BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//The CT Beacon - ECPv6.18.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:The CT Beacon
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://thectbeacon.com
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The CT Beacon
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T210000
DTSTAMP:20260913T020703Z
CREATED:20260913T020703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260913T020703Z
UID:10007568-1791027000-1791061200@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/2026-10-03/
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
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T170000
DTSTAMP:20260701T201347Z
CREATED:20260701T201347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260701T201347Z
UID:10006494-1791025200-1791046800@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/2026-10-03/
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
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T170000
DTSTAMP:20260705T020852Z
CREATED:20260510T162306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260705T020852Z
UID:10000500-1791025200-1791046800@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-3/2026-10-03/
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:20261003T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T160000
DTSTAMP:20261001T201856Z
CREATED:20261001T201856Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T201856Z
UID:10009229-1791025200-1791043200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:New London Art Stroll Turns Downtown Into a 28-Stop Citywide Gallery
DESCRIPTION:New London Art Stroll Turns Downtown Into a 28-Stop Citywide Gallery Oct. 3\, when artists move beyond traditional galleries and into shops\, studios\, restaurants\, cultural institutions and unexpected corners of downtown for five hours of art\, music\, fashion\, demonstrations and open studios. \nRunning from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday\, the 2026 Art Stroll stretches roughly 0.7 miles through downtown New London\, with 28 locations marked on this year’s official map. \nAnd “Art Stroll” considerably understates what organizers have assembled. \nThere are painters\, sculptors\, photographers and jewelry makers\, but also four group art shows\, three vendor markets\, live singers\, poetry and open-mic spoken word\, a fashion show\, printmaking demonstration\, artist studios\, an art swap and guided tours. \nSome stops take only a few minutes. Others could become destinations of their own. \nThe idea is to keep moving. \nDowntown Becomes the Gallery\nThe New London Arts Council and New London Cultural District have effectively removed the walls from a conventional art exhibition. \nInstead of gathering everyone inside one building\, artists have been paired with locations throughout downtown. Visitors follow the map from Broad and Federal streets through State and Golden streets and eventually down Bank Street toward the waterfront. \nSome participating locations are established arts organizations. Others are businesses that become temporary exhibition or performance spaces for the afternoon. \nThe arrangement also means visitors are likely to discover places they haven’t entered before while moving between artists. \nThere is no admission charge for the Stroll\, and artists exhibiting through the Arts Council keep their sales rather than paying the organization a commission. \nStart at Fiddleheads and Work Toward the Waterfront\nAt the northern end of the route\, Fiddleheads Food Co-op at 13 Broad Street becomes Stop No. 1\, featuring whydoirock. \nNearby\, Red Square Gallery at 116 Federal Street is offering tours at noon and 3 p.m. \nAt St. James Episcopal Church\, 76 Federal Street\, visitors will encounter work connected with Louis Comfort Tiffany\, along with artists Cathy Cosby\, Roxanne Steed\, William Allyn and Garrett Brennan. \nFrom there\, the route begins moving deeper into downtown. \nThe Garde Becomes a Group Gallery\nThe Garde Arts Center at 325 State Street is one of four group-show locations on the Stroll. \nArtists listed there include Maurene Kennedy\, Virginia Reyes Conde\, Trish Reyburn\, Heather Flynn\, Beth Pite\, Kira Seamon and Michael Congdon. \nThat makes the Garde worth entering even if you’ve walked past its marquee dozens of times without thinking of it as an art gallery. \nAcross the route\, the historic theater is functioning as one piece of a much larger temporary exhibition spread across the city. \nGo Upstairs: Some of the Most Interesting Stops Are Studios\nThe Stroll isn’t limited to street-level galleries. \nInside the Dewart Building at 300 State Street\, visitors can head upstairs to find participating artists. Katie Fogg is in Suite 310 on the third floor\, while Esmeralda Bustamante and Ellen Kleckner are exhibiting in Suite 203 on the second floor. \nAt 250 State Street\, Jacob Cullers opens J. Cullers Studio to visitors\, although this is one stop where timing matters: the studio is scheduled to close at 1:30 p.m. \nEbbe Dahlor is exhibiting at Washington Street Coffee House at 13 Washington Street. \nThese are the kinds of stops that make the map useful. Some of the day’s art won’t necessarily announce itself from the sidewalk. \nThree Vendor Markets Add Another Layer\nThe Stroll also incorporates several mini-markets rather than limiting shopping to individual artist displays. \nAt Harris Place Atrium\, 165 State Street\, a Vendor Market & Art Swap brings together Jac Meyers/TheBrassGlass\, Hanah Masters\, Olivia Wolfe\, Ari C.\, Alyssa Drake and Quinn Lee/Writer’s Block Ink. \nAnother vendor market takes over The Union Room at 86 Golden Street\, where participating artists and makers include Ivan Abarca\, Chloe Dankocsik\, Theresa Bryan\, Sara Leone/The Verge Collective\, Patrick Miller/Dead Photo Society\, Bryan R. Tyler and Jaylynn Claudio. \nThat stop also includes live music. \nAt the other end of the route\, Tox Brewing at 123 Bank Street is hosting its Toxoween Vendor Market\, with Dan Desrochers among the artists identified by the Arts Council. \nThat creates an interesting overlap: Toxoween isn’t simply another event happening elsewhere in New London Saturday. It becomes part of the larger Art Stroll. \nPoetry\, Music and Performance Join the Visual Art\nThis isn’t an afternoon devoted solely to things hanging on walls. \nAt 19 Golden Street\, Casaundra Fenty is exhibiting artwork while Madeline Weisbeck presents a poetry reading and open-mic spoken-word program. \nSara Leone/The Verge Collective participates at The Union Room\, where visitors can learn more about the collective alongside the vendor market and live music. \nThe performance schedule also sends visitors between several downtown locations\, including Telegraph Autonomous Zone at 137 Bank Street\, The Union Room at 86 Golden Street and Favorites Bistro at 90 Bank Street. \nZachary Vincent is scheduled at Telegraph Autonomous Zone beginning at 11:30 a.m.\, with additional performances occurring throughout the afternoon. \nRather than building a single stage\, the Stroll scatters performance across the same streets occupied by the visual artists. \nThere Is Even a Fashion Show\nOne of the more unusual stops is New Youth Affairs at Map Location 18\, where the day’s programming includes a fashion show. \nElsewhere\, the map identifies Spark Makerspace for a printmaking demonstration. \nThose additions expand the definition of what counts as art during the Stroll. Visitors can move from painting and sculpture to fashion\, poetry\, printmaking and music without leaving the downtown route. \nExpressiones Opens an Artist-in-Residence Studio\nAt Expressiones Cultural Center\, 84 Bank Street\, visitors get something different again: an opportunity to enter the working world of an artist rather than simply see finished pieces. \nCurrent Artist-in-Residence Ixel Orozco Peregrina will open her studio from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. \nHer practice brings together sculpture\, installation\, ecology and craft\, and Expressiones is inviting visitors to see work in progress\, learn about her creative process and talk with her about the residency. \nThat’s an important distinction. \nAn art stroll doesn’t have to be only about seeing what an artist has finished. At Expressiones\, visitors can encounter the process while it is still happening. \nBank Street Is Packed With Stops\nThe southern portion of the route becomes particularly dense as the Stroll reaches Bank Street. \nThe official map includes Flavours of Life/Faire Trade Store\, Favorites Bistro Bar\, The Local\, Studio 33 Frame & Art Gallery\, Custom House Maritime Museum\, Thames River Gallery\, Old Testament Electric Tattooing\, Telegraph Autonomous Zone and Tox Brewing. \nEddie Shaw is participating at Old Testament Electric Tattooing\, while Zachary Vincent is among the performers at Telegraph. \nSeveral of these locations sit only a short walk apart\, allowing visitors to hit a cluster of stops without repeatedly crossing downtown. \nHygienic’s YART Sale Joins the Stroll\nThere’s another crossover we’ve already been following. \nHygienic Art’s YART Sale is officially Stop No. 17 on the Art Stroll map. \nFrom noon to 3 p.m.\, Hygienic is digging into its closets and storage areas to sell unclaimed and abandoned artwork\, prints\, posters\, old Hygienic T-shirts and assorted creative oddities. \nThat means someone following the Art Stroll can fold the YART Sale into the route rather than treating it as a separate Saturday event. \nAnd it illustrates just how much is happening simultaneously. \nThe Art Stroll isn’t competing with New London’s other arts events Saturday. In several cases\, it is connecting them. \nThe Stroll Reaches Beyond the 0.7-Mile Core\nOne stop sits noticeably beyond the compact downtown route. \nThe Lyman Allyn Art Museum is offering its Free First Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.\, with Pick and Paint a Pumpkin from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. \nChildren can choose and decorate a pumpkin while supplies last\, and museum admission is free throughout the day. \nWe’ve covered that as its own event\, but the Art Stroll map deliberately includes Lyman Allyn\, creating a connection between downtown’s independent artists and one of New London’s major museums. \nDon’t Try to See This Like a Checklist\nWith 28 mapped locations and only five hours\, attempting to spend meaningful time at every stop would leave roughly ten minutes per location before accounting for walking. \nThat’s probably the wrong way to approach it anyway. \nLook at the map before leaving. Circle the artists\, performances or demonstrations you particularly want to see. Then allow yourself to wander into some places you didn’t plan on visiting. \nThat’s what makes the format work. \nA conventional arts festival brings the artists to one field. \nThe New London Art Stroll asks visitors to explore the city to find them. \n[ 2026 New London Art Stroll Map ] (pdf) \n2026 Art Stroll Artists & Makers\nUse the map numbers to find participating artists and makers along the route. \n1 — Fiddleheads Food Co-op\, 13 Broad Street: whydoirock\n2 — Red Square Gallery\, 116 Federal Street: Mike Alewitz; gallery tours at noon and 3 p.m.\n3 — St. James Episcopal Church\, 76 Federal Street: Louis Comfort Tiffany\, Cathy Cosby\, Roxanne Steed\, William Allyn and Garrett Brennan\n4 — Garde Arts Center\, 325 State Street: Maurene Kennedy\, Virginia Reyes Conde\, Trish Reyburn\, Heather Flynn\, Beth Pite\, Kira Seamon and Michael Congdon\n5 — Dewart Building\, 300 State Street: Katie Fogg\, Suite 310\, third floor; Esmeralda Bustamante and Ellen Kleckner\, Suite 203\, second floor\n8 — J. Cullers Studio\, 250 State Street: Jacob Cullers; studio closes at 1:30 p.m.\n9 — Washington Street Coffee House\, 13 Washington Street: Ebbe Dahlor\n12 — Harris Place Atrium\, 165 State Street: Vendor Market & Art Swap with Jac Meyers/TheBrassGlass\, Hanah Masters\, Olivia Wolfe\, Ari C.\, Alyssa Drake and Quinn Lee/Writer’s Block Ink\n14 — The Union Room\, 86 Golden Street: Vendor Market & Live Music with Ivan Abarca\, Chloe Dankocsik\, Theresa Bryan\, Sara Leone/The Verge Collective\, Patrick Miller/Dead Photo Society\, Bryan R. Tyler and Jaylynn Claudio\n16 — The Golden Owl Bookstore\, 19 Golden Street: Casaundra Fenty; Madeline Weisbeck presents poetry and open-mic spoken word\n26 — Old Testament Electric Tattooing\, 191 Bank Street: Eddie Shaw\n27 — Telegraph Autonomous Zone\, 137 Bank Street: Zachary Vincent\n28 — Tox Brewing\, 123 Bank Street: Toxoween Vendor Market with Dan Desrochers \n2026 Art Stroll Performances\nPerformances are spread across the Stroll rather than concentrated on one stage. \nThe Union Room — Map 14\, 86 Golden Street: Vendor market and live music\, including Sara Leone/The Verge Collective. Performances are listed at noon and 1 p.m. \nThe Golden Owl Bookstore — Map 16\, 19 Golden Street: Madeline Weisbeck presents a poetry reading and Open Mic Spoken Word. \nTelegraph Autonomous Zone — Map 27\, 137 Bank Street: Zachary Vincent is listed at 11:30 a.m.\, with another performance scheduled at 1 p.m. \nFavorites Bistro — Map 21\, 90 Bank Street: Performance scheduled for 3 p.m. \nDetails\nEvent: 2026 New London Art Stroll\nDate: Saturday\, Oct. 3\, 2026\nTime: 11 a.m.–4 p.m.\nLocation: Downtown New London and additional participating locations\nMain Route: Approximately 0.7 mile through downtown\nMapped Locations: 28\nAdmission: Free\nPresented By: New London Arts Council and New London Cultural District\nWhat You’ll Find: Painting\, sculpture\, photography\, jewelry\, mixed-media art\, fashion\, poetry\, spoken word\, live music\, printmaking\, open studios and other creative work\nGroup Art Shows: Four listed by organizers\nVendor Markets: Three listed by organizers\nSpecial Activities: Artist studio visits\, Red Square Gallery tours\, printmaking demonstration\, art swap\, fashion show\, poetry reading and open-mic spoken word\nInformation Booth: Corner of Eugene O’Neill Drive and Golden Street\nTimed Stop: J. Cullers Studio closes at 1:30 p.m.\nExpressiones Cultural Center: Open studio with Artist-in-Residence Ixel Orozco Peregrina\, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.\, 84 Bank Street\nHygienic Art: YART Sale\, noon–3 p.m.\nLyman Allyn Art Museum: Free admission 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Pick and Paint a Pumpkin 11 a.m.–1 p.m.\nParking: Several public parking areas are marked on the official Art Stroll map\nPlanning: Check the map before arriving because several performances\, tours and participating studios have their own scheduled times \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/new-london-art-stroll-turns-downtown-into-a-28-stop-citywide-gallery/
LOCATION:Downtown New London\, 181 State Street\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:Downtown New London
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/New-London-Art-Stroll-Turns-Downtown-Into-a-28-Stop-Citywide-Gallery.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T180000
DTSTAMP:20260903T140908Z
CREATED:20260903T140908Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T140908Z
UID:10007448-1791023400-1791050400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Connecticut Renaissance Faire 2026 Guide
DESCRIPTION:Connecticut Renaissance Faire 2026 transforms the Lebanon Country Fairgrounds into a sprawling 16th-century fantasy village for nine weekends of jousting\, comedy\, live music\, costumed characters\, artisan shopping\, food\, games and themed adventures. \nThe Faire runs from August 29 through October 25 at 122 Mack Road in Lebanon\, with regular hours from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. It also opens on holiday Mondays\, including Labor Day and Columbus Day. \nFor 2026\, the Faire is advertising more than 40 shows each day across 13 stages\, along with dozens of games and activities and more than 200 artisans\, food vendors and other merchants. \nAnd this isn’t an event where you simply watch from the sidelines. \nWalk through the gates and you enter a village populated by kings\, queens\, knights\, fairies\, musicians\, rogues and other characters who interact with visitors throughout the day. You can watch armored combat\, cheer at the joust\, throw an axe\, shop for a handmade sword or drinking horn\, take the kids on human-powered rides\, eat a turkey leg and end up in a conversation with a member of the royal court on the way to your next show. \nHere’s how to plan a day at the 2026 Connecticut Renaissance Faire. \nWhen Is the Connecticut Renaissance Faire?\nThe 2026 season runs from August 29 through October 25. \nThe Faire is generally open Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.\, with special openings on Labor Day and Columbus Day. \nThe season is divided into themed weekends\, so the experience changes as fall progresses. Themes for 2026 include Dragons & Dungeons\, Roses & Romance\, Shirefolk\, Faerie Ring Revels\, Pirates & Vikings\, Time Travelers\, All Hallows and the new Merry Macabre weekend. \nLabor Day weekend\, September 5–7\, is Dragons & Dungeons\, a fantasy-focused weekend built around quests\, heroes and legendary characters. \nCostumes aren’t required to attend. Some visitors arrive in everyday clothes\, while others treat the themed weekends as an opportunity to build elaborate Renaissance\, fantasy\, pirate\, Viking or other character costumes. \nHow Much Are Connecticut Renaissance Faire Tickets?\nGeneral admission for the 2026 season is $18 for adults and $10 for youth\, while children in the Faire’s child admission category enter free. \nAdmission covers the Faire itself and its regular stage performances. Certain games\, rides\, food\, drinks and premium experiences cost extra. \nOne useful change from the way some fairs and festivals operate is that there are no food tickets. Food and beverages are purchased directly from individual merchants. \nSame-day re-entry is also permitted with a handstamp\, so leaving the grounds doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your Faire day. \nStart With the Shows\nTrying to see everything at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire in one day is probably the wrong approach. \nThere are simply too many performances. \nThe 2026 Faire uses 13 stages and advertises more than 40 shows daily. Entertainment ranges from music and comedy to acrobatics\, combat demonstrations\, theatrical performances and interactive shows. \nOne of the biggest spectacles is the armored combat demonstration from the Knights of Gore. These aren’t performers simply swinging lightweight theatrical weapons around one another. The demonstrations feature fighters in plate armor engaging in full-contact medieval-style combat. \nThe Knights of Gore also present educational demonstrations throughout the day covering subjects such as medieval helmets\, the roles of knights and squires and siege weapons including the trebuchet. \nThe Joust Remains a Centerpiece\nIt’s difficult to imagine a Renaissance faire without knights charging toward one another on horseback. \nJousting remains one of the major attractions in Lebanon. \nThe 2026 season includes jousting from Roundtable Productions and Equus Nobilis\, both listed among the Faire’s new entertainment additions this year. \nThe joust combines horsemanship\, theatrical storytelling and medieval-style competition on a scale that’s difficult to replicate on one of the smaller stages. \nIf seeing a joust is high on your list\, check the schedule when you arrive and build the rest of the day around it rather than assuming you’ll simply stumble across the right performance. \nThere Is Plenty of Comedy\nNot everything involves swords and armor. \nComedy is scattered throughout the Faire\, sometimes on a stage and sometimes walking directly toward you in the lanes. \nThe Norfolk Theatricals specialize in interactive theatrical comedy\, presenting deliberately chaotic original plays with audience members sometimes pulled into the performance. \nBone Dallaire roams the grounds as a self-important thespian and playwright whose opinion of his own talent may exceed everyone else’s. \nThe Faire’s cast of Crown Players adds another layer of continuous theater. Instead of performing only at scheduled times\, characters inhabit the village and interact with guests throughout the day. \nThat distinction is important for first-time visitors. \nThe Connecticut Renaissance Faire isn’t simply a collection of scheduled shows surrounded by food booths. The space between the stages is part of the performance. \nMusic Runs From Celtic Traditions to Sea Chanteys\nLive music is another major part of the day. \nThe 2026 roster includes performers working with Celtic music\, traditional folk\, sea chanteys and other styles that fit naturally into the Faire setting. \nJesse Ofgang and the Diaspora\, new for 2026\, combine Scottish and Irish musical traditions with contemporary rhythms using instruments including bagpipes\, whistles and guitars. \nNemeton: Folk Fantasy Music and Dance brings an especially unusual collection of instruments to the Faire\, including bagpipes\, drums\, double flutes\, penny whistles\, English concertina\, medieval small pipes\, rauschpfeife and hurdy-gurdy. \nNew England’s Misfits of Avalon draw from Celtic