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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T213000
DTSTAMP:20260531T170134Z
CREATED:20260531T033610Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260531T170134Z
UID:10003126-1791313200-1791322200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Trivia at C.C. O'Brien's
DESCRIPTION:Friendly competition\, giggles\, and bragging rights come to Pawcatuck every Tuesday night at Trivia at C.C. O’Brien’s. From 7-9: 30 p.m.\, teams of 1-6 players gather to challenge themselves on a wide range of categories. With food\, drinks\, and great company around every question\, players of all knowledge levels are sure to enjoy the experience. \nTrivia at C.C. O’Brien’s provides players with an evening full of music\, trivia questions\, and prizes for the top 3 teams each week. Whether you consider yourself a trivia nerd or you simply want to enjoy a night out with friends\, we have you covered. No matter your experience level with trivia\, there isn’t anything to be nervous about. \n$0 buys you entry to play\, but there is a $10 drink food minimum. \nWhether you have a group of friends\, coworkers\, or even your significant other\, Trivia at C.C. O’Brien’s is the perfect opportunity to bring your team together and see who’s brain is the smarty-pants!
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/trivia-at-c-c-obriens/2026-10-06/
LOCATION:C.C. O’ Brien’s\, 8 Mechanic St\, Pawcatuck\, 06379\, United States
CATEGORIES:C.C. O'Brien's
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CC-Obriens-every-Thursday-7pm-to-930-pm.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T210000
DTSTAMP:20260602T004331Z
CREATED:20260602T004331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260602T004331Z
UID:10004125-1791313200-1791320400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Trivia Night at The Jealous Monk
DESCRIPTION:Trivia Night at The Jealous Monk hosts its own version of trivia every Tuesday called Opinionation. Opinionation is a survey-style game where knowledge is only about 1/10 as important as knowing what everyone else is thinking. This free game is played from 7 to 9 p.m. when teams come together to play fun survey questions and guess what every other player thinks. \nOpinionation is a trivia game like no other. Forget historical dates and useless trivia you’ll never remember. With Opinionation\, your team will have to determine the five most popular answers given by players to each question. Each round consists of two segments with several questions. There are also bonus and final rounds that can really change the game. This format allows for lots of giggles\, upsets\, and arguing among teammates. \nGroups of friends\, coworkers\, date night- you name it. Our trivia at The Jealous Monk is great for all ages and skill levels. So whether you’re an expert at trivia or you just enjoy the company\, try your skills at predicting the most popular answer while we keep you guessing. \n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/trivia-night-at-the-jealous-monk/2026-10-06/
LOCATION:Jealous Monk\, 27 Coogan Blvd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Jealous Monk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Trivia-Night-at-the-Jealous-Monk-Tuesdays-7-pm-to-9-pm.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T180000
DTSTAMP:20260606T203643Z
CREATED:20260604T204337Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260606T203643Z
UID:10005265-1791298800-1791309600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Groton City Farmers Market Summer 2026
DESCRIPTION:The Groton City Farmers Market returns for its 2026 summer and fall season\, bringing fresh Connecticut-grown food\, local products\, and community spirit to Washington Park every Tuesday from June 9 through October 27. Held at the corner of Mitchell and Meridian Streets from 3 to 6 p.m.\, the market serves as a gathering place where residents can shop directly from local farmers\, food producers\, and artisans while supporting small businesses throughout southeastern Connecticut. \nWhile agriculture remains the heart of the market\, visitors will find much more than fruits and vegetables. Vendors offer locally sourced meats\, poultry\, eggs\, seafood\, baked goods\, and specialty food products\, all with an emphasis on Connecticut-grown and Connecticut-made offerings. Organizers work to ensure products are clearly identified and locally sourced\, helping shoppers make informed choices while supporting the region’s agricultural economy. \nThe market’s mission is to make healthy\, affordable\, locally produced food accessible to the community while creating a welcoming neighborhood destination in the heart of Groton. In addition to its weekly summer and early fall schedule\, the market also hosts seasonal pop-up markets during the colder months\, extending its commitment to connecting local producers with residents year-round. \n2026 Musician Lineup\n\nJune 9 – Ron Bettez\nJune 17 – Ella Yaras\nJune 23 – Kevin Salley\nJune 30 – Kayle Devlin\nJuly 7 – Ella Yaras\nJuly 14 – Kevin Salley\nJuly 21 – Terri Lachance\nJuly 28 – Steven Harz\nAugust 4 – Inner Groove\nAugust 11 – Kevin Salley\nAugust 18 – Ella Yaras\nSeptember 1 – Ronald Bettez\nSeptember 15 – John Wood\nSeptember 22 – Steven Harz\nSeptember 29 – Terri Lachance\nOctober 7 – Denise Jones\nOctober 13 – John Wood\n\nCity of Groton Farmers Market • Tuesdays\, 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. • Washington Park
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/groton-city-farmers-market-summer-2026/2026-10-06/
LOCATION:Washington Park\, 155 Meridian Street\, Groton\, 06340\, United States
CATEGORIES:Washington Park
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groton-City-Farmers-Market-Summer-2026-Tuesdays-3pm-to-6pm.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T210000
DTSTAMP:20260913T020703Z
CREATED:20260913T020703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260913T020703Z
UID:10007571-1791286200-1791320400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Oktoberfest at Jealous Monk Brings Five Weeks of Bavarian Food\, Seasonal Beer and Live Music to Mystic
DESCRIPTION:Oktoberfest at Jealous Monk isn’t a one-day festival. Mystic’s European-style beer hall is turning much of fall into Oktoberfest\, beginning Saturday\, September 19 and continuing through Saturday\, October 24\, with a special German-inspired menu\, seasonal beers\, live entertainment\, and Oktoberfest competitions and activities. \nThe extended celebration is something Jealous Monk has been doing for years\, and the restaurant takes the inspiration more seriously than the lederhosen-and-pretzel graphics might suggest. \nJealous Monk says members of its team have made annual research trips to Munich during Oktoberfest\, bringing ideas from the world’s most famous beer festival back to Mystic. \nThey even use the German word that helps explain what they’re trying to recreate: Gemütlichkeit. \nThere isn’t a perfect English translation. It’s a combination of warmth\, friendliness\, comfort\, good cheer\, and the feeling of enjoying yourself in good company. \nIn other words\, it’s pretty much the reason beer halls have big tables. \nMore Than a Single Oktoberfest Party\nJealous Monk’s 2026 celebration begins September 19\, but don’t read that as the date of the entire event. \nThe restaurant’s announcement calls this an “extended” Oktoberfest season running September 19 through October 24. \nThroughout that period\, Jealous Monk plans a special seasonal food menu and Oktoberfest beers along with a changing schedule of musicians and other entertainment. \nContests are part of the celebration as well\, including the most recognizable American Oktoberfest test of endurance: stein hoisting. \nThe restaurant is still completing its detailed 2026 entertainment schedule and Oktoberfest menu\, so individual performers\, contest dates and this year’s complete food and beer lineup have not all been announced yet. \nThat’s worth knowing before making plans around a particular weekend. \nBut the larger celebration is already confirmed. \nJealous Monk Was Practically Built for This\nThere are plenty of restaurants that can put bratwurst on the menu for three weeks and call it Oktoberfest. \nJealous Monk has a bit of a head start. \nThe locally owned restaurant describes itself as Mystic’s only beer garden\, and its home in Olde Mistick Village was designed as a contemporary interpretation of a European beer hall. \nInside\, there’s a barrel-vaulted ceiling\, old-world artwork and long communal tables rather than a dining room filled exclusively with little two- and four-person islands. \nOutside is an expansive beer garden with picnic tables\, games and gathering spaces. \nThen there are the taps. \nJealous Monk maintains 32 rotating draft lines\, allowing the restaurant to shift a significant portion of its beer selection as seasonal Märzens\, Festbiers and other fall releases arrive. \nIts regular menu already leans European in places\, too. Belgian frites\, a Bavarian-style pretzel\, bratwurst and schnitzel live comfortably alongside burgers\, wings\, chowder and other American pub food. \nOktoberfest isn’t much of a costume change here. \nThe Food Gets More German for the Season\nThe complete 2026 Oktoberfest menu has not yet been published\, but previous Jealous Monk Oktoberfest menus give a much better indication of what “special menu” means here. \nLast year’s seasonal offerings included Schweinshaxe\, the German pork knuckle strongly associated with Bavarian cooking. \nJealous Monk prepared its version braised and served it with spätzle\, rotkohl and beer au jus. \nSpätzle are small\, soft egg noodles or dumplings common throughout southern Germany and neighboring parts of Central Europe. \nRotkohl is braised red cabbage\, usually cooked until tender with a balance of sweet and acidic flavors. \nAnother recent Oktoberfest dish was Brathendl\, Bavarian-style roast chicken\, served at Jealous Monk with rotkohl and mashed potatoes. \nThose dishes went considerably further into Bavarian cooking than simply putting mustard on a sausage. \nUntil the restaurant releases this year’s finished menu\, however\, those should be treated as examples from previous celebrations rather than promises for 2026. \nSome Oktoberfest Food Is Available Even Before Oktoberfest\nA few things don’t have to wait until September 19. \nJealous Monk’s regular menu currently includes its Big A Pretzel\, a large Bavarian-style pretzel served with spicy and sweet mustards\, with bier cheese available to add. \nThere’s also a Bavarian Bratwurst\, available traditionally with sauerkraut and spicy mustard or prepared panini-style with Swiss cheese. \nThe regular Chicken Schnitzel is a less traditional Jealous Monk interpretation: crispy breaded chicken with Swiss cheese\, grilled onions and peppers and chipotle aioli\, served with house-cut Belgian frites. \nThose staples give the regular menu a European foundation before the temporary Oktoberfest dishes arrive. \nThen Come the Oktoberfest Beers\nBeer is where an extended celebration makes particularly good sense. \nOktoberfest beer doesn’t describe just one modern style. \nFor much of the 20th century\, Americans came to associate Oktoberfest with Märzen\, an amber German lager with a malty character and clean finish. \nThe beer traditionally had a practical connection to the brewing calendar. Before refrigeration\, brewing during warm summer weather was difficult and potentially dangerous for the beer. Märzen\, meaning “March beer\,” could be brewed in March\, stored through the summer and consumed in autumn. \nModern Munich Oktoberfest has shifted toward Festbier\, generally paler\, lighter in body and extremely drinkable despite retaining enough malt character to stand up to festival food. \nOnly beer from Munich’s six traditional breweries can officially be served at the Oktoberfest in Munich: Augustiner\, Hacker-Pschorr\, Hofbräu\, Löwenbräu\, Paulaner and Spaten. \nJealous Monk’s 32 rotating taps give the Mystic restaurant considerable room to explore both imported German beer and American interpretations of Oktoberfest styles. \nThe exact 2026 seasonal tap list is still developing\, so anyone hunting for a particular brewery should check the current list closer to their visit. \nThe Real Oktoberfest Isn’t Actually in October\nJealous Monk’s September 19 start also lines up almost perfectly with Munich. \nThe 2026 Oktoberfest in Munich runs September 19 through October 4. \nThat often surprises people who understandably assume a festival named Oktoberfest should happen primarily in October. \nIt used to. \nThe original Oktoberfest was held in October 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. \nThe public celebration included horse racing and proved popular enough to return. \nOver time\, the festival grew and its schedule moved earlier to take advantage of September’s generally better weather and longer daylight. \nThe October name stayed. \nJealous Monk begins its Mystic celebration on the same Saturday that Munich opens its 2026 festival\, then keeps going for another three weeks after Munich has packed up the tents. \nA Royal Wedding Started All of This\nThat first celebration took place on fields outside Munich’s city gates. \nThe site became known as Theresienwiese\, or Therese’s Meadow\, in honor of the bride. Munich residents still commonly shorten the name of Oktoberfest itself to the Wiesn. \nWhat began as a royal wedding celebration evolved into an enormous annual festival of beer\, Bavarian food\, music\, rides\, costumes and communal drinking. \nToday’s Oktoberfest bears little resemblance in scale to the 1810 event. \nMillions of people attend during a typical year. \nThe enormous beer tents can accommodate thousands of guests apiece. \nTraditional Bavarian clothing\, particularly lederhosen and dirndls\, has become inseparable from the modern image of the festival. \nAnd the beer arrives by the liter. \nAbout That Stein-Hoisting Contest\nJealous Monk says contests will be part of the 2026 festivities\, with stein hoisting among the activities being promoted. \nThe rules vary by competition\, but the basic concept is wonderfully uncomplicated. \nTake a full beer stein. \nHold it straight out in front of you with one arm. \nDo not bend the elbow. \nDo not lower the arm. \nDo not spill it. \nWait for everyone else to regret entering. \nA full one-liter glass stein weighs roughly five pounds\, so what seems fairly easy for the first few seconds becomes progressively less pleasant. \nIt’s become a staple of American Oktoberfest celebrations\, combining German beer-hall imagery with the very American instinct to turn practically anything into a contest. \nLive Music Will Rotate Through the Celebration\nThe other major piece still being assembled is the entertainment calendar. \nJealous Monk says live musicians will perform throughout the extended Oktoberfest season\, rather than concentrating entertainment into a single opening-day party. \nThat follows the format the restaurant has used in previous years. Its 2024 Oktoberfest\, for example\, featured live music on several dates spread between late September and late October. \nThe restaurant’s September 12 announcement says it is currently putting the finishing touches on its 2026 list of musicians and will add specifics to its events calendar as they are finalized. \nSo this is an event worth checking more than once. \nSeptember 19 is the beginning\, not the whole story. \nWhy Jealous Monk Works as a Beer Hall\nOktoberfest also makes some of Jealous Monk’s design choices easier to understand. \nTraditional beer halls aren’t designed around privacy. \nThey’re designed around gathering. \nLong tables put strangers next to one another. Food is hearty. Beer comes in substantial quantities. Music and conversation create enough noise that nobody expects a hushed dining room. \nJealous Monk borrowed that social model for its Mystic restaurant. \nThe indoor hall includes large communal tables\, while the outdoor beer garden uses picnic-style seating. Board games\, pinball and old-school video games add to the idea that customers are supposed to stay for a while rather than simply eat and leave. \nThe restaurant’s full name says it plainly: \nJealous Monk Social Hall & Beer Garden. \nFor five weeks beginning September 19\, the “beer garden” part gets to take center stage. \nYou Don’t Have to Drink Beer\nDespite the name and the Oktoberfest theme\, Jealous Monk isn’t exclusively for beer drinkers. \nThe restaurant also maintains wine\, liquor and cocktail selections\, and its food menu includes burgers\, sandwiches\, salads\, seafood and vegetarian options alongside the more obvious beer-hall fare. \nIt’s also a restaurant rather than a ticketed beer festival. \nThe currently announced Oktoberfest season does not carry a general admission charge. Customers visit Jealous Monk normally and order food and drinks\, while special entertainment and activities occur throughout the run. \nThat makes this fundamentally different from the one-afternoon Oktoberfests where admission buys a tasting glass and a fixed number of pours. \nYou can go once. \nOr you can go back as the taps\, menu specials and entertainment change. \nFive Weeks Gives You Time to Do It Properly\nThat’s really the advantage of Jealous Monk’s approach. \nOktoberfest doesn’t have to be crammed into one Saturday afternoon. \nThe first visit might be for the seasonal menu. \nAnother could coincide with live music. \nA third might involve a Märzen you haven’t tried. \nAnd eventually someone is going to convince you that holding a five-pound glass at arm’s length sounds like fun. \nThe 2026 celebration opens September 19. \nBy the time it ends October 24\, Mystic will be deep into foliage\, Olde Mistick Village will have shifted from late-summer visitors toward its fall crowds\, and Jealous Monk will have spent more than a month doing what a beer garden was designed to do. \nGather people around a table. \nPour the beer. \nBring out the food. \nProst. \nDetails\nEvent: Oktoberfest at Jealous Monk\nDates: Saturday\, September 19 through Saturday\, October 24\, 2026\nVenue: Jealous Monk Social Hall & Beer Garden\nLocation: Olde Mistick Village\, Building 20\nAddress: 27 Coogan Boulevard\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nAdmission: No general admission charge announced; food and beverages purchased separately\nFood: Special Oktoberfest menu planned for the season; complete 2026 menu is still being finalized\nBeer: Seasonal Oktoberfest beers plus Jealous Monk’s rotating draft selection\nDrafts: 32 rotating taps\nEntertainment: Live musicians throughout the Oktoberfest run; individual performers and dates are still being announced\nActivities: Oktoberfest contests and activities\, including stein-hoisting festivities\nIndoor/Outdoor: Indoor social hall and outdoor beer garden\, weather permitting\nRegular Hours: Monday–Thursday\, 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday\, 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday\, 10:30 a.m.–9 p.m.\nPhone: 860-536-6665 \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/oktoberfest-at-jealous-monk-brings-five-weeks-of-bavarian-food-seasonal-beer-and-live-music-to-mystic/2026-10-06/
LOCATION:Jealous Monk\, 27 Coogan Blvd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Jealous Monk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Oktoberfest-at-Jealous-Monk-Brings-Five-Weeks-of-Bavarian-Food-Seasonal-Beer-and-Live-Music-to-Mystic.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T170000
DTSTAMP:20260701T201347Z
CREATED:20260701T201347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260701T201347Z
UID:10006497-1791284400-1791306000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways at Mystic Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION:Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways at Mystic Museum of Art explores the history of textiles in southeastern Connecticut\, tracing how fabrics\, fashion\, and craftsmanship have shaped the region from the precolonial era through the present day. On view from June 26 through October 11\, 2026\, the exhibition brings together historic artifacts and contemporary works to examine how textiles reflect labor\, immigration\, cultural identity\, and changing ideas of luxury. \nInspired by southeastern Connecticut’s once-thriving velvet industry\, the exhibition features a collaboration between Mystic Museum of Art\, Historic Stonington\, Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center\, Mystic Seaport Museum\, and the Connecticut Region of the Studio Art Quilt Associates. Visitors will encounter an extensive collection of beadwork\, embroidery\, quilts\, velvet\, fashion\, and textile art drawn from partner institutions and the museum’s own collection. \nThe exhibition also highlights contemporary fashion designers with Connecticut connections\, including Xarea Lockhart\, Toriana Sauro\, Christian Siriano\, and Peter Som. Their work connects the region’s textile heritage with modern fashion\, demonstrating how clothing and material culture continue to influence art\, identity\, and design. Throughout the exhibition\, the museum will present lectures\, artist conversations\, and hands-on workshops that further explore these themes. \nExhibition Details\n\nExhibition: Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways\nVenue: Mystic Museum of Art\nDates: June 26-October 11\, 2026\nLocation: Mystic\, CT\n\nExhibition Highlights\nVisitors will experience: \n\ns\nWorks from Mystic Museum of Art’s permanent collection\nLoans from regional museums and organizations\n\nFeatured Partners\nThe exhibition includes contributions from: \n\nHistoric Stonington\nMashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center\nMystic Seaport Museum\nStudio Art Quilt Associates\, Connecticut Region\n\nFeatured Designers\nThe exhibition showcases work by designers with Connecticut ties\, including: \n\nXarea Lockhart\nToriana Sauro\nChristian Siriano\nPeter Som\n\nAdmission\n\nGeneral Admission: $12\nNew London County residents: $10\nSeniors (65+): $10\nStudents with valid ID: $10\nFree:\n\nMystic Museum of Art members\nYouth ages 17 and under\nMilitary personnel and veterans\n\n\n\nExhibition Programs\nPublic programs are held on select Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. \nTuesday\, July 7\nMystic Mudlarking: The River and the Rossie Velvet Mill \n\nGuest speaker: Mary Hendrickson\n\nTuesday\, July 21\nImmigration and Industry \n\nGuest speaker: Chelsea Mitchell\, Library Director & Collections Manager\, Historic Stonington\n\nTuesday\, September 1\nConversation with Alana Ryder and Emerging Designers \nFeaturing: \n\nAlana Ryder\nXarea Lockhart\nToriana Sauro\n\nWorkshops\nAll workshops take place in KTJ Studios. \nSaturday\, September 19\nFrom Textile to Art: Felt Collage Workshop \nSaturday\, September 26\nIntroduction to Sewing Workshop \n\nFeatured designer: Toriana Sauro\n\nSaturday\, October 10\nRelief Printing on Silk Scarf Workshop \nWhy Visit\nLuxe CT examines how textiles have connected communities across centuries while reflecting the region’s history of manufacturing\, immigration\, craftsmanship\, and artistic innovation. By pairing historical artifacts with contemporary fashion and fiber art\, the exhibition offers visitors a deeper understanding of southeastern Connecticut’s cultural heritage and its continuing influence on today’s artists and designers. \n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/luxe-ct-velvet-mills-to-modern-runways-at-mystic-museum-of-art/2026-10-06/
LOCATION:Mystic Museum of Art\, 9 Water Street\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Museum of Art
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Luxe-CT-Velvet-Mills-to-Modern-Runways-at-Mystic-Museum-of-Art-daily-11am-5pm.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T170000
DTSTAMP:20260705T020852Z
CREATED:20260510T162306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260705T020852Z
UID:10000503-1791284400-1791306000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO Bricks
DESCRIPTION:Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO Bricks drops visitors into centuries of maritime mystery and disaster at Mystic Seaport Museum.. The internationally touring exhibition combines massive LEGO® ship recreations with real maritime history\, creating an experience that feels part museum exhibit\, part interactive adventure. As the first American stop for the exhibition\, Mystic Seaport becomes the latest host for a showcase that has previously appeared at major maritime museums in Europe and Australia. \nThe exhibit features eleven detailed LEGO® models recreating famous shipwrecks and maritime disasters spanning thousands of years\, including the Titanic\, the Vasa\, Franklin’s Arctic expedition ships Terror and Erebus\, and the ancient Uluburun trading vessel. Created in partnership with LEGO® Certified Professional Ryan “The Brickman” McNaught\, the displays combine historical storytelling with surprisingly intricate engineering and visual detail. Some models even include cross-section cutaways revealing what happened beneath the waterline. \nInteractive experiences throughout the exhibit invite visitors to test survival scenarios\, operate a remote underwater vehicle\, experiment with ship stability\, and build LEGO® creations of their own. Alongside the models are replica artifacts\, archaeological tools\, and multimedia displays exploring how modern researchers investigate shipwrecks and what those discoveries reveal about trade\, exploration\, disaster\, and human history. The result is an exhibit that works equally well for families\, history buffs\, LEGO® fans\, and anyone who still secretly wants to touch every museum display. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/brickwrecks-sunken-ships-in-lego-bricks-3/2026-10-06/
