despite the organization’s name\, that doesn’t necessarily mean boats. \nA “vessel” can be virtually any piece of equipment that helps a veteran build a livelihood. The organization has supplied veterans with everything from agricultural and construction equipment to tools needed for other small businesses. Rather than issuing loans or simply handing recipients cash\, Work Vessels for Veterans purchases or obtains the equipment itself. \nThe organization reports that it has now assisted more than 4\,300 injured veterans\, with recipients in all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than $4.3 million worth of equipment has been provided\, helping launch more than 800 businesses and generating an estimated $42 million in economic activity. \nThat mission has particularly deep roots around Mystic\, Groton and Noank. Work Vessels for Veterans was co-founded by people with connections to southeastern Connecticut’s marine industry\, and several members of its current board come from Groton\, Mystic\, Noank and Niantic. \nSo although the Island Run Paddle Challenge is new\, the organization it’s supporting has been doing this work for nearly two decades. \nA Day on the Water at Esker Point\nEsker Point Beach makes a natural headquarters for the event. \nThe Groton beach looks across Palmer Cove toward the waters surrounding Groton Long Point\, Ram Island and Fishers Island Sound. From there\, organizers can send paddlers onto three substantially different courses without moving the event away from its central gathering point. \nIt’s also a setting where the race and the afternoon celebration fit together particularly well. \nCome to compete and you can spend the morning on the water. \nCome to support somebody who’s racing and there’s still a barbecue\, live music\, awards and the waterfront waiting when they return. \nEvent Details\nEvent: Inaugural Island Run Paddle Challenge 2026 \nDate: Saturday\, August 22\, 2026 \nEvent Hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. \nCheck-In: 8:00 a.m. \nLong Course: 8 miles toward Fishers Island; starts at 9:00 a.m. \nShort Course: 4 miles around Ram Island; starts at 9:30 a.m. \nFun Course: 1 mile around Palmers Cove; starts at 10:00 a.m. \nCraft: SUP\, C1 and K1 \nRegistration: $99 \nFinisher Medal: All paddlers \nAwards: First-\, second- and third-place prizes featuring gift cards and swag from local businesses \nTrophy Ceremony: Noon \nAfter the Race: Barbecue and live music \nAdditional Competition: SURFRIDER sprints following the barbecue \nLocation: Esker Point Beach \nAddress: 900 Groton Long Point Road\, Groton\, CT 06340 \nBeneficiary: Work Vessels for Veterans \nCo-Host: Surfrider Foundation Connecticut \nMore Information\nTo participate in one of the three paddle courses\, use the Event Registration link below. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/inaugural-island-run-paddle-challenge-2026/
LOCATION:Esker Point Beach\, 900 Groton Long Point Rd\, Groton\, 06340\, United States
CATEGORIES:Esker Point Beach
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