music with hammered dulcimer\, mandolin\, guitar and violin. \nOther weekends bring different musicians\, including the maritime and Celtic sounds of the Crimson Pirates and southeastern Connecticut’s Bards of Gungywamp. \nBecause performers vary by themed weekend\, it’s worth checking the schedule for the specific date you’re attending. \nSome of the Best Entertainment Is Strange\nRenaissance faires have always left room for acts that don’t fit neatly into a category. \nThat’s part of the fun. \nFor 2026\, Fly by Night joins the Connecticut Faire with a combination of comedy\, juggling\, whip cracking and sideshow skills. The duo of Steve King and Ryan Roberts has been performing since 1990 and appeared as semifinalists on the fourth season of America’s Got Talent. \nCircus Stella puts rescued dogs into a circus environment alongside Dextre Tripp\, mixing canine tricks with juggling\, ladder balancing\, rope walking and unicycling. \nElsewhere\, visitors can encounter puppetry\, dance\, storytelling\, magic and roaming performers without necessarily planning to see them. \nLeave some empty space in the schedule. \nAt a Renaissance faire\, getting distracted is part of the itinerary. \nGames and Rides Go Beyond the Stages\nThere’s plenty to do when you want to participate rather than watch. \nThe Faire’s games and activities include old-fashioned and Renaissance-inspired challenges\, physical games and human-powered attractions. \nSome activities carry an additional fee. \nYou’ll find opportunities to test skill and strength\, explore the Royal Maze and take part in attractions spread throughout the village. \nFor families with younger children\, this can provide a useful break between longer stage performances. \nFor adults\, it can become surprisingly competitive. \nEat the Turkey Leg\, But Don’t Stop There\nYes\, there are giant turkey legs. \nThe Faire’s Turkey Legs and More stand serves the oversized roasted festival staple along with turkey sundaes\, mac and cheese\, smoked chicken\, lemonade and fried dough. \nBut the food selection has grown far beyond the Renaissance-faire stereotype. \nThe 2026 Faire lists 37 food merchants and seven pubs and taverns\, with meals\, desserts\, snacks and beverages distributed throughout the grounds. \nThere are burgers and hot dogs\, chicken sandwiches\, baked goods\, fried seafood\, sweets and a broad assortment of festival food. \nThe Faire also identifies vendors offering vegetarian\, vegan\, gluten-free and dairy-free choices. \nEvery food merchant is required to offer at least one item priced at $7\, an attempt to keep at least one lower-priced choice available at each location. \nOutside snacks and nonalcoholic drinks are also permitted. \nYou Can Walk the Faire With a Drink\nThere are no isolated beer tents requiring guests to remain inside a designated drinking area. \nAdults can purchase alcoholic beverages from the Faire’s pubs and taverns and carry their drinks while exploring the grounds. \nValid identification is required for alcohol purchases. \nThat also makes the taverns part of the atmosphere rather than simply concession stands. \nFor visitors looking for something more structured\, the Faire offers two separate 21-and-over experiences. \nThe Pub Crawl Is a 90-Minute Quest\nThe Connecticut Renaissance Faire Pub Crawl isn’t simply four drink tickets stapled together. \nThe approximately 90-minute experience is hosted by Fae Frostwhiperer and takes a group of no more than 15 participants through four Faire taverns. \nThere are four alcoholic drinks along the way\, but participants also complete challenges\, play games\, sing\, chant and interact with their guide. \nOne stop at Shattered Shield includes Liar’s Dice\, a vegetable platter and an exclusive small-batch mead that isn’t sold from the tavern’s regular menu. \nAnother stop includes a Test of Strength at King’s Inn Crossing. \nPub Crawls depart twice each Faire day\, at 11 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. \nThe price is $75\, plus a processing fee when purchased online. Tickets can also be purchased at Shattered Shield without the online processing fee\, although each crawl is limited to 15 participants and can sell out. \nParticipants must be 21 or older with valid identification. \nRegular Faire admission is not included with the Pub Crawl. \nWhiskey Tastings Offer a Quieter Break\nFor adults who prefer sipping to crawling\, guided whiskey tastings offer a considerably calmer experience. \nThe approximately one-hour sessions explore a curated selection of whiskies\, with hosts discussing origins\, production methods\, flavor profiles and techniques for nosing and tasting. \nCharcuterie is served alongside the pours. \nThe experience is designed for both beginners and experienced whiskey drinkers\, and advance reservations are strongly recommended because seating is intentionally limited. \nParticipants must be 21 or older and bring valid government-issued photo identification. \nLike the Pub Crawl\, a whiskey tasting is an additional experience. Regular Connecticut Renaissance Faire admission must be purchased separately. \nShopping Is a Major Part of the Faire\nDon’t treat the merchant area as an afterthought. \nThe Faire says the 2026 season includes 213 artisans\, games and food vendors\, with 32 new shops joining the grounds this year. \nThe marketplace is where the fantasy world starts becoming something you can take home. \nDepending on the merchant\, visitors can find clothing\, leatherwork\, jewelry\, drinking vessels\, artwork\, fantasy accessories\, home décor and handcrafted goods. \nSome merchants make items that are specifically useful for people building Renaissance or fantasy costumes\, while others sell pieces that work perfectly well outside the Faire. \nFor someone arriving without a costume\, the marketplace also provides an easy way to gradually become more appropriately dressed as the day progresses. \nYou may enter in jeans. \nThere is no guarantee you will leave without a cloak. \n2026 Is a Significant Expansion Year\nThe Faire has added a substantial amount of new material for 2026. \nIts official count includes 11 new shows\, 32 new shops and seven new food offerings. \nAmong the new entertainment are the two jousting productions\, Fly by Night and Jesse Ofgang and the Diaspora. \nThe Faire is also introducing Merry Macabre\, a new themed weekend for October 24–25 that takes the season into darker territory just before Halloween. \nThat expansion matters even to people who have attended in previous years. \nThe basic formula remains recognizable\, but the Faire is deliberately designed so returning on another weekend doesn’t simply reproduce the same day. \nBringing Kids to the Connecticut Renaissance Faire\nChildren don’t have to understand Renaissance history to find things to do here. \nThere are family-oriented performances\, interactive games\, rides and characters throughout the village. \nOne particularly memorable experience is the Knighting Ceremony with the King and Queen\, where children can present themselves before King Basil and Queen Gwendolyn Genevieve and receive royal recognition before the parade. \nThere are also quests and interactive encounters with the Knights of Gore. \nThe Faire’s combination of structured shows and wandering characters means children can become involved in the fantasy rather than spending the entire day watching adults perform. \nYes\, You Can Bring Your Pet\nThe Connecticut Renaissance Faire has an unusually broad pet policy. \nWell-behaved dogs\, cats\, rabbits\, ferrets\, rats and lizards are permitted. \nPet admission is $5 per animal\, while service animals enter free. \nDogs and cats must have proof of current rabies vaccination. A veterinarian’s letter\, email or current rabies tag can serve as proof. \nPets must remain on a non-retractable leash no longer than six feet and owners are responsible for cleaning up after them. \nLivestock\, horses\, donkeys\, mules and other large animals aren’t permitted. \nThe Faire advises owners to bring food and water for their animals. Water bowls may be available from merchants\, but pet food isn’t sold on the grounds. \nPets are also permitted on the parking shuttles. \nParking Has Changed for 2026\nThis is one section worth reading before leaving home. \nThe Faire has a new parking system for 2026. \nVisitors who want to park directly at the Faire grounds at 122 Mack Road can purchase Premium Parking for $10 per vehicle. \nThere are only 525 Premium Parking spaces available each Faire day\, and they must be purchased online in advance for the specific date you’re attending. \nYou cannot purchase Premium Parking when you arrive at the lot. \nVIP admission includes Premium Parking. \nThere are also 125 free ADA parking spaces at the main Faire site for vehicles displaying a valid handicapped placard or plate. These spaces can’t be reserved and are available on a first-available basis. \nMotorcycles can park at the main site for free. \nFree Parking and Shuttles Are Available\nYou don’t have to pay to park. \nThe Faire operates free satellite parking with continuous shuttle service beginning at 9:30 a.m. \nOne free lot is located at 744 Trumbull Highway in Lebanon. \nAdditional parking is available at Lebanon Middle School\, 891 Exeter Road\, and Lyman Memorial High School\, 917 Exeter Road. \nThere is one important wrinkle with the school lots: the shuttles do not pick up directly at the schools. \nGuests parking at either school walk to the Mobil station located between the two schools\, which serves as the shuttle pickup and drop-off point. \nThe last shuttle leaves the Faire 30 minutes after closing. \nAnd don’t blindly follow your GPS. \nThe Faire specifically warns visitors not to use Barker Road\, which police close to through traffic on Faire weekends. \nWhere to Stay\nFor visitors coming from farther away\, the Faire maintains a list of nearby lodging options rather than operating an on-site campground. \nBecause the event runs for nine weekends\, staying overnight can also make sense for visitors who want to attend both Saturday and Sunday without making the drive twice. \nCheck lodging availability early for popular themed weekends\, particularly as the season moves toward October and foliage season in eastern Connecticut. \nWhat First-Time Visitors Should Know\nThe easiest mistake is approaching the Connecticut Renaissance Faire like an attraction where everything follows one obvious route. \nIt doesn’t. \nThere are performances happening simultaneously\, characters wandering the lanes\, merchants to explore\, food to try and activities that can consume far more time than expected. \nCheck the day’s performance schedule first and choose the handful of shows you really don’t want to miss. \nThen allow the rest of the day to happen around them. \nYou might stop for lunch and encounter a roaming performer. \nYou might head toward a stage and spend 30 minutes shopping instead. \nYou might intend to watch one song and stay for an entire set. \nThat’s not poor planning. \nThat’s pretty much how a Renaissance faire is supposed to work. \nConnecticut Renaissance Faire 2026 Details\nEvent: Connecticut Renaissance Faire\nSeason: August 29–October 25\, 2026\nRegular Days: Saturdays and Sundays\, plus Labor Day and Columbus Day\nHours: 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m.\nLocation: Lebanon Country Fairgrounds\nAddress: 122 Mack Road\, Lebanon\, CT 06249\nAdult General Admission: $18\nYouth Admission: $10\nChild Admission: Free\nEntertainment: More than 40 shows daily across 13 stages\nMarketplace: More than 200 artisans\, food vendors\, games and other merchants\nFood: 37 food merchants and seven pubs and taverns\nPremium On-Site Parking: $10\, advance date-specific purchase required\nFree Parking: Satellite lots with shuttle service\nPet Admission: $5; service animals free\nSame-Day Re-Entry: Permitted with handstamp\nOutside Food: Snacks and nonalcoholic drinks permitted \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \n  \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/connecticut-renaissance-faire-2026-guide/2026-10-03/
LOCATION:Lebanon Fair Grounds\, 122 Mack Road\, Lebanon\, 06249\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lebanon Fairgrounds
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Connecticut-Renaissance-Faire-2026-Guide.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T200000
DTSTAMP:20261001T020837Z
CREATED:20261001T020837Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T020837Z
UID:10009213-1791021600-1791057600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Connecticut International Auto Show Adds an Off-Road Adventure to Mohegan Sun
DESCRIPTION:Connecticut International Auto Show Adds an Off-Road Adventure to Mohegan Sun Oct. 3 and 4\, filling the Earth Expo Center with the newest cars\, trucks\, SUVs\, hybrids and EVs alongside luxury vehicles\, exotics\, customs and classics. \nBut this year’s show isn’t staying entirely on the pavement. \nFor 2026\, organizers are adding the Overland Connecticut Exhibit\, a new section devoted to the increasingly popular world of vehicle-based outdoor travel. Adventure-ready trucks and SUVs will share space with off-road builds\, camping setups\, outdoor equipment and accessories designed for people whose idea of a road trip includes the point where the road ends. \nIt substantially broadens a show traditionally built around one simple pleasure: walking through a huge room full of vehicles and being allowed to get close to them. \nThis Is a Car Show You Can Climb Into\nThe Connecticut International Auto Show isn’t structured like a velvet-rope concours where visitors admire rare automobiles from a safe distance. \nMuch of the show floor is essentially an enormous automotive showroom. \nVisitors can sit inside participating new vehicles\, inspect interiors\, compare passenger and cargo space and move directly between competing models without driving from dealership to dealership. \nProduct specialists and automotive representatives will be on the floor to explain technology and features and answer questions. \nThat makes the show useful for two very different audiences. \nSomeone considering a new vehicle can compare models in one place. \nSomeone who simply likes cars can spend hours moving between everything from practical family transportation to vehicles that aren’t particularly practical at all. \nNew for 2026: Overland Connecticut\nThe most significant addition this year reflects a part of automotive culture that has exploded well beyond traditional off-roading. \nOverlanding combines vehicles\, camping and self-contained travel\, typically using trucks or SUVs equipped to carry people and equipment into places where hotels and paved parking lots aren’t necessarily part of the plan. \nThe new Overland Connecticut Exhibit brings that culture inside the Expo Center. \nOrganizers say the display will include adventure-ready vehicles\, custom off-road builds\, camping configurations\, outdoor equipment and accessories. \nThat means visitors interested in trucks and SUVs aren’t limited to seeing them as they arrived from the factory. The exhibit provides a look at what those vehicles can become when they’re configured for camping\, trail travel and extended outdoor trips. \nIt’s a different world from the polished luxury cars elsewhere on the floor\, which is precisely why it makes the show more interesting. \nGas\, Hybrid and Electric Under One Roof\nThe modern auto show has also become a place to watch the industry’s transition happening in real time. \nConventional gasoline vehicles now share show floors with hybrids\, plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles\, often from manufacturers pursuing very different ideas about what comes next. \nThat gives visitors an opportunity to compare more than styling. \nScreens and software have replaced many traditional dashboard controls. Driver-assistance systems continue to expand. Electric vehicles have created different approaches to interior space because there’s no conventional engine occupying the front of the vehicle. Hybrids offer another solution for drivers who want improved efficiency without relying entirely on charging. \nFor someone who hasn’t seriously shopped for a vehicle in five or ten years\, simply sitting in several current models can be an education in how quickly automobiles have changed. \nThen There Are the Cars Nobody Needs an Excuse to Look At\nNot everything on the floor has to be a potential purchase. \nThe show also incorporates luxury vehicles\, exotic cars\, customs and classics\, providing a counterweight to the practical side of comparison shopping. \nThat mixture has always been part of the appeal of a large auto show. \nYou can inspect something sensible enough for the school run\, move to an electric vehicle packed with new technology\, study a lifted off-road truck built for the woods and then find yourself standing beside an exotic car that exists primarily because somebody decided automobiles should occasionally be outrageous. \nThe floor plan and specific automotive exhibitors can change\, so anyone attending specifically to see a particular manufacturer or model should check the show’s current floor plan before heading to Uncasville. \nMore Than 100\,000 Square Feet of Cars\nThe venue helps explain the scale. (Map of car manufacturers) \nMohegan Sun’s Earth Expo Center provides roughly 125\,000 square feet of contiguous\, column-free exhibition space\, making it possible to create a single enormous automotive floor rather than breaking the show into a collection of small rooms. \nThe facility was designed for events that need to bring genuinely large objects indoors. Its infrastructure includes multiple loading docks and grade-level drive-in doors capable of accommodating vehicles and trucks. \nFor an auto show\, that’s essentially a very large blank canvas. \nThe Connecticut International Auto Show is owned by the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association and produced by Steve Freeman Events. Organizers say it attracts thousands of visitors annually. \nMake Sunday a Cars-and-Concert Day\nSunday’s show also happens to fall in the middle of an unusually busy weekend at Mohegan Sun. \nThe Auto Show runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday\, Oct. 4\, while the Foo Fighters play Mohegan Sun Arena that evening as part of the resort’s 30th birthday celebration. \nThe Arena and Earth Expo Center are separate venues within the resort\, so the concert is not included with Auto Show admission. But for someone interested in both\, the timing makes it possible to spend the afternoon looking at cars and stay at Mohegan Sun for the concert that night. \nThat’s going to make Sunday particularly busy around the property\, so allowing extra time for parking and getting around the resort would be sensible. \nThe Cheapest Tickets Are for Kids — and Some Visitors Pay Nothing\nAdmission remains relatively inexpensive for a large indoor show. \nAdults are $14\, seniors are $10\, and children ages 6 through 12 are $6. Children younger than 6 are admitted free. \nActive and retired military personnel also receive free admission with appropriate military identification. The official ticket information says accompanying guests of eligible military members receive $2 off when tickets are obtained at the box office. \nThe ticket prices listed by the show include additional fees and services. \nParking is also free. \nThe Winter Garage is the closest garage to the Earth Expo Center\, making it the most convenient place to start if the Auto Show is the primary reason for the visit. \nMohegan Sun has more than 13\,000 parking spaces across the property\, with additional garages and lots available when needed. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. To purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Connecticut International Auto Show\nDates: Saturday\, Oct. 3 and Sunday\, Oct. 4\, 2026\nSaturday Hours: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.\nSunday Hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.\nVenue: Mohegan Sun Earth Expo Center\nAddress: 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard\, Uncasville\, CT 06382\nFeatured Vehicles: New cars\, trucks\, SUVs\, hybrids and EVs\, plus luxury vehicles\, exotics\, customs and classics\nNew for 2026: Overland Connecticut Exhibit featuring adventure vehicles\, off-road builds\, camping setups\, outdoor gear and accessories\nAdult Admission: $14\nSeniors: $10\nChildren Ages 6–12: $6\nChildren Under 6: Free\nMilitary: Free for active and retired military with appropriate ID; accompanying guests receive $2 off at the box office\nParking: Free\nRecommended Parking: Winter Garage\, immediately adjacent to the Earth Expo Center\nShow Floor: Exhibitors and vehicles are subject to change; check the current floor plan if you’re attending for a specific brand\nSecurity: Bags are subject to search and magnetometers may be in use\nAccessibility: The Earth Expo & Convention Center is accessible; accessible restrooms and elevators are available throughout Mohegan Sun\, and wheelchairs are available on a limited first-come\, first-served basis \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/connecticut-international-auto-show-adds-an-off-road-adventure-to-mohegan-sun/2026-10-03/