LOCATION:Mystic Seaport\, 75 Greenmanville Ave\, Mystic\, CT\, \,06355-1946\,\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Seaport
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Brickwrecks-Sunked-Ships-in-Lego-Bricks.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T180000
DTSTAMP:20261005T024211Z
CREATED:20261005T024211Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261005T024211Z
UID:10009239-1791280800-1791309600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Scarecrows Take Over Olde Mistick Village for the Month of October
DESCRIPTION:Scarecrows Take Over Olde Mistick Village for the Month of October as merchants throughout the Mystic shopping village create their own characters\, compete for visitor votes\, and turn the walk between shops into a month-long outdoor fall display. \nScarecrows in the Village runs Oct. 1–31\, giving visitors the entire month to wander the brick pathways and find the scarecrows stationed outside participating businesses. Rather than bringing in a collection of professionally made decorations\, Olde Mistick Village puts its own merchants behind the creations. \nThat makes this less a single scheduled event than a temporary transformation of the Village. \nThe Merchants Build the Scarecrows\nThe fun is seeing what individual businesses come up with. \nParticipating Olde Mistick Village merchants create their own scarecrow displays\, which can make the decorations an extension of the personality of the shops themselves. The Village’s photos from previous displays show just how loosely the word “scarecrow” can be interpreted\, with the traditional straw-stuffed figure serving more as a starting point than a rule. \nSome are elaborate. Some are funny. Some lean into Halloween. \nAnd visitors aren’t merely looking at them. \nThey’re judging them. \nFind Your Favorites and Vote\nThroughout October\, QR codes placed around Olde Mistick Village allow visitors to vote for their favorite scarecrows. \nThe 2026 competition includes three categories: \nBest in Crow is the overall crowd-pleaser. \nMost Representative rewards the scarecrow that best captures the identity or personality of its participating Village business. \nMost Seaworthy gives the contest an appropriately Mystic category\, inviting merchants to work the area’s maritime character into their displays. \nThe voting turns what could have been simple seasonal decorations into a scavenger-hunt-like walk. Seeing one or two scarecrows isn’t really the point. The fun comes from exploring the Village\, comparing them and deciding which deserves a vote. \nA Different Way to See Olde Mistick Village\nOlde Mistick Village was designed to feel less like a conventional shopping center and more like a small New England village. \nInstead of a single enclosed mall\, shops and restaurants occupy individual buildings connected by pedestrian paths\, with landscaping\, ponds and gathering areas breaking up the property. \nThat’s particularly well suited to an event like this. \nThere isn’t a tent to enter or a designated exhibition area. The scarecrows become part of the landscape\, appearing as visitors move among shops and restaurants. \nIt also means there is no particular starting time or required route. Someone can spend 20 minutes hunting for scarecrows or make them part of a longer afternoon shopping\, eating and exploring the Village. \nOne Piece of a Much Bigger October in Mystic\nScarecrows in the Village also serves as something of a monthlong backdrop for Olde Mistick Village’s other fall activities. \nThe displays remain in place through Halloween on Oct. 31\, while the Village hosts additional October programming\, including its Apple Festival Oct. 17–18 and Trick or Treat in the Village Oct. 31. \nThat means the experience will change depending on when you visit. Early in October\, the scarecrows are essentially the opening act for fall. By Halloween weekend\, they’re part of a Village fully committed to the season. \nThere is also something appealingly low-key about this one. \nThere are no tickets to buy\, no performance time to hit and no need to devote an entire afternoon to it. Families can turn voting into a game with the kids. Adults can look for their favorite while shopping. Visitors coming for another Village event can simply add the scarecrows to the day. \nAnd because the displays remain up for an entire month\, this is one fall tradition where missing a particular Saturday doesn’t mean missing the event. \nThe only deadline that matters is Halloween. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Scarecrows in the Village\nDates: Thursday\, Oct. 1–Saturday\, Oct. 31\, 2026\nLocation: Olde Mistick Village\nAddress: 27 Coogan Boulevard\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nAdmission: Free\nFormat: Monthlong outdoor scarecrow display created by participating Village merchants\nVoting: QR-code voting available throughout October\n2026 Categories: Best in Crow\, Most Representative and Most Seaworthy\nWho It’s For: All ages; particularly easy to combine with a family visit\, shopping or dining\nSchedule: Displays can be viewed during Village operating hours; individual businesses and restaurants may keep different hours\nRelated October Events: Apple Festival\, Oct. 17–18; Trick or Treat in the Village\, Oct. 31\nFinal Day: Halloween\, Oct. 31\nWeather: The scarecrows are displayed outdoors\, so dress for conditions \n\n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/scarecrows-take-over-olde-mistick-village-for-the-month-of-october/2026-10-06/
LOCATION:Olde Mistick Village\, 27 Coogan Blvd\, Mystic\, CT\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Olde Mistick Village
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Scarecrows-Take-Over-Olde-Mistick-Village-for-the-Month-of-October.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261006T180000
DTSTAMP:20260901T212201Z
CREATED:20260901T212201Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T212201Z
UID:10007338-1791277200-1791309600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill 2026: Complete Guide
DESCRIPTION:B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill is now open for the 2026 season\, beginning another fall of fresh-pressed sweet cider\, cider donuts\, traditional hard cider\, apple wine and one of the most unusual pieces of working history in Connecticut. \nThe family-owned Old Mystic landmark opened for the season September 1 and is currently scheduled to operate seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 129 North Stonington Road. \nBut calling Clyde’s a cider shop doesn’t quite explain why generations of families make a trip here every fall. \nThe mill has been family-owned since 1881. Fourth\, fifth and sixth generations of the family still work in the business. Apples are still crushed and pressed using historic machinery powered by steam. Visitors can watch the machinery operate\, descend into the cellar for traditional hard cider tastings\, sample apple wines in a converted grist mill and leave with a bag of cider donuts. \nClyde’s calls itself the oldest steam-powered cider mill in the United States. \nMore precisely\, it is the last operating steam-powered cider mill in the country\, according to the mill\, and its historic cider-making machinery has been recognized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. \nIt isn’t a reproduction of an old cider mill. \nIt’s the real thing. \nA Mystic Fall Tradition Since 1881\nThe story begins with Benjamin F. Clyde. \nIn 1881\, Clyde began producing cider from apples he had pressed at other local mills. He eventually rented a press before purchasing his own mill in 1897. \nThe equipment that followed would become the heart of the operation visitors still come to see. \nClyde purchased a screw press manufactured by Boomer & Boschert of Syracuse\, New York. The company also supplied the apple grater\, elevator and cider pump\, along with plans for the mill building. \nThe machinery was installed in 1898. \nAt the time\, cider mills were hardly unusual in rural America. \nThey served much the same role for apple growers that grist mills did for farmers growing grain. Orchards could bring surplus apples to a centrally located mill\, where the fruit could be processed and pressed into juice. Some of that juice could then be fermented into hard cider. \nMost of those community mills disappeared. \nClyde’s didn’t. \nThe Steam-Powered Mill Is Still Working\nThat’s what makes a visit different from touring a preserved historic building. \nThe machinery still has a job. \nApples enter the cider-making system and are elevated to a grinder\, where they’re reduced to pulp. That pulp is prepared for pressing\, and the historic screw press applies the tremendous pressure needed to extract the juice. \nThe technology was impressive for its era. \nAccording to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers\, the all-steel screw press could apply pressure at three speeds and represented one of the last generations of screw presses before hydraulic presses became widespread during the 20th century. \nASME designated B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 1994\, recognizing the machinery as a rare survivor of an industry that was once common throughout America’s apple-growing regions. \nMore than a century after the equipment was installed\, Clyde’s still uses the mill to make cider. \nWhen Can You Watch Clyde’s Press Cider?\nVisitors don’t have to settle for looking at the machinery. \nClyde’s runs it during the season. \nThe mill’s typical pressing schedule is: \nTuesday and Thursday: 10 a.m.–noon\nSaturday and Sunday: 10 a.m.–noon \nThe schedule can vary because Clyde’s presses according to production needs\, so the machinery isn’t guaranteed to be running continuously throughout those periods. \nEven when the press isn’t operating\, visitors are welcome to look inside the historic press building. \nFor anyone specifically interested in seeing the steam-powered machinery at work\, a pressing morning is the best time to plan a visit. \nHow Clyde’s Makes Sweet Cider\nFresh sweet cider is the product that started everything. \nClyde’s purchases its apples from small orchards rather than operating a pick-your-own orchard of its own. The apples are processed at the mill and pressed into cider using the historic equipment. \nThe finished sweet cider is flash pasteurized on the property. \nVisitors can buy cider to take home or drink it while visiting\, and seasonal cider drinks have become part of the experience alongside the mill’s baked goods. \nThat combination has helped turn what was originally a working agricultural business into a fall destination. \nYou can come to learn how a 19th-century cider press works. \nYou can also come because you want cider and a donut. \nNeither is the wrong reason. \nAbout Those Clyde’s Cider Donuts\nFor plenty of visitors\, the steam engine has competition. \nClyde’s cider donuts have become almost as closely associated with the mill as the cider itself. \nThe store sells its well-known cider donuts along with other baked goods and seasonal treats. The selection can vary\, but the broader shop also carries jarred products\, honey from local beekeepers\, candied apples made by the family and other locally produced goods. \nIt’s part bakery\, part country store and part historic attraction. \nAnd on a busy fall weekend\, the line is evidence that plenty of people know exactly what they came for. \nThen There Is the Cider Downstairs\nThe word “cider” gets considerably more complicated at Clyde’s. \nSweet cider is only part of the story. \nClyde’s also makes traditional hard cider using a process very different from the sweeter\, carbonated canned ciders that have become common in supermarkets and bars. \nThe hard cider begins with apple juice and ferments before aging in oak whiskey barrels. \nThe process from juice to finished hard cider typically takes about a year. \nAfter fermentation and aging\, the hard cider receives relatively little filtration before being sold. That preserves more of the raw\, oaky character produced by the barrel. \nThe result is considerably stronger than many commercial hard ciders. \nClyde’s hard ciders and apple wines generally contain 12 to 14 percent alcohol. \nHard Cider vs. Apple Wine: What’s the Difference?\nThis is one of the more interesting parts of Clyde’s operation because the two products begin in essentially the same place. \nBoth the hard cider and apple wine start as fermented apple juice aged in oak whiskey barrels. \nWhat happens afterward separates them. \nClyde’s hard cider is only lightly filtered to remove sediment. That leaves it with a bolder flavor\, more pronounced oak character and more bite. \nThe apple wine receives considerably more filtration. \nThat additional processing produces a smoother\, somewhat sweeter product that is also shelf stable before opening. \nSo someone expecting Clyde’s hard cider to taste like a modern canned hard cider may be surprised. \nThis is closer to an older cider-making tradition. \nWhat’s in the Hard Cider Cellar?\nThe hard cider cellar sits underneath the press building. \nThat’s where visitors can taste Clyde’s traditional hard ciders and where the product has been made for generations. \nAvailability changes throughout the season\, but Clyde’s 2026 lineup includes several recurring varieties. \nThe Original is the starting point. It’s dry\, without added fruit flavors competing with the oak character of the barrel. \nLucky Lion is also dry and crisp\, with a character Clyde’s says some drinkers compare to Scotch. \nBlackout goes even further in that direction. It’s Clyde’s most popular hard cider and wine flavor\, with strong oak notes that the mill describes as almost reminiscent of whiskey. \nThen things get fruitier. \nBoomerang combines apple and cranberry for a tart\, sweeter cider. \nGoodfella adds blackberry and lands on the sweeter end of the lineup. \nYellow Jacket combines apple and orange\, producing some sweetness with a citrus bite. \nCherry Bomb adds another fruit-driven option. \nBecause Clyde’s rotates its hard ciders\, individual varieties can change during the season. \nThe Apple Wine List Goes Much Further\nThe wine side of the operation offers even more variety. \nClyde’s currently lists 14 apple wines\, ranging from dry expressions of apple to much sweeter fruit combinations. \nApple Wine is the driest of the wine lineup. \nSpiced Apple uses mulling spices for a distinctly fall-oriented version. \nSpider Cider combines sweetness with pumpkin spices and can be warmed or used in a hot toddy. \nStrawberry Bliss is the sweetest wine in the lineup\, combining apple and strawberry. \nBlueberry Spinner combines apple and blueberry. \nApple Raspberry leans sweet but tart. \nCider House Blend combines apple\, orange and cranberry. \nSeveral of the hard cider varieties\, including Original\, Lucky Lion\, Blackout\, Boomerang\, Goodfella and Yellow Jacket\, are also produced as wines. \nThe distinction comes back to filtration. \nSame roots. \nDifferent finish. \nYes\, You Can Taste Them for Free\nClyde’s offers separate hard cider and wine tastings throughout its season. \nAnd the tastings are free. \nNo purchase is required and no reservation is necessary. \nVisitors can sample up to four hard ciders and up to four wines at their respective tasting locations. \nHard cider tastings take place in the cellar beneath the press building. \nWine tastings are held in the tasting room\, which has its own connection to the property’s history: the building is a converted grist mill once used to produce johnnycake meal. \nTastings are first-come\, first-served. \nCurrent tasting hours are: \nMonday–Saturday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.\nSunday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. \nEveryone participating in a tasting must show a valid ID\, regardless of age or appearance. Clyde’s does not accept expired IDs or photographs of identification. \nConnecticut alcohol rules also mean Clyde’s cannot sell its hard cider or wine before 10 a.m. on Sundays. \nA Few Clyde’s Flavors to Know Before You Taste\nIf you don’t know where to start\, the tasting bottles are generally arranged from driest to sweetest\, and the staff can help narrow the choices. \nFor something dry: Original or Apple Wine. \nFor strong oak character: Blackout. \nFor dry and crisp: Lucky Lion. \nFor tart cranberry: Boomerang. \nFor something sweeter: Goodfella. \nFor fall spice: Spiced Apple or Spider Cider. \nFor very sweet fruit: Strawberry Bliss or Blueberry Spinner. \nOne warning for anyone accustomed to mass-market hard cider: remember the alcohol content. \nAt 12 to 14 percent ABV\, Clyde’s hard cider is much closer to wine strength than a typical bottle or can of commercial cider. \nCan You Bring Back a Clyde’s Growler?\nYes. \nClyde’s sells 64-ounce growlers of hard cider and offers growler refills. \nThere are a couple of important rules. \nClyde’s refills growlers rather than exchanging them\, so customers should clean their growler before bringing it back. The mill can only refill glass growlers that have a stamped or imprinted 64-ounce measurement. \nWine cannot be used for growler fills. \nThe refill program is for hard cider. \nHard cider should also be kept cool after purchase. Clyde’s recommends refrigeration. \nThere’s More Than Cider\nThe tasting room also contains Clyde’s gift shop\, with merchandise and locally made products that can include handmade earrings\, postcards and art prints. \nElsewhere at the mill\, visitors can browse honey produced by local beekeepers\, jarred foods\, family-made candied apples\, baked goods and other seasonal products. \nThat makes it possible to spend considerably more time at Clyde’s than simply buying a gallon of cider and heading home. \nWatch the press. \nGet cider and donuts. \nExplore the store. \nGo downstairs for a hard cider tasting. \nVisit the wine tasting room. \nBrowse the gift shop. \nIt’s effectively several different experiences spread across the historic property. \nIs B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill Good for Kids?\nYes. \nClyde’s welcomes children of all ages. \nThe working mill is also an opportunity to show kids a piece of machinery doing the job it was actually designed to do more than a century ago. \nThere is no alcohol involved in the regular sweet cider\, and the bakery\, cider and mill demonstration make Clyde’s an easy family fall stop. \nJust don’t confuse the two kinds of cider. \nThe traditional hard cider and apple wines are 12 to 14 percent alcohol and are strictly for adults 21 and older. \nCan You Pick Apples at Clyde’s?\nNo. \nThis is one of the most useful things to know before making the trip. \nB.F. Clyde’s is a cider mill\, not a pick-your-own orchard. \nThe mill purchases apples from small orchards and uses them to produce its cider. \nIf apple picking is part of your fall plans\, you’ll need to visit an orchard separately. \nCan You Bring a Dog?\nYes\, with restrictions. \nLeashed pets are permitted on the grounds. \nThey aren’t allowed inside the buildings or on the porch\, and visitors need to bring whatever they need to clean up after their pets. \nParking Can Be the Hardest Part of a Fall Visit\nClyde’s popularity comes with one predictable problem. \nIt gets busy. \nThe main parking lot can fill during peak periods\, particularly on fall weekends. \nClyde’s asks visitors to try the main lot first and to respect posted no-parking areas and neighboring properties if parking along nearby roads. \nAn auxiliary lot is available at 49 North Stonington Road. It’s approximately four-tenths of a mile from the mill\, so visitors using it should expect a walk. \nIf your schedule is flexible\, a weekday visit can make the entire experience easier. \nIf you’re coming specifically to see the press operate\, Tuesday or Thursday morning offers the combination of a weekday visit and a scheduled pressing window. \nClyde’s Isn’t a Museum\, and That’s the Point\nThere are plenty of places where historic machinery survives behind ropes. \nClyde’s is different. \nBenjamin Clyde started making cider in 1881. \nHe acquired his own mill in the 1890s. \nThe equipment installed in 1898 survived the arrival of hydraulic presses\, mass food production\, supermarkets\, interstate highways and more than a century of changes in how Americans buy their food. \nThe family survived with it. \nToday\, fourth\, fifth and sixth generations are involved in the operation. \nEvery September\, the doors open again. \nApples arrive. \nThe steam-powered machinery starts moving. \nFresh cider begins flowing. \nAnd people line up for cider donuts. \nThat’s why B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill is more than another place to add to a Connecticut fall checklist. It’s a piece of New England’s agricultural and industrial history that never stopped doing its job. \n2026 Visitor Guide\nAttraction: B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill\n2026 Season Opening: September 1\, 2026\nCurrent Hours: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.\, seven days a week\nLocation: 129 North Stonington Road\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nAdmission: Free\nChildren: Welcome\nPets: Leashed pets allowed on the grounds; not inside buildings or on the porch\nApple Picking: No\nSweet Cider: Available\nCider Donuts and Baked Goods: Available\nHard Cider: Available for adults 21+\nApple Wine: Available for adults 21+\nAlcohol Content: Hard cider and wine are generally 12–14% ABV\nTastings: Free; no reservation required\nHard Cider Tastings: Cellar beneath the press building\nWine Tastings: Tasting room\nTasting Hours: Monday–Saturday\, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday\, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.\nTypical Pressing Schedule: Tuesday\, Thursday\, Saturday and Sunday\, 10 a.m.–noon\nParking: Main lot plus auxiliary parking at 49 North Stonington Road\nThanksgiving: Closed\nShipping: Not available\nPreorders/Call-Ahead Orders: Not available \nHard Cider Menu\nAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers History \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \n  \n  \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/b-f-clydes-cider-mill-2026-complete-guide/2026-10-06/
LOCATION:B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill\, 129 North Stonington Road\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BF-Clydes-Cider-Mill-2026-Complete-Guide.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T220000
DTSTAMP:20260603T224938Z
CREATED:20260602T005710Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260603T224938Z
UID:10004385-1791219600-1791237600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Martini Monday at Milestone
DESCRIPTION:Raise your glass. Monday is once again here\, but thanks to Martini Monday at Milestone restaurant in downtown Mystic\, there’s something to celebrate. Every Monday evening from 5 p.m. to closing\, Milestone is offering house-made martinis for $10. Come in and explore our ever-changing selection of specialty martinis in a casual neighborhood setting. \nCurrently\, we are featuring Espresso Martinis\, Lemon Drop Martinis\, Dirty Martinis\, Cosmopolitans\, and other classic and seasonal favorites. Whether it’s your after-work gathering with friends\, a casual date night\, or you just want a night off from cooking at home\, stop by Milestone on Monday and skip the wait until the weekend to enjoy an artisanal cocktail. And don’t forget about industry night! As part of Milestone’s weekly industry night promotion\, restaurant and hospitality professionals receive a discount on their entire bill. Come enjoy discounted drinks\, delicious food and friendly company on Monday nights at Milestone. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/martini-monday-at-milestone/2026-10-05/
LOCATION:Milestone\, 12 Water Street\, Mystic\, CT\, 06355\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Martini-Mondays-at-Milestone-5pm-to-10-pm.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T210000
DTSTAMP:20260705T023526Z
CREATED:20260609T022239Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260705T023526Z
UID:10005379-1791216000-1791234000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Dock 9 Family Mondays