LOCATION:Rainmaker Expo\, 350 Trolley Line Boulevard\, Mashantucket\, 06338\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mohegan Sun
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Connecticut-International-Auto-Show-Adds-an-Off-Road-Adventure-to-Mohegan-Sun.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T180000
DTSTAMP:20261005T024211Z
CREATED:20261005T024211Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261005T024211Z
UID:10009236-1791021600-1791050400@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/2026-10-03/
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:20261003T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T170000
DTSTAMP:20261001T183158Z
CREATED:20261001T183158Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T183158Z
UID:10009226-1791021600-1791046800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:145 Juried Artists Take Over the Old Saybrook Town Green for a 62-Year Tradition
DESCRIPTION:145 Juried Artists Take Over the Old Saybrook Town Green for a 62-Year Tradition Oct. 3 and 4\, filling the center of Old Saybrook with paintings\, pottery\, glass\, jewelry\, photography\, sculpture\, fiber art\, metalwork\, woodcraft\, and enough mixed-media work to make a quick lap around the Green almost impossible. \nThe 62nd Annual Old Saybrook Arts & Crafts Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday on the Old Saybrook Town Green at 300 Main Street. \nAnd this is not an open-registration craft market where anybody with a folding table can buy a space. \nArtists and crafters apply to the Greater Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce\, submit photographs of their work\, and go through a jury process before being accepted. The Chamber says that process is intended to maintain both the quality and variety of the show. \nThe result this year is a sprawling roster of 145 artists and crafters working across nearly every medium you could reasonably expect to encounter at an outdoor art festival. \nThis One Rewards Browsing\nThere isn’t really one dominant art form here. \nTraditional painters are working in acrylics\, oils and watercolor. There are photographers and printmakers\, potters and ceramicists\, glass artists\, jewelers\, quilters\, woodworkers and metal artists. \nThen there are the exhibitors who don’t fit neatly into any of those boxes. \nThe mixed-media section alone contains nearly 30 exhibitors\, with coastal art\, maps\, shell work\, woodcraft\, decorative pieces and combinations of materials that explain why the Chamber needs a catch-all category in the first place. \nThat variety is one of the things separating a juried festival of this size from a smaller maker market. Someone looking for an original painting can spend the afternoon very differently from someone hunting for handmade jewelry\, stained glass\, pottery or something unusual for the house. \nSome Familiar Southeastern Connecticut Names Are Going West\nThere are exhibitors from well beyond Old Saybrook\, including some familiar names from southeastern Connecticut. \nMichelle Yozzo Drake of Drift by Stonington Designs is among the jewelry exhibitors. Her work draws heavily on the shoreline\, incorporating coastal influences into handcrafted jewelry. \nIan Evertson of Rogers Lake Woodworking is represented in the wood category\, while Devon Marsden of Oyster River Arts appears among the glass artists. \nThe broader roster stretches well beyond Connecticut as well. Weihong Liu Pan of Weih Fine Arts Studio in New York is among the acrylic painters\, one indication that the festival’s reach extends beyond the immediate shoreline. \nArtist Joseph Mushipi also independently lists the Old Saybrook festival on his 2026 exhibition schedule. \nPotter Robert Fishman is bringing a particularly broad collection of functional work. His current catalog includes mugs\, ramen bowls\, platters\, serving bowls\, goblets\, vases\, pitchers\, brie bakers\, cheese-and-cracker trays\, tagines and other handmade pieces. \nSo while “arts and crafts” can sometimes suggest primarily decorative work\, quite a bit here is intended to go home and actually be used. \nThe Festival Has Moved Into Fall\nLongtime residents may remember this as a summer event. \nThey’re remembering correctly. \nThe Old Saybrook Arts & Crafts Festival was traditionally held in July. The 55th edition\, for example\, took place in late July 2018. By the 58th festival in 2022\, the event had moved to the beginning of October. \nIt has stayed there. \nThe 2023 festival straddled September and October\, while the 2024\, 2025 and now 2026 editions have occupied the first weekend of October. \nThat gives today’s festival a noticeably different setting from its midsummer predecessor. Instead of being another event competing for attention during peak shoreline season\, it has become one of Old Saybrook’s major early-fall weekends. \nThere’s still some outdated information online describing the festival as a July event. For 2026\, the Greater Old Saybrook Chamber’s current schedule is definitive: Oct. 3 and 4. \nMore Than a Century of Art\, Spread Across One Green\nThe individual exhibitors are what make the weekend worth exploring\, and the Chamber has published its 2026 roster by medium. \nAcrylics: Andrew Armas — Andrew Armas Creations; Charlotte Leigh — Charleigh’s Web; Joseph Mushipi — Joseph Mushipi Visual Art; Weihong Liu Pan — Weih Fine Arts Studio\, NY; Zach Prosser — Zach Prosser Art; Lauren Sommerville — L. E. Sommerville Fine Art; Jeanette Vertentes — Jeanette Vertentes Fine Art; Iva Vranova — Iva’s Whimsical Art. \nCeramics: Megan McNivens — Knollwood Pottery; Missy Niemeyer — Missy’s Clayworks; Janet Osorio — Mill Court Ceramics; Kenneth Picard — Ken Picard Fine Arts. \nConsumables: Jo Atkinson — Muddy Mary’s Gourmet; Aimee Belknap — Cedar Island Candle Co.; Stacie Bourne — Gourmet Creations; Frances Bousquet — Crows Feet Primitive Candle Co.; Marlow Bull — Page of Wands Candles; Sahra Deer — Isankofa Skincare; Ryan and Grace O’Connor — Age of Grace CBD; Paul Scott — Seven Barrels; David Wallace — Bittersweet Herb Farm. \nEmbellishment: Claudia Cormier — Claudia Cormier; Linda Wojtasinski — Periwinkle Designs. \nFiber: Jessica Boyd — Krafty Corner; Eileen Breault — LeenB Bags; Jenny Csedrik — Lip Positive Threads; Sharon Gatzke — Now and Then; Robin Parker — Log Cabin Quilts; Tracy Pearson — Tracys Treasures; Judith Shaw — Pillows and Pillowcases; Sally Strasser — Taleo Handmade; Linda Yahyaoglu — Nayuka Design LLC. \nGlass: Rebecca Grills — Summer Glass; Constance Guerra — The Constance Collection; Beverly Hartmann — Blue Hearts Glass; India Kenyon — Cutie Curls Boutique; Devon Marsden — Oyster River Arts; Thomas O’Connell — Siena Stained Glass LLC; Cole Quinn — Blown Away Glass Studio; Marylee Schwarzer — Shattered Glass Studios. \nGraphics: Bill Dougal — DougalArt; James Polisky — James Polisky Silkscreen Art. \nJewelry: Brittany Bauer — Milly’s Clay Studio; Abigail Boeshans — Busy Bee Gallery; Alison Cargill — Alison Designs LLC; Linda Davidson — Quilibet; Laura Delvecchio — Bead Dangle Design; Melissa Fego — Fego Gioielli Jewelry; Sema Gurek — Floweredsky Designs; Robyn Hohenemser — Golden R Golden Designs; Daniel Kalisz — The Silver Seashell; Mackenzie Law — Edgeworth; Emily Munska — The Pirate’s Daughter; Karen Parker — K+T Jewelry & Accessories; Nick and Hillary Rezendes — M&D Fine Jewelry; Nancy Riley — String of Joy; Jill Scholsohn — Riverstone Jewelry; Davide Shapiro — American Princess; Julie Siegmund — Carnelian Knoll; Sharon Smith — Alling S Alling Jewelry Designs; Monique Sousa — MPearl; Gay Touma — Jewels Verne Jewelers; Wendy Waugaman — WLW Designs; Lina Wilder — Idle Gauds Jewelry & Metals; Michelle Yozzo Drake — Drift by Stonington Designs. \nLeather: Amy Corda — Amy Lee Bags; Michelle and Michael Vicino — Scarfbuckles. \nMetal: Troy Antoniewicz — Copper Rose Forge; Tiffany DeAngelo — Tiffany’s Trees; George Gabriel — Infinity Art; Rob Steinhilper — Rustic Iron Metalwork; James Takaki — Iron Arts. \nMixed Media: Stephen Allen — Shoreline Crafts LLC; Jennifer Avallone — Cahill JGA Creations; Andee Axe — Andee Axe; Jackie Barry — Jackie Art & Designs; Kristin Cafferty — Kristin Cafferty Art; Wendy Cole — Hydrangea Blue Design; Lora Congelosi — Lora’s Shell Decor; Chris Conti — Hadlyme GraphicWorks; Julie Cote — J. Cote Art and Coastal Creations; Gill Feng — Beadtopia; Maryann Gatheral — Designs By Maryann; Louise Gorsline — The Painted Lady; Don Hart — Hart Woodcrafts; Alexandra and Jeremiah Hazel — October Cult; Barbara Hernandez — Boot’s Creations USA; Emily Keating — Emily Keating Art; Amy Macy — 86 Pool Road; Christine McCarthy — Artful Intuition; Michael Michaud — Mijumi Art; Christine Montano — Shore-Line Creations; Kate and Bill Murphy — Vintage Times Maps; Sergei Novikov — Speaking Music; David Poppie — Oxbow Art and Design; Karen Preli — Karen Preli Design; Kim Previti — Beyond Beautiful by Kim; Michelle Sansevero — Beachling; Tammi Sauco — Grateful Heart Art; Esther Schiff — Salty Expressions; Margie Sleboda — Margie Sherman Design; Breanna Wentworth — Sea Bre’s Creations. \nOils: Julie Brayton — Julie Brayton Fine Art; Jeanne DeCoste — JeanneDeCosteART; Bob Ferraro — Bob Ferraro Studios; Fran Henderson — Henderson Studio; Catherine Johansen — Cathy Johansen; Frank Oggeri — Natural Settings Fine Art; Brian O’Malley — Brian C. O’Malley Artworks; Carlos Rios — Carlos Rios Gallery; Judith Shea — Jude Niosi Art. \nPhotography: Roger Charbonneau — Jr Roger’s Pix Photography; John and Marie Geary — JEMPV; Doug Hockman — Doug Hockman Photography; Hannah McAllister — Cladach Living; Nancy Nielsen — Nansea Studio; Eric Parnes; Jeffrey Payette — Ffej Photography. \nPottery: Rachel Brown — Deep Earth Pottery; Robert Fishman — Robert Fishman Pottery; Pat Shea-Orzechowski — Pottery by Shea. \nSculpture: Linda Hayden — Hayden Creations. \nWatercolors: Sakara Perry — Sakara Perry Studio. \nWood: Julianna Cameron — Julianna Design; Charles Clark — CB’s Creations; Ian Evertson — Rogers Lake Woodworking; Debi Hitter — Ms. Sticks; Fred Jakubiec — Birdhouse Accents; Judy and Dan Liddle — Old Tyme Toys; Peter Scotella — JAMShome Design LLC; Brahim Sehili — Unique-Touches. \nSaturday Has Another Reason to Walk Main Street\nThere’s an easy way to turn the festival into a larger Old Saybrook morning. \nThe Old Saybrook Farmers’ Market is scheduled for the same Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 210 Main Street\, a short distance from the festival. \nThat means early arrivals can start at the farmers market and continue to the Town Green when the art festival opens at 10. \nThe location also puts festival visitors directly on Old Saybrook’s Main Street rather than at an isolated fairground. Restaurants\, shops and the rest of downtown remain within walking distance once you’ve finished—or need a break from—the rows of booths. \nSixty-Two Years Is the Other Thing Worth Noticing\nThe scale is impressive\, but longevity may say more about this event. \nAn annual community festival doesn’t reach its 62nd edition because somebody found a successful social-media campaign. It gets there because generations of exhibitors and visitors continue putting it on the calendar. \nThe format is uncomplicated: put a large collection of juried artists on the Town Green\, give people most of two days to explore it and let the work do the selling. \nFor someone casually browsing\, that means plenty of relatively accessible handmade items and gifts. \nFor someone actually looking for art\, there are enough painters\, photographers\, potters\, glass artists and sculptors here to spend considerably more time comparing work than the words “craft festival” might suggest. \nAnd unlike a gallery exhibition\, there’s another advantage: in most cases\, the person standing behind the work is the person who made it. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: 62nd Annual Old Saybrook Arts & Crafts Festival\nDates: Saturday\, Oct. 3 and Sunday\, Oct. 4\, 2026\nSaturday Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.\nSunday Hours: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.\nLocation: Old Saybrook Town Green\nAddress: 300 Main Street\, Old Saybrook\, CT 06475\nAdmission: Free\nArtists and Crafters: 145 listed in the Chamber’s 2026 event registration; the festival page describes the event as featuring more than 150\nSelection: Juried; applicants submit photographs of their work for review\nArt and Craft Categories: Acrylics\, ceramics\, consumables\, embellishment\, fiber\, glass\, graphics\, jewelry\, leather\, metal\, mixed media\, oils\, photography\, pottery\, sculpture\, watercolor and wood\nFood: Food is available at the festival; current sources indicate local civic organizations have traditionally handled food service rather than a conventional lineup of commercial festival food vendors\nSaturday Nearby: Old Saybrook Farmers’ Market\, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.\, 210 Main Street\nParking: Free parking is reported for the festival; follow posted event parking directions on arrival\nAccessibility: The festival is outdoors on the Town Green; an event listing identifies accessible amenities\, but visitors needing specific accommodations should contact the Chamber before attending\nWeather: Outdoor event; check the Greater Old Saybrook Chamber for any weather-related changes\nOrganizer: Greater Old Saybrook Chamber\nContact: 860-388-3266 \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/145-juried-artists-take-over-the-old-saybrook-town-green-for-a-62-year-tradition/2026-10-03/
LOCATION:Old Saybrook Town Green\, 308 Main St\,\, Old Saybrook\, 06475\, United States
CATEGORIES:Old Saybrook Town Green
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/145-Juried-Artists-Take-Over-the-Old-Saybrook-Town-Green-for-a-62-Year-Tradition.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T170000
DTSTAMP:20261001T171444Z
CREATED:20261001T171447Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T171444Z
UID:10009224-1791021600-1791046800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Pick and Paint a Pumpkin Turns Free First Saturday Into a Fall Family Day at Lyman Allyn
DESCRIPTION:Pick and Paint a Pumpkin Turns Free First Saturday Into a Fall Family Day at Lyman Allyn Oct. 3\, combining the New London museum’s monthly free-admission day with pumpkins\, paint\, live animals\, and dancing witches. \nThe pumpkin painting itself runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.\, but there’s an important distinction in the schedule: admission to the Lyman Allyn Art Museum is free for the entire day\, from its 10 a.m. opening until 5 p.m. \nThat makes this considerably more than a two-hour children’s craft project. Families can paint a pumpkin\, meet some animals\, and then spend the rest of the visit exploring the museum without paying regular admission. \nAnd there happens to be quite a bit to see inside right now. \nThe Pumpkins Are for the Kids\nThis is Lyman Allyn’s annual Pick and Paint a Pumpkin edition of Free First Saturday. \nChildren get a pumpkin to decorate in the museum’s art studio\, with the museum providing the artmaking activity. There is one catch worth knowing before promising a pumpkin on the drive over: pumpkins are reserved for children and are available first come\, first served. \nThe museum also advises families to dress for mess\, which seems like sound advice anytime children\, paint and pumpkins are put in the same room. \nThe art project runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. \nThere Are Animals and Dancing Witches\, Too\nThis year’s event expands beyond the art studio. \nXen’s Critters will bring its mobile petting zoo to the museum\, adding live animals to the afternoon\, while the Wayward Witches are scheduled to provide dancing as part of the festivities. \nThat gives younger visitors several things to move between rather than asking them to spend two hours working on a single craft. \nThe entire program is free. \nFree First Saturdays are supported by Chelsea Groton Bank and Dime Bank\, and they’re part of a larger effort by Lyman Allyn to make the museum approachable as a place where families can actually do something rather than simply walk through galleries. \nThe museum regularly schedules artmaking on the first and third Saturdays of the month\, with Free First Saturday occupying the first weekend and other family programming appearing throughout the calendar. \nDon’t Leave After the Pumpkin Is Painted\nThe timing of this particular Free First Saturday makes the free museum admission especially useful. \nTwo temporary exhibitions will be open Oct. 3\, including one that’s entering its final weekend. \nHoward McCalebb: The Golden Mean closes the following day\, Oct. 4. \nMcCalebb’s exhibition explores the artist’s long fascination with the Golden Ratio through sculpture and other work. The mathematical proportion has appeared repeatedly in discussions of art\, architecture and design\, but McCalebb approaches geometry as a working visual language\, building compositions from proportion\, form and spatial relationships. \nSo a child can spend part of the morning freely covering a pumpkin with paint and then encounter an artist upstairs doing almost the opposite: carefully constructing work around geometry and proportion. \nThe exhibition has been on view since June 27. Oct. 3 is the next-to-last opportunity to see it. \nNew London’s Whaling Families Are Looking Back From the Walls\nThe museum’s other major temporary exhibition is much more closely tied to New London itself. \nIsaac Sheffield: Portraits from New London’s Whaling Era\, which opened Sept. 12\, is the first exhibition devoted specifically to Sheffield’s work. \nSheffield painted portraits and portrait miniatures during the 1830s and 1840s\, placing his career directly inside the period when New London’s fortunes were increasingly connected to whaling and maritime commerce. \nThe exhibition uses those portraits to put faces to that era rather than treating whaling simply as ships\, harpoons and statistics. \nIt remains on view through Jan. 3\, 2027. \nThere’s a Surprisingly Good Children’s Gallery Downstairs\nFamilies coming specifically for pumpkin painting should also know about Playthings of the Past\, one of the museum’s permanent family spaces. \nDesigned particularly with children ages 3 to 10 in mind\, the gallery explores childhood through historic toys\, dolls and playthings from the museum’s collection. \nAmong its highlights is an elaborate Victorian dollhouse constructed for the museum in 1962\, with miniature furnishings representing domestic life from the Victorian period into the early 20th century. \nIt’s an unusually good fit for Free First Saturday because it gives younger children somewhere inside the museum that was created with them specifically in mind. \nElsewhere\, adults can explore American Perspectives\, which follows American art and decorative arts from the colonial period through the 20th century\, often through the particular history of Connecticut and New London County. \nThe museum’s permanent Louis Comfort Tiffany in New London exhibition also examines Tiffany’s connections to the region through stained glass\, lamps\, Favrile glass\, jewelry\, paintings\, silver and archival material. \nA Museum That’s Been Here Since 1932\nThe Lyman Allyn itself is approaching a century in New London. \nThe museum opened in 1932 and today holds a broad collection particularly strong in American painting and decorative arts while also presenting changing historical and contemporary exhibitions. \nIts imposing neoclassical building sits at 625 Williams Street\, adjacent to Connecticut College. \nThe grounds outside are currently undergoing a major transformation of their own. The museum is developing Lyman Allyn Park\, a planned 12-acre public urban art park surrounding the institution. \nThe museum remains open during construction\, although visitors may encounter construction activity and noise while entering and leaving the building. \nThat is worth knowing for families arriving expecting the grounds to look exactly as they may remember them from previous visits. \nFree Really Does Mean Free\nRegular adult admission to Lyman Allyn is currently $12\, with seniors paying $9 and active military $7. Children 12 and younger\, New London residents and museum members are among those who already qualify for free admission. \nOn the first Saturday\, those distinctions disappear: general museum admission is free for everyone. \nThat means there’s little reason to treat the pumpkin activity as the entire visit. \nCome for the pumpkin. Let the kids meet the animals and watch the witches. Then head into the galleries\, find the children’s collection downstairs\, look at Tiffany glass\, meet some of the faces of New London’s whaling era and catch The Golden Mean before it closes the following afternoon. \nSpecial event traveling and parking information: \n\nEntrance to the museum grounds is at 625 Williams Street.\nThe museum driveway will be single lane\, one way\, driving heading towards. One side of the driveway will be available for parallel parking.\nMain activities will take place in the museum’s new parking lot. The other half will be available for parking.\nOverflow parking will be located at the Connecticut College South Lot.\nAttendees can exit the event back to Williams Street via the Connecticut College service road.\nWe appreciate everyone’s efforts to drive carefully and watch out for children!\n\n \nDetails\nEvent: Free First Saturday – Pick and Paint a Pumpkin\nDate: Saturday\, Oct. 3\, 2026\nLocation: Lyman Allyn Art Museum\nAddress: 625 Williams Street\, New London\, CT 06320\nMuseum Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; last admission at 4 p.m.\nSpecial Activities: 11 a.m.–1 p.m.\nAdmission: Free all day\nPumpkin Painting: Children only; pumpkins available first come\, first served\nOther Activities: Xen’s Critters mobile petting zoo and dancing with the Wayward Witches\nWhat to Wear: Clothing appropriate for potentially messy artmaking\nCurrent Exhibitions: Isaac Sheffield: Portraits from New London’s Whaling Era and Howard McCalebb: The Golden Mean\nLast Weekend: Howard McCalebb: The Golden Mean closes Sunday\, Oct. 4\nAccessibility: Public museum areas are wheelchair accessible; a side-entrance ramp is available\, and the museum has one wheelchair available to borrow on a first-come basis\nStrollers: Public areas are stroller accessible\nConstruction: The museum remains open while work continues on Lyman Allyn Park; visitors may encounter construction activity or noise around the grounds\nPhone: 860-443-2545 \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/pick-and-paint-a-pumpkin-turns-free-first-saturday-into-a-fall-family-day-at-lyman-allyn/