DESCRIPTION:Dock 9 Family Mondays offers an affordable way for families to enjoy a night out together in Stonington with food specials\, games\, and drink discounts throughout the evening. Held every Monday from 4 p.m. until close\, the weekly promotion is designed to give parents and kids a reason to gather around the table and spend time together after the start of a busy week. \nThe centerpiece of the promotion is a kids-eat-free offer\, allowing one free kids meal with each adult entrée purchased\, with a maximum of three complimentary meals per family. Children can choose from a menu that includes favorites such as cheeseburgers\, grilled cheese\, pasta\, chicken tenders\, quesadillas\, and mozzarella sticks. Open darts are available all night\, adding a fun activity for guests of all ages. \nFamily Mondays is ideal for parents looking for a casual weeknight dinner option that won’t break the budget. Adults can also take advantage of happy hour specials featuring discounted house wine and draft beers while kids enjoy a meal and some friendly competition around the dartboards. \nAdditional Details\n\nLocation: Dock 9\nAddress: u Stonington\, CT\nSchedule: Every Monday\nTime: 4 p.m. to close\n\nKids Eat Free \n\nOne free kids meal with each adult entrée purchased\nMaximum of three free kids meals per family\n\nKids Menu \n\nCheeseburger\nGrilled Cheese\nPasta\nChicken Tenders\nQuesadilla\nMozzarella Sticks\n\nActivities \n\nOpen darts all night\n\nHappy Hour Specials \n\n$5 House Wine\n$2 Off All Drafts\nFamily-friendly weekly dining promotion\nFood and drink specials subject to change by the venue
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/dock-9-family-mondays/2026-10-05/
LOCATION:Dock 9\, 22 Bayview Avenue\, Suite 49\, Stonington\, CT\, 06378\, United States
CATEGORIES:Dock 9
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Dock-9-Family-Mondays-from-4pm-to-close-in-the-Velvet-Mill-Stonington.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T210000
DTSTAMP:20260913T020703Z
CREATED:20260913T020703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260913T020703Z
UID:10007570-1791199800-1791234000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Oktoberfest at Jealous Monk Brings Five Weeks of Bavarian Food\, Seasonal Beer and Live Music to Mystic
DESCRIPTION:Oktoberfest at Jealous Monk isn’t a one-day festival. Mystic’s European-style beer hall is turning much of fall into Oktoberfest\, beginning Saturday\, September 19 and continuing through Saturday\, October 24\, with a special German-inspired menu\, seasonal beers\, live entertainment\, and Oktoberfest competitions and activities. \nThe extended celebration is something Jealous Monk has been doing for years\, and the restaurant takes the inspiration more seriously than the lederhosen-and-pretzel graphics might suggest. \nJealous Monk says members of its team have made annual research trips to Munich during Oktoberfest\, bringing ideas from the world’s most famous beer festival back to Mystic. \nThey even use the German word that helps explain what they’re trying to recreate: Gemütlichkeit. \nThere isn’t a perfect English translation. It’s a combination of warmth\, friendliness\, comfort\, good cheer\, and the feeling of enjoying yourself in good company. \nIn other words\, it’s pretty much the reason beer halls have big tables. \nMore Than a Single Oktoberfest Party\nJealous Monk’s 2026 celebration begins September 19\, but don’t read that as the date of the entire event. \nThe restaurant’s announcement calls this an “extended” Oktoberfest season running September 19 through October 24. \nThroughout that period\, Jealous Monk plans a special seasonal food menu and Oktoberfest beers along with a changing schedule of musicians and other entertainment. \nContests are part of the celebration as well\, including the most recognizable American Oktoberfest test of endurance: stein hoisting. \nThe restaurant is still completing its detailed 2026 entertainment schedule and Oktoberfest menu\, so individual performers\, contest dates and this year’s complete food and beer lineup have not all been announced yet. \nThat’s worth knowing before making plans around a particular weekend. \nBut the larger celebration is already confirmed. \nJealous Monk Was Practically Built for This\nThere are plenty of restaurants that can put bratwurst on the menu for three weeks and call it Oktoberfest. \nJealous Monk has a bit of a head start. \nThe locally owned restaurant describes itself as Mystic’s only beer garden\, and its home in Olde Mistick Village was designed as a contemporary interpretation of a European beer hall. \nInside\, there’s a barrel-vaulted ceiling\, old-world artwork and long communal tables rather than a dining room filled exclusively with little two- and four-person islands. \nOutside is an expansive beer garden with picnic tables\, games and gathering spaces. \nThen there are the taps. \nJealous Monk maintains 32 rotating draft lines\, allowing the restaurant to shift a significant portion of its beer selection as seasonal Märzens\, Festbiers and other fall releases arrive. \nIts regular menu already leans European in places\, too. Belgian frites\, a Bavarian-style pretzel\, bratwurst and schnitzel live comfortably alongside burgers\, wings\, chowder and other American pub food. \nOktoberfest isn’t much of a costume change here. \nThe Food Gets More German for the Season\nThe complete 2026 Oktoberfest menu has not yet been published\, but previous Jealous Monk Oktoberfest menus give a much better indication of what “special menu” means here. \nLast year’s seasonal offerings included Schweinshaxe\, the German pork knuckle strongly associated with Bavarian cooking. \nJealous Monk prepared its version braised and served it with spätzle\, rotkohl and beer au jus. \nSpätzle are small\, soft egg noodles or dumplings common throughout southern Germany and neighboring parts of Central Europe. \nRotkohl is braised red cabbage\, usually cooked until tender with a balance of sweet and acidic flavors. \nAnother recent Oktoberfest dish was Brathendl\, Bavarian-style roast chicken\, served at Jealous Monk with rotkohl and mashed potatoes. \nThose dishes went considerably further into Bavarian cooking than simply putting mustard on a sausage. \nUntil the restaurant releases this year’s finished menu\, however\, those should be treated as examples from previous celebrations rather than promises for 2026. \nSome Oktoberfest Food Is Available Even Before Oktoberfest\nA few things don’t have to wait until September 19. \nJealous Monk’s regular menu currently includes its Big A Pretzel\, a large Bavarian-style pretzel served with spicy and sweet mustards\, with bier cheese available to add. \nThere’s also a Bavarian Bratwurst\, available traditionally with sauerkraut and spicy mustard or prepared panini-style with Swiss cheese. \nThe regular Chicken Schnitzel is a less traditional Jealous Monk interpretation: crispy breaded chicken with Swiss cheese\, grilled onions and peppers and chipotle aioli\, served with house-cut Belgian frites. \nThose staples give the regular menu a European foundation before the temporary Oktoberfest dishes arrive. \nThen Come the Oktoberfest Beers\nBeer is where an extended celebration makes particularly good sense. \nOktoberfest beer doesn’t describe just one modern style. \nFor much of the 20th century\, Americans came to associate Oktoberfest with Märzen\, an amber German lager with a malty character and clean finish. \nThe beer traditionally had a practical connection to the brewing calendar. Before refrigeration\, brewing during warm summer weather was difficult and potentially dangerous for the beer. Märzen\, meaning “March beer\,” could be brewed in March\, stored through the summer and consumed in autumn. \nModern Munich Oktoberfest has shifted toward Festbier\, generally paler\, lighter in body and extremely drinkable despite retaining enough malt character to stand up to festival food. \nOnly beer from Munich’s six traditional breweries can officially be served at the Oktoberfest in Munich: Augustiner\, Hacker-Pschorr\, Hofbräu\, Löwenbräu\, Paulaner and Spaten. \nJealous Monk’s 32 rotating taps give the Mystic restaurant considerable room to explore both imported German beer and American interpretations of Oktoberfest styles. \nThe exact 2026 seasonal tap list is still developing\, so anyone hunting for a particular brewery should check the current list closer to their visit. \nThe Real Oktoberfest Isn’t Actually in October\nJealous Monk’s September 19 start also lines up almost perfectly with Munich. \nThe 2026 Oktoberfest in Munich runs September 19 through October 4. \nThat often surprises people who understandably assume a festival named Oktoberfest should happen primarily in October. \nIt used to. \nThe original Oktoberfest was held in October 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. \nThe public celebration included horse racing and proved popular enough to return. \nOver time\, the festival grew and its schedule moved earlier to take advantage of September’s generally better weather and longer daylight. \nThe October name stayed. \nJealous Monk begins its Mystic celebration on the same Saturday that Munich opens its 2026 festival\, then keeps going for another three weeks after Munich has packed up the tents. \nA Royal Wedding Started All of This\nThat first celebration took place on fields outside Munich’s city gates. \nThe site became known as Theresienwiese\, or Therese’s Meadow\, in honor of the bride. Munich residents still commonly shorten the name of Oktoberfest itself to the Wiesn. \nWhat began as a royal wedding celebration evolved into an enormous annual festival of beer\, Bavarian food\, music\, rides\, costumes and communal drinking. \nToday’s Oktoberfest bears little resemblance in scale to the 1810 event. \nMillions of people attend during a typical year. \nThe enormous beer tents can accommodate thousands of guests apiece. \nTraditional Bavarian clothing\, particularly lederhosen and dirndls\, has become inseparable from the modern image of the festival. \nAnd the beer arrives by the liter. \nAbout That Stein-Hoisting Contest\nJealous Monk says contests will be part of the 2026 festivities\, with stein hoisting among the activities being promoted. \nThe rules vary by competition\, but the basic concept is wonderfully uncomplicated. \nTake a full beer stein. \nHold it straight out in front of you with one arm. \nDo not bend the elbow. \nDo not lower the arm. \nDo not spill it. \nWait for everyone else to regret entering. \nA full one-liter glass stein weighs roughly five pounds\, so what seems fairly easy for the first few seconds becomes progressively less pleasant. \nIt’s become a staple of American Oktoberfest celebrations\, combining German beer-hall imagery with the very American instinct to turn practically anything into a contest. \nLive Music Will Rotate Through the Celebration\nThe other major piece still being assembled is the entertainment calendar. \nJealous Monk says live musicians will perform throughout the extended Oktoberfest season\, rather than concentrating entertainment into a single opening-day party. \nThat follows the format the restaurant has used in previous years. Its 2024 Oktoberfest\, for example\, featured live music on several dates spread between late September and late October. \nThe restaurant’s September 12 announcement says it is currently putting the finishing touches on its 2026 list of musicians and will add specifics to its events calendar as they are finalized. \nSo this is an event worth checking more than once. \nSeptember 19 is the beginning\, not the whole story. \nWhy Jealous Monk Works as a Beer Hall\nOktoberfest also makes some of Jealous Monk’s design choices easier to understand. \nTraditional beer halls aren’t designed around privacy. \nThey’re designed around gathering. \nLong tables put strangers next to one another. Food is hearty. Beer comes in substantial quantities. Music and conversation create enough noise that nobody expects a hushed dining room. \nJealous Monk borrowed that social model for its Mystic restaurant. \nThe indoor hall includes large communal tables\, while the outdoor beer garden uses picnic-style seating. Board games\, pinball and old-school video games add to the idea that customers are supposed to stay for a while rather than simply eat and leave. \nThe restaurant’s full name says it plainly: \nJealous Monk Social Hall & Beer Garden. \nFor five weeks beginning September 19\, the “beer garden” part gets to take center stage. \nYou Don’t Have to Drink Beer\nDespite the name and the Oktoberfest theme\, Jealous Monk isn’t exclusively for beer drinkers. \nThe restaurant also maintains wine\, liquor and cocktail selections\, and its food menu includes burgers\, sandwiches\, salads\, seafood and vegetarian options alongside the more obvious beer-hall fare. \nIt’s also a restaurant rather than a ticketed beer festival. \nThe currently announced Oktoberfest season does not carry a general admission charge. Customers visit Jealous Monk normally and order food and drinks\, while special entertainment and activities occur throughout the run. \nThat makes this fundamentally different from the one-afternoon Oktoberfests where admission buys a tasting glass and a fixed number of pours. \nYou can go once. \nOr you can go back as the taps\, menu specials and entertainment change. \nFive Weeks Gives You Time to Do It Properly\nThat’s really the advantage of Jealous Monk’s approach. \nOktoberfest doesn’t have to be crammed into one Saturday afternoon. \nThe first visit might be for the seasonal menu. \nAnother could coincide with live music. \nA third might involve a Märzen you haven’t tried. \nAnd eventually someone is going to convince you that holding a five-pound glass at arm’s length sounds like fun. \nThe 2026 celebration opens September 19. \nBy the time it ends October 24\, Mystic will be deep into foliage\, Olde Mistick Village will have shifted from late-summer visitors toward its fall crowds\, and Jealous Monk will have spent more than a month doing what a beer garden was designed to do. \nGather people around a table. \nPour the beer. \nBring out the food. \nProst. \nDetails\nEvent: Oktoberfest at Jealous Monk\nDates: Saturday\, September 19 through Saturday\, October 24\, 2026\nVenue: Jealous Monk Social Hall & Beer Garden\nLocation: Olde Mistick Village\, Building 20\nAddress: 27 Coogan Boulevard\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nAdmission: No general admission charge announced; food and beverages purchased separately\nFood: Special Oktoberfest menu planned for the season; complete 2026 menu is still being finalized\nBeer: Seasonal Oktoberfest beers plus Jealous Monk’s rotating draft selection\nDrafts: 32 rotating taps\nEntertainment: Live musicians throughout the Oktoberfest run; individual performers and dates are still being announced\nActivities: Oktoberfest contests and activities\, including stein-hoisting festivities\nIndoor/Outdoor: Indoor social hall and outdoor beer garden\, weather permitting\nRegular Hours: Monday–Thursday\, 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday\, 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday\, 10:30 a.m.–9 p.m.\nPhone: 860-536-6665 \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/oktoberfest-at-jealous-monk-brings-five-weeks-of-bavarian-food-seasonal-beer-and-live-music-to-mystic/2026-10-05/
LOCATION:Jealous Monk\, 27 Coogan Blvd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Jealous Monk
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T170000
DTSTAMP:20260701T201347Z
CREATED:20260701T201347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260701T201347Z
UID:10006496-1791198000-1791219600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways at Mystic Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION:Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways at Mystic Museum of Art explores the history of textiles in southeastern Connecticut\, tracing how fabrics\, fashion\, and craftsmanship have shaped the region from the precolonial era through the present day. On view from June 26 through October 11\, 2026\, the exhibition brings together historic artifacts and contemporary works to examine how textiles reflect labor\, immigration\, cultural identity\, and changing ideas of luxury. \nInspired by southeastern Connecticut’s once-thriving velvet industry\, the exhibition features a collaboration between Mystic Museum of Art\, Historic Stonington\, Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center\, Mystic Seaport Museum\, and the Connecticut Region of the Studio Art Quilt Associates. Visitors will encounter an extensive collection of beadwork\, embroidery\, quilts\, velvet\, fashion\, and textile art drawn from partner institutions and the museum’s own collection. \nThe exhibition also highlights contemporary fashion designers with Connecticut connections\, including Xarea Lockhart\, Toriana Sauro\, Christian Siriano\, and Peter Som. Their work connects the region’s textile heritage with modern fashion\, demonstrating how clothing and material culture continue to influence art\, identity\, and design. Throughout the exhibition\, the museum will present lectures\, artist conversations\, and hands-on workshops that further explore these themes. \nExhibition Details\n\nExhibition: Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways\nVenue: Mystic Museum of Art\nDates: June 26-October 11\, 2026\nLocation: Mystic\, CT\n\nExhibition Highlights\nVisitors will experience: \n\ns\nWorks from Mystic Museum of Art’s permanent collection\nLoans from regional museums and organizations\n\nFeatured Partners\nThe exhibition includes contributions from: \n\nHistoric Stonington\nMashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center\nMystic Seaport Museum\nStudio Art Quilt Associates\, Connecticut Region\n\nFeatured Designers\nThe exhibition showcases work by designers with Connecticut ties\, including: \n\nXarea Lockhart\nToriana Sauro\nChristian Siriano\nPeter Som\n\nAdmission\n\nGeneral Admission: $12\nNew London County residents: $10\nSeniors (65+): $10\nStudents with valid ID: $10\nFree:\n\nMystic Museum of Art members\nYouth ages 17 and under\nMilitary personnel and veterans\n\n\n\nExhibition Programs\nPublic programs are held on select Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. \nTuesday\, July 7\nMystic Mudlarking: The River and the Rossie Velvet Mill \n\nGuest speaker: Mary Hendrickson\n\nTuesday\, July 21\nImmigration and Industry \n\nGuest speaker: Chelsea Mitchell\, Library Director & Collections Manager\, Historic Stonington\n\nTuesday\, September 1\nConversation with Alana Ryder and Emerging Designers \nFeaturing: \n\nAlana Ryder\nXarea Lockhart\nToriana Sauro\n\nWorkshops\nAll workshops take place in KTJ Studios. \nSaturday\, September 19\nFrom Textile to Art: Felt Collage Workshop \nSaturday\, September 26\nIntroduction to Sewing Workshop \n\nFeatured designer: Toriana Sauro\n\nSaturday\, October 10\nRelief Printing on Silk Scarf Workshop \nWhy Visit\nLuxe CT examines how textiles have connected communities across centuries while reflecting the region’s history of manufacturing\, immigration\, craftsmanship\, and artistic innovation. By pairing historical artifacts with contemporary fashion and fiber art\, the exhibition offers visitors a deeper understanding of southeastern Connecticut’s cultural heritage and its continuing influence on today’s artists and designers. \n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/luxe-ct-velvet-mills-to-modern-runways-at-mystic-museum-of-art/2026-10-05/
LOCATION:Mystic Museum of Art\, 9 Water Street\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Museum of Art
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T170000
DTSTAMP:20260705T020852Z
CREATED:20260510T162306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260705T020852Z
UID:10000502-1791198000-1791219600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO Bricks
DESCRIPTION:Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO Bricks drops visitors into centuries of maritime mystery and disaster at Mystic Seaport Museum.. The internationally touring exhibition combines massive LEGO® ship recreations with real maritime history\, creating an experience that feels part museum exhibit\, part interactive adventure. As the first American stop for the exhibition\, Mystic Seaport becomes the latest host for a showcase that has previously appeared at major maritime museums in Europe and Australia. \nThe exhibit features eleven detailed LEGO® models recreating famous shipwrecks and maritime disasters spanning thousands of years\, including the Titanic\, the Vasa\, Franklin’s Arctic expedition ships Terror and Erebus\, and the ancient Uluburun trading vessel. Created in partnership with LEGO® Certified Professional Ryan “The Brickman” McNaught\, the displays combine historical storytelling with surprisingly intricate engineering and visual detail. Some models even include cross-section cutaways revealing what happened beneath the waterline. \nInteractive experiences throughout the exhibit invite visitors to test survival scenarios\, operate a remote underwater vehicle\, experiment with ship stability\, and build LEGO® creations of their own. Alongside the models are replica artifacts\, archaeological tools\, and multimedia displays exploring how modern researchers investigate shipwrecks and what those discoveries reveal about trade\, exploration\, disaster\, and human history. The result is an exhibit that works equally well for families\, history buffs\, LEGO® fans\, and anyone who still secretly wants to touch every museum display. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/brickwrecks-sunken-ships-in-lego-bricks-3/2026-10-05/
LOCATION:Mystic Seaport\, 75 Greenmanville Ave\, Mystic\, CT\, \,06355-1946\,\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Seaport
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T180000
DTSTAMP:20261005T024211Z
CREATED:20261005T024211Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261005T024211Z
UID:10009238-1791194400-1791223200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Scarecrows Take Over Olde Mistick Village for the Month of October
DESCRIPTION:Scarecrows Take Over Olde Mistick Village for the Month of October as merchants throughout the Mystic shopping village create their own characters\, compete for visitor votes\, and turn the walk between shops into a month-long outdoor fall display. \nScarecrows in the Village runs Oct. 1–31\, giving visitors the entire month to wander the brick pathways and find the scarecrows stationed outside participating businesses. Rather than bringing in a collection of professionally made decorations\, Olde Mistick Village puts its own merchants behind the creations. \nThat makes this less a single scheduled event than a temporary transformation of the Village. \nThe Merchants Build the Scarecrows\nThe fun is seeing what individual businesses come up with. \nParticipating Olde Mistick Village merchants create their own scarecrow displays\, which can make the decorations an extension of the personality of the shops themselves. The Village’s photos from previous displays show just how loosely the word “scarecrow” can be interpreted\, with the traditional straw-stuffed figure serving more as a starting point than a rule. \nSome are elaborate. Some are funny. Some lean into Halloween. \nAnd visitors aren’t merely looking at them. \nThey’re judging them. \nFind Your Favorites and Vote\nThroughout October\, QR codes placed around Olde Mistick Village allow visitors to vote for their favorite scarecrows. \nThe 2026 competition includes three categories: \nBest in Crow is the overall crowd-pleaser. \nMost Representative rewards the scarecrow that best captures the identity or personality of its participating Village business. \nMost Seaworthy gives the contest an appropriately Mystic category\, inviting merchants to work the area’s maritime character into their displays. \nThe voting turns what could have been simple seasonal decorations into a scavenger-hunt-like walk. Seeing one or two scarecrows isn’t really the point. The fun comes from exploring the Village\, comparing them and deciding which deserves a vote. \nA Different Way to See Olde Mistick Village\nOlde Mistick Village was designed to feel less like a conventional shopping center and more like a small New England village. \nInstead of a single enclosed mall\, shops and restaurants occupy individual buildings connected by pedestrian paths\, with landscaping\, ponds and gathering areas breaking up the property. \nThat’s particularly well suited to an event like this. \nThere isn’t a tent to enter or a designated exhibition area. The scarecrows become part of the landscape\, appearing as visitors move among shops and restaurants. \nIt also means there is no particular starting time or required route. Someone can spend 20 minutes hunting for scarecrows or make them part of a longer afternoon shopping\, eating and exploring the Village. \nOne Piece of a Much Bigger October in Mystic\nScarecrows in the Village also serves as something of a monthlong backdrop for Olde Mistick Village’s other fall activities. \nThe displays remain in place through Halloween on Oct. 31\, while the Village hosts additional October programming\, including its Apple Festival Oct. 17–18 and Trick or Treat in the Village Oct. 31. \nThat means the experience will change depending on when you visit. Early in October\, the scarecrows are essentially the opening act for fall. By Halloween weekend\, they’re part of a Village fully committed to the season. \nThere is also something appealingly low-key about this one. \nThere are no tickets to buy\, no performance time to hit and no need to devote an entire afternoon to it. Families can turn voting into a game with the kids. Adults can look for their favorite while shopping. Visitors coming for another Village event can simply add the scarecrows to the day. \nAnd because the displays remain up for an entire month\, this is one fall tradition where missing a particular Saturday doesn’t mean missing the event. \nThe only deadline that matters is Halloween. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Scarecrows in the Village\nDates: Thursday\, Oct. 1–Saturday\, Oct. 31\, 2026\nLocation: Olde Mistick Village\nAddress: 27 Coogan Boulevard\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nAdmission: Free\nFormat: Monthlong outdoor scarecrow display created by participating Village merchants\nVoting: QR-code voting available throughout October\n2026 Categories: Best in Crow\, Most Representative and Most Seaworthy\nWho It’s For: All ages; particularly easy to combine with a family visit\, shopping or dining\nSchedule: Displays can be viewed during Village operating hours; individual businesses and restaurants may keep different hours\nRelated October Events: Apple Festival\, Oct. 17–18; Trick or Treat in the Village\, Oct. 31\nFinal Day: Halloween\, Oct. 31\nWeather: The scarecrows are displayed outdoors\, so dress for conditions \n\n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/scarecrows-take-over-olde-mistick-village-for-the-month-of-october/2026-10-05/