LOCATION:Lyman Allyn Art Museum\, 625 Williams St\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lyman Allyn Art Museum
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Pick-and-Paint-a-Pumpkin-Turns-Free-First-Saturday-Into-a-Fall-Family-Day-at-Lyman-Allyn.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T160000
DTSTAMP:20261001T174931Z
CREATED:20261001T174931Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T174931Z
UID:10009225-1791021600-1791043200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Niantic Artisan & Vintage Market Turns Downtown Into a Village-Wide Treasure Hunt
DESCRIPTION:Niantic Artisan & Vintage Market Turns Downtown Into a Village-Wide Treasure Hunt Oct. 3\, spreading visiting vendors\, vintage finds\, handmade goods\, food trucks\, and even a chainsaw demonstration across downtown Niantic rather than containing everything inside a single fairground. \nThe market runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday\, with vendors setting up in several locations throughout the village and along the Main Street shopping district. Instead of walking rows of identical tents in one field\, visitors can move through downtown\, browse temporary vendors and duck into Niantic’s existing shops along the way. \nThe organizers describe the mix as local artisans\, vintage finds\, handcrafted and bespoke goods\, and antique treasures\, with participating downtown businesses also planning store specials for the day. \nAnd judging from the response to the event on Facebook\, plenty of people have already put it on their Saturday plans: more than 1\,000 people have indicated interest in the event. \nThe Market Spreads Across Downtown\nThis isn’t a market with one entrance or a single central vendor area. \nNiantic Main Street describes it as village-wide\, with vendors occupying several areas around downtown. At least one participating artisan\, Connecticut ceramic artist JQ Clay\, says vendors will line the Main Street strip and that her booth will be positioned in front of Grace. \nWilks Works\, the Niantic shop specializing in handmade candles\, room sprays and car diffusers\, is also promoting the market as a town-wide event. \nThat decentralized layout is really the point. \nNiantic already has an unusually walkable collection of independent stores\, restaurants and waterfront spaces packed into its downtown. The Artisan & Vintage Market essentially adds another layer of temporary shops to the existing ones for six hours. \nVintage Finds\, Handmade Goods and Antique Treasures\nThere isn’t a complete 2026 vendor roster available\, so anyone looking for a booth-by-booth preview is out of luck. \nWhat organizers have announced is deliberately broad: vintage pieces\, antiques\, handmade items\, artisan goods and one-of-a-kind finds\, with visiting vendors joining the permanent downtown businesses. \nThat makes this less of a conventional craft fair and more of a browse-until-something-stops-you kind of market. \nThe event has been part of Niantic Main Street’s calendar for several years. Earlier editions followed the same village-wide concept\, mixing artists and artisans with vintage goods\, downtown shopping\, food and other attractions. \nThe market itself was spearheaded by longtime Niantic Main Street volunteer and board member Sue Kumro\, whose work with the downtown organization has included several of its community events. \nFour Food Trucks Are Coming to Main Street\nOrganizers have now filled in one of the biggest blanks in the original event listing: food. \nSaturday’s announced lineup includes Beach Buns\, Curb Your Appetite\, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee of Mystic and Kona Ice. \nThat gives visitors options for grabbing something while working their way through the market instead of treating shopping and lunch as separate stops. \nOther food vendors may be present around town\, but those are the four mobile vendors specifically announced by Niantic Main Street for Saturday. \nThere’s a Chainsaw Demonstration at Scheer Park\nThe day’s strangest attraction may also be one of the more interesting reasons to wander beyond the vendor tables. \nOrganizers have announced a chainsaw demonstration at Scheer Park. \nNo detailed demonstration schedule has been published\, so this isn’t something we’d recommend planning an arrival time around. But it adds another stop to what is already intended to be a walk-around-the-village event. \nScheer Park sits along Main Street and is also closely connected to another increasingly recognizable Niantic tradition. \nYou Can Get an Early Start on the Buoy Trees\nNiantic Main Street will have a tent at the Old Police Station\, where visitors can purchase a buoy for the organization’s annual Niantic Buoy Trees. \nThe holiday installation transforms Scheer Park into what the organization calls a little tree farm\, with tree-shaped structures covered in hundreds of individually decorated buoys contributed by people\, organizations and businesses from around the region. \nThis year’s Buoys by the Bay display is scheduled to open Nov. 20 and remain up into January. \nSaturday’s market therefore provides an early opportunity to pick up a buoy and become part of the display before the holiday season arrives. \nIt’s a Market Designed Around Niantic Itself\nThat’s probably the most useful way to approach this event. \nThere isn’t a published list of 75 vendors to methodically check off\, a stage schedule to follow or a single fairground to navigate. The attraction is the combination of the market and downtown Niantic. \nStart walking. Check the visiting vendors. Go through the stores. Stop for food or coffee. Wander toward Scheer Park. Pick up a buoy. See what somebody dragged out of an antique collection or what a local maker brought to sell. \nThe lack of a complete vendor roster makes it difficult to predict exactly what will be waiting from block to block. \nFor a vintage market\, that unpredictability may not be entirely a disadvantage. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Niantic Artisan & Vintage Market\nDate: Saturday\, Oct. 3\, 2026\nTime: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.\nLocation: Downtown Niantic\nPrimary Area: Main Street and several locations throughout Niantic Village\nAdmission: No admission charge is listed\nMarket: Visiting artisans\, vintage sellers\, handmade and bespoke goods\, antiques and other finds\nDowntown Shopping: Participating businesses will offer store specials and host visiting vendors\nFood Trucks: Beach Buns\, Curb Your Appetite\, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee of Mystic and Kona Ice\nSpecial Attraction: Chainsaw demonstration at Scheer Park\nNiantic Main Street Tent: Located at the Old Police Station\nBuoys by the Bay: Buoys for the annual Niantic Buoy Trees will be available for purchase at the Niantic Main Street tent\nVendor Map: A complete 2026 vendor map or roster has not been published\nWeather: Outdoor event; check Niantic Main Street for any weather-related updates before heading out \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/niantic-artisan-vintage-market-turns-downtown-into-a-village-wide-treasure-hunt/
LOCATION:Downtown Niantic\, 159 Main Street\, Niantic\, 06357\, United States
CATEGORIES:Downtown Niantic
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Niantic-Artisan-and-Vintage-Market-Turns-Downtown-Into-a-Village-Wide-Treasure-Hunt.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T130000
DTSTAMP:20260624T031304Z
CREATED:20260624T030727Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260624T031304Z
UID:10006251-1791021600-1791032400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Waterford Farmers Market
DESCRIPTION:The Waterford Farmers Market returns for the 2026 season\, bringing local food\, handmade goods\, and community spirit to the Waterford Community Center every Saturday from June 20 through October 24. Shoppers can browse a rotating selection of vendors offering fresh produce\, baked goods\, meats\, honey\, flowers\, artisan crafts\, specialty foods\, and other locally made products. \nWhether you’re picking up ingredients for the week\, searching for unique gifts\, or simply enjoying a Saturday morning outing\, the market offers a chance to support local farmers\, makers\, and small businesses. New vendors and seasonal offerings appear throughout the season\, making each visit a little different from the last. \nEvent Details \nDates: Saturdays\, June 20 – October 24\, 2026\nTime: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM\nLocation: Waterford Community Center\, 24 Rope Ferry Road\, Waterford\, CT \nVendors May Include: \n\nFresh fruits and vegetables\nLocal meats and seafood\nBaked goods and breads\nHoney and specialty foods\nFlowers and plants\nArtisan crafts and handmade goods\nLocal artists and makers\n\nAdmission: Free \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/waterford-farmers-market/2026-10-03/
LOCATION:Waterford Community Center\, 24 Rope Ferry Rd\, Waterford\, 06385\, United States
CATEGORIES:Waterford Community Center
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Waterford-Farmers-Market-Saturdays-June-20-October-24-10am-1pm-Waterford-Community-Center-24-Rope-Ferry-Road-Waterford.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T123000
DTSTAMP:20260627T004225Z
CREATED:20260602T000632Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260627T004225Z
UID:10004051-1791021600-1791030600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Make a Mug Workshop at the COMO
DESCRIPTION:  \nMake your own pottery mug at COMO! This hands-on workshop will teach beginners and creative adults how to make their very own one-of-a-kind mug. Classes are offered on the first Saturday of every month. \nDuring the Make a Mug Workshop at the COMO\, attendees will work with clay slabs to create a mug of their choice. Guided by pottery expert Emma Pons\, students will learn how to shape their clay\, attach handles\, and add personal designs to finish their mug. By the end of class\, participants will walk away with a completed mug in their size and glaze choice. \nLet us take the guesswork out of crafting the perfect mug. Bring your friends and family for a fun afternoon of creativity and excitement at Make a Mug Workshop at the COMO. Crafts will be fired after the class and available for pickup within 2-4 weeks. Register today for **$63 COMO Members** and **$70 Non-members**. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/make-a-mug-workshop-at-the-como/2026-10-03/
LOCATION:COMO Pottery Studio\, 45 Cutler Street\, Stonington\, CT\, 06378\, United States
CATEGORIES:COMO Pottery Studio
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Make-a-Mug-Workshop-at-the-COMO-Saturday-10-am-to-1230-pm.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T190000
DTSTAMP:20261001T154752Z
CREATED:20261001T154752Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T154752Z
UID:10009220-1791018000-1791054000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Stonington Literary Festival Turns James Merrill’s Centennial Into a Borough-Wide Celebration
DESCRIPTION:Stonington Literary Festival Turns James Merrill’s Centennial Into a Borough-Wide Celebration Oct. 2–4\, bringing more than 40 poets\, writers\, scholars and musicians to Stonington Borough for three days of readings\, concerts\, conversations\, workshops and unusually intimate encounters with the life and work of one of America’s most celebrated poets.\n\nThis isn’t a literary festival confined to a theater or conference center. \nThe Borough itself becomes part of it. \nPrograms spread through La Grua Center\, Borough Hall\, the Stonington Borough Fire House\, NESS and other locations. Visitors can walk the streets that found their way into James Merrill’s poetry\, tour the apartment where he did much of his writing\, visit the cemetery where he is buried\, hear musicians turn his poems into songs and listen to writers who knew him or have been shaped by his work. \nOrganizers expect more than 300 people for roughly 30 events across seven venues. \nThe occasion is a significant one: 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Merrill’s birth. \nAnd Stonington isn’t simply hosting his centennial. \nIt was his home. \nA Poet Who Made Stonington Part of His Work\nJames Ingram Merrill was born in New York in 1926\, the son of Charles Merrill\, co-founder of Merrill Lynch. \nHis life eventually took him around the world\, particularly to Greece and later Key West\, but Stonington became one of his creative anchors. \nMerrill and his longtime partner\, David Jackson\, made their home at 107 Water Street\, and Merrill owned the building from 1956 until his death in 1995. \nIt became much more than an address. \nMerrill produced virtually all of his major writing during the years he owned the Water Street home. Stonington’s people\, relationships\, houses\, streets and rhythms increasingly entered his work\, and the apartment became a gathering place for writers\, artists and intellectuals. \nOne of his poetry collections was simply called Water Street. \nMerrill eventually accumulated an extraordinary list of honors: the Pulitzer Prize\, two National Book Awards\, the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Bollingen Prize among them. \nHis Divine Comedies won the 1977 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. \nThe Water Street home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2016\, recognized for its association with one of the most significant American writers of the second half of the 20th century. \nThat relationship between writer and place is what gives this festival an unusual advantage. Attendees aren’t discussing Merrill in some distant convention hall. \nThey’re discussing him in the village where he lived and wrote. \nSaturday Turns the Borough Into a Literary Campus\nSaturday\, Oct. 3\, is the festival’s biggest day\, with programming divided into three blocks at 9 a.m.\, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. \nInstead of funneling everyone toward the same stage\, organizers have scheduled simultaneous small-group programs around the Borough. \nAt 9 a.m.\, choices include The Apartment Aesthetic\, a conversation about houses and their symbolic and literal roles in literature; Merrill in Stonington\, exploring his friendships\, writing and life in the village; and Objects & Poems\, an object-based writing workshop with Timothy Donnelly. \nParticipants in that workshop are encouraged to bring an object of their own\, while objects from the James Merrill House collection will also be used as writing prompts. \nThere’s also an Emerging Voices Open Mic\, hosted by Stonington Poet Laureate Christie Max Williams. \nThat structure continues at 11 a.m.\, when the subjects become even more revealing. \nGhosts\, Ouija Boards and Merrill’s Other World\nOne of the weekend’s most intriguing sessions examines a side of Merrill’s work that can surprise people who know him only by reputation. \nMerrill and Jackson spent years experimenting with a Ouija board. \nThose sessions eventually became central to Merrill’s enormous supernatural poetic project\, The Changing Light at Sandover\, in which communication with spirits develops into an elaborate cosmology populated by voices from another world. \nThe festival’s Ghosts\, Ouija & the Occult program explores Merrill’s engagement with mysticism\, spiritualism and the occult and its relationship to Sandover. \nThe session has already sold out\, with organizers directing interested attendees to a waitlist. \nIt’s an example of how deeply the festival is willing to venture into Merrill’s world. This isn’t simply a succession of people reading poems from a podium. \nQueer History\, Poetry of Place and the Yale Connection\nAt the same hour\, another panel places the James Merrill House within the larger story of 20th-century LGBTQ history. \nMerrill and Jackson shared the Water Street home for decades\, and the house’s National Historic Landmark designation recognizes a place associated not only with a major American writer but with a significant same-sex partnership during an era when gay lives were rarely preserved so visibly in the historic record. \nElsewhere\, Rachel Hadas and David Yezzi will explore Merrill’s poetry of place\, including his writing about Greece. \nLa Grua Center hosts another branch of Merrill’s legacy: his relationship with the Yale Series of Younger Poets. \nMerrill served as judge of the influential poetry prize from 1983 through 1989. The James Merrill House later established a partnership with Yale University Press through which Younger Poets Prize winners receive residencies at his Stonington home. \nThe festival panel brings together poets selected during Merrill’s years with the series and writers who later came to Stonington through the residency. \nThat program is free. \nThe Afternoon Gets Playful\nAt 2 p.m.\, one session looks at Merrill’s influence on later writers through Poetic Afterlives\, while another\, Close Encounters With James Merrill\, examines individual poems from different periods of his career. \nThen there’s Wordplay & Crosswords. \nAdrienne Raphel\, Christopher Spaide and Natan Last use Merrill’s fascination with language\, puns and form as the starting point for a program that crosses poetry with puzzles and includes a workshop component devoted to constructing poetic puzzles and puzzling poems. \nIt’s another glimpse of Merrill beyond the imposing literary résumé: a writer fascinated by games\, patterns\, hidden connections and the possibilities contained inside words. \nYou Can Actually Go Upstairs\nPerhaps the most unusual ticket of the weekend isn’t for a reading at all. \nFestival visitors can register for tours of the James Merrill House at 107 Water Street. \nThe third- and fourth-floor apartment remains remarkably close to the way Merrill left it. This is not a reconstructed writer’s room assembled decades afterward from photographs. \nIt is the place itself. \nVisitors enter the colorful\, idiosyncratic rooms in which Merrill and Jackson lived and where much of his major work took shape. \nThe building’s preservation extends to the atmosphere of the apartment\, its furnishings and personal objects. More than 100 writers have subsequently stayed at the house through its writer-in-residence program. \nThe tours are free but require registration and are deliberately small\, with a maximum of 20 people per session. \nThere’s an important limitation: the Merrill apartment is not wheelchair accessible and requires climbing steep stairs. \nWalk Through Merrill’s Stonington\nThe centennial also moves outside. \nHistoric Stonington is leading Stonington Village Literary Walking Tours\, beginning at the Stonington Lighthouse at 7 Water Street. \nThe $25 walks trace the village through its literary history\, including the community Merrill called home for more than four decades. \nThat distinction matters. This isn’t simply a Merrill walking tour. The idea is to place him within Stonington’s broader literary landscape and the writers connected to the village. \nTours are capped at 20 participants and require at least five people to run. \nThere are also Poets Corner Cemetery Tours through Stonington Cemetery during the weekend. \nMusic Gives Six Merrill Poems Another Life\nThe festival begins Friday evening with one of its most ambitious events. \nComposer and pianist Matthew Aucoin joins Grammy-winning tenor Nicholas Phan at La Grua Center for Merrill Songs\, Aucoin’s song cycle setting six Merrill poems to music. \nThe selections stretch across Merrill’s work and include A Downward Look\, The Kimono\, Grass\, Last Words\, Sonnet from Sandover and An Upward Look. \nAucoin received a MacArthur Fellowship in 2018 and has had operatic work presented by major companies including the Metropolitan Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Phan is a Grammy-winning lyric tenor and co-founder of Art Song Chicago. \nA reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres follows the performance. \nTickets are $75\, with a $50 rate for former Merrill Fellows and session leaders. \nHenri Cole Takes the Centennial Stage\nSaturday’s daytime sessions lead into the festival’s keynote program. \nPoet Henri Cole\, a former Merrill Fellow\, delivers the keynote at 5 p.m. at La Grua Center. \nThe program is free and will also be livestreamed. \nThe evening then moves outside the Borough for the Centennial Celebration Dinner Honoring the Merrill Family at The Hounds. \nThe dinner recognizes the family’s role in sustaining Merrill’s legacy and the James Merrill House. Tickets are $175\, with a reduced $100 price for session leaders and former fellows. \nA complimentary shuttle will carry attendees between the village and The Hounds. \nSunday Brings Merrill’s World Together\nSunday morning may be the weekend’s broadest attempt to put Merrill into perspective. \nJames Merrill and His World\, Parts 1 and 2 brings together poets\, scholars and people closely connected to his work for two consecutive panels moderated by Stephen Yenser\, Merrill’s literary executor\, and Langdon Hammer\, author of a major Merrill biography. \nThe participants include Hilton Als\, Matthew Aucoin\, Jennifer Clarvoe\, Peter Dimock\, Rachel Hadas\, Ange Mlinko\, Jonathan Post\, Mary Jo Salter\, Willard Spiegelman and Lee Zimmerman. \nThe program runs from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at La Grua Center and costs $25. \nAt 2 p.m.