LOCATION:Olde Mistick Village\, 27 Coogan Blvd\, Mystic\, CT\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Olde Mistick Village
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T180000
DTSTAMP:20260901T212201Z
CREATED:20260901T212201Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T212201Z
UID:10007337-1791190800-1791223200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill 2026: Complete Guide
DESCRIPTION:B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill is now open for the 2026 season\, beginning another fall of fresh-pressed sweet cider\, cider donuts\, traditional hard cider\, apple wine and one of the most unusual pieces of working history in Connecticut. \nThe family-owned Old Mystic landmark opened for the season September 1 and is currently scheduled to operate seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 129 North Stonington Road. \nBut calling Clyde’s a cider shop doesn’t quite explain why generations of families make a trip here every fall. \nThe mill has been family-owned since 1881. Fourth\, fifth and sixth generations of the family still work in the business. Apples are still crushed and pressed using historic machinery powered by steam. Visitors can watch the machinery operate\, descend into the cellar for traditional hard cider tastings\, sample apple wines in a converted grist mill and leave with a bag of cider donuts. \nClyde’s calls itself the oldest steam-powered cider mill in the United States. \nMore precisely\, it is the last operating steam-powered cider mill in the country\, according to the mill\, and its historic cider-making machinery has been recognized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. \nIt isn’t a reproduction of an old cider mill. \nIt’s the real thing. \nA Mystic Fall Tradition Since 1881\nThe story begins with Benjamin F. Clyde. \nIn 1881\, Clyde began producing cider from apples he had pressed at other local mills. He eventually rented a press before purchasing his own mill in 1897. \nThe equipment that followed would become the heart of the operation visitors still come to see. \nClyde purchased a screw press manufactured by Boomer & Boschert of Syracuse\, New York. The company also supplied the apple grater\, elevator and cider pump\, along with plans for the mill building. \nThe machinery was installed in 1898. \nAt the time\, cider mills were hardly unusual in rural America. \nThey served much the same role for apple growers that grist mills did for farmers growing grain. Orchards could bring surplus apples to a centrally located mill\, where the fruit could be processed and pressed into juice. Some of that juice could then be fermented into hard cider. \nMost of those community mills disappeared. \nClyde’s didn’t. \nThe Steam-Powered Mill Is Still Working\nThat’s what makes a visit different from touring a preserved historic building. \nThe machinery still has a job. \nApples enter the cider-making system and are elevated to a grinder\, where they’re reduced to pulp. That pulp is prepared for pressing\, and the historic screw press applies the tremendous pressure needed to extract the juice. \nThe technology was impressive for its era. \nAccording to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers\, the all-steel screw press could apply pressure at three speeds and represented one of the last generations of screw presses before hydraulic presses became widespread during the 20th century. \nASME designated B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 1994\, recognizing the machinery as a rare survivor of an industry that was once common throughout America’s apple-growing regions. \nMore than a century after the equipment was installed\, Clyde’s still uses the mill to make cider. \nWhen Can You Watch Clyde’s Press Cider?\nVisitors don’t have to settle for looking at the machinery. \nClyde’s runs it during the season. \nThe mill’s typical pressing schedule is: \nTuesday and Thursday: 10 a.m.–noon\nSaturday and Sunday: 10 a.m.–noon \nThe schedule can vary because Clyde’s presses according to production needs\, so the machinery isn’t guaranteed to be running continuously throughout those periods. \nEven when the press isn’t operating\, visitors are welcome to look inside the historic press building. \nFor anyone specifically interested in seeing the steam-powered machinery at work\, a pressing morning is the best time to plan a visit. \nHow Clyde’s Makes Sweet Cider\nFresh sweet cider is the product that started everything. \nClyde’s purchases its apples from small orchards rather than operating a pick-your-own orchard of its own. The apples are processed at the mill and pressed into cider using the historic equipment. \nThe finished sweet cider is flash pasteurized on the property. \nVisitors can buy cider to take home or drink it while visiting\, and seasonal cider drinks have become part of the experience alongside the mill’s baked goods. \nThat combination has helped turn what was originally a working agricultural business into a fall destination. \nYou can come to learn how a 19th-century cider press works. \nYou can also come because you want cider and a donut. \nNeither is the wrong reason. \nAbout Those Clyde’s Cider Donuts\nFor plenty of visitors\, the steam engine has competition. \nClyde’s cider donuts have become almost as closely associated with the mill as the cider itself. \nThe store sells its well-known cider donuts along with other baked goods and seasonal treats. The selection can vary\, but the broader shop also carries jarred products\, honey from local beekeepers\, candied apples made by the family and other locally produced goods. \nIt’s part bakery\, part country store and part historic attraction. \nAnd on a busy fall weekend\, the line is evidence that plenty of people know exactly what they came for. \nThen There Is the Cider Downstairs\nThe word “cider” gets considerably more complicated at Clyde’s. \nSweet cider is only part of the story. \nClyde’s also makes traditional hard cider using a process very different from the sweeter\, carbonated canned ciders that have become common in supermarkets and bars. \nThe hard cider begins with apple juice and ferments before aging in oak whiskey barrels. \nThe process from juice to finished hard cider typically takes about a year. \nAfter fermentation and aging\, the hard cider receives relatively little filtration before being sold. That preserves more of the raw\, oaky character produced by the barrel. \nThe result is considerably stronger than many commercial hard ciders. \nClyde’s hard ciders and apple wines generally contain 12 to 14 percent alcohol. \nHard Cider vs. Apple Wine: What’s the Difference?\nThis is one of the more interesting parts of Clyde’s operation because the two products begin in essentially the same place. \nBoth the hard cider and apple wine start as fermented apple juice aged in oak whiskey barrels. \nWhat happens afterward separates them. \nClyde’s hard cider is only lightly filtered to remove sediment. That leaves it with a bolder flavor\, more pronounced oak character and more bite. \nThe apple wine receives considerably more filtration. \nThat additional processing produces a smoother\, somewhat sweeter product that is also shelf stable before opening. \nSo someone expecting Clyde’s hard cider to taste like a modern canned hard cider may be surprised. \nThis is closer to an older cider-making tradition. \nWhat’s in the Hard Cider Cellar?\nThe hard cider cellar sits underneath the press building. \nThat’s where visitors can taste Clyde’s traditional hard ciders and where the product has been made for generations. \nAvailability changes throughout the season\, but Clyde’s 2026 lineup includes several recurring varieties. \nThe Original is the starting point. It’s dry\, without added fruit flavors competing with the oak character of the barrel. \nLucky Lion is also dry and crisp\, with a character Clyde’s says some drinkers compare to Scotch. \nBlackout goes even further in that direction. It’s Clyde’s most popular hard cider and wine flavor\, with strong oak notes that the mill describes as almost reminiscent of whiskey. \nThen things get fruitier. \nBoomerang combines apple and cranberry for a tart\, sweeter cider. \nGoodfella adds blackberry and lands on the sweeter end of the lineup. \nYellow Jacket combines apple and orange\, producing some sweetness with a citrus bite. \nCherry Bomb adds another fruit-driven option. \nBecause Clyde’s rotates its hard ciders\, individual varieties can change during the season. \nThe Apple Wine List Goes Much Further\nThe wine side of the operation offers even more variety. \nClyde’s currently lists 14 apple wines\, ranging from dry expressions of apple to much sweeter fruit combinations. \nApple Wine is the driest of the wine lineup. \nSpiced Apple uses mulling spices for a distinctly fall-oriented version. \nSpider Cider combines sweetness with pumpkin spices and can be warmed or used in a hot toddy. \nStrawberry Bliss is the sweetest wine in the lineup\, combining apple and strawberry. \nBlueberry Spinner combines apple and blueberry. \nApple Raspberry leans sweet but tart. \nCider House Blend combines apple\, orange and cranberry. \nSeveral of the hard cider varieties\, including Original\, Lucky Lion\, Blackout\, Boomerang\, Goodfella and Yellow Jacket\, are also produced as wines. \nThe distinction comes back to filtration. \nSame roots. \nDifferent finish. \nYes\, You Can Taste Them for Free\nClyde’s offers separate hard cider and wine tastings throughout its season. \nAnd the tastings are free. \nNo purchase is required and no reservation is necessary. \nVisitors can sample up to four hard ciders and up to four wines at their respective tasting locations. \nHard cider tastings take place in the cellar beneath the press building. \nWine tastings are held in the tasting room\, which has its own connection to the property’s history: the building is a converted grist mill once used to produce johnnycake meal. \nTastings are first-come\, first-served. \nCurrent tasting hours are: \nMonday–Saturday: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.\nSunday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. \nEveryone participating in a tasting must show a valid ID\, regardless of age or appearance. Clyde’s does not accept expired IDs or photographs of identification. \nConnecticut alcohol rules also mean Clyde’s cannot sell its hard cider or wine before 10 a.m. on Sundays. \nA Few Clyde’s Flavors to Know Before You Taste\nIf you don’t know where to start\, the tasting bottles are generally arranged from driest to sweetest\, and the staff can help narrow the choices. \nFor something dry: Original or Apple Wine. \nFor strong oak character: Blackout. \nFor dry and crisp: Lucky Lion. \nFor tart cranberry: Boomerang. \nFor something sweeter: Goodfella. \nFor fall spice: Spiced Apple or Spider Cider. \nFor very sweet fruit: Strawberry Bliss or Blueberry Spinner. \nOne warning for anyone accustomed to mass-market hard cider: remember the alcohol content. \nAt 12 to 14 percent ABV\, Clyde’s hard cider is much closer to wine strength than a typical bottle or can of commercial cider. \nCan You Bring Back a Clyde’s Growler?\nYes. \nClyde’s sells 64-ounce growlers of hard cider and offers growler refills. \nThere are a couple of important rules. \nClyde’s refills growlers rather than exchanging them\, so customers should clean their growler before bringing it back. The mill can only refill glass growlers that have a stamped or imprinted 64-ounce measurement. \nWine cannot be used for growler fills. \nThe refill program is for hard cider. \nHard cider should also be kept cool after purchase. Clyde’s recommends refrigeration. \nThere’s More Than Cider\nThe tasting room also contains Clyde’s gift shop\, with merchandise and locally made products that can include handmade earrings\, postcards and art prints. \nElsewhere at the mill\, visitors can browse honey produced by local beekeepers\, jarred foods\, family-made candied apples\, baked goods and other seasonal products. \nThat makes it possible to spend considerably more time at Clyde’s than simply buying a gallon of cider and heading home. \nWatch the press. \nGet cider and donuts. \nExplore the store. \nGo downstairs for a hard cider tasting. \nVisit the wine tasting room. \nBrowse the gift shop. \nIt’s effectively several different experiences spread across the historic property. \nIs B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill Good for Kids?\nYes. \nClyde’s welcomes children of all ages. \nThe working mill is also an opportunity to show kids a piece of machinery doing the job it was actually designed to do more than a century ago. \nThere is no alcohol involved in the regular sweet cider\, and the bakery\, cider and mill demonstration make Clyde’s an easy family fall stop. \nJust don’t confuse the two kinds of cider. \nThe traditional hard cider and apple wines are 12 to 14 percent alcohol and are strictly for adults 21 and older. \nCan You Pick Apples at Clyde’s?\nNo. \nThis is one of the most useful things to know before making the trip. \nB.F. Clyde’s is a cider mill\, not a pick-your-own orchard. \nThe mill purchases apples from small orchards and uses them to produce its cider. \nIf apple picking is part of your fall plans\, you’ll need to visit an orchard separately. \nCan You Bring a Dog?\nYes\, with restrictions. \nLeashed pets are permitted on the grounds. \nThey aren’t allowed inside the buildings or on the porch\, and visitors need to bring whatever they need to clean up after their pets. \nParking Can Be the Hardest Part of a Fall Visit\nClyde’s popularity comes with one predictable problem. \nIt gets busy. \nThe main parking lot can fill during peak periods\, particularly on fall weekends. \nClyde’s asks visitors to try the main lot first and to respect posted no-parking areas and neighboring properties if parking along nearby roads. \nAn auxiliary lot is available at 49 North Stonington Road. It’s approximately four-tenths of a mile from the mill\, so visitors using it should expect a walk. \nIf your schedule is flexible\, a weekday visit can make the entire experience easier. \nIf you’re coming specifically to see the press operate\, Tuesday or Thursday morning offers the combination of a weekday visit and a scheduled pressing window. \nClyde’s Isn’t a Museum\, and That’s the Point\nThere are plenty of places where historic machinery survives behind ropes. \nClyde’s is different. \nBenjamin Clyde started making cider in 1881. \nHe acquired his own mill in the 1890s. \nThe equipment installed in 1898 survived the arrival of hydraulic presses\, mass food production\, supermarkets\, interstate highways and more than a century of changes in how Americans buy their food. \nThe family survived with it. \nToday\, fourth\, fifth and sixth generations are involved in the operation. \nEvery September\, the doors open again. \nApples arrive. \nThe steam-powered machinery starts moving. \nFresh cider begins flowing. \nAnd people line up for cider donuts. \nThat’s why B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill is more than another place to add to a Connecticut fall checklist. It’s a piece of New England’s agricultural and industrial history that never stopped doing its job. \n2026 Visitor Guide\nAttraction: B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill\n2026 Season Opening: September 1\, 2026\nCurrent Hours: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.\, seven days a week\nLocation: 129 North Stonington Road\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nAdmission: Free\nChildren: Welcome\nPets: Leashed pets allowed on the grounds; not inside buildings or on the porch\nApple Picking: No\nSweet Cider: Available\nCider Donuts and Baked Goods: Available\nHard Cider: Available for adults 21+\nApple Wine: Available for adults 21+\nAlcohol Content: Hard cider and wine are generally 12–14% ABV\nTastings: Free; no reservation required\nHard Cider Tastings: Cellar beneath the press building\nWine Tastings: Tasting room\nTasting Hours: Monday–Saturday\, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday\, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.\nTypical Pressing Schedule: Tuesday\, Thursday\, Saturday and Sunday\, 10 a.m.–noon\nParking: Main lot plus auxiliary parking at 49 North Stonington Road\nThanksgiving: Closed\nShipping: Not available\nPreorders/Call-Ahead Orders: Not available \nHard Cider Menu\nAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers History \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \n  \n  \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/b-f-clydes-cider-mill-2026-complete-guide/2026-10-05/
LOCATION:B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill\, 129 North Stonington Road\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T220000
DTSTAMP:20261001T024245Z
CREATED:20261001T024245Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T024245Z
UID:10009215-1791142200-1791151200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Foo Fighters Bring the Take Cover Tour Into the Mohegan Sun Arena
DESCRIPTION:Foo Fighters Bring the Take Cover Tour Into the Mohegan Sun Arena Sunday\, Oct. 4\, putting one of America’s biggest rock bands inside a 10\,000-seat room during Mohegan Sun’s 30th birthday celebration. \nThat last part makes this particular stop stand out. \nThe Take Cover Tour has been built largely around stadiums and other enormous venues. Foo Fighters played Soldier Field in Chicago\, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia\, Nissan Stadium in Nashville\, and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas during the North American run. \nThen comes Uncasville. \nInstead of another football stadium\, Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters move into the considerably more compact Mohegan Sun Arena for a 7:30 p.m. Sunday show with Gouge Away opening. \nFor fans accustomed to seeing Foo Fighters from the far end of a stadium\, 10\,000 seats qualify as relatively intimate. \nThirty Years of Foo Fighters Meets 30 Years of Mohegan Sun\nThere’s a nice bit of symmetry surrounding the concert. \nFoo Fighters’ first album arrived in 1995. \nMohegan Sun opened the following year\, in 1996. \nThree decades later\, their histories intersect during the resort’s 30th birthday celebration. \nMohegan Sun has built two weekends of major concerts around the anniversary\, beginning with Alanis Morissette on Oct. 2. Foo Fighters take the Arena Sunday night\, followed the next weekend by John Mayer\, Lainey Wilson and DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live! \nThat places Foo Fighters near the beginning of what amounts to a 10-day birthday party for the resort. \nFoo Fighters Started With One Foo Fighter\nThere wasn’t really a band at first. \nAfter Nirvana ended following Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994\, drummer Dave Grohl entered a Seattle studio and recorded a collection of songs he had written largely on his own. \nGrohl played nearly everything himself on the recordings. \nRather than initially releasing the music under his own name\, he called the project Foo Fighters\, borrowing a World War II-era term used by Allied pilots for unexplained objects they reported seeing in the sky. \nThe self-titled Foo Fighters arrived in 1995. \nA touring band followed\, and what began as Grohl’s personal studio project gradually became one of the most successful rock bands of the following three decades. \nThen Came The Colour and the Shape\nIf the first album established Foo Fighters\, 1997’s The Colour and the Shape helped define what the band would become. \nIt produced “Monkey Wrench\,” “My Hero” and “Everlong.” \nThose songs remain fundamental to the band’s identity nearly 30 years later. \n“Everlong” in particular has become something close to the emotional center of a Foo Fighters concert\, while “My Hero” grew from an alternative-rock single into an arena-sized communal singalong. \nMore records followed\, and so did more songs that became permanent parts of rock radio: “Learn to Fly\,” “All My Life\,” “Times Like These\,” “Best of You\,” “The Pretender\,” “Walk” and “These Days.” \nMohegan Sun describes a catalog that now spans 12 albums and 15 Grammy Awards. \nThe Take Cover Tour Has a New Album Behind It\nThis isn’t simply a greatest-hits tour. \nFoo Fighters released Your Favorite Toy in 2026\, giving the Take Cover Tour new material to put beside songs that have been filling arenas for decades. \nMohegan Sun highlights the title track along with “Caught in the Echo\,” “Of All People” and “Asking for a Friend” among the new record’s songs. \nThat creates one of the interesting tensions in a Foo Fighters show this far into the band’s career. \nThere are enough established songs to fill an entire concert without touching anything recent. But Foo Fighters have continued making records rather than becoming a touring legacy act built solely around the 1990s and 2000s. \nThe current show has to find room for both. \nWhat Are They Playing on This Tour?\nA setlist is never guaranteed\, and Foo Fighters can change songs from night to night. \nBut the band’s recent Sept. 24 performance in Louisville offers a useful picture of what the 2026 show currently looks like. \nThat performance included “All My Life\,” “The Pretender\,” “Times Like These\,” “My Hero\,” “Learn to Fly\,” “These Days\,” “Walk\,” “This Is a Call\,” “No Son of Mine\,” “Big Me\,” “Monkey Wrench\,” “Breakout\,” “Aurora\,” “Best of You\,” “Exhausted” and “Everlong.” \n“Aurora” was dedicated to Taylor Hawkins. \nThat remains one of the unavoidable emotional threads running through the current era of Foo Fighters. \nThe Band After Taylor Hawkins\nHawkins joined Foo Fighters in 1997 and spent roughly a quarter-century behind the drum kit. \nHis death in Colombia in March 2022 at age 50 fundamentally changed the band. \nFoo Fighters eventually decided to continue\, releasing the deeply personal But Here We Are in 2023. The album confronted grief and loss directly\, arriving after both Hawkins’ death and the death of Grohl’s mother\, Virginia. \nSongs such as “Rescued\,” “Under You” and the 10-minute “The Teacher” came from that period. \nThe decision to continue meant Foo Fighters had to figure out what the band was without one of its most recognizable members. \nHawkins hasn’t disappeared from the concerts that followed. “Aurora\,” one of his favorite Foo Fighters songs\, has frequently served as a live remembrance. \nWho Is in Foo Fighters Now?\nThe group onstage in 2026 represents several different eras of Foo Fighters. \nGrohl remains at the center on vocals and guitar\, joined by longtime members Nate Mendel on bass\, Pat Smear and Chris Shiflett on guitar\, and Rami Jaffee on keyboards. \nThat gives the current lineup connections stretching almost all the way back through the band’s history. \nSmear’s connection with Grohl goes back even further: he toured with Nirvana as a second guitarist during the band’s final period. \nThe result is a live band capable of moving from the comparatively lean attack of early Foo Fighters material into the much larger arrangements the group developed as its stages grew from clubs to arenas and stadiums. \nGouge Away Opens the Night\nThe support act isn’t an arbitrary addition. \nGouge Away\, a Florida hardcore and post-hardcore band\, is the confirmed special guest for the Mohegan Sun date. \nThe band’s name itself is a nod toward the Pixies song “Gouge Away\,” which gives the group an immediate connection to the alternative-rock lineage that preceded Foo Fighters. \nTheir music is considerably more abrasive than much of the headliner’s catalog\, drawing on hardcore punk\, noise rock and post-hardcore. \nFor anyone planning to arrive only in time for Foo Fighters\, they’re worth factoring into the evening. This isn’t a local warm-up act added to fill time; Gouge Away is officially part of the Take Cover Tour stop. \nThe Floor Has No Seats\nThere’s another detail worth knowing before buying a ticket. \nThe Mohegan Sun Arena floor is standing general admission for this concert. There will be no chairs on the floor. \nThat creates two distinctly different ways to experience the show. \nA floor ticket means standing in the general-admission crowd directly in front of the stage. \nAnyone who needs or prefers an assigned seat should choose one of the Arena’s seated sections rather than assuming a floor ticket comes with a chair. \nThe distinction is especially important for a concert likely to run for hours once the opening act and changeover are included. \nAn Arena Show in the Middle of an Auto-Show Weekend\nFoo Fighters aren’t the only major attraction bringing people to Mohegan Sun Sunday. \nThe Connecticut International Auto Show is running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. inside the Earth Expo Center that day\, with new cars\, trucks\, SUVs\, EVs\, exotics\, classics and the new Overland Connecticut exhibit. \nThen Foo Fighters begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Arena. \nThe events require separate admission\, but the schedule makes an all-day Mohegan Sun visit possible: cars during the afternoon and Foo Fighters at night. \nIt also means the property should be particularly busy. \nMohegan Sun offers free self-parking\, but anyone heading specifically to the concert should allow extra time to park\, move through the resort and complete Arena security screening. \nThree Decades Later\, They’re Still Playing Like a Rock Band\nThere are bands whose anniversaries eventually become the entire point of the show. \nFoo Fighters have resisted that transition. \nThe catalog is certainly large enough for nostalgia. “This Is a Call” dates to 1995. “Everlong” and “My Hero” are approaching 30. “Learn to Fly” comes from 1999. Even “The Pretender” is nearly two decades old. \nBut those songs now sit beside music made after deaths\, lineup changes and a period when the band’s future wasn’t certain. \nThat makes the Take Cover Tour something more interesting than a victory lap. \nIt’s a band with three decades behind it still trying to figure out what comes next. \nAnd on Oct. 4\, they’re putting all of that into a room much smaller than many of the stadiums they’ve been playing. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. To purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Foo Fighters — Take Cover Tour 2026\nDate: Sunday\, Oct. 4\, 2026\nTime: 7:30 p.m.\nVenue: Mohegan Sun Arena\nAddress: 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard\, Uncasville\, CT 06382\nSpecial Guest: Gouge Away\nTour: Take Cover Tour 2026\nVenue Capacity: Approximately 10\,000\nFloor: Standing general admission; no chairs are provided on the floor\nEvent Context: Part of Mohegan Sun’s 30th Birthday Celebration\nParking: Free self-parking is available in Mohegan Sun’s garages and Winter Lot\nReserved Parking: Riverview Reserved Parking can be purchased separately\nBag Policy: Backpacks\, string bags\, diaper bags\, shopping bags\, messenger bags\, briefcases and rolling-style bags are prohibited inside the Arena\nTicketing: Ticketmaster \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/foo-fighters-bring-the-take-cover-tour-into-the-mohegan-sun-arena/
LOCATION:Mohegan Sun Arena\, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd\, Uncasville\, 06382\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mohegan Sun
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T220000
DTSTAMP:20260927T214052Z
CREATED:20260927T210320Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260927T214052Z
UID:10008615-1791140400-1791151200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:The Ghost of Black Sam Turns a Real Pirate Shipwreck Into a Haunted Trail
DESCRIPTION:The Ghost of Black Sam Turns a Real Pirate Shipwreck Into a Haunted Trail begins Oct. 1 at Mystic KOA\, where one of New England’s most remarkable pirate stories becomes the inspiration for a monthlong nighttime Halloween attraction. \nThe outdoor trail runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays throughout October at the Mystic KOA Holiday campground in North Stonington. The premise is straightforward: visitors enter the darkness and walk a trail where\, according to the attraction’s story\, the ghost of pirate Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy still roams. \nBut unlike the invented killers and monsters behind many haunted attractions\, Black Sam was real. \nSo was his ship. \nAnd what happened to it during a violent New England storm in 1717 has become one of the great archaeological stories of the Golden Age of Piracy. \nThe Pirate Behind the Ghost\nSamuel Bellamy’s career as a pirate was remarkably short. \nBorn in England in 1689\, Bellamy emerged as a pirate captain during the early 18th century and spent roughly a year capturing ships in the Caribbean and along the Atlantic. \nHe was only 28 when he died. \nYet during that brief career\, Bellamy and his crew captured more than 50 vessels. His greatest prize came in early 1717 when his pirates seized the Whydah Gally near the Bahamas. \nThe Whydah had a darker history before Bellamy ever stepped aboard. \nBuilt in London\, the ship had been designed for the transatlantic slave trade. On its maiden voyage\, it sailed to the West African coast\, transported hundreds of enslaved people to the Caribbean and was returning toward England with the proceeds of that voyage when Bellamy captured it. \nIts size\, speed and firepower made it an ideal pirate flagship. \nBellamy took command. \nHe would have it for only about two months. \nA Nor’easter Off Cape Cod\nOn April 26\, 1717\, Bellamy and the Whydah were sailing north along the New England coast when they encountered a powerful nor’easter. \nThe ship was driven onto the shoals off what is now Wellfleet\, Massachusetts. \nThe Whydah broke apart. \nNearly everyone aboard died. \nThe wreck disappeared beneath Cape Cod’s shifting sands along with weapons\, coins\, silver and the accumulated possessions of Bellamy’s crew. \nFor generations\, the Whydah became part history and part legend. \nThen\, in 1984\, underwater explorer Barry Clifford and his team found the wreck off Wellfleet. The discovery was authenticated after divers recovered the ship’s bell bearing the name THE WHYDAH GALLY and the date 1716. \nThe Whydah became the first authenticated Golden Age pirate shipwreck ever recovered. \nArtifacts from the wreck continue to preserve a remarkably tangible connection to Bellamy and his crew more than 300 years after the storm. \nThat history gives The Ghost of Black Sam something most Halloween trails don’t have. \nIts monster once lived. \nFrom Shipwreck to Ghost Story\nThe haunting\, of course\, belongs to folklore rather than documented history. \nStories surrounding Bellamy have accumulated for centuries\, particularly around Cape Cod\, where the pirate’s death became entangled with tales of lost treasure\, restless spirits and a supposed doomed romance. \nModern retellings often connect Bellamy with a Cape Cod woman named Maria Hallett and describe him returning north to reunite with her when the Whydah was destroyed. \nIt’s a wonderfully gothic story. \nIt’s also one that historians have increasingly cautioned against treating as established fact. The romanticized Maria Hallett narrative developed long after Bellamy’s death\, and some details commonly repeated as pirate history are better understood as folklore. \nFor a haunted attraction\, however\, that collision of history and legend is precisely the point. \nThe Ghost of Black Sam takes the documented core — a young pirate captain\, a captured ship\, treasure\, a catastrophic nor’easter and a wreck beneath the waters of Cape Cod — and asks visitors to imagine that Bellamy never really left. \nHalloween Begins Oct. 1\nThe attraction opens Thursday\, Oct. 1\, effectively starting Halloween month on its first night. \nThe trail operates from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday throughout October\, culminating on Halloween night\, Saturday\, Oct. 31. \nMystic KOA Holiday sits at 118 Pendleton Hill Road in North Stonington\, providing the attraction with something difficult to manufacture inside a warehouse: actual woods and nighttime darkness. \nThe promotional material promises a spooky trail experience based on the legend of Black Sam Bellamy\, with lanterns\, pirates and the suggestion that something may still be wandering the trail. \nAdmission listed by the event is $20 for adults\, $10 for ages 11–16 and free for children under 10. The attraction is also free with a KOA campsite during a valid night of stay. \nIt’s a Halloween story with an unusually strong historical anchor. \nBlack Sam Bellamy doesn’t need an elaborate fictional origin story. \nMore than three centuries ago\, his pirate ship really did disappear into a nor’easter off New England. \nThe wreck really was found. \nAnd the treasure really was still there. \nWhat happens after dark in North Stonington is where history gives way to Halloween. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: The Ghost of Black Sam\nOpening Night: Thursday\, Oct. 1\, 2026\nRun: Thursdays through Sundays throughout October\, through Oct. 31\nTime: 7–10 p.m.\nVenue: Mystic KOA Holiday\nAddress: 118 Pendleton Hill Road\, North Stonington\, CT 06359\nAdmission: Adults $20; ages 11–16 $10; children under 10 free\nKOA Guests: Free with a KOA campsite during a valid night of stay\nExperience: Outdoor spooky trail inspired by the legend of pirate Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy\nEvent Contact: Mystic KOA Campground\, 860-599-5101 \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/the-ghost-of-black-sam-turns-a-real-pirate-shipwreck-into-a-haunted-trail/2026-10-04/
LOCATION:Mystic KOA\, 118 Pendleton Hill Rd\, North Stonington\, 06359\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic KOA
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T203000
DTSTAMP:20261005T193246Z
CREATED:20260928T011024Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261005T193246Z
UID:10007885-1791140400-1791145800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:The Ghost of Black Sam Brings a Legendary Pirate Back From the Deep
DESCRIPTION:Moonlit Mystic Graveyard Ghost Tours turns a colonial burial ground into a lantern-lit journey through nearly four centuries of Mystic history on multiple nights this fall\, combining documented stories of war\, disease\, abolition\, slavery and early New England burial customs with the legends and reported paranormal activity that have accumulated around the cemetery. \nThe 1-hour-and-45-minute walking tours take place at Whitehall Burial Ground\, tucked just off Hendel Drive in Mystic. Rather than moving through downtown and stopping outside supposedly haunted buildings\, this Seaside Shadows tour spends the evening inside the historic cemetery itself. \nAnd this is not a one-night event. \nThe tours continue on Wednesday\, Friday and Sunday evenings through November\, with additional Saturday tours during October. September and October tours begin at 7 p.m.\, making this one CT Beacon event listing that can carry readers through much of the fall rather than disappearing after a single weekend. \nWhitehall Goes Back to the 1660s\nPart of what gives this particular ghost tour its atmosphere is that Whitehall Burial Ground really is old. \nThe burial ground dates to the 1660s\, when southeastern Connecticut was still a collection of small colonial settlements surrounded by a landscape that would have been almost unrecognizable to someone driving through Mystic today. \nFor generations\, Whitehall served as one of the area’s common burial places. \nThat changed during the 19th century as Americans began embracing the rural cemetery movement\, which replaced older\, compact burial grounds with larger landscaped cemeteries designed partly as places for reflection and remembrance. \nMystic’s Elm Grove Cemetery was established in 1853 during that transition. \nBy 1854\, Whitehall’s role as one of the community’s principal burial places was coming to an end. \nThe graves left behind\, however\, preserve a remarkably long stretch of local history. \nThis Is a Ghost Tour Built Around Real People\nSeaside Shadows describes the experience as a blend of history and mystery\, and that distinction matters. \nThis isn’t a haunted attraction filled with actors waiting behind tombstones. \nThe stories begin with actual people buried at Whitehall and events that shaped southeastern Connecticut. \nGuests hear about men connected to King Philip’s War\, the brutal 17th-century conflict between English colonists and Native peoples that devastated communities throughout New England. \nThe tour moves forward into the American Revolution and stories of Patriot defenders who met violent ends. \nIt also explores the lives of abolitionists\, enslaved and formerly enslaved people\, women and families whose stories provide a different perspective on Mystic’s early history than the familiar tales of ship captains and maritime commerce. \nThen things get stranger. \nYes\, There Are Vampires\nOne of the more unusual subjects woven into the tour is New England’s very real history of vampire scares. \nThese weren’t vampires in the Dracula sense. \nDuring outbreaks of tuberculosis\, then commonly called consumption\, some New England communities came to believe that a deceased family member might somehow be draining the life from surviving relatives. \nIn several documented cases during the 18th and 19th centuries\, bodies were exhumed and examined for signs that the dead were continuing to prey upon the living. \nSometimes organs were removed or burned. \nThe practices reflected communities trying to explain a devastating disease before modern medicine understood how tuberculosis spread. \nAgainst the backdrop of a centuries-old cemetery after dark\, it also provides the kind of history that doesn’t require much embellishment to become unsettling. \nGravestones Tell Their Own Stories\nVisitors aren’t simply hearing stories while walking past anonymous stones. \nEarly New England gravestones developed their own visual language. \nSkulls\, winged death’s heads\, cherubs and other carvings could communicate ideas about death\, mortality and the afterlife. The style and symbolism changed as religious beliefs and attitudes toward death evolved. \nThe tour uses the cemetery itself to introduce some of those burial traditions and grave markings. \nThat gives the walk another layer. \nYou’re not touring a recreation of colonial New England. \nThe objects you’re examining are the surviving pieces of it. \nThen History Gives Way to the Paranormal\nThis is still a ghost tour. \nSeaside Shadows incorporates accounts of paranormal experiences associated with Whitehall\, including reports of unexplained footsteps\, voices and apparitions. \nThe company’s guides also discuss experiences reported during previous tours. \nThose stories are presented alongside local folklore\, including the traditional figure of a Lady in White\, a recurring type of apparition found in legends throughout New England and far beyond it. \nWhether visitors interpret those accounts as paranormal activity\, folklore or the power of suggestion in a dark cemetery is entirely up to them. \nThe setting certainly does its share of the work. \nThere aren’t many environments naturally better suited to a ghost story than a colonial burial ground after sunset. \nCaptain John Gallup Connects Whitehall to a Violent Period of Colonial History\nAmong the historic figures associated with the tour is Captain John Gallup\, whose family was deeply connected to the early colonial history of the region. \nGallup served during King Philip’s War and was killed in 1675 during the Great Swamp Fight in Rhode Island\, one of the conflict’s bloodiest engagements. \nHis story opens the door to a much larger and more complicated period in New England history involving colonial expansion\, Native resistance\, warfare and the destruction of communities. \nOther stops explore the Woodbridge family\, Revolutionary War history and people whose lives intersected with abolition and emancipation. \nThe tour also includes the stories of Quash and Hannah Williams\, using their lives to explore Black history\, enslavement\, freedom and Native American history in the region. \nThat’s where the experience becomes considerably more interesting than simply compiling local ghost stories. \nThe cemetery becomes a timeline. \nMystic’s Ghost Tours Started With a Local Historian\nThe company behind the tour\, Seaside Shadows Haunted History Tours\, was founded in 2013 by Connecticut author and historian Courtney McInvale Reardon. \nMcInvale wrote Haunted Mystic\, published the following year\, and built Seaside Shadows around the idea of combining historical research with local legends and paranormal accounts. \nThe company now operates several experiences\, including its Downtown Mystic Ghost Tour and haunted pub crawls\, but the graveyard tour is fundamentally different from walking through the village. \nDowntown Mystic still has traffic\, restaurants\, shops\, bars and people moving around. \nWhitehall after dark is another environment entirely. \nOctober Adds More Chances to Go\nThe schedule becomes more aggressive as Halloween approaches. \nDuring September and October\, the regular graveyard tours begin at 7 p.m. \nIn October\, Seaside Shadows adds Saturday performances at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.\, giving visitors another opportunity to experience the cemetery during the height of spooky season. \nThe price also changes. \nRegular-season admission is $30 per person. October admission increases to $35. \nBecause this is a recurring event\, readers should select their preferred date and confirm the available time when purchasing tickets rather than assuming every night follows exactly the same schedule. \nThis Is a Walking Tour in a Real Cemetery\nThat last point is important. \nWhitehall is not a paved theme-park attraction. \nParticipants will be walking through an old burial ground after dark\, where the terrain can include uneven ground and other natural obstacles. \nSeaside Shadows recommends the experience for guests 11 and older and asks visitors to dress appropriately for the weather. \nIts participation waiver specifically identifies potential hazards including uneven or slippery surfaces\, cemetery terrain\, low lighting and inclement weather. \nGood walking shoes make considerably more sense here than dressing for Halloween. \nTours operate outdoors\, and Seaside Shadows generally runs its experiences rain or shine. Tickets are final except when the company cancels a tour. \nNearly Two Hours Between the Headstones\nThe current Seaside Shadows description puts the Moonlit Mystic Graveyard Ghost Tour at approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. \nThat’s enough time to move beyond a handful of ghost stories. \nThe tour can reach into colonial warfare\, the Revolution\, disease\, abolition\, slavery\, emancipation\, local folklore\, cemetery symbolism and burial practices while still leaving room for the paranormal accounts that put “ghost” in the name. \nThere is even a final spooky surprise that Seaside Shadows deliberately doesn’t explain in advance. \nProbably best to leave that one buried. \nDetails\nEvent: Moonlit Mystic Graveyard Ghost Tours\nSeason: Through November 29\, 2026\nSeptember Schedule: Wednesdays\, Fridays and Sundays\nSeptember Start Time: 7 p.m.\nOctober Schedule: Regular Wednesday\, Friday and Sunday tours\, plus additional Saturday tours\nOctober Saturday Times: 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.\nLocation: Whitehall Burial Ground\nMeeting Point: Gates of Whitehall Burial Ground\nStreet: Hendel Drive\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nTour Length: Approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes\nAdmission: $30 during the regular season; $35 in October\nRecommended Age: 11+\nFormat: Guided outdoor walking tour through a historic colonial burial ground\nTerrain: Cemetery terrain with uneven surfaces and low-light conditions\nWeather: Dress appropriately for outdoor conditions; tours generally operate rain or shine\nWhat to Wear: Comfortable walking shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather\nTickets: Advance ticket purchase is recommended; select the specific tour date and time when booking\nOrganizer: Seaside Shadows Haunted History Tours\nPhone: 860-754-8923\nEmail: info@seasideshadows.com \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown. \n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/moonlit-mystic-graveyard-ghost-tours-takes-visitors-into-one-of-mystics-oldest-burial-grounds-after-dark-3/
LOCATION:Gates of Whitehall Burial Ground\, Hendel Drive\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Gates of Whitehall Burial Ground
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T200000
DTSTAMP:20260930T034057Z
CREATED:20260930T034057Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260930T034057Z
UID:10009208-1791136800-1791144000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Dan Moretti & Brazilia Bring Wayne Shorter Into the World of Latin Jazz at the UNITED
DESCRIPTION:Dan Moretti & Brazilia Bring Wayne Shorter Into the World of Latin Jazz at the UNITED on Oct. 4\, when the Rhode Island saxophonist leads an international quintet through a meeting of modern jazz and Latin rhythms in the UNITED Theatre’s Gallery Events Space. \nThis isn’t simply a Latin jazz band playing standards with added percussion. Moretti and Brazilia take compositions apart rhythmically and rebuild them around mambos\, cha-cha-chas\, sambas and other Latin and Brazilian grooves. \nThat approach is particularly important to the group’s latest project. \nTheir 2025 live album\, Celebrating Wayne Shorter: Live at the Pump House Music Works\, takes the music of one of the most influential composers in modern jazz and gives it a different rhythmic foundation. \nThat means compositions including “Black Nile\,” “Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum\,” “Night Dreamer\,” “Speak No Evil\,” “Witch Hunt\,” “Yes or No\,” and “Footprints” can sound familiar and entirely different at the same time. \nFive Musicians From Four Countries\nThe current Brazilia lineup is unusually international. \nDan Moretti\, from Rhode Island\, leads on tenor and soprano saxophones and flute. \nOscar Stagnaro\, originally from Peru\, handles bass. The four-time Grammy winner has spent decades at the center of Latin jazz and is closely associated with Paquito D’Rivera. He is also a longtime Berklee educator and has played with artists including Chucho Valdés\, Dave Valentin and the Caribbean Jazz Project. \nMaxim Lubarsky\, originally from Ukraine\, is on piano. His playing brings together jazz improvisation\, classical training and the rhythmic vocabulary of music from different parts of the world. \nErnesto Diaz\, from Colombia\, supplies the percussion that gives Brazilia much of its Latin pulse. \nSteve Langone\, from the United States\, completes the group on drums\, working alongside Diaz rather than simply duplicating the percussion. That drum-and-percussion combination gives the ensemble room to move between straight-ahead jazz and denser Latin rhythmic structures. \nAll five musicians have Berklee connections\, but the geographical spread matters just as much. Brazilia isn’t approaching Latin jazz from a single national tradition. The musicians bring backgrounds from the United States\, Peru\, Ukraine and Colombia into the same ensemble. \nBrazilia Goes Back More Than 30 Years\nThe name Brazilia isn’t a recent addition to Moretti’s career. \nHe recorded Dan Moretti & Brazilia: Live at Chan’s in 1995 with a formidable lineup that included saxophonist Greg Abate\, pianist Alain Mallet\, bassist Oscar Stagnaro\, drummer Ben Wittman and percussionist Pernell Saturnino. \nStagnaro’s presence in both the 1995 and current versions of Brazilia gives the group a connection spanning more than three decades. \nBy 1999\, Moretti & Brazilia were appearing at the Litchfield Jazz Festival with saxophonist Dave Liebman as special guest. Moretti’s own discography continued moving through jazz\, funk\, Latin music and other combinations rather than settling into one permanent format. \nThe current incarnation circles back to Brazilia while using Wayne Shorter’s music as its jumping-off point. \nWhy Wayne Shorter Gives Them So Much to Work With\nWayne Shorter left behind the kind of compositions musicians can keep discovering things inside. \nHis career stretched from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet to the groundbreaking fusion group Weather Report and decades of work under his own name. But his influence wasn’t limited to being an extraordinary saxophonist. \nHe was a composer whose pieces often resist the predictable resolutions of conventional jazz standards. \nThat makes his music unusually fertile territory for a group such as Brazilia. \nInstead of reproducing famous Shorter recordings\, the quintet can preserve the melodies and harmonic architecture while changing what’s happening underneath them. A composition originally associated with a particular post-bop feel can suddenly be propelled by a mambo or samba rhythm. \nMoretti’s 2025 live recording grew out of exactly that idea. \nThe resulting album reached No. 1 on the Roots Music Report charts\, climbed to No. 6 on JazzWeek and remained on national jazz charts for more than 20 weeks. \nMoretti’s Career Runs From Ray Charles to Berklee\nMoretti has enough history of his own to fill an evening. \nBorn in Providence and raised in Narragansett\, he began playing saxophone in elementary school and was performing with the Rhode Island Youth All-State Jazz Band at the Newport Jazz Festival by age 12. \nHe later became the University of Rhode Island’s first saxophone major at a time when saxophonists generally had to major in clarinet and treat saxophone as a secondary instrument. \nHis professional career eventually crossed boundaries between jazz\, R&B\, funk\, soul and pop. His performance credits include Ray Charles\, Aretha Franklin\, Ben E. King\, The Four Tops\, The Temptations\, Chaka Khan\, Dr. John\, Stevie Nicks\, Steve Winwood\, Robert Plant\, Nile Rodgers\, George Duke and others. \nMoretti has also recorded extensively as a leader\, composer and producer. His catalog reaches back to the 1980s and includes Point of Entry\, Dan Moretti & Brazilia\, That’s Right\, Latin Genesis\, Stories\, Passing Place\, Invoke and numerous other projects. \nRhode Island recognized that body of work by inducting him into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in 2017. \nParallel to all of it has been a long career in music education. \nMoretti became a professor at Berklee College of Music\, teaching contemporary writing and production and helping develop curriculum in groove writing and arranging. He is now Professor Emeritus. \nSo when Brazilia plays with rhythm\, it isn’t decorative. Moretti has spent decades studying\, performing\, composing and teaching precisely how rhythm changes the character of music. \nSunday Jazz in the Gallery\nThe UNITED is putting the quintet in its Gallery Events Space rather than one of its conventional theater rooms. \nThat’s a good match for this music. \nJazz built around improvisation works differently when the audience is close enough to watch musicians communicate. A glance from Moretti toward the rhythm section\, a piano phrase picked up by the saxophone or a rhythmic shift between Diaz and Langone becomes part of what you’re watching rather than something happening at a distance. \nAnd with musicians of this caliber\, the written composition is only the beginning. \nWayne Shorter supplied the architecture. \nBrazilia gets to decide where to take it. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. To purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Dan Moretti & Brazilia – Sunday Jazz at the U\nDate: Sunday\, Oct. 4\, 2026\nTime: 6–8 p.m.\nVenue: UNITED Theatre – Gallery Events Space\nAddress: 5 Canal Street\, Westerly\, RI 02891\nMusic: Latin jazz\, Brazilian jazz and contemporary jazz\nDan Moretti: Tenor and soprano saxophones\, flute\nOscar Stagnaro: Bass\nMaxim Lubarsky: Piano\nErnesto Diaz: Percussion\nSteve Langone: Drums\nLatest Album: Celebrating Wayne Shorter: Live at the Pump House Music Works\nAccessibility: The UNITED’s cinemas are wheelchair accessible; guests attending live performances who need accessible seating are encouraged to contact the box office before purchasing tickets.\nBox Office: 401-388-8208\nEmail: info@unitedtheatre.org \n  \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/dan-moretti-brazilia-bring-wayne-shorter-into-the-world-of-latin-jazz-at-the-united/