\, Pulitzer Prize-winning critic and writer Hilton Als reads from his introduction to Merrill’s memoir A Different Person\, exploring his own encounter with Merrill’s work\, gay domesticity and the losses of the AIDS era. \nThen the festival ends where Stonington and Merrill’s poetry meet most directly. \nAt 3 p.m.\, former Merrill Fellows gather for a reading of Water Street\, led by Rob Schlegel. \nThe event is free. \nA Festival That Could Only Really Happen Here\nThere’s also plenty happening between the scheduled sessions. \nBank Square Books is operating a pop-up bookstore at the festival’s NESS Centennial Hub. An exhibition runs at La Grua Center. Merrill and Merrill Fellow books will be displayed at the Stonington Free Library. \nThe New England Science & Sailing Foundation Centennial Hub at 70 Water Street serves as festival headquarters from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday\, with information\, assistance\, festival tote bags and keepsake programs while supplies last. \nMost daytime venues are close enough to navigate on foot\, which may be the festival’s smartest curatorial decision. \nPeople will leave a discussion about Merrill\, walk down the same narrow Borough streets he walked\, pass the building where he lived\, look toward the water that surrounded his daily life and then enter another room for another part of the story. \nFor one weekend\, the separation between literary festival\, historic house and historic village largely disappears. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets or register for free programs\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Stonington Literary Festival: James Merrill Centennial\nDates: Friday\, Oct. 2–Sunday\, Oct. 4\, 2026\nLocation: Multiple venues throughout Stonington Borough\nFestival Focus: Centennial celebration of poet James Merrill’s life\, work and legacy\nScale: More than 300 attendees expected\, 40-plus presenters and approximately 30 events across seven venues\nProgramming: Readings\, panel discussions\, writing workshops\, concerts\, open mic\, literary walking tours\, cemetery tours\, James Merrill House tours\, exhibition\, bookstore and community gatherings\nFriday: Merrill Fellows Reading\, followed by Matthew Aucoin and Nicholas Phan’s Merrill Songs concert and reception\nSaturday Sessions: 9–10 a.m.\, 11 a.m.–noon and 2–3 p.m.\, followed by Henri Cole’s 5 p.m. keynote and the Centennial Celebration Dinner\nSunday: James Merrill and His World panels at 10 a.m.; lunch; Hilton Als at 2 p.m.; Water Street reading at 3 p.m.\nCentennial Hub: NESS\, 70 Water Street\, Stonington\nHub Hours: Saturday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.–4 p.m.\nIndividual Saturday Sessions: Generally $25; some programs are free\nFriday Concert: $75 general admission; $50 former fellows and session leaders\nSaturday Celebration Dinner: $175 regular admission; $100 session leaders and former fellows\nSunday Sessions: Generally $25 unless otherwise noted\nStudents: Complimentary admission to Saturday and Sunday daytime Centennial events with promo code STUDENT; valid student ID may be requested\nRegistration: Required for every event\, including free programs\nTicket Limit: Saturday block sessions are limited to two tickets per order\nSold-Out Events: Waitlist available when indicated\nLivestreaming: Many La Grua Center programs will be livestreamed\nWalking Tours: $25; generally capped at 20 participants with a five-person minimum\nMerrill Apartment Tours: Free with registration; maximum 20 per tour\nAccessibility: The Portuguese Holy Ghost Society\, NESS and James Merrill Apartment are listed by organizers as not wheelchair accessible\nMerrill House Accessibility: Apartment access requires climbing steep stairs; there is no elevator\nTransportation: Most daytime venues are within walking distance in Stonington Borough; complimentary shuttle service is available for the Saturday Celebration Dinner\nRefunds: Ticket sales are final; no refunds or exchanges\nSchedule: Programming is subject to change \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/stonington-literary-festival-turns-james-merrills-centennial-into-a-borough-wide-celebration/2026-10-03/
LOCATION:Various – Check description
CATEGORIES:Various
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Stonington-Literary-Festival-Turns-James-Merrills-Centennial-Into-a-Village-Wide-Celebration.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T180000
DTSTAMP:20260901T212201Z
CREATED:20260901T212201Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T212201Z
UID:10007335-1791018000-1791050400@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/2026-10-03/
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
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T170000
DTSTAMP:20260918T214807Z
CREATED:20260918T214807Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260918T214807Z
UID:10008465-1791018000-1791046800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Clark Farms Fall Festival Celebrates 250 Years of Rhode Island Farming
DESCRIPTION:Clark Farms Fall Festival Celebrates 250 Years of Rhode Island Farming with a corn maze devoted to the state’s agricultural history\, plus hayrides\, zip lines\, farm animals\, live music\, food\, and a full farm park in Matunuck\, 25 miles from Mystic. \nThe festival is underway for the fall season at Clark Farms\, where the 2026 theme connects one of New England’s quintessential autumn traditions to Rhode Island’s 250th anniversary. \nThis year’s corn maze is “250 Years of Farming in Rhode Island\,” and the farm uses the attraction to explore how agriculture has changed throughout the state’s history. The maze and farm park are open during the week\, but weekends expand into the full Fall Festival experience with additional attractions\, food\, and entertainment. \nMore Than a Corn Maze\nMaking it through the maze is only part of the day. \nAdmission also opens up a collection of farm attractions including pedal-powered go-karts\, a petting zoo\, corn pit\, straw maze\, giant Mountain Slide\, farm basketball and a Western Town shooting gallery. \nThen there’s the corn cannon\, which gives visitors a chance to launch ears of corn across the farm. \nWeekend festival days add zip lines\, food\, performances and live music\, along with one of the more traditional fall experiences: a hayride through the surrounding Matunuck countryside. Clark Farms says its newer hayride is wheelchair accessible. \nThe farm’s butterfly house is also expected to remain open through late September\, while pumpkins and fall decorations are appearing throughout the property. Gem mining is available for an additional charge. \nCelebrating Rhode Island’s Farming Story\nThe 2026 theme is especially appropriate for a farm whose own history began with vegetables. \nClark Farms was established in South Kingstown in 1989 as a vegetable farm. Over the decades it expanded into plants\, nursery operations and landscape design\, eventually adding its larger Matunuck location in 2008. \nToday\, the business operates both as a working garden center and landscaping operation and as a seasonal destination\, bringing visitors onto the property for events including its summer sunflower displays and annual Fall Festival. \nFor this year’s maze\, Clark Farms is looking farther back than its own history. The attraction showcases the evolution of Rhode Island agriculture across 250 years\, turning a trip through the corn into a little state history along the way. \nFood\, Music and This Weekend’s Schedule\nClark Farms runs its own farm canteen during the festival\, with food that includes fresh-cut fries made with Matunuck-grown red potatoes\, hot dogs\, doughboys and corn dogs. Fresh hot donuts are also available on busy weekends. \nFor the weekend of Sept. 19–20\, the farm has announced additional food and entertainment. \nSaturday\, Sept. 19\nDel’s Frozen Lemonade — 11 a.m.–4 p.m. \nSunday\, Sept. 20\nDrink Coffee — 9 a.m.–2 p.m.\nPot Cellar — Live music\, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.\nCalifornia Taco food truck — 11 a.m.–3 p.m.\nDel’s Frozen Lemonade — 11 a.m.–4 p.m. \nSaturday also marks the deadline for Clark Farms’ new Scarecrow Competition. The contest has been accepting entries throughout September\, with a $500 Clark Farms gift card going to the winner. \nWeekends Bring the Full Festival\nVisitors can tackle the corn maze and explore the farm park throughout the week\, but there’s an important distinction between a weekday visit and the weekend Fall Festival. \nWeekend admission is when Clark Farms adds attractions such as the hayride\, zip lines\, expanded food offerings\, performances and live music. \nWeekend Fall Festival admission is $20 per person\, with children age 2 and younger admitted free. Weekday admission to the corn maze and farm park is $15 per person. \nTickets can be purchased at the farm\, although Clark Farms recommends buying them online in advance to avoid the in-person ticket line. \nSturdy shoes aren’t a bad idea either. This is a real cornfield rather than a paved attraction\, and paths can get muddy after rain. \nDogs are permitted in some of Clark Farms’ shopping areas but are not allowed inside the farm park or Fall Festival area because of the animals. Service animals are permitted. \nFrom a corn maze tracing 250 years of Rhode Island agriculture to a hayride through present-day Matunuck farmland\, this year’s Fall Festival puts a little history behind the pumpkins\, cider donuts and traditional fall fun. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Clark Farms Fall Festival\nSeason: Sept. 19–Nov. 1\, 2026\nLocation: Clark Farms\nAddress: 2984 Commodore Perry Highway\, Matunuck\, RI 02879\n2026 Theme: 250 Years of Farming in Rhode Island\nWeekend Admission: $20 per person; children 2 and younger free\nWeekday Admission: $15 per person\nTickets: Available online or at the farm; advance online purchase is recommended\nIncluded Attractions: Corn maze\, petting zoo\, corn pit\, straw maze\, Mountain Slide\, pedal go-karts\, basketball\, Western Town shooting gallery\, corn cannon and other farm activities. (Most attractions are during Fall Fest on Sat & Sun\, not during the week)\nWeekend Extras: Hayrides\, zip lines\, food\, performances and live music\nPets: Dogs are not permitted in the farm park/Fall Festival area; service animals are permitted\nWhat to Wear: Sturdy footwear is recommended\, particularly after rain \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/clark-farms-fall-festival-celebrates-250-years-of-rhode-island-farming/2026-10-03/
LOCATION:Clark Farms\, 2984 Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry Memorial Hwy\, Matunuck\, RI\, 02879\, United States
CATEGORIES:Clark Farms
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Clark-Farms-Fall-Festival-Celebrates-250-Years-of-Rhode-Island-Farming.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T120000
DTSTAMP:20260929T012536Z
CREATED:20260921T005115Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260929T012536Z
UID:10008484-1791018000-1791028800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Community Shred Day in Baltic Adds Free Hard Drive Destruction and a Food Drive
DESCRIPTION:NOTE: This was rescheduled from September 26 due to the weather.\nCommunity Shred Day in Baltic Adds Free Hard Drive Destruction and a Food Drive Saturday\, Oct 3\, giving residents a free way to dispose of old financial records\, tax documents\, and other sensitive paperwork while also tackling something much easier to overlook: the personal information sitting on an old computer hard drive. \nThe event runs from 9 a.m. to noon at St. Mary’s Church in Baltic\, and is open to the entire community. Each person can bring up to three file-size boxes of confidential personal or business documents for complimentary secure shredding. \nThis particular Shred Day adds free physical destruction of computer hard drives\, with one significant limitation: organizers will accept only 60 hard drives during the event. \nChelsea Groton Bank is organizing the morning\, which also doubles as a food drive for Care & Share of East Lyme. \nWhy Throwing Away an Old Hard Drive Isn’t Enough\nPaper records present an obvious privacy problem. Bank statements\, tax documents\, medical paperwork\, old bills\, and other records can contain names\, account information\, and other details most people wouldn’t want sitting intact in a recycling bin. \nOld computers create a less visible version of the same problem. \nDeleting files doesn’t necessarily eliminate the underlying data from a hard drive. Even formatting a drive may leave information recoverable with specialized software\, depending on how the drive was erased. \nPhysical destruction addresses the problem differently by damaging the storage device itself rather than relying solely on deletion. \nProfessional data-destruction companies use methods including crushing\, punching and shredding drives to make the storage media unusable. For someone with an old computer drive sitting in a desk drawer or basement because they weren’t sure how to dispose of it securely\, Saturday provides an unusual free opportunity to deal with it. \nBecause the event has a 60-drive maximum\, anyone specifically coming for hard drive destruction may want to arrive earlier in the three-hour window. \nThree Boxes of Paper Can Disappear\, Too\nThe document side of the event is straightforward. \nResidents can bring up to three file-size boxes containing confidential personal or business paperwork for complimentary shredding. \nFor many households\, that makes September a useful time for a paperwork purge. Tax records and supporting financial documents often need to be retained for a period of time\, while plenty of other paperwork simply accumulates long after it has stopped serving a purpose. \nShredding allows documents containing sensitive information to be destroyed before the paper enters the recycling stream. \nAnd unlike feeding a few pages at a time through a small home shredder\, a community shredding event is designed to handle boxes of accumulated records at once. \nBring Food for Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Bank\nThere’s another reason to fill a box before heading to the library. \nOrganizers will collect nonperishable food for Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Bank\, the local organization serving residents who need assistance with food and other basic necessities. \nThe requested donations are canned and dry goods\, but organizers specifically ask that people not bring food in glass containers. \nItems currently requested include tuna\, canned meats\, stew\, vegetables\, fruit\, pasta\, rice\, instant potatoes\, dried beans\, peanut butter and baby food. \nThat turns a morning spent getting rid of things into an opportunity to bring something useful along. \nThe shredding\, hard drive destruction and event admission are all free to the community. \n  \nDetails\nEvent: Community Shred Day with Hard Drive Destruction\nDate: Saturday\, Sept. 26\, 2026\nTime: 9 a.m.–noon\nLocation: St. Mary’s Church\nAddress: 70 West Main Street\, Baltic\, CT 06330\nAdmission: Free and open to the community\nDocument Limit: Up to three file-size boxes of confidential personal or business documents\nHard Drives: Free hard drive destruction; limited to 60 hard drives total\nFood Drive: Nonperishable food donations collected for Care & Share of East Lyme\nRequested Food: Tuna\, meats\, stew\, vegetables\, fruits\, pasta\, rice\, instant potatoes\, dried beans\, peanut butter and baby food\nFood Restrictions: No glass containers\nOrganizer/Contact: Chelsea Groton Bank (860) 448-4250 \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/community-shred-day-in-niantic-adds-free-hard-drive-destruction-and-a-food-drive/
LOCATION:St. Mary’s Church\, 70 West Main St\, Baltic\, CT\, 06330\, United States
CATEGORIES:St Mary's Church - Baltic
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Community-Shred-Day-in-Niantic-Adds-Free-Hard-Drive-Destruction-and-a-Food-Drive.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T120000
DTSTAMP:20260511T024639Z
CREATED:20260508T022649Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260511T024639Z
UID:10000900-1791018000-1791028800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Stonington Village Farmers Market
DESCRIPTION:Stonington Village Farmers Market has become one of the defining Saturday morning traditions along the Connecticut shoreline\, bringing together local farms\, food vendors\, artisans\, musicians\, and neighbors inside and outside the historic Velvet Mill. Running year-round since becoming a permanent seasonal fixture in 2008\, the market transforms with the seasons\, moving outdoors during the warmer months and indoors during late fall and winter while continuing to serve as a gathering place for the community. \nThe market offers far more than produce stands. Visitors can browse locally grown vegetables and fruits\, cheeses\, baked goods\, meats\, seafood\, maple syrup\, flowers\, mushrooms\, prepared foods\, and handmade crafts while live music plays in the background. The atmosphere feels distinctly coastal New England\, blending small-town community energy with the creativity and food culture that defines Stonington Village. Families\, dog owners\, and longtime locals mingle throughout the morning while vendors showcase everything from handmade soaps and pottery to organic kombucha and Mediterranean cuisine. \nWhat makes the Stonington Village Farmers Market stand out is how deeply connected it feels to the rhythm of the region itself. Some visitors arrive early for greenhouse spinach or fresh seafood before it sells out\, while others come simply to wander with coffee in hand and reconnect with neighbors. Between the local farmers\, prepared food vendors\, musicians\, and rotating artisan booths\, the market has evolved into more than a shopping destination. It has become a weekly community ritual that reflects the character\, creativity\, and agricultural roots of southeastern Connecticut. \nParticipating Vendors & Farms \n\nAPIS VERDI\nBroad Brook Acres\nDavis Farm\nISSA Catering\nJon Fish\nSeacoast Mushrooms\nSugar Maple Farms\nSweet Acre Farm\nWakin’ Up Waggin’\n18th Century Purity Farm\nStonyledge Farm and Studio Farm Products\nSummer Hill Catering\nCato Corner Farm\nTreatzles\nFiber + Mud\nYALLA\n\nSponsors & Organizers \n\nStonington Village Improvement Association (SVIA)\nVelvet Mill\n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/stonington-village-farmers-market-3/2026-10-03/
LOCATION:Velvet Mill\, 22 Bayview Ave\, Stonington\, CT\, 06378\, United States
CATEGORIES:Velvet Mill
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Stonington-Village-Farmers-Market-at-the-Velvet-Mill.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T063000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T170000
DTSTAMP:20260929T010611Z
CREATED:20260929T010611Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260929T010611Z
UID:10009181-1791009000-1791046800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Walk for a Cure Crosses Southeastern Connecticut With Four Routes and One Finish Line