LOCATION:United Theatre\, 5 Canal Street\, Westerly\, RI\, 02891\, United States
CATEGORIES:United Theater
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T210000
DTSTAMP:20260929T024550Z
CREATED:20260929T024550Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260929T024550Z
UID:10009185-1791133200-1791147600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Pumpkin Passage Turns The Dinosaur Place Into a Glowing Halloween Playground
DESCRIPTION:Pumpkin Passage Turns The Dinosaur Place Into a Glowing Halloween Playground beginning Oct. 3\, when the dinosaurs stay up after dark\, and The Dinosaur Place in Montville transforms its prehistoric trails into a month-long Halloween world filled with glowing dinosaurs\, illuminated pumpkins\, mythical creatures\, live entertainers\, inflatables\, games\, and marshmallows around the fire. \nAnd despite all the ingredients that could make this terrifying — darkness\, enormous dinosaurs and Halloween — Pumpkin Passage is deliberately aimed at families with young children. \nThis is the eighth year for the annual event at Nature’s Art Village\, and rather than building a haunted attraction around jump scares and monsters\, the park uses its existing dinosaurs as the backdrop for a nighttime Halloween adventure kids can explore with their parents. \nThe result lands somewhere between a Halloween light walk\, an outdoor carnival\, and a visit to The Dinosaur Place after everybody forgot to tell the dinosaurs it was bedtime. \nWait Until the Sun Goes Down\nThe centerpiece is the illuminated trail. \nFamilies walk among glowing dinosaurs\, pumpkins and mythical creatures as Halloween lighting transforms the wooded attraction after dark. The Dinosaur Place is already home to more than 100 life-sized dinosaurs\, including animatronic creatures\, spread across its trails and attractions. Once daylight disappears\, those familiar prehistoric residents become part of the Halloween scenery. \nBut walking the trail is only part of the night. \nPumpkin Passage spreads activities throughout the grounds\, including the Jurassic Jungle bounce house\, a towering 20-foot Funhouse Super Slide\, an inflatable corn maze and other inflatables. \nThere are also lawn games and activities\, including inflatable axe throwing\, cornhole\, Connect 4 and Who’s Your Pumpkin. \nThen there are the pumpkins. \nAmong the more unusual attractions is an original performance by a family of singing animatronic pumpkins — which seems exactly like the sort of wonderfully odd Halloween creation children will either talk about for the rest of the month or insist on seeing again immediately. \nEvery Night Adds Live Entertainment\nPumpkin Passage isn’t exactly the same experience every night. \nThe Dinosaur Place is scheduling live entertainers throughout the run\, with the entertainment changing depending on the date. The lineup includes face painting and glitter tattoos\, balloon twisting\, a petting zoo\, DJs\, light performers\, stilt walkers and other specialty entertainment. \nThat means families planning around a particular performer should check the night’s entertainment schedule before choosing a date rather than assuming every attraction appears at every performance. \nThe regular attractions\, however\, give families plenty to do beyond the scheduled shows. \nOne of the simplest may also be one of the nicest on a cool October night: free marshmallow roasting around the fire pit\, including marshmallows and roasting sticks. S’mores kits\, hot apple cider and cocoa are available as extras. \nFood trucks rotate through Pumpkin Passage as well\, with different vendors scheduled during the month. The published lineup includes pizza\, barbecue\, burgers\, tacos\, Mexican street food\, ice cream\, shaved ice and other festival food. \nAnd because this is Halloween\, costumes are encouraged. \nHalloween for Kids Who Aren’t Looking to Be Terrified\nThe most important word in Pumpkin Passage may be friendly. \nThe event is specifically promoted as toddler- and kid-friendly. This isn’t the place to take a child who wants chainsaws\, blood\, actors leaping from behind trees and a terrifying haunted maze. \nIt’s almost the opposite. \nThe attraction uses the visual language of Halloween — darkness\, glowing pumpkins\, unusual creatures and dramatic lighting — without turning the night into a scare attraction. \nThat makes Pumpkin Passage an option for families whose children are excited about Halloween but aren’t ready for a traditional haunted house. \nIt also gives parents something considerably more substantial than walking around a parking lot collecting candy. Families can make an evening of it\, moving between the illuminated trail\, inflatables\, entertainment\, games\, food trucks and fire pit. \nAnd for a dinosaur-obsessed child\, there’s an obvious bonus: Halloween doesn’t replace the dinosaurs. \nIt joins them. \nThere Are 18 Chances to Go\nOpening night is Saturday\, Oct. 3\, but Pumpkin Passage continues throughout October and even spills into November. \nThe regular schedule includes Fridays\, Saturdays and Sundays beginning Oct. 3\, plus Columbus Day on Monday\, Oct. 12\, and three specially priced Thursday nights on Oct. 15\, 22 and 29. The final night is Sunday\, Nov. 1. \nPumpkin Passage begins at 5 p.m. each night. Friday and Saturday dates generally continue until 9 p.m.\, while Sundays\, the holiday Monday and specially scheduled Thursdays run until 8 p.m. \nOne caution when planning: some outside event calendars show slightly different times. The Dinosaur Place’s own current schedule says Pumpkin Passage begins at 5 p.m.\, so that’s the schedule we would use when planning a visit. \nThe Thursday nights are also less expensive than the regular weekend dates\, giving families some incentive to visit before Halloween weekend. \nOnline ticketing is required\, and reservations are strongly recommended because individual dates can sell out. \nFor families who already love The Dinosaur Place\, Pumpkin Passage offers something genuinely different from a daytime visit. And for children who want Halloween to feel magical rather than frightening\, glowing dinosaurs\, singing pumpkins\, bounce houses and marshmallows may be a pretty good place to start. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. To purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: 8th Annual Pumpkin Passage\nOpening Night: Saturday\, Oct. 3\, 2026\nFinal Night: Sunday\, Nov. 1\, 2026\nLocation: The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village\nAddress: 1650 Hartford-New London Turnpike\, Montville\, CT 06370\nRegular Dates: Fridays\, Saturdays and Sundays beginning Oct. 3\nAdditional Dates: Monday\, Oct. 12; Thursdays\, Oct. 15\, 22 and 29; Sunday\, Nov. 1\nStart Time: 5 p.m.\nFriday & Saturday Hours: Generally 5–9 p.m.\nSunday & Select Weeknight Hours: Generally 5–8 p.m.\nRegular Admission: Children ages 2–12\, $29; ages 13+\, $27; children under 2 free\nSpecial Thursday Pricing: Reduced admission applies Oct. 15\, 22 and 29; check current ticketing for final price before purchasing\nTickets: Online ticketing only; advance reservations strongly recommended\nIncluded: Illuminated Halloween trail\, glowing dinosaurs and pumpkins\, inflatables\, lawn games\, singing animatronic pumpkins\, marshmallow roasting\, photo opportunities and scheduled entertainment\nFood: Rotating food trucks; additional treats and drinks available for purchase\nCostumes: Encouraged\nAudience: Designed as a kid- and toddler-friendly Halloween event\nParking: Free\nWeather: Outdoor event; management may close attractions because of adverse weather. If Pumpkin Passage is forced to close because of rain or lightning at the scheduled visit time\, ticket holders may be offered a rain check to rebook.\nPhone: 860-443-4367 \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/pumpkin-passage-turns-the-dinosaur-place-into-a-glowing-halloween-playground/2026-10-04/
LOCATION:The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village\, 1650 Hartford-New London Tpke\, Montville\, 06370\, United States
CATEGORIES:The Dinosaur Place
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T200000
DTSTAMP:20260928T014407Z
CREATED:20260914T003157Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260928T014407Z
UID:10007597-1791129600-1791144000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Harbor Glow Lights Up Norwich Harbor With Hot-Air Balloons\, Fire Cauldrons and a Waterfront Festival
DESCRIPTION:NOTE: This event has been rescheduled to Sun Oct 4 @ 4 p.m.\nHarbor Glow returns to Norwich on Sunday\, October 4\, transforming the Marina at American Wharf with glowing hot-air balloons\, fire cauldrons on the river\, food vendors\, music\, magic\, crafts\, and family activities from 4 to 8 p.m. \nThe waterfront celebration is presented by Global City Norwich in partnership with the Marina at American Wharf and Norwich Public Utilities\, and after drawing more than 2\,000 people last year\, it has become one of the city’s signature community events. \nThis year’s Harbor Glow also comes with something completely new. \nFor the first time\, visitors can arrive from New London by boat aboard a special Thames River Heritage Park Norwich Harbor Glow Cruise\, traveling up the Thames River to American Wharf before returning to New London at sunset. \nBut whether you arrive by car or boat\, the main attraction happens as daylight begins disappearing over Norwich Harbor. \nThat’s when the balloons and fire come alive. \nHot-Air Balloons Turn Into Giant Lanterns\nHot-air balloons are impressive in daylight. \nAfter dark\, they’re something else. \nHarbor Glow uses the balloons for an evening balloon glow\, with burners periodically firing into the envelopes while the balloons remain on the ground. \nEach blast illuminates the enormous fabric envelope from within\, temporarily turning the balloon into a glowing lantern. \nPut several of them along a waterfront and add their reflections in the harbor\, and you get the visual centerpiece that gives Harbor Glow its name. \nLast year’s festival included an additional surprise when guests were offered opportunities to take evening balloon rides. \nThe current 2026 announcement confirms the return of the hot-air balloons but does not yet advertise balloon rides\, so visitors shouldn’t assume rides will be offered again this year unless organizers announce them before September 27. \nEven from the ground\, the glow is the show. \nAnd it gets better as the sky gets darker. \nThen They Put Fire on the River\nThe balloons aren’t the only source of light. \nOrganizers are again promising fire cauldrons out on the river. \nThe installations provide another layer to the spectacle\, placing points of flame directly against the water and allowing the movement of the harbor to multiply the light through reflections. \nLast year’s Harbor Glow paired its balloons with colorful fire-and-water installations across the waterfront. \nThat combination helped make the event much more than a conventional hot-air-balloon gathering. \nThe marina itself becomes part of the display. \nBoats\, docks\, water\, balloons and flames all sit within the same field of view. \nIt’s the kind of event that changes significantly over four hours. \nCome at 4 p.m. and you’re arriving at an afternoon waterfront festival. \nStay into the evening and you’re standing inside a light show. \nSix Food Vendors Are Coming to the Marina\nThe 2026 festival will feature six food vendors. \nGlobal City Norwich has not yet published the names of all six in its current event listing\, so we’re not going to turn last year’s vendors into this year’s lineup without confirmation. \nBut last year’s event gives a sense of the variety organizers have brought to the waterfront. \nThe 2025 Harbor Glow offered food ranging from seafood and pizza to whoopie pies\, cupcakes and specialty coffee. \nThis year’s six-vendor lineup should give families enough variety to treat Harbor Glow as a dinner destination rather than simply stopping by for the balloons. \nAnd American Wharf now has another permanent dining option of its own. \nThese Guys Brewing Is Now at American Wharf\nThe Marina at American Wharf is currently home to These Guys Brewing\, bringing the Norwich brewery and restaurant directly onto the waterfront. \nThese Guys has built its identity around house-brewed craft beer and a full food menu\, and the American Wharf location gives the brewery a setting quite different from a traditional downtown brewpub. \nThere is also Encanto Scoop at The Docks\, providing another food option at the marina. \nNeither should be confused with the six announced Harbor Glow food vendors unless organizers specifically identify them as festival vendors. They’re permanent businesses at American Wharf rather than names on the currently published festival vendor roster. \nBut their presence is another sign of what’s been happening at the marina. \nAmerican Wharf isn’t simply being used as an empty waterfront lot for a once-a-year festival. \nThere’s an effort underway to make it a destination again. \nAmerican Wharf Gives Norwich a Waterfront Most People Drive Past\nNorwich has one of the more unusual waterfronts in southeastern Connecticut. \nThe Yantic and Shetucket rivers converge at Norwich Harbor to form the Thames River\, which then runs approximately 15 miles south toward New London and Long Island Sound. \nThat makes Norwich the inland head of a waterway connecting the city directly with communities including Montville\, Ledyard\, Groton and New London. \nThe Marina at American Wharf sits right at that northern end. \nToday it’s a 160-slip marina and event destination with dining\, transient dockage and direct access to Norwich Harbor. \nFor Harbor Glow\, that geography is particularly useful. \nInstead of putting illuminated balloons in a field\, organizers can build the event around the water itself. \nAnd in 2026\, another organization is taking advantage of the same geography. \nFor the First Time\, You Can Cruise From New London to Harbor Glow\nThe Thames River Heritage Park is heading farther upriver than usual for a special September 27 excursion. \nThe organization’s inaugural Norwich Harbor Glow Cruise departs City Pier in New London at 2:45 p.m. \nInstead of immediately heading toward Long Island Sound\, the boat turns north. \nPassengers get a narrated trip along the Thames River\, with a guide discussing historic sites and landmarks along the way. \nThe boat is scheduled to reach American Wharf at approximately 3:45 p.m.\, just before Harbor Glow begins. \nPassengers then get two hours to explore the festival. \nAt 6:15 p.m.\, it’s back aboard for the return trip. \nArrival in New London is scheduled for approximately 7:15 p.m.\, with the return timed as a sunset cruise. \nThe entire excursion runs from 2:45 to 7:15 p.m. \nAnd it’s significant for Thames River Heritage Park. \nThis is the organization’s first excursion taking passengers upriver to Norwich. \nThe Thames Is Full of Stories on the Way North\nThe narrated cruise gives passengers something drivers don’t get. \nContext. \nThe Thames River corridor contains an extraordinary concentration of military\, maritime and industrial history. \nNew London grew around one of America’s great natural harbors. \nGroton became a center of submarine construction. \nThe U.S. Navy established the installation that developed into Naval Submarine Base New London. \nElectric Boat grew into one of the country’s most important submarine builders. \nFarther north\, the river passes communities whose histories were shaped by mills\, railroads\, shipping and manufacturing. \nAnd at the top is Norwich\, a city whose own development was tied closely to the three rivers surrounding it. \nMost people in southeastern Connecticut experience this corridor from Interstate 95\, Route 12 or Route 32. \nSeeing it from the river changes the geography completely. \nSuddenly Norwich and New London aren’t simply two cities separated by a highway drive. \nThey’re opposite ends of the same river. \nThe Cruise Comes With Norwich Perks\nThames River Heritage Park is also connecting the cruise to Norwich businesses through its Ride & Save Program. \nPassengers can show their cruise receipt at participating businesses for special offers. \nAmong the currently announced deals are: \nStrange Brew Pub\, 86 Water Street\, offering a 10% credit or $1 cash off a first order. \nTraviezo\, 1 Market Street\, offering a free dessert with an entrée. \nThe Briar Patch\, 48 Franklin Street\, offering 10% off an in-store item. \nAdditional participating businesses and offers may be announced. \nIt’s a small detail\, but it reveals a larger purpose behind the excursion. \nThe goal isn’t simply to transport people to Harbor Glow and take them home. \nIt’s to introduce visitors to Norwich and give them a reason to come back. \nKids Have Plenty to Do Before the Sun Goes Down\nFamilies don’t need to wait for darkness for Harbor Glow to get going. \nThe 2026 event includes free children’s activities throughout the afternoon and evening. \nOrganizers have confirmed: \nFace painting \nBalloon twisting \nA magician \nFree arts and crafts \nThere will also be a live DJ providing music during the festival. \nThat gives the first half of the event a different character from the second. \nArrive when the gates open at 4 and let the kids hit the activities\, find dinner and explore the marina. \nThen\, as evening settles over the harbor\, attention shifts toward the balloons\, flames and water. \nIt’s a clever way to structure a four-hour family event. \nNobody needs to entertain a child for three hours while waiting for darkness. \nHarbor Glow Is Only in Its Third Year\nFor something that already draws thousands of people\, Harbor Glow is surprisingly young. \nThe event returned in 2025 for only its second year. \nMore than 2\,000 people attended that edition\, according to the Norwich Community Development Corporation’s annual report. \nThat report now describes Harbor Glow as a signature waterfront celebration. \nThat’s considerable growth for an event only a few years old. \nIt also suggests organizers found something that works particularly well for Norwich. \nThere are plenty of fall festivals around Connecticut. \nThere are fewer built around illuminated hot-air balloons and floating fire installations at the meeting point of three rivers. \nHarbor Glow has a visual identity of its own. \nGlobal City Norwich Is Behind It\nThe organizer\, Global City Norwich\, is a program of the Norwich Community Development Corporation. \nIts mission extends well beyond Harbor Glow. \nGlobal City Norwich organizes cultural celebrations\, flag raisings\, festivals and programs designed to support entrepreneurs while highlighting the many communities that make up Norwich. \nIts calendar includes heritage celebrations representing cultures from around the world\, along with programs supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs. \nHarbor Glow takes a somewhat different approach. \nRather than focusing on one particular culture\, it creates a citywide gathering centered on the waterfront itself. \nLast year\, Global City Norwich hosted Harbor Glow in partnership with the Marina at American Wharf and Norwich Public Utilities. \nThose three organizations are together again for the 2026 event. \nNorwich Public Utilities Is More Than a Name on the Poster\nNorwich Public Utilities\, or NPU\, is one of the event’s named sponsors. \nThe municipally owned utility has served Norwich for more than a century and provides electric\, natural gas\, water and wastewater services. \nThat local ownership makes NPU unusual compared with communities served entirely by investor-owned utilities. \nIt also makes the organization a frequent participant in Norwich community initiatives and events. \nFor Harbor Glow\, NPU joins Global City Norwich and the Marina at American Wharf as the three sponsors specifically identified in the current 2026 event listing. \nAdditional participating organizations or vendors may still be announced before September 27. \nIt’s Free to Attend\nPerhaps the easiest detail of Harbor Glow is the price. \nThe festival is free and open to all ages. \nParking is also advertised as free. \nThat’s notable for an event that includes entertainment\, children’s activities\, crafts and the balloon-and-fire spectacle without charging general admission. \nFood and beverages are separate purchases. \nThe Thames River Heritage Park cruise is also a separate ticketed experience and shouldn’t be confused with admission to Harbor Glow itself. \nYou absolutely do not need a cruise ticket to attend the festival. \nDrive to Norwich\, park and attend Harbor Glow for free. \nThe cruise simply offers a particularly memorable way to get there. \nDon’t Arrive Expecting the Balloons to Glow at 4\nThis is worth understanding before planning the afternoon. \nA balloon glow needs darkness. \nThe event begins at 4 p.m.\, so the balloons won’t look at 4:15 the way they will later in the evening. \nThe earlier hours are for food\, children’s activities\, entertainment and exploring the waterfront. \nThe visual payoff grows as daylight fades. \nHot-air-balloon activities are also inherently weather dependent. \nWind is particularly important. Even when rain isn’t falling\, conditions can affect whether balloons can safely inflate or operate as planned. \nAnyone attending primarily for the balloons should check Global City Norwich’s event updates on September 27 if weather looks questionable. \nCome for the Festival\, Stay for the Transformation\nThat’s really what separates Harbor Glow from an ordinary afternoon festival. \nThe place changes while you’re there. \nAt 4 p.m.\, American Wharf is a marina filled with families\, food\, crafts and entertainment. \nThen the light starts dropping. \nBurners ignite. \nBalloon envelopes light from within. \nFire appears against the water. \nReflections begin stretching across Norwich Harbor. \nAnd a working marina at the head of the Thames becomes something entirely different for a few hours. \nLast year\, more than 2\,000 people showed up to watch it happen. \nOn September 27\, Norwich lights the harbor again. \nDetails\nEvent: Harbor Glow 2026\nDate: Sunday\, October 4\, 2026\nTime: 4–8 p.m.\nVenue: Marina at American Wharf\nAddress: 1 American Wharf Road\, Norwich\, CT 06360\nOrganizer: Global City Norwich\nSponsors/Partners: Global City Norwich\, Marina at American Wharf and Norwich Public Utilities\nAdmission: Free\nAges: All ages\nParking: Free parking advertised\nFood: Six food vendors are confirmed; individual 2026 vendors have not yet been announced\nMain Attractions: Hot-air balloons and fire cauldrons on the river\nEntertainment: Live DJ and magician\nKids Activities: Face painting\, balloon twisting and free crafts\nBalloon Rides: Not currently announced for 2026; rides offered in 2025 should not be assumed to be returning\nWeather: Hot-air-balloon activity is weather dependent; check organizer updates if conditions are questionable \nNorwich Harbor Glow Cruise: Sunday\, October 4\, 2026\nDeparture: City Pier\, New London\nDeparts New London: 2:45 p.m.\nArrives American Wharf: Approximately 3:45 p.m.\nFestival Time for Cruise Passengers: 4–6 p.m.\nDeparts Norwich: 6:15 p.m.\nReturns to New London: Approximately 7:15 p.m.\nCruise Format: Narrated upriver trip to Norwich and sunset return to New London\nAges: All ages welcome\nFood & Drink Aboard: Passengers may pack a cooler with beverages and snacks\nRide & Save: Cruise passengers can receive offers from participating Norwich businesses by showing their ticket or receipt\nCruise Tickets: Separate from Harbor Glow; the festival itself remains free \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/harbor-glow-lights-up-norwich-harbor-with-hot-air-balloons-fire-cauldrons-and-a-waterfront-festival/