DESCRIPTION:Walk for a Cure Crosses Southeastern Connecticut With Four Routes and One Finish Line Oct. 3\, when hundreds of walkers spread out across the shoreline for distances ranging from a family-friendly 5K to a full 26.2-mile walking marathon — all ultimately converging on Camp Harkness in Waterford. \nThis is the 21st annual Walk for a Cure from the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation\, and understanding how it works requires looking beyond the single location shown on many event calendars. \nThere isn’t one starting line. \nThe full marathon begins in Old Saybrook at 7 a.m. The half marathon begins later in East Lyme at 10 a.m. The quarter marathon joins the route in Niantic at 1 p.m. And the family-friendly 5K begins between 2 and 2:30 p.m. within Camp Harkness and neighboring Harkness Memorial State Park. \nThe distances are different. The fundraising commitments are different. Even the morning alarm clocks are very different. \nBut everyone is walking for the same purpose. \n26.2 Miles Across the Connecticut Shoreline\nThe centerpiece of the event remains something unusual in the world of charity walks: an actual walking marathon. \nFull-marathon participants gather at Saybrook Point for opening ceremonies beginning at 6:40 a.m. At 7\, they start the 26.2-mile journey east. \nThe route leaves Old Saybrook\, crosses the Connecticut River on the Baldwin Bridge pedestrian walkway and continues through Old Lyme before reaching East Lyme and Rocky Neck State Park. \nFrom there\, the course continues through Niantic and into Waterford\, eventually entering Harkness Memorial State Park and Camp Harkness. \nOrganizers build an extensive support system around the distance. Nine pit stops are positioned along the route\, with nursing staff available\, while bicyclists patrol the course and a support vehicle can move walkers forward if they need assistance. \nThis isn’t designed as a race. But it does require preparation. \nTBBCF plans the course around approximately a 14- to 20-minute-per-mile walking pace\, and the organization holds supported training walks in the months leading up to the event. \nFor people who don’t have 26.2 miles in them\, the structure makes it possible to join the same journey farther down the road. \nPick a Distance\, Then Find Your Starting Line\nThe half marathon begins at 10 a.m. on Capitol Drive in East Lyme. \nThose walkers enter the course near Rocky Neck\, travel through the state park and continue along the shoreline through Niantic before following the marathon route toward Waterford. \nThe quarter marathon begins at 1 p.m. at Niantic Baptist Church\, 443 Main Street in Niantic. From there\, walkers continue east toward the Niantic River\, through Waterford and eventually into Harkness. \nThe family-friendly 5K stays much closer to the finish. On-site registration begins at 2 p.m.\, with a flexible start between 2 and 2:30 p.m. The 5K takes place within Camp Harkness and Harkness Memorial State Park. \nThat last option is particularly important for families. \nChildren under 12 aren’t permitted on the longer road routes because of safety concerns\, but they are welcome to participate in the 5K. Walkers ages 12 through 17 can participate in the longer distances when accompanied by an adult. \nNo matter where participants begin\, the day’s center of gravity eventually shifts to Camp Harkness. \nWhy This Walk Sends Every Fundraising Dollar to Research\nThe Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation grew out of the experiences of three women. \nTerri Brodeur was a young mother of three who died from breast cancer in 2005 after a two-year battle with the disease. Her friends Norma Logan and Sandy Maniscalco created the foundation after becoming frustrated by how much money raised for breast cancer causes could be consumed by expenses rather than research. \nLogan was also living with breast cancer. \nShe died in April 2006\, six months after Brodeur. \nThe organization they started adopted an unusually straightforward promise: 100 percent of gross fundraising dollars goes directly to breast cancer research. \nTBBCF says it accomplishes that by covering administrative expenses through sponsorships and volunteer services rather than taking those costs from money raised by walkers. \nSince 2006\, the New London-based foundation reports raising more than $7.2 million and awarding more than 70 research grants supporting basic\, preclinical and clinical breast cancer research. \nThe annual walk is its largest fundraiser. \nLast year’s 20th anniversary walk drew 443 walkers from 16 states and had raised $578\,483 by late November. Eighty-six people participated in the 5K alone. \nFor 2026\, the foundation has set an overall Walk for a Cure fundraising goal of $500\,000. \nThe Miles Come With a Fundraising Commitment\nThis isn’t a conventional road race where paying an entry fee completes the obligation. \nParticipants are fundraising. \nThe commitment varies with the distance: full-marathon walkers commit to raising $500\, half-marathon walkers $250\, quarter-marathon walkers $200 and 5K walkers $150. \nCancer survivors and students have a reduced $100 fundraising commitment. \nWalkers don’t have to arrive Oct. 3 with every dollar already collected. Fundraising remains open through Dec. 31\, and participants receive individual fundraising pages that can be shared with friends\, relatives and coworkers. \nTeams can also raise money together. \nFor those who can’t participate in person\, TBBCF offers a virtual option with a $150 fundraising commitment. Virtual participants can walk\, run\, swim or bike on their own schedule and have through the end of the year to complete their miles. \nEveryone Eventually Arrives at Camp Harkness\nBy afternoon\, the scattered starting points begin to make sense. \nThe event isn’t really built around where everyone begins. \nIt’s built around where they end. \nCamp Harkness becomes the finish-line gathering place for walkers\, families\, volunteers and supporters. This year\, Azalea Drive is scheduled to perform live from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.\, with complimentary food for walkers and their families along with games and activities for children. \nThe closing ceremony begins at 3:45 p.m. \nSupporters don’t have to walk at all to become part of that portion of the day. TBBCF is encouraging family members\, friends and community members to bring lawn chairs\, gather near the finish and cheer as walkers arrive. \nAfter 26.2 miles\, that’s probably a sound worth hearing. \nThe Walk for a Cure takes place rain or shine\, although organizers may cancel for a significant weather event such as a hurricane\, nor’easter or flooding. \nShuttle buses will return participants from Camp Harkness to the various starting locations\, with the first scheduled departure at 2:30 p.m. and another after the closing ceremony at approximately 4:15 p.m. \nRegistration for the 2026 walk remains open until noon Wednesday\, Sept. 30. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. To participate\, use the Event Registration link below. \nDetails\nEvent: 21st Annual Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation Walk for a Cure\nDate: Saturday\, Oct. 3\, 2026\nFormat: Full marathon\, half marathon\, quarter marathon\, family-friendly 5K and virtual participation\nFinish: Camp Harkness\, Waterford \nFull Marathon — 26.2 miles: Opening ceremonies at 6:40 a.m.; walk begins at 7 a.m. at Saybrook Point in Old Saybrook; $500 fundraising commitment \nHalf Marathon — 13.1 miles: Begins at 10 a.m. on Capitol Drive in East Lyme; $250 fundraising commitment \nQuarter Marathon — approximately 6.5 miles: Begins at 1 p.m. at Niantic Baptist Church\, 443 Main Street\, Niantic; $200 fundraising commitment \nFamily-Friendly 5K — 3.1 miles: On-site registration at 2 p.m.; flexible start between 2 and 2:30 p.m.; route within Camp Harkness and Harkness Memorial State Park; $150 fundraising commitment \nWalk for a Cure FAQ’s\nStudents and Cancer Survivors: $100 fundraising commitment\nVirtual Participants: $150 fundraising commitment; choose your own activity\, distance and schedule\nLong-Route Minimum Age: 12; ages 12–17 must walk with an adult\nChildren Under 12: Welcome in the family-friendly 5K but not permitted on the longer road routes\nPets: Not permitted on the walk routes or at closing ceremonies\nWeather: Rain or shine; significant severe weather may cause cancellation and there is no rain date\nCourse Support: Nine pit stops\, medical support\, cycling support and assistance vehicle\nShuttles: Return transportation from Camp Harkness to starting locations; first shuttle at 2:30 p.m. and another at approximately 4:15 p.m.\nLive Music: Azalea Drive\, 1:30–3:30 p.m. at the finish\nClosing Ceremony: 3:45 p.m.\nRegistration Deadline: Noon Wednesday\, Sept. 30\nFundraising Deadline: Dec. 31\nFoundation Contact: 860-437-1400\nEmail: info@tbbcf.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/walk-for-a-cure-crosses-southeastern-connecticut-with-four-routes-and-one-finish-line/
LOCATION:Various – Check description
CATEGORIES:Various
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Walk-for-a-Cure-Crosses-Southeastern-Connecticut-With-Four-Routes-and-One-Finish-Line.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T203000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T223000
DTSTAMP:20260626T233945Z
CREATED:20260513T011926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T233945Z
UID:10001500-1790973000-1790980200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center's Stargazing Nights
DESCRIPTION:Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center’s Stargazing Nights turn a quiet Friday evening in Ninigret Park into one of the most atmospheric experiences in southern New England. Hosted by Frosty Drew Observatory & Science Center\, the weekly gathering invites visitors to explore the night sky through powerful telescopes while astronomers guide guests across planets\, star clusters\, distant galaxies\, and the glowing band of the Milky Way overhead. Under some of the darkest skies in Rhode Island\, the experience feels less like a formal science program and more like stumbling into a community of people quietly obsessed with the universe. \nAs darkness settles over Ninigret Park\, visitors can expect views that change depending on the season and sky conditions\, often including Saturn’s rings\, Jupiter’s moons\, the cratered surface of the Moon\, and deep space objects rarely visible in brighter suburban areas. The observatory’s Sky Theatre and telescope stations create an immersive environment where curious first-timers mingle with amateur astronomers and longtime stargazers. There’s something strangely calming about standing in near silence while strangers take turns peering into the cosmos\, especially on clear summer nights when the Milky Way stretches visibly across the sky. \nThe observatory typically opens around 8:30 p.m. on Friday nights and remains active through at least 10:30 p.m.\, sometimes later depending on weather and viewing conditions. Because the event is weather dependent\, updates are posted on the day of the event before 3 p.m. Organizers also note that Ninigret Park’s dark sky rules prohibit white light use after dusk in order to protect night vision and sensitive astronomical equipment\, giving the entire area an almost surreal glow of dim red lights and shadowy pathways. Tickets for Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center’s Stargazing Nights can be purchased by clicking the event link below. \nWhen ticket sales open\, a link to purchase / acquire tickets will be added to the “Cost” field on the event page. Once event capacity is reached\, these fields will be listed as “Sold Out“\, and we will be unable to allow entry to any more guests. \nRules and Suggestions:\n• Guests should avoid using white flashlights\, phone flashlights\, or bright screens after dusk\n• Red light flashlights are encouraged to preserve night vision\n• Bug spray is highly recommended during warmer months due to mosquitoes and insects near the wildlife refuge\n• Weather conditions may affect visibility or event operations\n• Children ages 5 and older require tickets\n• Arriving early is recommended for the best viewing opportunities and parking access \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/frosty-drew-observatory-and-science-centers-stargazing-nights/2026-10-02/
LOCATION:Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center\, 61-62 Park Lane\, Charlestown\, RI\, 02813\, United States
CATEGORIES:Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Frosty-Drew-Observatory-and-Science-Centers-Stargazing-Nights.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T230000
DTSTAMP:20261001T211608Z
CREATED:20261001T211608Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T211608Z
UID:10009231-1790971200-1790982000@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/2026-10-02/
LOCATION:Rathskeller\, 489A Old Coach Rd\, Charlestown\, RI\, 02813\, United States
CATEGORIES:Rathskeller
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Charlestown-Rathskeller-Turns-Oktoberfest-Into-a-Three-Day-Party-With-German-Food-Live-Music-and-Big-Prizes.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T220000
DTSTAMP:20261001T011405Z
CREATED:20261001T011405Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T011405Z
UID:10009211-1790971200-1790978400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Alanis Morissette Opens Mohegan Sun’s 30th Birthday Celebration With an Arena Show
DESCRIPTION:Alanis Morissette Opens Mohegan Sun’s 30th Birthday Celebration With an Arena Show Oct. 2\, bringing more than three decades of music and one of the defining albums of the 1990s to the 10\,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena. \nThis isn’t a Wolf Den appearance or one of the casino’s smaller theater shows. \nMorissette is taking over the Arena at 8 p.m. Friday\, kicking off a remarkable run of major concerts surrounding Mohegan Sun’s 30th anniversary. Foo Fighters follow on Oct. 4\, John Mayer on Oct. 9\, Lainey Wilson on Oct. 10\, and DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live! on Oct. 11. \nFor Morissette\, the timing carries a second anniversary connection. \nHer breakthrough album\, Jagged Little Pill\, turned 30 in 2025\, meaning the singer arrives at Mohegan Sun just over three decades removed from the record that transformed her from a Canadian pop singer into one of the defining voices of alternative rock. \nThe Album That Changed Everything\nMorissette was only 21 when Jagged Little Pill was released in June 1995. \nThe album sounded different from much of what dominated mainstream radio at the time. There was anger in “You Oughta Know\,” anxiety and self-examination in “Hand in My Pocket\,” observational humor in “Ironic” and something close to catharsis running through much of the record. \nListeners responded on an enormous scale. \nJagged Little Pill became one of the best-selling albums of all time and won the Grammy for Album of the Year\, while “You Oughta Know” earned Grammys for Best Rock Song and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. \nIt also gave Morissette a catalog of songs that never really disappeared. \n“You Oughta Know\,” “Ironic\,” “Hand in My Pocket\,” “You Learn\,” “Head Over Feet” and “All I Really Want” remain fixtures of ’90s alternative music three decades later. \nBut reducing Morissette’s career to that one album misses most of the story. \nWhat Came After Jagged Little Pill\nRather than attempting to reproduce the same record indefinitely\, Morissette followed it with the darker and more experimental Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie in 1998. \nThat album produced “Thank U\,” another of her signature songs\, while demonstrating that the songwriter behind Jagged Little Pill was willing to move away from the sound that had made her enormously successful. \nAlbums including Under Rug Swept\, So-Called Chaos\, Flavors of Entanglement\, Havoc and Bright Lights and Such Pretty Forks in the Road followed. \nHer catalog eventually grew to 10 studio albums\, with songwriting that increasingly explored relationships\, motherhood\, spirituality\, anxiety\, fame and emotional health. \nHer most recent studio project\, 2022’s The Storm Before the Calm\, took another unexpected turn. Rather than conventional alternative rock songs\, Morissette created an ambient meditation album built around extended compositions. \nThe distance between the fury of “You Oughta Know” and an hour-long meditation record is considerable. \nThat’s also part of what has allowed her career to last. \nSeven Grammys and a Broadway Musical\nMorissette has won seven Grammy Awards and sold tens of millions of records worldwide. \nJagged Little Pill also found an entirely different second life onstage. \nA Broadway musical inspired by the album opened in 2019\, using Morissette’s songs to tell an original story about an apparently comfortable suburban family dealing with addiction\, sexual assault\, identity and secrets. \nThe production received 15 Tony Award nominations and won two at the 2021 ceremony. \nIt was further evidence that songs written by a woman in her early 20s during the mid-1990s had survived long enough to be interpreted by another generation. \nA Concert That Starts Mohegan Sun’s Own Anniversary\nFriday’s concert also has unusual significance for the venue. \nMohegan Sun first opened its doors in October 1996. A major expansion followed in 2001\, adding the Mohegan Sun Arena\, The Shops at Mohegan Sun\, Sky Tower and Casino of the Sky. \nNow the resort is marking 30 years with two weekends of entertainment\, promotions and special events. \nMorissette gets the first major Friday-night Arena slot of that celebration. \nThe lineup that follows illustrates the scale of what Mohegan Sun has planned: Foo Fighters two nights later\, John Mayer the following Friday\, Lainey Wilson on Saturday and DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live! closing the Arena portion of the birthday run Sunday with Busta Rhymes\, Fat Joe\, Ja Rule\, Jadakiss and Nelly. \nThat gives Friday night’s concert a slightly different context. \nIt’s an Alanis Morissette show\, but it’s also the opening night of one of the largest entertainment stretches Mohegan Sun has assembled for its own milestone anniversary. \nWhat Will She Play?\nMohegan Sun has not published a setlist for the Oct. 2 performance. \nThe songs most closely associated with Morissette remain obvious candidates\, including “You Oughta Know\,” “Ironic\,” “Hand in My Pocket\,” “You Learn\,” “Head Over Feet” and “Thank U\,” but a concert set can change and those songs shouldn’t be treated as guarantees until she performs them. \nWhat is certain is that the Arena gives Morissette a considerably different setting from an intimate nostalgia show. \nThis is a full-scale arena concert built around a performer whose breakthrough happened at almost exactly the same moment Mohegan Sun itself was being created. \nThirty years later\, their timelines meet in Uncasville. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. To purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Alanis Morissette\nDate: Friday\, Oct. 2\, 2026\nTime: 8 p.m.\nVenue: Mohegan Sun Arena\nLocation: Mohegan Sun\nAddress: 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard\, Uncasville\, CT 06382\nVenue Capacity: Approximately 10\,000\nTicketing: Ticketmaster\nEvent Context: Part of Mohegan Sun’s 30th Birthday Celebration\, running Oct. 2–11\nParking: Free self-parking is available at Mohegan Sun’s garages and Winter Lot; upgraded Riverview Reserved Parking is also available\nBag Policy: Backpacks\, string bags\, diaper bags\, shopping bags\, messenger bags\, briefcases and rolling-style bags are prohibited inside the Arena\nArena Box Office: 860-862-8499\nMohegan Sun: 888-226-7711 \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/alanis-morissette-opens-mohegan-suns-30th-birthday-celebration-with-an-arena-show/
LOCATION:Mohegan Sun Arena\, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd\, Uncasville\, 06382\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mohegan Sun
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Alanis-Morissette-Opens-Mohegan-Suns-30th-Birthday-Celebration-With-an-Arena-Show.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T210000
DTSTAMP:20260928T001431Z
CREATED:20260928T001431Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260928T001431Z
UID:10008637-1790969400-1790974800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:KC and the Sunshine Band Bring the Sound That Made Miami Dance to Foxwoods