LOCATION:Marina at American Wharf\, 1 American Wharf\, Norwich\, 06360\, United States
CATEGORIES:Marina at American Wharf
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T190000
DTSTAMP:20261001T211608Z
CREATED:20261001T211608Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T211608Z
UID:10009233-1791129600-1791140400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Charlestown Rathskeller Turns Oktoberfest Into a Three-Day Party With German Food\, Live Music and Big Prizes
DESCRIPTION:Charlestown Rathskeller Turns Oktoberfest Into a Three-Day Party With German Food\, Live Music and Big Prizes Oct. 2–4\, filling the historic wooded tavern with German-inspired food\, cold beer\, three days of live music and a raffle lineup that ranges from gift cards to beer for a year and a Vermont getaway. \nThis isn’t a Saturday-afternoon Oktoberfest squeezed into a few hours. \nThe Rathskeller is making a weekend of it\, with festivities running Friday through Sunday at its Old Coach Road property in Charlestown. A special menu brings the German flavors\, while a different band takes over each day and raffle prizes are drawn throughout the weekend. \nThe restaurant’s own pitch gets right to the point: “Come for the Oktoberfest. Stay for the prizes.” \nConsidering what’s being given away\, that’s not much of an exaggeration. \nStart With the German Food\nThe Rathskeller is supplementing its regular offerings with an Oktoberfest menu built around dishes that go well beyond adding a pretzel to the bar menu. \nCurrywurst brings one of Germany’s great street foods to Charlestown: sausage served with the distinctive curry-spiced sauce that became a postwar favorite in Berlin. \nThere are Rathskeller soft pretzels\, along with frikadellen\, the German seasoned meat patties that land somewhere between a meatball and a small hamburger. \nFor something more substantial\, the menu includes cider-braised pork shank and sauerbraten\, the traditional German pot roast known for its sweet-and-sour character and long marinating process. \nAnd because this is still an American fall festival in Rhode Island\, there are funnel cakes for dessert. \nAdd cold beer\, and the Rathskeller has the food-and-drink side of Oktoberfest well covered. \nThree Days\, Three Bands\nThe music changes every day\, giving each part of the weekend a different personality. \nFriday: AD/HD\nAD/HD kicks off the music Friday from 8 to 11 p.m. \nThe AC/DC tribute act draws from both major periods of the Australian band’s career\, covering music associated with original frontman Bon Scott as well as the Brian Johnson era. \nThat opens Oktoberfest with hard rock rather than polka. \nAdmission for the performance is listed at $10 in advance and $15 at the door\, plus applicable advance ticketing fees. \nSaturday: Wicked Peach\nSaturday belongs to a band plenty of southeastern Connecticut music fans already know. \nWicked Peach performs from 8 to 11 p.m. \nThe regional rock band dates to 1996 and has built its following through decades of shows around southeastern Connecticut and southern New England. \nIts repertoire stretches across several generations of rock and pop-rock\, making the Saturday night show less about a single artist or era than the kind of recognizable songs designed to keep a weekend crowd moving. \nTickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. \nSunday: Timeless\nThe weekend shifts gears for its finale. \nTimeless performs Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m.\, turning the final day into more of an afternoon and early-evening party. \nThe Rhode Island-based group has been performing since 2016\, mixing classic rock\, pop\, country and dance music. Its résumé includes appearances at venues including Bally’s Twin River and Hard Rock Boston. \nSunday’s show is also listed at $10 in advance and $15 at the door. \nTogether\, the three bookings give Oktoberfest three very different musical flavors: an AC/DC tribute Friday\, regional rock favorites Wicked Peach Saturday and a broad party-band mix from Timeless Sunday. \nThen There Are the Prizes\nThis is where the Rathskeller’s Oktoberfest gets unusually ambitious. \nRaffle drawings take place throughout all three days\, and the prizes grow substantially beyond T-shirts and promotional swag. \nOrganizers are advertising hundreds of dollars in Rathskeller gift cards\, Oktoberfest merchandise and DownBack tickets alongside some much larger prizes. \nFriday’s festivities build toward a $500 Rathskeller gift card drawing at midnight. \nSaturday brings one of the weekend’s attention-getters: Beer for a Year. Another prize offers a dinner for two and wine every month for a year. \nSunday answers with Wine for a Year and perhaps the weekend’s most distinctive prize\, a two-night getaway for two to the von Trapp family’s Vermont resort and brewery\, including a brewery tour and a $200 dining credit. \nThere’s also a 2027 DownBack VIP pass among the prizes. \nThe raffle rules make entering relatively easy. There is no purchase necessary\, but participants must be 21 or older and must physically visit the Charlestown Rathskeller on the day of the drawing to enter. \nEntries are valid only for that day’s drawings and don’t carry over into the following day. \nVisitors don’t have to spend the entire day waiting to see if they’ve won. Winners can be contacted by email after the drawing. \nThat makes it possible to stop in during the afternoon\, enter the raffle\, have something to eat and return later for the night’s band without spending eight hours guarding a raffle ticket. \nOktoberfest at a Place That Dates to 1933\nThe setting gives the weekend considerably more character than a temporary beer tent in a parking lot. \nThe Charlestown Rathskeller traces its history to 1933\, the same year Prohibition ended nationally. \nIts secluded location in the woods became part of its identity\, and the property has long traded on the atmosphere of an old roadside tavern tucked away from the main coastal route. \nToday’s Rathskeller is considerably larger than a single historic dining room. \nThe property combines the restaurant and tavern with patios\, outdoor gathering spaces\, games including cornhole and bocce and the seasonal DownBack entertainment area. \nDownBack adds outdoor bars\, food\, a large fire pit and a concert stage to the wooded property. \nIts regular music season runs through the warmer months into October\, making Oktoberfest an appropriate way to push the outdoor-party atmosphere into fall. \nThree Days Instead of One Big Rush\nThe format also gives visitors options. \nSomeone interested primarily in the food and raffles doesn’t necessarily need to arrive for an 8 p.m. concert. AC/DC fans have a reason to choose Friday. Wicked Peach followers can make Saturday their night. Families or people who don’t want to stay out late can take advantage of Timeless’ earlier Sunday performance. \nAnd because raffle prizes are spread across the weekend\, there’s a reason to return. \nThat makes this less like a conventional Oktoberfest with a fixed four-hour program and more like the Rathskeller temporarily changing its personality for an entire weekend. \nGerman-inspired food provides the theme. \nThe beer certainly helps. \nBut between three bands\, three days of drawings and prizes that include everything from gift cards to a Vermont brewery getaway\, the Rathskeller has built plenty around the beer steins. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. To purchase tickets for the individual live music performances\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Charlestown Rathskeller Oktoberfest\nDates: Friday–Sunday\, Oct. 2–4\, 2026\nLocation: Charlestown Rathskeller\nAddress: 489A Old Coach Road\, Charlestown\, RI 02813\nOktoberfest Menu: Currywurst\, Rathskeller soft pretzels\, frikadellen\, cider-braised pork shank\, sauerbraten and funnel cakes\nFriday Music: AD/HD\, 8–11 p.m.\nSaturday Music: Wicked Peach\, 8–11 p.m.\nSunday Music: Timeless\, 4–7 p.m.\nMusic Tickets: $10 advance/$15 at the door for the listed performances; advance ticketing fees may apply\nRaffles: Drawings throughout all three days\nMajor Prizes: Rathskeller gift cards\, Beer for a Year\, Wine for a Year\, monthly dinner-and-wine package\, 2027 DownBack VIP pass and a two-night Vermont getaway\nRaffle Admission: No purchase necessary\nRaffle Age: 21+\nRaffle Rules: Entrants must visit the Rathskeller in person on the applicable day; entries do not carry over to subsequent days\nSetting: Historic tavern\, restaurant and wooded outdoor entertainment property with the seasonal DownBack area\nWeather: Outdoor portions of the weekend may be affected by weather; check with the Rathskeller for any day-of changes \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/charlestown-rathskeller-turns-oktoberfest-into-a-three-day-party-with-german-food-live-music-and-big-prizes/2026-10-04/
LOCATION:Rathskeller\, 489A Old Coach Rd\, Charlestown\, RI\, 02813\, United States
CATEGORIES:Rathskeller
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T180000
DTSTAMP:20260930T032507Z
CREATED:20260930T032507Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260930T032507Z
UID:10009207-1791126000-1791136800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Manhattan Short Film Festival Turns the Garde Audience Into the Jury
DESCRIPTION:Manhattan Short Film Festival Turns the Garde Audience Into the Jury Oct. 4\, New London moviegoers watch the same 10 short films being screened around the world and then help decide which film and actor should win the festival’s top awards. \nThere is no jury of filmmakers\, critics or industry executives making the final decision. \nThe ballot goes to you. \nEvery audience member at the Garde receives one\, watches the complete slate and votes for Best Film and Best Actor. Those New London ballots are then combined with votes from audiences at more than 500 participating venues across six continents. \nThe winners are scheduled to be announced the following morning\, Oct. 5. \nThat makes Sunday’s screening something considerably different from simply watching a collection of festival shorts. The people sitting inside the Garde become part of a worldwide jury. \nTen Countries. Ten Films.\nFor the first time in Manhattan Short’s 29-year history\, its 10 finalists represent 10 different countries. \nThe program moves through science fiction\, mystery\, comedy\, drama and animation\, with stories coming from the United States\, Ireland\, Australia\, South Africa\, the United Kingdom\, Moldova\, Russia\, Cuba\, Georgia and Mexico. \nHere is what New London audiences will be judging: \nSmall Talk — USA — 9 minutes\nDirected by Eduardo Moral. In a neon-lit future where artificial intelligence has eliminated nearly every profession\, a cab driver holds onto one increasingly rare human behavior: talking to people. His passengers include workers whose jobs have disappeared to automation\, turning ordinary conversation into a story about identity and what happens when society decides it no longer needs your work. \nMary Is Missing — Ireland — 22 minutes\nDirected by Aisling Byrne. A care worker disappears and Detective Foley arrives at the Yellow Tree Day Service to find out what happened. The problem is that the witnesses’ accounts become increasingly contradictory and strange. The mystery gradually becomes as much about who gets believed\, and why people tell stories\, as it is about finding Mary. \nCandy Bar — Australia — 6 minutes\nDirected by Nash Edgerton and written by actor Damon Herriman. A grieving young girl encounters a man in a cinema candy-bar line and tells him that he looks like her father. What begins as an awkward encounter develops into something unexpectedly emotional. The film premiered at Sundance in 2026 and stars Herriman alongside Andrea Demetriades\, Zumi Edgerton and Caitlin Burley. \nVultures — South Africa — 15 minutes\nDirected by Dian Weys. In the chaotic minutes following a car crash\, a desperate tow-truck driver tries to protect his claim to the wreck before authorities arrive. Competition and desperation escalate the situation beyond his control. The Afrikaans- and English-language film also screened at the 2026 Tribeca Festival. \nLife Goes On — United Kingdom — 19 minutes\nDirected by Kat Butterfield and Daniel Audritt. Bill is in end-of-life care and ready to die. There’s just one problem: every time his heart stops\, the day starts over again. The dark comedy turns the familiar time-loop premise into a story about mortality\, unfinished business and the things people wait too long to say. The cast includes David Bradley\, Maggie Steed\, Matt Berry and Laura Checkley. \nHai Davai — Moldova — 16 minutes\nDirected by Vlad Gradescu. Nina is about to leave her rural Moldovan village for a new life abroad when a black cat crosses the road. Her grandmother sees the old superstition as a warning and refuses to let her continue. The comedy pits the possibility of a different future against family\, tradition and the beliefs people carry from one generation to the next. \nPickup — Russia — 3 minutes\nDirected by Viktoriia Lapushkina. At a workshop where women are assigned exercises in flirting\, shy Di gets what sounds like a simple task: persuade a man to buy her coffee. Instead she reaches a rooftop smoking area and encounters Alex\, who is preparing to end his life. It’s the shortest film in the competition\, packing its reversal into just three minutes. \nNorheimsund — Cuba — 12 minutes\nDirected by Cuban filmmaker Ana A. Alpizar. A girl’s long-distance relationship with an older Norwegian man appears to offer both her and her mother a way out of an austere life in Cuba\, until she begins discovering that the man she has imagined may not match reality. The Spanish-language film previously screened at both Venice and Sundance and won the Fiction category at the 2026 Sony Future Filmmaker Awards. \nWhen the Sea Was Calm — Georgia — 18 minutes\nDirected and animated by Mamuka Tkeshelashvili. This dialogue-free\, handcrafted animation returns to Sokhumi on the eve of war in 1992\, where a 13-year-old boy experiences first love before violence forces the girl to flee. Decades later\, he returns to a city transformed by war and memories of a childhood that disappeared with it. Tkeshelashvili uses cut-outs and puppets rather than conventional live action or computer animation. \nNever Give Up! — Hungary/Mexico — 20 minutes\nDirected by Tamás Yvan Topolánszky. After a deadly border crossing separates a young boy from his mother\, he is left alone in the desert with a damaged phone and the words she taught him to remember: never give up. An unexpected encounter changes the direction of his attempt to survive. \nTogether\, the films create a roughly 2½-hour international program\, with subjects ranging from AI and automation to aging\, migration\, war\, superstition\, grief and human connection. \nFrom a Truck in Little Italy to Six Continents\nManhattan Short began on a considerably smaller screen. \nFounder Nicholas Mason launched the festival in 1998\, gathering roughly 200 people on Mulberry Street in New York’s Little Italy to watch 16 short films projected onto a screen mounted on the side of a truck. \nThe following year it moved to Union Square Park. \nWhat developed from there wasn’t simply another film festival. Mason created a model in which the same finalists would be shown during the same period at participating venues around the world. \nBy 2026\, Manhattan Short says the festival reaches more than 100\,000 moviegoers at more than 500 venues on six continents. \nAnd those audiences still perform the job that normally belongs to a festival jury. \nYour Vote Actually Counts\nEveryone attending receives a ballot. \nAt the conclusion of the program\, audience members select their choice for Best Film and Best Actor. Participating venues tally their ballots and send the results to Manhattan Short headquarters. \nThe worldwide totals determine the winners. \nThere’s another reason the competition matters to the filmmakers. \nSelection as one of Manhattan Short’s finalists also makes each of the 10 films Oscar-qualified\, putting them in position to be considered for an Academy Award nomination. \nThere is precedent for the festival becoming part of that path. \nIn 2024\, four Manhattan Short selections reached the Academy’s shortlist and two went on to receive Oscar nominations. I’m Not a Robot ultimately won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. \nThat means Sunday’s audience isn’t necessarily watching obscure films destined to disappear after the festival circuit. Some of the filmmakers and actors on the Garde screen could be appearing in the Academy Awards conversation a few months from now. \nA Global Film Festival Inside a 100-Year-Old Movie Palace\nThere’s also something particularly appropriate about where New London’s screening is happening. \nThe Garde opened in 1926 as a movie palace\, designed for an era when going to see a film was itself an event. \nExactly 100 years later\, during the theater’s Centennial Season\, the Garde is again gathering an audience around a movie screen\, except this time that audience is simultaneously connected to people watching the same films around the world. \nThe screening is part of the Garde’s Real Movie Palace Experience\, and it arrives one day after the theater’s elaborate centennial recreation of its original 1926 opening night. \nThe 2026 festival also includes music during intermission from featured artist Madeline Rosene\, whose song Love & Algorithms was selected for this year’s program. \nBy the time the lights come back up Sunday afternoon\, however\, the important piece of paper isn’t the program. \nIt’s the ballot. \nTen filmmakers have already convinced Manhattan Short that their work belongs among this year’s finalists. \nNow New London gets a vote on what happens next. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. To purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Manhattan Short Film Festival 2026\nDate: Sunday\, Oct. 4\, 2026\nTime: 3 p.m.\nVenue: Garde Arts Center\nAddress: 325 State Street\, New London\, CT 06320\nAdmission: $15 plus fees\nProgram: 10 international short films\nCountries Represented: United States\, Ireland\, Australia\, South Africa\, United Kingdom\, Moldova\, Russia\, Cuba\, Georgia and Mexico\nAudience Participation: Attendees receive ballots and vote for Best Film and Best Actor\nFestival Dates Worldwide: Sept. 24–Oct. 4\, 2026\nFestival Reach: More than 500 venues across six continents\nWinner Announcement: Monday\, Oct. 5\, 2026\nFeatured Intermission Artist: Madeline Rosene\nContent Note: Some films contain adult themes and strong language\nGarde Box Office: 860-444-7373 \n  \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/manhattan-short-film-festival-turns-the-garde-audience-into-the-jury/
LOCATION:Garde Arts Center\, 325 State Street\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:Garde Arts Center
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T173000
DTSTAMP:20260716T173134Z
CREATED:20260716T173134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260716T173134Z
UID:10006855-1791124200-1791135000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Sunday Jam Sessions at Deans Mill Farm
DESCRIPTION:Sunday Jam Sessions at Deans Mill Farm return every Sunday through the season\, bringing live local music\, food trucks\, and refreshing drinks to one of Stonington’s favorite outdoor gathering spots. Held from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.\, the free weekly series offers a relaxed afternoon where families\, friends\, and music lovers can unwind while enjoying performances from talented local musicians in the scenic setting of Deans Mill Farm. \nEach Sunday features a different performer\, giving visitors something new to experience throughout the season. Along with live entertainment\, food trucks serve a variety of favorites while the farm offers signature drinks and other cold beverages. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs\, settle in for the afternoon\, and enjoy a casual community atmosphere. The event is family-friendly\, although outside alcohol and pets are not permitted. \nEvent Details\n\nEvent: Sunday Jam Sessions\nSchedule: Every Sunday\nTime: 2:30-5:30 p.m.\nSeason: Through October (Weather Permitting)\nVenue: Deans Mill Farm\nAddress: 1189 Pequot Trail\, Stonington\, CT\nAdmission: Free\n\nWhat to Expect\n\nLive music from local performers\nRotating food trucks\nSignature drinks and cold beverages\nFamily-friendly outdoor atmosphere\n\n2026 Concert Schedule\nJuly 19 \n\nBig Lux\n\nJuly 26 \n\nT. Ray Taylor\n\nAugust 2 \n\nBen Freiert\n\nAugust 9 \n\nFrankenphil\n\nAugust 16 \n\nBen Freiert\n\nAugust 23 \n\nRobbed By Locals\n\nAugust 30 \n\nJames Harris\n\nSeptember 6 \n\nTo Be Announced\n\nSeptember 13 \n\nFrankenphil\n\nSeptember 20 \n\nTo Be Announced\n\nSeptember 27 \n\nJonny Debit\n\nOctober 4 \n\nKGB\n\nOctober 11 \n\nFrankenphil\n\nOctober 18 \n\nDan Watson\n\nOctober 25 \n\nJames Harris\n\nKnow Before You Go\n\nFamily-friendly event\nNo outside alcohol\nNo pets\nWeather permitting\nTimes are subject to change\n\nWhy Attend\n\nFree weekly live music\nRotating lineup of local musicians\nFood trucks and beverages\nRelaxed outdoor setting\nGreat Sunday afternoon tradition\n\n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/sunday-jam-sessions-at-deans-mill-farm/2026-10-04/
LOCATION:Deans Mill Farm\, 1189 Pequot Trail\, Stonington\, CT\, 06378\, United States
CATEGORIES:Deans Mill Farm
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Sunday-Jam-Sessions-at-Deans-Mill-Farm-Sundays-230-pm-530-pm.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T160000
DTSTAMP:20260930T024855Z
CREATED:20260930T023108Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260930T024855Z
UID:10009206-1791115200-1791129600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Wild Mushroom Festival Turns Deans Mill Farm Into a Fungi Playground