DESCRIPTION:KC and the Sunshine Band Bring the Sound That Made Miami Dance to Foxwoods Oct. 2\, putting Harry Wayne “KC” Casey and one of the defining bands of the disco era on the Premier Theater stage for a Friday night packed with songs that long ago escaped the 1970s. \n“Get Down Tonight.” “That’s the Way (I Like It).” “(Shake\, Shake\, Shake) Shake Your Booty.” “I’m Your Boogie Man.” “Boogie Shoes.” “Keep It Comin’ Love.” \nYou don’t have to consider yourself a disco fan to know the music. \nMore than 50 years after Casey began assembling the sound in South Florida\, KC and the Sunshine Band remains a touring operation rather than simply a nostalgia brand. Foxwoods says the group performs more than 100 shows annually\, while the current band roster includes a full rhythm section\, percussion\, two keyboardists\, four horns\, backing vocalists\, and dancers surrounding Casey. \nThat’s important because the Sunshine Band’s records were never minimalist affairs. \nThey were built to move people. \nBefore Disco Exploded\, Miami Was Building Its Own Sound\nThe KC story begins far from the clubs of Manhattan. \nCasey grew up in the Miami area and in the early 1970s worked at TK Records\, the small Florida label that became one of the centers of what would become known as the Miami Sound. \nWorking with bassist and producer Richard Finch\, Casey began combining funk and R&B with prominent horns\, relentless rhythm and Latin-influenced percussion. \nThe Sunshine Band’s first record\, “Blow Your Whistle\,” reached the R&B chart. \nThen everything accelerated. \nThe group’s self-titled 1975 album went triple platinum and produced the No. 1 singles “Get Down Tonight” and “That’s the Way (I Like It).” The follow-up album Part 3 produced another run of enormous records\, including “I’m Your Boogie Man” and “(Shake\, Shake\, Shake) Shake Your Booty.” \nAccording to the band’s official history\, KC and the Sunshine Band became the first act since the Beatles in 1964 to score four No. 1 pop singles within a 12-month period. \nFor a stretch in the middle of the 1970s\, this wasn’t merely a successful disco band. \nIt was a hit-making machine. \nThen Came Saturday Night Fever\nIf the band’s records helped build the dance-floor culture of the decade\, Saturday Night Fever helped send it around the world. \n“Boogie Shoes” appeared on the 1977 soundtrack alongside the Bee Gees\, Yvonne Elliman\, Tavares and The Trammps. \nThe soundtrack became one of the landmark albums of the era. \nCasey’s involvement went beyond having a song on it. His work connected to Saturday Night Fever brought additional Grammy recognition\, including Album of the Year and a producer award associated with the soundtrack. \nThe cultural afterlife of the music has proved just as remarkable. \nKC’s songs have continued turning up in movies\, television\, commercials\, sporting events and celebrations decades after their original release. The band’s official biography says the music has appeared in more than 200 movie soundtracks. \nThat’s one reason a KC and the Sunshine Band concert works differently from some legacy-artist shows. \nA substantial portion of the audience has been hearing these songs their entire lives whether they intentionally sought them out or not. \nKC Never Really Stopped\nCasey is now more than half a century removed from the band’s formation in 1973\, but KC and the Sunshine Band continues to tour with a large ensemble. \nThe current lineup listed by the band includes percussionist Fermin Goytisolo\, drummer David Simmons\, keyboardists Michael Joy and Johnathan “J Whitty” Whittaker\, guitarist Christopher Lane\, bassist Steve Lashley and a four-piece horn section\, along with backing singers and dancers. \nCasey remains at the center on lead vocals. \nThe career numbers are substantial: Foxwoods cites worldwide sales exceeding 100 million records\, nine Grammy nominations\, three Grammy Awards and an American Music Award. Casey received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002. \nAnd the catalog hasn’t simply been put under glass. \nIn July 2026\, KC and the Sunshine Band collaborated with NYNE on the new single “Love Goes Up and Down\,” another reminder that Casey is still recording as well as touring. \nBut Friday night at Foxwoods inevitably comes back to those records from the 1970s. \nThey were designed around an uncomplicated proposition: get people out of their seats. \nFive decades later\, that’s still the assignment. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. To purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: KC and the Sunshine Band\nDate: Friday\, Oct. 2\, 2026\nTime: 7:30 p.m.\nVenue: Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino\nAddress: 39 Norwich-Westerly Road\, Mashantucket\, CT 06338\nGenre: Funk\, R&B\, disco and pop\nFeatured Songs: “Get Down Tonight\,” “That’s the Way (I Like It)\,” “(Shake\, Shake\, Shake) Shake Your Booty\,” “I’m Your Boogie Man\,” “Boogie Shoes” and “Keep It Comin’ Love”\nBest Parking: The Fox Tower\nBag Policy: No shopping bags or backpacks; all bags are subject to search\nEvent Contact: Foxwoods Resort Casino\, 800-369-9663 \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/kc-and-the-sunshine-band-bring-the-sound-that-made-miami-dance-to-foxwoods/
LOCATION:Premier Theater at the Foxwoods Resort & Casino\, 39 Norwich-Westerly Rd\, Ledyard\, 06339\, United States
CATEGORIES:Foxwoods
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/KC-and-the-Sunshine-Band-Bring-the-Sound-That-Made-Miami-Dance-to-Foxwoods.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T220000
DTSTAMP:20260927T214052Z
CREATED:20260927T210320Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260927T214052Z
UID:10008613-1790967600-1790978400@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/2026-10-02/
LOCATION:Mystic KOA\, 118 Pendleton Hill Rd\, North Stonington\, 06359\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic KOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Ghost-of-Black-Sam-Turns-a-Real-Pirate-Shipwreck-Into-a-Haunted-Trail.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T203000
DTSTAMP:20261005T193645Z
CREATED:20260916T010757Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261005T193645Z
UID:10007882-1790967600-1790973000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Moonlit Mystic Graveyard Ghost Tours Takes Visitors Into One of Mystic’s Oldest Burial Grounds After Dark
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/2026-10-02/
LOCATION:Gates of Whitehall Burial Ground\, Hendel Drive\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Gates of Whitehall Burial Ground
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Moonlit-Mystic-Graveyard-Ghost-Tours-Takes-Visitors-Into-One-of-Mystics-Oldest-Burial-Grounds-After-Dark.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T200000
DTSTAMP:20261001T203916Z
CREATED:20261001T203916Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T203916Z
UID:10009230-1790965800-1790971200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Ernie Lewis Brings a Lifetime of Bakersfield Country to Mystic
DESCRIPTION:Ernie Lewis Brings a Lifetime of Bakersfield Country to Mystic Oct. 2\, when a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with nearly five decades in music settles into Rocks 21 for an intimate solo acoustic show overlooking the Mystic waterfront. \nLewis performs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at Rocks 21\, on the grounds of the Inn at Mystic. It’s a considerably smaller setting than some of the stages that turn up on his résumé. \nHe has opened for Willie Nelson and Family\, spent 28 years with a Southern California country band\, played bluegrass and rockabilly at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace and today performs with Buck Owens’ youngest son. \nAnd somewhere along the way\, the Bakersfield musician wound up playing Friday night in Mystic. \nFrom Bakersfield to Mystic\nLewis’ connection to California country music goes back to childhood. \nBorn at Fort Leonard Wood\, Missouri\, he began picking out songs on his brother’s Harmony acoustic guitar before his family moved to Bakersfield\, California\, in 1966. \nThat’s an important place to land if you’re going to spend your life playing country music. \nBakersfield developed a harder-edged alternative to the polished country coming out of Nashville during the 1950s and ’60s. Artists including Buck Owens and Merle Haggard became synonymous with the Bakersfield Sound\, which leaned heavily on electric guitars\, prominent rhythm sections and honky-tonk influences. \nLewis eventually found himself working within that musical world. \nIn 1979\, he joined the Honeybee Ridge Gang\, a folk and bluegrass group led by Tom Hunnicutt. Among the group’s performances was an event hosted by Buck Owens. \nWhen Honeybee Ridge disbanded in 1981\, Lewis joined the Moosehead Band. \nHe stayed for the next 28 years. \nTwenty-Eight Years With One Band\nMoosehead took Lewis well beyond the local bar circuit. \nIn 1983\, the group represented Southern California at the Seagram’s 7 Battle of the Bands in Nashville\, finishing third. \nOver its long run\, Moosehead opened shows for John Anderson\, Asleep at the Wheel\, the Bellamy Brothers\, the Flying Burrito Brothers and Baillie & the Boys. \nLewis also performed alongside musicians with direct ties to some of country’s best-known performers\, including Roy Nichols and Mark Yeary of Merle Haggard and the Strangers and Alabama drummer Mark Herndon. \nMoosehead finally ended its run in 2009. \nLewis went back to where much of his musical life had started: bluegrass. \nFiddle\, Dobro\, Rockabilly and Willie Nelson\nLewis joined Bakersfield bluegrass band Highway 65 in late 2009\, playing fiddle and dobro and adding vocals. \nThen came another turn. \nFrom 2012 through 2015\, he played with The Fruit Tramps\, a Bakersfield rockabilly and Americana group that regularly performed at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace\, the music venue Owens opened in Bakersfield in 1996. \nOne of Lewis’ career highlights came when he and the musicians who would eventually become The Fruit Tramps were asked to open for Willie Nelson and Family. \nIt wasn’t his last connection to the Owens family\, either. \nLewis later became part of Johnny Owens and the Bakersfield Sound. Johnny Owens is Buck Owens’ youngest son\, and the group has worked to preserve and perform the music associated with his father and the larger Bakersfield tradition. \nThe band performed regularly at the Crystal Palace before the venue closed in August 2025. \nHe’s Still Making New Music\nLewis isn’t spending 2026 simply revisiting the music of his past. \nHis official site lists a new song\, “Refusing to Fall Apart\,” released Sept. 19\, less than two weeks before the Mystic performance. It followed “A Laguna Sunset\,” released Aug. 11. \nHis recorded work also reveals just how far his musicianship extends beyond acoustic guitar. \nLewis has played guitar\, fiddle\, dobro\, mandolin\, mountain dulcimer\, harmonica\, bass\, piano and ukulele\, among other instruments. \nHis recent recording “I Had a Neon Halo\,” made with Zanne Zarow\, even features Norm Hamlet on pedal steel guitar. Hamlet spent decades as a member of Merle Haggard’s band\, adding another thread connecting Lewis’ current work to Bakersfield’s country heritage. \nLewis has also released the 20-song project Prodigal\, featuring a large group of Bakersfield musicians and songs written by Lewis and Fidel Martinez. \nSo while Friday’s billing simply says “Ernie Lewis Solo Acoustic\,” there’s considerably more musical history walking into Rocks 21 than those four words suggest. \nA Waterfront Setting for an Acoustic Show\nRocks 21 sits at 3 Williams Avenue in Mystic\, overlooking the water from the Inn at Mystic property. \nThe restaurant and bar regularly hosts live music\, making the waterfront setting part of the experience rather than simply a backdrop. \nFriday also creates an easy transition into the show. Rocks 21’s weekday happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m.\, followed just 30 minutes later by Lewis’ 6:30 start. \nThe restaurant serves a broad menu built around New England seafood and casual American fare\, with a full bar and outdoor seating that takes advantage of the Mystic setting. \nLewis is scheduled to play until 8 p.m. \nFor someone unfamiliar with his name\, this could easily look like another Friday evening acoustic set at a waterfront restaurant. \nHis history suggests listening a little more closely. \nThe musician with the guitar has spent nearly half a century moving through bluegrass\, country\, Americana and rockabilly\, from Buck Owens’ Bakersfield orbit to a bandstand opening for Willie Nelson. \nFriday night\, that road leads to Mystic. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Ernie Lewis Solo Acoustic\nDate: Friday\, Oct. 2\, 2026\nTime: 6:30–8 p.m.\nVenue: Rocks 21\nAddress: 3 Williams Avenue\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nArtist: Ernie Lewis\nMusic: Acoustic country\, Americana\, bluegrass and rockabilly influences\nAdmission: No separate admission or cover charge is listed in the published event information\nFood & Drinks: Full restaurant and bar service available\nHappy Hour: Friday happy hour precedes the performance from 3–6 p.m.\nParking: Free on-site parking is available\nReservations: Restaurant reservations are available; no reservation requirement is published specifically for the performance\nEvent Confirmation: Both the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce and Rocks 21/Wicked Peach schedule list Lewis for Friday at 6:30 p.m. \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/ernie-lewis-brings-a-lifetime-of-bakersfield-country-to-mystic/
LOCATION:Rocks 21\, 3 Williams Avenue\, Mystic\, CT\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Rocks 21
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Ernie-Lewis-Brings-a-Lifetime-of-Bakersfield-Country-to-Mystic.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T200000
DTSTAMP:20261005T192903Z
CREATED:20260927T232254Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261005T192903Z
UID:10008636-1790964000-1790971200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Between Worlds Opens in October With an Evening of Spirit and Intuition at Rum Tropic
DESCRIPTION:Between Worlds Opens in October With an Evening of Spirit and Intuition at Rum Tropic Oct. 2\, when Psychic Moon Mentor Kaitlyn leads a two-hour workshop exploring intuition\, spirit communication\, and what organizers describe as energetic awareness. \nThe 6 to 8 p.m. gathering at Rum Tropic Distillery in Stonington is designed for people the organizers describe as “empaths\, intuitives and spiritually curious.” Rather than staging a psychic show with an audience watching from their seats\, Between Worlds is being presented as a participatory workshop and community gathering. \nParticipants will explore how Kaitlyn believes people can recognize intuitive impressions\, become more aware of feelings and perceived messages\, and develop greater trust in their own intuition. \nFor believers\, it offers an opportunity to explore practices they may already use. For the simply curious\, it’s a chance to see how those practices are taught without committing to a one-on-one reading. \nIntuition Rather Than Fortune-Telling\nThe language surrounding Between Worlds is notable for what it doesn’t emphasize. \nThe workshop centers on recognizing intuition\, exploring spirit communication and becoming more confident interpreting personal feelings and impressions. \nKaitlyn works professionally as Psychic Moon Mentor\, offering psychic readings and intuitive experiences around Connecticut and New England. Her work also appears in other regional events: later in October\, she’s scheduled to operate a potion-making station during Dock 9’s Halloween celebration at the Velvet Mills. \nShe’s previously collaborated with Tox Brewing in New London on Sips\, Spells\, and Sight\, an event combining readings\, intention-setting and spell-jar making. \nBetween Worlds takes a quieter approach. \nOrganizers describe the evening as being as much about finding community as learning techniques — particularly for people who identify as highly intuitive or sensitive and may not regularly have a place to discuss those experiences. \nThe Science and the Spiritual\nIt’s worth drawing a line between the experience being offered and what science can establish. \nIntuition itself is real in the ordinary psychological sense: people routinely make rapid judgments based on experience\, pattern recognition and information they may not be consciously analyzing. \nClaims of communicating with spirits or obtaining information through psychic abilities are different. They have not been established as scientifically reliable phenomena under controlled testing. \nThat doesn’t prevent people from finding personal\, spiritual or cultural meaning in practices involving mediumship\, divination or intuition. Between Worlds is best understood in that context: a workshop exploring those beliefs and experiences rather than a scientific demonstration of them. \nAnd the setting provides an unusual counterpoint. \nRum\, Intuition and an Old Mill\nRum Tropic Distillery operates inside The Velvet Mill at 22 Bayview Avenue\, the sprawling former textile complex that has become home to artists\, makers\, food businesses\, shops and other small businesses. \nRum Tropic describes itself as a small-batch cane distillery that combines science and creativity in its approach to spirits. It produces rum and vodka using natural flavoring ingredients and its own proprietary smoothing process. \nThat creates a somewhat unexpected pairing for Friday night: a distillery that talks openly about experimentation and the science of making spirits hosting an evening devoted to another kind of “spirits.” \nDrinks from Rum Tropic will be available for purchase during the workshop. \nStarting Halloween Month Between Two Worlds\nThe date isn’t accidental. \nBetween Worlds arrives on the second evening of October\, and organizers are leaning into the beginning of Halloween season with an atmosphere built around mystery\, magic and connection. \nBut this isn’t a haunted attraction. \nNobody is waiting in the dark with a mask. There are no jump scares or elaborate horror sets. Instead\, it’s aimed at adults interested in spending an October evening talking about intuition\, unexplained experiences and the possibility — depending on what they believe — that there’s more going on around us than we ordinarily perceive. \nWhether visitors arrive as believers\, skeptics or somewhere between the two\, curiosity is really the prerequisite. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. To register\, click the Event Registration link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Between Worlds: An Evening of Spirit & Intuition\nDate: Friday\, Oct. 2\, 2026\nTime: 6–8 p.m.\nVenue: Rum Tropic Distillery at The Velvet Mill\nAddress: 22 Bayview Avenue\, Unit 47\, Stonington\, CT 06378\nHost: Kaitlyn\, Psychic Moon Mentor\nExperience: Interactive workshop exploring intuition\, spirit communication and energetic awareness\nDrinks: Available for purchase from Rum Tropic Distillery\nContact: Rum Tropic Distillery\, 860-579-4970\nEmail: sales@rumtropic.us \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/between-worlds-opens-in-october-with-an-evening-of-spirit-and-intuition-at-rum-tropic/
LOCATION:Rum Tropic Distillery\, 22 Bayview Ave Unit 47\, Stonington\, CT\, 06378\, United States
CATEGORIES:Rum Tropic Distillery
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Between-Worlds-Opens-in-October-With-an-Evening-of-Spirit-and-Intuition-at-Rum-Tropic.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T200000
DTSTAMP:20261005T192926Z
CREATED:20260927T224634Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261005T192926Z
UID:10008635-1790964000-1790971200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:500 Luminaries Turn Copp Family Park Into an Enchanted Forest for One Night