DESCRIPTION:Wild Mushroom Festival Turns Deans Mill Farm Into a Fungi Playground Oct. 4\, when one of Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center’s signature fall events brings together mushroom hunters\, chefs\, growers\, artists\, and curious beginners for four hours devoted to the surprisingly enormous world of fungi. \nAnd you don’t need to know a chanterelle from a chicken of the woods to go. \nThe festival combines two experiences that don’t usually occupy the same afternoon: part food festival\, with approximately 10 local restaurants preparing mushroom dishes for sampling\, and part outdoor classroom\, where experienced foragers and mushroom experts teach visitors what they’re actually seeing when they encounter fungi in the woods. \nThen things get considerably more eclectic. \nThere’s live music\, a mushroom marketplace\, mushroom-themed crafts\, growers selling fungi\, mushroom ice cream\, and even tattoo artists offering mushroom designs. \nIn other words\, DPNC has gone pretty far down the mushroom rabbit hole. \nFirst\, Eat the Mushrooms\nFood has long been one of the festival’s biggest attractions. \nApproximately 10 local restaurants and chefs are expected to participate this year\, preparing mushroom-centered samples rather than simply setting up conventional food-vendor booths. \nAdmission includes food tickets: adults receive 12\, while children receive six. Additional food tickets can be purchased during the festival for $1 each. \nThe exact 2026 restaurant roster and dishes have not yet been publicly posted\, so there’s some discovery involved when you arrive. Previous versions have used the tasting component to show just how differently chefs can approach fungi rather than treating mushrooms as one ingredient with one flavor. \nAnd there’s one particularly unusual festival favorite returning to the conversation: candy cap mushroom ice cream. Candy caps are prized for an aroma often compared to maple syrup\, making them one of the stranger examples of just how far mushrooms can travel from the stereotypical sauté pan. The Wild Mushroom Festival also promotes mushroom beer among its specialty offerings. \nThen Learn How to Find Them\nEating mushrooms is only half the idea. \nDPNC is using the festival to introduce visitors to the much larger ecological world behind them. \nNaturalists\, foragers and mushroom experts will lead woodland walks and educational talks covering mushroom hunting\, identification\, cultivation and cooking. An identification table gives visitors an opportunity to examine specimens and learn the characteristics experts use to distinguish different fungi. \nThat’s an important distinction from simply heading into the woods with a phone app and deciding something looks edible. \nWild mushroom identification can be complicated\, and some toxic species resemble edible ones closely enough that beginners should never rely on photographs or a single identifying characteristic before eating something they’ve collected. \nThe festival provides a much better starting point: experienced people\, actual specimens and an opportunity to ask questions. \nDPNC has watched public interest in exactly this kind of knowledge grow dramatically. In its reporting on the festival\, the Nature Center noted that interest in foraging surged during the pandemic\, helped in part by people sharing their finds and woodland excursions on social media. \nThe Festival Got So Popular It Had to Move\nThe Wild Mushroom Festival has been around much longer than the current location. \nFor years it was held at DPNC itself\, where it developed into one of the organization’s signature events. Eventually\, success created a practical problem: the festival outgrew the Nature Center’s parking capacity. \nThat led to its move to Deans Mill Farm on Pequot Trail in Stonington. \nIt’s a particularly good fit. \nThe farm’s approximately 70 acres provide room for parking\, fields for vendors and restaurant tents\, and trails that can actually be used for the mushroom walks. Previous festivals at the farm have also included a beer garden as a place to settle in between programs. \nThat makes this less like a lecture series with some food attached and more like a small fall festival spread across a farm. \nThe Mushroom Marketplace Goes Beyond Something to Eat\nNot every mushroom at the festival is destined for a plate. \nThe expanded Mushroom Marketplace brings together artists\, mycologists\, mushroom growers\, foragers\, crafters and chefs selling their work and products. \nThat might mean cultivated mushrooms and fungi-related products at one table and mushroom-inspired artwork at another. \nThen there are the tattoos. \nLocal tattoo artists are scheduled for a pop-up offering mushroom-themed designs during the festival. \nSo someone could theoretically spend Sunday learning how to identify mushrooms\, eat several varieties\, buy mushrooms to take home and leave with one permanently attached to an arm. \nThat’s commitment. \nLive music runs alongside the marketplace and food sampling\, while crafts give children something hands-on to do between the walks and other programs. \nFour Hours May Go Faster Than You Think\nThe festival opens promptly at noon and runs until 4 p.m. \nUnlike a conventional fair where people can simply arrive whenever they want\, advance registration is required\, and DPNC is warning that the festival is expected to sell out early. \nAn adult ticket costs $36 and includes 12 food tickets\, admission to the Mushroom Marketplace\, educational talks and walks\, and crafts. Children’s admission is $18 and includes six food tickets along with the same access to the marketplace\, educational programming and crafts. \nThere’s also a larger purpose behind all that fungi. \nProceeds support the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center\, the Mystic-based nonprofit that works in environmental education\, conservation and wildlife rehabilitation while stewarding more than 350 acres of protected land. \nThe Wild Mushroom Festival manages to compress a surprising amount into four hours. \nYou can come because you want to eat mushrooms. \nYou can come because you want to learn how to find them. \nOr you can come knowing absolutely nothing about fungi and discover that the strange things appearing on fallen logs and forest floors every autumn occupy a world considerably larger — and considerably weirder — than the produce aisle suggests. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. To purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Wild Mushroom Festival\nDate: Sunday\, Oct. 4\, 2026\nTime: Noon–4 p.m.\nLocation: Deans Mill Farm\nAddress: 1189 Pequot Trail\, Stonington\, CT 06378\nOrganizer: Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center\nAdult Admission: $36\, including 12 food tickets\nChild Admission: $18\, including six food tickets\nAdditional Food Tickets: $1 each at the festival\nFood: Mushroom-inspired samples from approximately 10 local restaurants and chefs; the individual 2026 restaurant roster has not yet been published\nPrograms: Guided mushroom walks\, talks with naturalists and foragers\, mushroom identification\, cultivation and cooking education\nMarketplace: Artists\, mycologists\, foragers\, crafters\, growers and chefs\nAlso Planned: Live music\, mushroom-themed crafts and tattoo-artist pop-ups\nRegistration: Advance ticket purchase required; organizers expect the event to sell out\nPhone: 860-536-1216\nContact: alissa@dpnc.org \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/wild-mushroom-festival-turns-deans-mill-farm-into-a-fungi-playground/
LOCATION:Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center\, 109 Pequotsepos Road\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wild-Mushroom-Festival-Turns-Deans-Mill-Farm-Into-a-Fungi-Playground.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T150000
DTSTAMP:20260712T235944Z
CREATED:20260531T024717Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260712T235944Z
UID:10003097-1791115200-1791126000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Denison Farmers Market
DESCRIPTION:Denison Farmers Market returns for its 22nd season on Sunday\, June 7\, bringing fresh Connecticut-grown products and a vibrant community atmosphere to Mystic. The popular weekly market showcases local farmers\, food producers\, and artisans\, offering residents and visitors an opportunity to shop directly from the people who grow and make the products they bring to market. \nThroughout the season\, shoppers can browse a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables\, along with locally produced foods and specialty items sourced from across Connecticut. The market has become a seasonal tradition for many families\, providing access to high-quality local products while supporting regional agriculture and small businesses. The 2026 season runs every Sunday from June 7 through October 25. \nWhether you’re stocking up on fresh produce\, discovering new local products\, or simply enjoying a Sunday afternoon in Mystic\, the Denison Farmers Market offers something for everyone. It’s an ideal destination for food lovers\, home cooks\, and anyone who appreciates supporting local farms and producers. \nEvent Details \nEvent: Denison Farmers Market 2026 \nDates: Every Sunday\, June 7 – October 25\, 2026 \nTime: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. \nLocation: Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center \nTown: Mystic\, CT \nAdmission: Free \nMarket Highlights \n\nConnecticut-grown fruits and vegetables\nLocal farmers and food producers\nFresh baked goods and specialty foods\nArtisan and handcrafted products\nSeasonal offerings throughout the summer and fall\nFamily-friendly community atmosphere\n\nWhy Attend \n\nShop directly from local farmers and makers\nSupport Connecticut agriculture and small businesses\nFind fresh\, seasonal ingredients\nDiscover unique local foods and artisan goods\nEnjoy a relaxing Sunday morning in Mystic\n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/denison-farmers-market/2026-10-04/
LOCATION:Denison Homestead Musuem\, 120 Pequotsepos Rd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Denison Homestead Museum
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Denison-Farmers-Market-Sundays-12-to-3-through-October-25.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T130000
DTSTAMP:20261005T194345Z
CREATED:20260928T010656Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261005T194345Z
UID:10007932-1791115200-1791118800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Climb 116 Steps Inside New London Harbor Lighthouse on Weekend Tours
DESCRIPTION:Climb 116 Steps Inside New London Harbor Lighthouse on Weekend Tours for a rare look inside the historic 1801 tower\, with Saturday and Sunday tours taking visitors all the way to the lantern room overlooking Long Island Sound. \nThe New London Maritime Society is opening New London Harbor “Pequot” Light for 45-minute tours every weekend at noon through Feb. 28\, 2027. Groups are deliberately tiny\, limited to just five people\, turning the visit into something closer to a guided exploration than a typical historic-site tour. \nAnd there’s quite a bit waiting above those 116 steps. \nA Lighthouse That’s Been Watching the Harbor for Centuries\nNew London Harbor Light’s story stretches back to the colonial era. A lighthouse was established here in 1761 under King George III\, while the octagonal stone tower standing today was completed in 1801. \nAt 89 feet tall\, it’s the tallest lighthouse on Long Island Sound as well as its oldest. The U.S. Coast Guard still operates the light as an active aid to navigation. \nInside is another survivor: an 1850 fourth-order Fresnel lens that remains in use. \nVisitors climb the tower while learning about the lighthouse and the generations of keepers who tended it. At the top\, the lantern room opens up a view across New London Harbor\, the Thames River and Long Island Sound. \nThere are lighthouses everywhere you look. From Harbor Light\, it’s possible to spot at least seven others\, including New London Ledge Light\, Race Rock\, Little Gull Island\, Plum Island\, Little Dumpling\, Montauk and Avery Point. \nAnd then there’s the traffic below. \nNew London remains a working maritime port\, so the view can include ferries\, commercial vessels and Coast Guard traffic moving through the harbor. The Maritime Society makes one thing clear: they can’t promise you’ll see a submarine. \nBut in New London\, you never know. \nPart of New London’s Chain of Lights\nHarbor Light is one of three historic lighthouses owned and preserved by the New London Maritime Society. \nNew London Ledge Light\, completed in 1909\, stands offshore near the mouth of the Thames. Farther out\, Race Rock Light Station has guarded the notoriously difficult waters between Fishers Island and Long Island Sound since 1878. \nTogether with Harbor Light\, the three create a chain of beacons leading vessels from the Atlantic into the historic port of New London. \nThe Maritime Society took ownership of Harbor Light in 2010 through the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. Money raised through lighthouse tours supports the preservation and restoration of the area’s historic lights. \nBefore You Climb\nThis isn’t a lighthouse where visitors can simply walk onto the property. \nTours are limited to five people\, and reservations should be made at least 48 hours in advance. Children must be at least 8 years old. \nVisitors meet their guide on Pequot Avenue in front of the lighthouse and must wait there for the New London Maritime Society representative. Guests should not enter the lighthouse property or neighboring driveways on their own. \nThe climb also requires proper footwear. Sneakers or deck shoes are required; sandals and flip-flops aren’t permitted. \nTours are weather dependent\, so visitors should check their email before leaving home for any cancellation notice. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nNew London 24 hour Harbor Cam\nDetails\nDates: Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 28\, 2027\nTime: Noon–12:45 p.m.\nLocation: New London Harbor “Pequot” Lighthouse\, New London\nMeeting Point: Pequot Avenue in front of the lighthouse\nTour Length: Approximately 45 minutes\nCapacity: Maximum of five people per tour\nAdmission: $35 adults; $30 New London Maritime Society members; $25 children ages 8–18\nAge Requirement: Children must be at least 8 years old\nReservations: Reservations should be made at least 48 hours in advance\nClimb: 116 steps to the lantern room\nFootwear: Deck shoes or sneakers required; no sandals or flip-flops\nFood & Drink: Water is permitted; other food and beverages are not. Alcohol is prohibited.\nParking: Street parking is available on the west side of Pequot Avenue\, across from the lighthouse\nWeather: Tours are weather dependent. Check your email before departing for cancellation notices.\nCancellations: Must be made at least three days in advance. Payments are non-refundable except when a tour is canceled because of weather.\nLast-Minute Tickets: Call 203-444-2884 to ask whether space is available.\nImportant: Do not enter the lighthouse property or neighboring driveways without a New London Maritime Society representative. \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/climb-116-steps-inside-new-london-harbor-lighthouse-on-weekend-tours-2/
LOCATION:Pequot Lighthouse\, Pequot Avenue\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:Pequot Lighthouse
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Pequot-Lighthouse-New-London.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T180000
DTSTAMP:20261005T024211Z
CREATED:20261005T024211Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261005T024211Z
UID:10009237-1791111600-1791136800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Scarecrows Take Over Olde Mistick Village for the Month of October
DESCRIPTION:Scarecrows Take Over Olde Mistick Village for the Month of October as merchants throughout the Mystic shopping village create their own characters\, compete for visitor votes\, and turn the walk between shops into a month-long outdoor fall display. \nScarecrows in the Village runs Oct. 1–31\, giving visitors the entire month to wander the brick pathways and find the scarecrows stationed outside participating businesses. Rather than bringing in a collection of professionally made decorations\, Olde Mistick Village puts its own merchants behind the creations. \nThat makes this less a single scheduled event than a temporary transformation of the Village. \nThe Merchants Build the Scarecrows\nThe fun is seeing what individual businesses come up with. \nParticipating Olde Mistick Village merchants create their own scarecrow displays\, which can make the decorations an extension of the personality of the shops themselves. The Village’s photos from previous displays show just how loosely the word “scarecrow” can be interpreted\, with the traditional straw-stuffed figure serving more as a starting point than a rule. \nSome are elaborate. Some are funny. Some lean into Halloween. \nAnd visitors aren’t merely looking at them. \nThey’re judging them. \nFind Your Favorites and Vote\nThroughout October\, QR codes placed around Olde Mistick Village allow visitors to vote for their favorite scarecrows. \nThe 2026 competition includes three categories: \nBest in Crow is the overall crowd-pleaser. \nMost Representative rewards the scarecrow that best captures the identity or personality of its participating Village business. \nMost Seaworthy gives the contest an appropriately Mystic category\, inviting merchants to work the area’s maritime character into their displays. \nThe voting turns what could have been simple seasonal decorations into a scavenger-hunt-like walk. Seeing one or two scarecrows isn’t really the point. The fun comes from exploring the Village\, comparing them and deciding which deserves a vote. \nA Different Way to See Olde Mistick Village\nOlde Mistick Village was designed to feel less like a conventional shopping center and more like a small New England village. \nInstead of a single enclosed mall\, shops and restaurants occupy individual buildings connected by pedestrian paths\, with landscaping\, ponds and gathering areas breaking up the property. \nThat’s particularly well suited to an event like this. \nThere isn’t a tent to enter or a designated exhibition area. The scarecrows become part of the landscape\, appearing as visitors move among shops and restaurants. \nIt also means there is no particular starting time or required route. Someone can spend 20 minutes hunting for scarecrows or make them part of a longer afternoon shopping\, eating and exploring the Village. \nOne Piece of a Much Bigger October in Mystic\nScarecrows in the Village also serves as something of a monthlong backdrop for Olde Mistick Village’s other fall activities. \nThe displays remain in place through Halloween on Oct. 31\, while the Village hosts additional October programming\, including its Apple Festival Oct. 17–18 and Trick or Treat in the Village Oct. 31. \nThat means the experience will change depending on when you visit. Early in October\, the scarecrows are essentially the opening act for fall. By Halloween weekend\, they’re part of a Village fully committed to the season. \nThere is also something appealingly low-key about this one. \nThere are no tickets to buy\, no performance time to hit and no need to devote an entire afternoon to it. Families can turn voting into a game with the kids. Adults can look for their favorite while shopping. Visitors coming for another Village event can simply add the scarecrows to the day. \nAnd because the displays remain up for an entire month\, this is one fall tradition where missing a particular Saturday doesn’t mean missing the event. \nThe only deadline that matters is Halloween. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Scarecrows in the Village\nDates: Thursday\, Oct. 1–Saturday\, Oct. 31\, 2026\nLocation: Olde Mistick Village\nAddress: 27 Coogan Boulevard\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nAdmission: Free\nFormat: Monthlong outdoor scarecrow display created by participating Village merchants\nVoting: QR-code voting available throughout October\n2026 Categories: Best in Crow\, Most Representative and Most Seaworthy\nWho It’s For: All ages; particularly easy to combine with a family visit\, shopping or dining\nSchedule: Displays can be viewed during Village operating hours; individual businesses and restaurants may keep different hours\nRelated October Events: Apple Festival\, Oct. 17–18; Trick or Treat in the Village\, Oct. 31\nFinal Day: Halloween\, Oct. 31\nWeather: The scarecrows are displayed outdoors\, so dress for conditions \n\n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/scarecrows-take-over-olde-mistick-village-for-the-month-of-october/2026-10-04/
LOCATION:Olde Mistick Village\, 27 Coogan Blvd\, Mystic\, CT\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Olde Mistick Village
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Scarecrows-Take-Over-Olde-Mistick-Village-for-the-Month-of-October.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T170000
DTSTAMP:20260701T201347Z
CREATED:20260701T201347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260701T201347Z
UID:10006495-1791111600-1791133200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways at Mystic Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION:Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways at Mystic Museum of Art explores the history of textiles in southeastern Connecticut\, tracing how fabrics\, fashion\, and craftsmanship have shaped the region from the precolonial era through the present day. On view from June 26 through October 11\, 2026\, the exhibition brings together historic artifacts and contemporary works to examine how textiles reflect labor\, immigration\, cultural identity\, and changing ideas of luxury. \nInspired by southeastern Connecticut’s once-thriving velvet industry\, the exhibition features a collaboration between Mystic Museum of Art\, Historic Stonington\, Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center\, Mystic Seaport Museum\, and the Connecticut Region of the Studio Art Quilt Associates. Visitors will encounter an extensive collection of beadwork\, embroidery\, quilts\, velvet\, fashion\, and textile art drawn from partner institutions and the museum’s own collection. \nThe exhibition also highlights contemporary fashion designers with Connecticut connections\, including Xarea Lockhart\, Toriana Sauro\, Christian Siriano\, and Peter Som. Their work connects the region’s textile heritage with modern fashion\, demonstrating how clothing and material culture continue to influence art\, identity\, and design. Throughout the exhibition\, the museum will present lectures\, artist conversations\, and hands-on workshops that further explore these themes. \nExhibition Details\n\nExhibition: Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways\nVenue: Mystic Museum of Art\nDates: June 26-October 11\, 2026\nLocation: Mystic\, CT\n\nExhibition Highlights\nVisitors will experience: \n\ns\nWorks from Mystic Museum of Art’s permanent collection\nLoans from regional museums and organizations\n\nFeatured Partners\nThe exhibition includes contributions from: \n\nHistoric Stonington\nMashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center\nMystic Seaport Museum\nStudio Art Quilt Associates\, Connecticut Region\n\nFeatured Designers\nThe exhibition showcases work by designers with Connecticut ties\, including: \n\nXarea Lockhart\nToriana Sauro\nChristian Siriano\nPeter Som\n\nAdmission\n\nGeneral Admission: $12\nNew London County residents: $10\nSeniors (65+): $10\nStudents with valid ID: $10\nFree:\n\nMystic Museum of Art members\nYouth ages 17 and under\nMilitary personnel and veterans\n\n\n\nExhibition Programs\nPublic programs are held on select Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. \nTuesday\, July 7\nMystic Mudlarking: The River and the Rossie Velvet Mill \n\nGuest speaker: Mary Hendrickson\n\nTuesday\, July 21\nImmigration and Industry \n\nGuest speaker: Chelsea Mitchell\, Library Director & Collections Manager\, Historic Stonington\n\nTuesday\, September 1\nConversation with Alana Ryder and Emerging Designers \nFeaturing: \n\nAlana Ryder\nXarea Lockhart\nToriana Sauro\n\nWorkshops\nAll workshops take place in KTJ Studios. \nSaturday\, September 19\nFrom Textile to Art: Felt Collage Workshop \nSaturday\, September 26\nIntroduction to Sewing Workshop \n\nFeatured designer: Toriana Sauro\n\nSaturday\, October 10\nRelief Printing on Silk Scarf Workshop \nWhy Visit\nLuxe CT examines how textiles have connected communities across centuries while reflecting the region’s history of manufacturing\, immigration\, craftsmanship\, and artistic innovation. By pairing historical artifacts with contemporary fashion and fiber art\, the exhibition offers visitors a deeper understanding of southeastern Connecticut’s cultural heritage and its continuing influence on today’s artists and designers. \n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/luxe-ct-velvet-mills-to-modern-runways-at-mystic-museum-of-art/2026-10-04/
LOCATION:Mystic Museum of Art\, 9 Water Street\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Museum of Art
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Luxe-CT-Velvet-Mills-to-Modern-Runways-at-Mystic-Museum-of-Art-daily-11am-5pm.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T170000
DTSTAMP:20260705T020852Z
CREATED:20260510T162306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260705T020852Z
UID:10000501-1791111600-1791133200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO Bricks
DESCRIPTION:Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO Bricks drops visitors into centuries of maritime mystery and disaster at Mystic Seaport Museum.. The internationally touring exhibition combines massive LEGO® ship recreations with real maritime history\, creating an experience that feels part museum exhibit\, part interactive adventure. As the first American stop for the exhibition\, Mystic Seaport becomes the latest host for a showcase that has previously appeared at major maritime museums in Europe and Australia. \nThe exhibit features eleven detailed LEGO® models recreating famous shipwrecks and maritime disasters spanning thousands of years\, including the Titanic\, the Vasa\, Franklin’s Arctic expedition ships Terror and Erebus\, and the ancient Uluburun trading vessel. Created in partnership with LEGO® Certified Professional Ryan “The Brickman” McNaught\, the displays combine historical storytelling with surprisingly intricate engineering and visual detail. Some models even include cross-section cutaways revealing what happened beneath the waterline. \nInteractive experiences throughout the exhibit invite visitors to test survival scenarios\, operate a remote underwater vehicle\, experiment with ship stability\, and build LEGO® creations of their own. Alongside the models are replica artifacts\, archaeological tools\, and multimedia displays exploring how modern researchers investigate shipwrecks and what those discoveries reveal about trade\, exploration\, disaster\, and human history. The result is an exhibit that works equally well for families\, history buffs\, LEGO® fans\, and anyone who still secretly wants to touch every museum display. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/brickwrecks-sunken-ships-in-lego-bricks-3/2026-10-04/
LOCATION:Mystic Seaport\, 75 Greenmanville Ave\, Mystic\, CT\, \,06355-1946\,\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Seaport
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Brickwrecks-Sunked-Ships-in-Lego-Bricks.jpg
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