DESCRIPTION:500 Luminaries Turn Copp Family Park Into an Enchanted Forest for One Night Oct. 2\, when one of Groton’s woodland trails will glow after dark for the annual Luminaria Walk. \nThe Friday evening event transforms an easy\, one-mile loop at Copp Family Park with 500 illuminated luminaries\, creating a trail through the woods that’s more autumn enchantment than haunted attraction. Along the route\, walkers will encounter live local entertainment and a special performance of spirited witch dancing. \nThe walk runs from 6 to 8 p.m.\, catching the transition from the last light of an October evening into darkness. \nAnd there’s a second purpose behind all those lights: proceeds benefit the Groton Parks Foundation and its work supporting recreational projects in town. \nA Different Way to Experience Copp Family Park\nCopp Family Park is normally a daytime destination. \nThe town-owned property at 821 Gold Star Highway encompasses just over 227 acres of mature woodland\, wetlands\, streams\, fields and an extensive trail network. Groton’s 2025 stewardship plan also notes remnants of the property’s past\, including an old farmhouse foundation and former fields gradually returning to nature. \nThe Town of Groton acquired the land from the Copp family in 1988 through a combination purchase-and-gift arrangement intended to preserve the property for public open space and recreation. \nToday\, its network of trails ranges from smooth and relatively level paths to rockier routes through woods and mountain laurel. The park is also home to Central Bark dog park. \nFor the Luminaria Walk\, organizers aren’t sending families onto the more challenging sections. \nThey’ve selected an easy\, flat\, family-friendly one-mile loop and are lining it with hundreds of lights. \n500 Lights Through the Woods\nA luminaria is wonderfully simple: a small light enclosed within a translucent container\, traditionally a paper bag\, producing a soft glow rather than the concentrated beam of a flashlight. \nOne isn’t particularly dramatic. \nFive hundred are another matter. \nSpread along a wooded trail after sunset\, the individual points of light become a glowing pathway\, illuminating the edges of the forest without eliminating the darkness beyond them. \nThat distinction is part of what separates this event from October’s haunted trails. \nNobody is advertising chainsaws\, jump scares or monsters hiding behind trees. The idea is to experience the woods after dark in a way families normally can’t\, with the trail itself becoming the attraction. \nThe organizers are adding entertainment along the route\, including what may be the evening’s most unusual feature: witch dancing. \nThe special performance brings a little Halloween theatricality into the woods without turning the walk into a full-scale scare attraction. \nFor younger children — or adults who enjoy October but would rather skip being chased through a haunted house — that may be exactly the right balance. \nA Walk That Helps Build the Next Park Project\nThe Luminaria Walk is also a fundraiser for the Groton Parks Foundation\, a nonprofit organization supporting improvements to recreational opportunities in the community. \nThat connection to Copp Family Park goes back decades. \nIn 2002\, Connecticut authorized a $65\,000 grant-in-aid to the Groton Parks Foundation for design\, permitting and construction of an entrance and parking lot at Copp Family Park. More than two decades later\, the foundation continues raising money for recreational improvements in Groton. \nEvery admission to Friday’s walk goes toward that larger mission. \nAdults are $10\, children ages 8 and older are $5\, and children under 8 attend free. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or reserved in advance. \nThose who can’t attend can also make a tax-deductible donation directly to the foundation. \nTwo Hours\, One October Night\nUnlike many of the season’s attractions\, this isn’t something running every weekend until Halloween. \nThe Luminaria Walk happens one night only. \nFrom 6 to 8 p.m. Friday\, the familiar trails of Copp Family Park become something different — 500 lights leading families through a mile of October woods\, with music and entertainment appearing along the way. \nThen the lights come down and Copp returns to being a woodland park. \nFor two hours\, though\, the forest gets to glow. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. To register in advance\, click the Event Registration link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Luminaria Walk at Copp Family Park\nDate: Friday\, Oct. 2\, 2026\nTime: 6–8 p.m.\nLocation: Copp Family Park\nAddress: 821 Gold Star Highway\, Groton\, CT 06340\nTrail: Easy\, flat\, family-friendly one-mile loop\nExperience: 500 luminaries\, live local entertainment and a special witch-dancing performance\nAdmission: Adults $10; children ages 8 and older $5; children under 8 free\nTickets: Pay at the gate or register online\nBeneficiary: Groton Parks Foundation\nContact: Groton Parks & Recreation\, 860-536-5680\nEmail: parksrec@groton-ct.gov \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/500-luminaries-turn-copp-family-park-into-an-enchanted-forest-for-one-night/
LOCATION:Copp Family Park\, 821 Gold Star Highway\, Groton\, 06340\, United States
CATEGORIES:Copp Family Park
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/500-Luminaries-Turn-Copp-Family-Park-Into-an-Enchanted-Forest-for-One-Night.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T200000
DTSTAMP:20260627T003925Z
CREATED:20260531T175641Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260627T003925Z
UID:10003376-1790962200-1790971200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:The First Friday Art Crawl in Downtown Westerly
DESCRIPTION:The First Friday Art Crawl in Downtown Westerly brings together local artists\, galleries\, artist studios\, creative spaces and more throughout downtown Westerly’s arts district on the first Friday of every month. Typically from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and often later\, visitors can stroll between galleries\, artists studios and creative spaces to experience all Westerly (and spilling over into Pawcatuck) has to offer. \n \nVisitors can enjoy painters\, photographers\, sculptors\, ceramicists\, jewelry makers\, graphic designers\, illustrators\, mixed media and many other types of artists and art forms during the First Friday Art Crawl. One of Downtown Westerly’s main attractions\, the evening Art Crawl allows visitors to stroll between participating locations while meeting artists\, viewing new work and enjoying the creativity that flourishes in downtown Westerly. Many of these locations are galleries\, artist studios\, restaurants and community spaces that open their doors for guests to enjoy art\, conversation and yummy food while supporting local creatives. \nArt enthusiasts\, date night seekers\, families\, and more enjoy the First Friday Art Crawl. Beginning as a simple art stroll downtown in the early 2000’s\, the First Friday Art Crawl has developed into a monthly celebration of local artists and businesses that continues to thrive. Check out which venues are participating and see the most current crawl map prior to attending\, as it may change monthly. \n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/the-first-friday-art-crawl-in-downtown-westerly/2026-10-02/
LOCATION:Downtown Westerly RI\, 5 Hight Street\, Westerly\, RI\, 02891\, United States
CATEGORIES:Downtown Westerly
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/The-First-Friday-Art-Crawl-in-Downtown-Westerly-The-First-Friday-of-Every-Month-530-pm-to-8pm.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T200000
DTSTAMP:20261001T000746Z
CREATED:20261001T000746Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T000746Z
UID:10009209-1790960400-1790971200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Myth & Magic Fills Westerly’s Historic Train Station With the Mysterious and Imagined
DESCRIPTION:Myth & Magic Fills Westerly’s Historic Train Station With the Mysterious and Imagined beginning Oct. 2\, as more than 100 artists transform the Artists’ Cooperative Gallery of Westerly into an exploration of legends\, symbols\, ancient stories and the things that exist just beyond the ordinary. \nThe exhibition actually opens Sept. 30 and remains on view through Nov. 1\, but Friday night’s free opening reception is the public celebration\, with artists gathering at the gallery from 5 to 8 p.m. alongside wine and hors d’oeuvres. \nAnd this is a particularly large show for the cooperative. \nRather than spotlighting a handful of featured artists\, Myth & Magic brings together work from the gallery’s approximately 55 juried members and nearly 50 associate members\, ranging from established artists to emerging creators. \nThe result should make the October exhibition one of the gallery’s most eclectic of the year. \nGiving Form to Things We Can’t Quite Explain\nThe theme is deliberately broad. \nMyths have always given people ways to explain the inexplicable: creation\, death\, natural forces\, good and evil\, luck\, transformation and the possibility that something exists beyond what we can see. \nMagic occupies similarly flexible territory. It can mean supernatural power\, folklore and ritual\, but it can also describe an ordinary moment that somehow feels extraordinary. \nThe artists aren’t being asked to illustrate one particular mythology or legend. Instead\, Myth & Magic invites them to interpret the stories\, symbols and moments of wonder that have fascinated people across generations. \nThat opens the exhibition to everything from ancient mythology and folklore to fantasy\, personal symbolism and entirely invented worlds. \nAnd because this is a full-member exhibition\, those ideas won’t be expressed through a single medium. \nVisitors can expect oil and acrylic painting\, watercolor\, collage\, sculpture\, pottery\, woodwork\, fused glass and other forms of fine art and craft throughout the gallery. \nMore Than 30 Years of Artists Running Their Own Gallery\nThe Artists’ Cooperative Gallery of Westerly has been operating since 1992\, when artists Bruce Goodsell\, Sandi Gold and Ginger Mitchell founded the organization. \nThe model is different from that of a conventional commercial gallery. \nACGOW is a nonprofit cooperative managed and operated by its artists\, with members volunteering to staff the gallery and handle the work required to mount exhibitions and keep the organization running. \nJuried artists don’t simply send their work somewhere and wait for a gallery owner to sell it. They’re participants in the organization displaying it. \nThe cooperative presents a completely new exhibition each month\, ordinarily marking the changeover with a First Friday opening reception. Works can also change during an exhibition as pieces are sold\, so someone returning later in October may not encounter precisely the same show. \nThe mission extends beyond selling art. The organization offers workshops\, classes and other educational programs while trying to create connections among artists and audiences throughout the Westerly-Pawcatuck area. \nArt Inside a 1912 Railroad Station\nThe building adds another layer. \nACGOW occupies space inside the historic Westerly Train Station\, the distinctive Spanish Renaissance-style structure built in 1912 along the railroad tracks downtown. \nThat makes Myth & Magic an exhibition of contemporary work displayed inside a building more than a century old. \nThe gallery also maintains a shop in its west wing\, where visitors can browse smaller original works\, prints\, cards and other pieces created by member artists and artisans. \nOctober will bring additional opportunities to make art rather than simply look at it. Gallery artist Tammy Blais is scheduled to lead palette-knife painting classes on Oct. 13 and Oct. 27\, while Janet Maher will teach a five-signature long-stitch book and journal-making workshop on Oct. 19. \nBut Friday evening belongs to the exhibition itself. \nThere is no admission charge and no requirement to approach the work as an art expert. Walk through\, find the pieces that pull you in\, meet some of the people who made them and see how more than 100 artists answered essentially the same question in completely different ways: \nWhat does myth or magic look like to you? \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Myth & Magic\nOpening Reception: Friday\, Oct. 2\, 2026\nReception Time: 5–8 p.m.\nExhibition Dates: Sept. 30–Nov. 1\, 2026\nVenue: Artists’ Cooperative Gallery of Westerly\nLocation: Historic Westerly Train Station\nAddress: 14 Railroad Avenue\, Westerly\, RI 02891\nAdmission: Free and open to the public\nArtists: Approximately 55 juried members plus nearly 50 associate members\nMedia: Oil\, acrylic\, watercolor\, collage\, sculpture\, pottery\, wood\, fused glass and additional fine art and craft media\nOpening Reception: Meet participating artists with wine and hors d’oeuvres\nRegular Gallery Hours: Wednesday–Saturday\, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sunday\, 1–5 p.m.\nGallery Shop: Small original works\, prints\, cards and other works by member artists and artisans\nPhone: 401-596-2221\nEmail: info@westerlyarts.com \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/myth-magic-fills-westerlys-historic-train-station-with-the-mysterious-and-imagined/
LOCATION:Artists’ Cooperative Gallery of Westerly\, 14 Railroad Avenue\, Westerly\, RI\, 02891\, United States
CATEGORIES:Artists' Cooperative of Westerly
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Myth-and-Magic-Fills-Westerlys-Historic-Train-Station-With-the-Mysterious-and-Imagined.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261002T230000
DTSTAMP:20261001T161601Z
CREATED:20261001T161601Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T161601Z
UID:10009222-1790956800-1790982000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Bison Brook Rodeo Brings Bulls\, Broncs and a $14\,000 Purse to North Stonington
DESCRIPTION:Bison Brook Rodeo Brings Bulls\, Broncs and a $14\,000 Purse to North Stonington Oct. 2 and 3\, turning a field on Button Road into a two-night rough-stock arena with professional bull riding\, ranch broncs\, country music\, food\, drinks and vendors. \nAnd this isn’t simply a Western-themed festival with a little riding thrown in. \nThe North Stonington competition is sanctioned by Elite Bullriders Association\, with $5\,000 added to the bull-riding purse each night and another $2\,000 added for ranch bronc riding each night. Winners also leave with buckles. \nThat puts $14\,000 in added money across the two nights and gives the riders considerably more incentive than applause from the grandstands. \nThe public side of the event runs Friday and Saturday\, Oct. 2–3\, at 42 Button Road in North Stonington\, with food\, drinks\, vendors and music surrounding the rodeo itself. \nThis Is Rough-Stock Rodeo\nThere are no timed barrel races or team-roping competitions on the North Stonington card published by Elite Bullriders Association. \nThe focus is on two of rodeo’s rough-stock events: bull riding and ranch bronc riding. \nBoth share a simple underlying idea that becomes considerably less simple once the gate opens: stay aboard an animal that has absolutely no interest in letting you do so. \nBull riding puts the competitor on the back of a bucking bull\, gripping a flat braided rope with one hand. A qualified ride lasts eight seconds\, with the rider judged along with the animal. The harder and more athletic the bull bucks\, spins and changes direction\, the greater the potential score if the cowboy can stay aboard. \nRanch bronc riding has different roots. \nIt grew from the practical riding skills of working cowboys and ranch hands and developed into a competitive event distinct from the more stylized saddle bronc riding familiar from traditional rodeo. \nAt Bison Brook\, the two disciplines divide the purse accordingly. \nThe Elite Bullriders Association lists $5\,000 in added money for sanctioned bull riding each night\, with a buckle going to each night’s winner. \nRanch bronc competitors have $2\,000 added each night\, again with a winner’s buckle on the line. \nFor competitors\, entry fees are listed at $100 plus a permit for nonmembers in bull riding and $75 plus a permit for nonmembers in ranch broncs. \nFor everybody else\, the assignment is easier: stay on your side of the fence. \nThe Rodeo Starts at 7\, but the Evening Starts Earlier\nThe sanctioned competition is scheduled from 7 to 11 p.m. both Friday and Saturday\, according to Elite Bullriders Association. \nBut the larger Bison Brook event begins before the first chute opens. \nThe organizers describe the weekend as two nights of rodeo action surrounded by food\, drinks\, vendors and music. Other regional listings place the public event beginning around 4 p.m.\, making this more of an evening at the farm than a show where everyone arrives five minutes before the first bull comes out. \nFriday has an especially local connection. \nNick Bosse & The Northern Roots perform at 5 p.m. Friday\, giving the rodeo a North Stonington country soundtrack before the competition begins. \nNick Bosse Is Playing in His Hometown\nBosse isn’t being imported from Nashville to provide generic country music before a Connecticut rodeo. \nHe’s from North Stonington. \nThe singer-songwriter and his Northern Roots band have built their sound around older-school and outlaw country\, drawing on the tradition of artists including Merle Haggard\, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash while writing contemporary songs about working people\, rural life and the direction of modern country music. \nBosse began playing local bar gigs in 2013 before forming The Northern Roots. Since then\, he has recorded in Nashville\, headlined shows at both Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun and won a New England Music Award for Best Vocalist. \nHis song “What Happened to Country” has accumulated more than 2 million streams\, according to his official biography. \nThere aren’t many venues where that material fits more naturally than a rodeo a few miles from home. \nBosse’s own tour schedule confirms the band at Bison Brook Rodeo at 5 p.m. Friday\, Oct. 2. \nHe is not listed for Saturday; his schedule puts him in Vermont that evening. \nYou Can Build a Cowboy Hat While You’re There\nAt least one of the vendors is leaning completely into the occasion. \nThe Hat Social\, a sister-owned custom hat business\, has announced that it will be at Bison Brook both nights with its mobile hat bar. \nVisitors choose a felt or straw hat and then customize it with combinations of bands\, ribbons\, feathers\, pins and other details. Branding can add letters\, dates\, initials or symbols directly to the finished hat. \nAppointments are recommended\, although the company says walk-ups will be accepted when availability allows. \nIt’s the sort of vendor that makes considerably more sense beside a rodeo arena than it would at the average Saturday craft fair. \nThe Bulls and Broncs Are Part of a Larger Circuit\nThe Elite Bullriders Association schedule provides another useful piece of context. \nNorth Stonington isn’t an isolated demonstration. The Bison Brook competition sits on an active October schedule of sanctioned bull and bronc events stretching through the Southeast. \nThe association has other competitions scheduled the same weekend in Florida\, followed by rodeos in Georgia and additional Florida dates later in October. \nThat matters because “sanctioned” has a specific implication here: riders aren’t simply being recruited locally for an exhibition. Bison Brook is appearing on the same competition calendar as the association’s other bull-riding and ranch-bronc events. \nThe prize structure reinforces that. \nA rider who wins on Friday doesn’t simply receive bragging rights. There’s money and a championship-style buckle attached to the result\, and Saturday starts the contest again with another purse and another buckle. \nTwo Nights\, Two Separate Competitions\nAnyone considering which night to attend should understand that Friday isn’t a preliminary round leading to a Saturday final. \nElite Bullriders Association lists added prize money and a winner’s buckle each night. \nThat gives each performance its own stakes. \nFriday has the additional attraction of the 5 p.m. Nick Bosse & The Northern Roots performance. Saturday offers the same sanctioned bull-and-bronc format without Bosse\, who is booked elsewhere that evening. \nThe Eventbrite listing describes the event as all ages\, making this one of the relatively unusual opportunities in southeastern Connecticut to take kids to an actual rough-stock rodeo rather than a Western-themed attraction. \nThey should also understand what they’re going to see. \nBull riding and bronc riding are loud\, fast and inherently physical sports involving large animals and riders being thrown to the ground. For some children\, that’s precisely what makes a rodeo exciting. Others may find the noise and intensity overwhelming. \nNorth Stonington Goes a Little Bit West\nThere’s something slightly improbable about finding sanctioned bull riding in the woods and farm country between Mystic and the Rhode Island line. \nBut North Stonington may be one of the Connecticut towns where it makes the most sense. \nThis is still a rural part of southeastern Connecticut\, a landscape of working farms\, stone walls\, fields and winding back roads sitting only minutes from the casinos and the busy shoreline. \nFor two evenings\, Button Road gets something considerably louder. \nThere will be country music before the gates open\, vendors and food around the grounds\, riders competing for money and buckles\, ranch broncs coming out of the chutes and bulls trying to end an eight-second ride considerably earlier than the cowboy would prefer. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Bison Brook Rodeo\nDates: Friday\, Oct. 2 and Saturday\, Oct. 3\, 2026\nLocation: The Overpass Arena\nAddress: 42 Button Road\, North Stonington\, CT 06359\nPublic Event: Regional listings indicate activities begin around 4 p.m.\nSanctioned Rodeo: 7–11 p.m. each night\nRodeo Sanction: Elite Bullriders Association\nCompetition: Bull riding and ranch bronc riding\nBull Riding Purse: $5\,000 added each night; buckle to each night’s winner\nRanch Bronc Purse: $2\,000 added each night; buckle to each night’s winner\nTotal Added Money: $14\,000 across both nights\nFriday Live Music: Nick Bosse & The Northern Roots at 5 p.m.\nSaturday: Nick Bosse is not scheduled to perform Saturday\nOther Attractions: Food\, drinks\, vendors and music\nCustom Hat Bar: The Hat Social is scheduled for both nights; appointments recommended\, with walk-ups subject to availability\nAges: All ages\nTickets: Multiple ticket levels are offered through Eventbrite\, including VIP options; check the ticketing page for current prices and availability\nRefunds: No refunds\nWeather: Check the organizer’s Eventbrite page for its current weather policy before attending\nParking: Check the Eventbrite FAQ for current parking information\nAlcohol: The event FAQ includes alcohol information; attendees should check the current ticketing page for service rules and restrictions\nGate Sales: Check Eventbrite for current ticket availability and whether tickets remain available at the gate \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/bison-brook-rodeo-brings-bulls-broncs-and-a-14000-purse-to-north-stonington/2026-10-02/
LOCATION:The Overpass Arena\, 42 Button Road\, North Stonington\, 06359\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Bison-Brook-Rodeo-Brings-Bulls-Broncs-and-a-14000-Purse-to-North-Stonington.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR