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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T110000
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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/2026-09-26/
LOCATION:Mystic Museum of Art\, 9 Water Street\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Museum of Art
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CREATED:20260510T162306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260705T020852Z
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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-3/2026-09-26/
LOCATION:Mystic Seaport\, 75 Greenmanville Ave\, Mystic\, CT\, \,06355-1946\,\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Seaport
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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/2026-09-26/
LOCATION:Lebanon Fair Grounds\, 122 Mack Road\, Lebanon\, 06249\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lebanon Fairgrounds
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T170000
DTSTAMP:20260928T002253Z
CREATED:20260920T214759Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260928T002253Z
UID:10008483-1790416800-1790442000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Maritime Trades and Foodways Day Brings the Working Waterfront of the 1800s Back to Life
DESCRIPTION:Maritime Trades and Foodways Day Brings the Working Waterfront of the 1800s Back to Life. Saturday\, Sept. 26\, as Mystic Seaport Museum fills its historic village with blacksmiths\, coopers\, sailmakers\, cooks\, printers and craftspeople demonstrating the skills that once kept ships at sea and maritime communities running. \nThe special event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is included with regular Museum admission. \nSome of these trades are demonstrated regularly at Mystic Seaport Museum. Saturday goes considerably further\, bringing additional craftspeople into the village\, opening up skills visitors don’t ordinarily get to see and putting greater emphasis on how all those individual jobs connected to everyday life along a 19th-century waterfront. \nThat means the clang of a blacksmith’s hammer\, wood being shaped into barrels\, canvas being stitched into sails and food cooking over an open hearth. \nIt also means discovering what on earth steam bending\, caulking\, and coopering actually are. \nBefore Cardboard Boxes\, There Was the Cooper\nA wooden barrel doesn’t look like revolutionary technology now. Two centuries ago\, it was indispensable. \nCoopers made wooden casks from individual staves held together by hoops\, without the modern adhesives we’d expect to find holding a container together. \nThose casks were the shipping containers of their time. \nShips used them to carry water and provisions as well as flour\, potatoes\, apples and other cargo. On whaling vessels\, barrels had an even more valuable job: storing the whale oil that made the voyage profitable. \nThe distinction between barrels mattered. A “tight cooper” produced watertight casks for liquids including spirits\, molasses and whale oil\, while “slack” casks could carry dry goods. \nWhaleships even carried a cooper as a regular member of the crew. He assembled casks as they were needed and could be held responsible if the valuable oil inside them leaked. \nSaturday’s demonstrations include both the Museum’s coopering program and guest cooper John Cox. \nThe Skills That Kept a Wooden Ship Alive\nOther demonstrations reveal just how much specialized labor went into maintaining a vessel before steel hulls\, synthetic rope\, electric tools and modern engines changed maritime work. \nVisitors can watch blacksmithing\, wood carving\, printing and sailor skills\, along with several trades that Mystic Seaport Museum says are rarely demonstrated for the public. \nAmong them are sailmaking\, canvas stitching\, millinery\, costuming and caulking. \nCaulking was essential to wooden ships. Seams between hull planks had to be packed and sealed to keep seawater on the correct side of the vessel. \nSailmaking was its own highly specialized craft. \nMystic Seaport Museum’s Charles Mallory Sail Loft preserves that history. Before standardized sail plans became common\, sailmakers measured a vessel’s masts and yards\, created their own scaled patterns and drew the enormous sail outlines directly onto the loft floor. Canvas was cut to shape\, sewn together and strengthened with rope stitched around its edges. \nThe loft itself has Mystic roots. Charles Mallory arrived in Mystic in 1816 after completing a sailmaking apprenticeship in New London. He eventually became one of Connecticut’s prominent shipowners as Mystic’s shipbuilding and whaling industries expanded. \nAnd Then There’s Steam Bending\nOne of Saturday’s more unusual demonstrations answers a question many visitors may never have thought to ask: How do you make a straight piece of wood curve without breaking it? \nSteam bending uses heat and moisture to make wood temporarily flexible enough to bend into a desired shape. \nFor wooden shipbuilding\, that’s enormously useful. \nA vessel is essentially a collection of curves\, yet trees generally don’t arrive at a shipyard shaped like hull frames. Steam allows shipwrights to persuade wood into forms it would resist when dry. \nIt’s the kind of process that makes more sense after seeing it happen than after reading about it\, which is precisely the point of the day. \nHistory You Can Smell\nThe “foodways” half of the event moves the history into the kitchen. \nOpen-hearth cooking demonstrations will recreate the methods used before modern ovens and stovetops turned cooking temperatures into something controlled with a dial. \nAmong Saturday’s guest participants is Silvermoon LaRose of the Tomaquag Museum\, who will cook over the open hearth in the Museum’s Buckingham-Hall House. \nLaRose is a member of the Narragansett Tribe and assistant director of the Tomaquag Museum in Exeter\, Rhode Island\, bringing an Indigenous perspective into a day examining the people\, food and traditions of the region’s maritime communities. \nThe cooking demonstrations also help connect maritime history to something broader than ships. \nA working port needed shipwrights and sailors\, but it also needed farmers\, cooks\, merchants\, craftspeople and families. Food had to be grown\, preserved\, transported and prepared both ashore and aboard vessels that could remain away from home for months or years. \nThat’s where “foodways” becomes history rather than simply cooking. \nA First Look at the New Season of SeaClass\nThe day also includes the fall premiere of Season 2 of SeaClass: The Maritime Classroom\, Mystic Seaport Museum’s digital learning series. \nVisitors will be among the first to see the opening episode of the new six-part season\, which turns its attention toward historic maritime trades. \nThe first season focused on 19th-century whaling\, examining subjects including why Americans hunted whales\, the role of women in whaling\, navigation\, whaling tools and large artifacts from the industry. In June\, the series received a Silver Telly Award in the Education and Learning category. \nSeaClass isn’t limited to video. The Museum also uses the name for hands-on classes that let adults learn skills including open-hearth cooking\, letterpress printing\, woodworking\, knot tying\, astronomy\, music and scrimshaw. \nSaturday effectively brings that philosophy into the historic village on a much larger scale. \nMystic Seaport Museum is already filled with buildings\, ships and artifacts from America’s maritime past. Maritime Trades and Foodways Day concentrates on something those objects can’t do by themselves: showing how people actually used them. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase admission\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Maritime Trades and Foodways Day\nDate: Saturday\, Sept. 26\, 2026\nTime: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.\nVenue: Mystic Seaport Museum\nAddress: 75 Greenmanville Avenue\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nAdmission: Included with regular Mystic Seaport Museum admission\nFeatured Trades: Printing\, coopering\, blacksmithing\, wood carving\, sailor skills and open-hearth cooking\nSpecial Demonstrations: Sailmaking\, canvas stitching\, millinery\, costuming\, caulking and steam bending\nGuest Tradespeople: John Cox\, guest cooper; Silvermoon LaRose of the Tomaquag Museum\nSpecial Program: Fall premiere of Season 2 of SeaClass\, including the first episode of the new six-part season\nParking: Free Museum parking is available across Greenmanville Avenue from the Museum grounds\nMuseum Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; grounds close at 6 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/maritime-trades-and-foodways-day-brings-the-working-waterfront-of-the-1800s-back-to-life/
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/2026/09/Maritime-Trades-and-Foodways-Day-Brings-the-Working-Waterfront-of-the-1800s-Back-to-Life.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T130000
DTSTAMP:20260924T160515Z
CREATED:20260924T160515Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T160515Z
UID:10008602-1790416800-1790427600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Honor Book Weekend Lets You Put a Loved One’s Name Inside the Mystic & Noank Library
DESCRIPTION:Honor Book Weekend Lets You Put a Loved One’s Name Inside the Mystic & Noank Library Friday and Saturday\, when a collaboration with Bank Square Books turns buying a book into something that can remain on the library’s shelves for years. \nThe idea is wonderfully simple. \nMystic & Noank Library librarians have pre-selected books they would like to add to the collection. Visitors browse those titles at Bank Square Books\, choose one or more to purchase for the library and dedicate the donation to someone they want to honor or remember. \nThe book then becomes part of the library’s collection\, complete with a custom bookplate creating a permanent record of the donation. \nOne transaction supports the library\, supports an independent Mystic bookstore and creates a lasting tribute to someone who matters to you. \nThe Librarians Have Already Done the Shopping\nHonor Book Weekend isn’t a general book drive. \nInstead of purchasing an arbitrary title and hoping the library needs it\, visitors choose from books selected in advance by Mystic & Noank Library staff. \nThat distinction matters. \nModern libraries have limited shelf space and collections that are continually changing. Librarians have to consider demand\, gaps in the collection\, condition\, relevance and what their particular community actually reads. \nHere\, that selection work has already happened. \nThe donor’s job is the fun part: browse the choices and find the book that feels right. \nPerhaps it’s a children’s book dedicated to a new grandchild\, a novel honoring someone who never went anywhere without a book\, a history title for the person who loved the past or something chosen simply because it reminds you of somebody. \nOnce donated\, the custom bookplate connects that person to the book. \nIt’s a small memorial that doesn’t have to feel like one. \nOne Purchase Helps Two Mystic Institutions\nThere’s another layer to the weekend. \nThe books aren’t being ordered from a warehouse. They’re being purchased through Bank Square Books\, Mystic’s independent bookstore. \nBank Square has been part of the community since 1988 and describes its mission as extending beyond selling books. The store hosts author appearances\, book clubs\, children’s programming and workshops while also donating books and money to local nonprofit organizations. \nIts relationship with Mystic & Noank Library is visible throughout the year. \nThe two organizations collaborate on literary programming and author events\, creating the sort of relationship that makes sense in a town where an independent bookstore and independent library serve many of the same readers. \nHonor Book Weekend makes that partnership particularly direct. \nBuy one book and the bookstore makes a sale. \nThe library gains a title its librarians have already decided belongs in the collection. \nAnd the donor gets to attach someone’s name to it. \nMystic & Noank Isn’t a Municipal Library\nThere’s also a financial reason events like this matter more than people might assume. \nDespite serving the community as a public library\, Mystic & Noank Library is a private nonprofit rather than a municipal library. \nAccording to the library’s 2025 annual report\, roughly 27 percent of its operating funding came from the towns of Stonington and Groton and the State of Connecticut. \nThe rest has to come from the library itself through fundraising\, philanthropy\, its endowment and careful financial management. \nThat means community support isn’t merely paying for extras. \nIt helps sustain the institution. \nDonating a requested book is a particularly tangible way to contribute because you can see exactly where the money goes. \nIt goes onto a shelf. \nA Library Built by a Gift\nThere’s something especially fitting about honoring someone through a donation to Mystic & Noank Library. \nThe institution itself began with philanthropy. \nIn 1891\, Mystic ship captain Elihu Spicer announced plans to build a library for the communities of Mystic and Noank. He died before seeing the project completed\, but his sister\, Sarah Dickinson\, continued the effort. \nThe Roman-brick library was dedicated in January 1894 and remains one of downtown Mystic’s most recognizable civic buildings. \nMore than 130 years later\, the model has changed considerably. The library now offers digital books and audiobooks\, streaming services\, computers\, children’s programming\, workshops\, book discussions\, museum passes and community events alongside the shelves of physical books. \nBut the basic idea behind Spicer’s gift remains remarkably recognizable. \nSomeone gives something because they believe other people should be able to use it. \nHonor Book Weekend reduces that idea to its smallest possible unit. \nOne book. \nOne donor. \nOne name inside the cover. \nAnd then\, potentially\, hundreds of readers who will never know the person being honored but will continue benefiting from the gift. \nTwo Days to Choose a Book\nHonor Book Weekend runs Friday\, Sept. 25\, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday\, Sept. 26\, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. \nThe event takes place off-site at Bank Square Books rather than at the library. \nOne important location note: although some older library calendar information still displays Bank Square Books’ former downtown address\, Bank Square Books is now located at 80 Stonington Road\, Suite 8\, in Mystic\, and the event description specifically directs participants to the new location. \nThere’s no requirement that the person being honored be a reader\, donor or library patron. \nThe permanence comes afterward. \nYears from now\, somebody may pull the book from a shelf at Mystic & Noank Library\, open the cover and find a name waiting inside. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: MNL Honor Books at Bank Square Books\nDates: Friday\, Sept. 25 and Saturday\, Sept. 26\, 2026\nFriday Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.\nSaturday Hours: 10 a.m.–1 p.m.\nLocation: Bank Square Books\nCurrent Address: 80 Stonington Road\, Suite 8\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nWho Can Participate: Everyone\nHow It Works: Browse books pre-selected by Mystic & Noank Library librarians\, purchase one or more for the library’s collection and dedicate the donation in honor or memory of someone\nBookplate: Donated books receive a custom bookplate creating a permanent record of the gift\nBenefits: Mystic & Noank Library and Bank Square Books\nLibrary Contact: Christine Bradley\nPhone: 860-536-7721 \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/honor-book-weekend-lets-you-put-a-loved-ones-name-inside-the-mystic-noank-library/2026-09-26/
LOCATION:Bank Square Books\, 80 Stonington Rd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bank Square Books
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T130000
DTSTAMP:20260624T031304Z
CREATED:20260624T030727Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260624T031304Z
UID:10006250-1790416800-1790427600@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/2026-09-26/
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
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T180000
DTSTAMP:20260901T212201Z
CREATED:20260901T212201Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T212201Z
UID:10007328-1790413200-1790445600@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/2026-09-26/
LOCATION:B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill\, 129 North Stonington Road\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T170000
DTSTAMP:20260928T002310Z
CREATED:20260921T031828Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260928T002310Z
UID:10008463-1790413200-1790442000@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-2/
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:20260926T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T120000
DTSTAMP:20260511T024639Z
CREATED:20260508T022649Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260511T024639Z
UID:10000899-1790413200-1790424000@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-3/2026-09-26/
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
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T233000
DTSTAMP:20260924T174041Z
CREATED:20260924T174041Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T174041Z
UID:10008604-1790370000-1790379000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:A Toast to Dolly Brings Drag\, Burlesque and Live Music to 33 Golden Street
DESCRIPTION:A Toast to Dolly Brings Drag\, Burlesque and Live Music to 33 Golden Street Friday\, Sept. 25\, as New London celebrates 80 years of Dolly Parton with a late-night tribute built around the music\, style and outsized personality of the Queen of Appalachia. \nThe 21+ show begins at 9 p.m. at 33 Golden Street and combines live music\, drag and burlesque\, with the performers putting their own spin on the enormous songbook and cultural legacy Parton left behind. \nThere’s no traditional ticket price attached to the celebration. \nInstead\, organizers will collect donations for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library\, turning a night of rhinestones\, music and performance into a fundraiser for the children’s literacy program Parton considered among the most important accomplishments of her life. \nEight Decades of Dolly\nParton would have turned 80 in January 2026\, making this year’s celebrations different even before her death in August. \nShe left behind a career that stretched far beyond country music. \nParton wrote thousands of songs\, crossed repeatedly into pop\, starred in movies\, built Dollywood into one of Tennessee’s major attractions and created a public persona recognizable from Nashville to places where country radio barely registers. \nThe songs alone give Friday’s performers plenty to work with. \nJolene transformed a moment of romantic insecurity into one of country music’s most recognizable recordings. Coat of Many Colors turned childhood poverty into a song about dignity. I Will Always Love You became a landmark recording twice\, first through Parton’s own version and later through Whitney Houston’s global hit. \nThen there’s 9 to 5. \nThe song and film gave Parton a crossover pop anthem about working women while introducing her as a movie star alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. \nThere’s an especially appropriate bit of timing here: Sept. 25 has become a day devoted to Parton’s legacy in 2026\, including the newly announced Give Like Dolly Day supporting the Imagination Library. \nIn Nashville\, Sept. 25 is also being formally recognized as Dolly Day\, with the date chosen as a play on 9 to 5. \nNew London’s celebration arrives on exactly the right night. \nDolly and Drag Have Always Made Sense Together\nParton spent decades embracing exaggeration rather than running from it. \nThe enormous blonde hair. Rhinestones. Heels. Elaborate makeup. Sequins. Curves. Country glamour pushed far enough that Parton was usually in on the joke before anyone else could make it. \nThat made her a natural figure for drag. \nBut imitation is only part of the connection. \nParton’s public image mixed femininity\, humor\, sexuality and self-awareness in ways that allowed her to be glamorous without pretending the glamour was effortless. She famously joked about the amount of work and money required to look the way she did. \nBurlesque and drag performers work in much the same territory\, taking costume\, movement\, makeup and character and deliberately turning the volume up. \nFriday’s show expands that idea beyond impersonation. The poster promises drag and burlesque alongside live music\, leaving room for performers to interpret Dolly rather than simply reproduce her. \nThe Fundraiser Goes Back to Dolly’s Father\nThe beneficiary gives the night considerably more meaning. \nParton created the Imagination Library in 1995 in her home county in East Tennessee. Its inspiration was intensely personal: her father\, Lee Parton\, couldn’t read or write. \nThe idea was to make books part of children’s lives before they even reached school. \nChildren enrolled in the program receive an age-appropriate book in the mail every month from birth until age five\, regardless of family income. What began locally eventually expanded across the United States and into Canada\, the United Kingdom\, Australia and the Republic of Ireland. \nBy June 2026\, the program had distributed more than 325 million books and was mailing more than 3.5 million books every month. \nThat makes the donation jar at 33 Golden more than a symbolic nod to Parton. \nIt’s supporting the project she spent three decades building. \nExactly the Kind of Show 33 Golden Was Made For\nThere’s also something particularly New London about where this tribute is happening. \n33 Golden Street isn’t a polished theater or country-music venue. It’s a compact downtown bar and music room with deep roots in New London’s alternative scene. \nOver the years\, its stage has hosted punk\, metal\, indie and experimental bands\, local musicians\, touring acts and DJs. It’s the kind of room where the audience is close enough that the boundary between performer and crowd can become fairly theoretical. \nA Dolly Parton tribute featuring drag\, burlesque and live music fits that environment better than a conventional tribute concert might. \nThe source material may come from Nashville. \nThe interpretation belongs to New London. \nAnd instead of ending the evening with Dolly simply as an image onstage\, the organizers are attaching the celebration to something she spent much of her life trying to accomplish. \nGet more books into the hands of kids. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: A Toast to Dolly\nDate: Friday\, Sept. 25\, 2026\nShow Time: 9 p.m.\nVenue: 33 Golden Street\nAddress: 33 Golden St.\, New London\, CT 06320\nAge: 21+\nEntertainment: Live music\, drag and burlesque\nTheme: Celebrating 80 years of Dolly Parton\nAdmission: No conventional ticket price is listed\nFundraiser: Donations will be collected for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library\nVenue Type: Bar and live-music venue \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/a-toast-to-dolly-brings-drag-burlesque-and-live-music-to-33-golden-street/
LOCATION:33 Golden Street\, 33 Golden St\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:33 Golden Street
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/A-Toast-to-Dolly-Brings-Drag-Burlesque-and-Live-Music-to-33-Golden-Street.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T203000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T223000
DTSTAMP:20260626T233945Z
CREATED:20260513T011926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T233945Z
UID:10001499-1790368200-1790375400@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/2026-09-25/
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
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T230000
DTSTAMP:20260921T022001Z
CREATED:20260921T022001Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260921T022001Z
UID:10008487-1790366400-1790377200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Nick Casey Brings Old-School Country Back Home to Rhode Island
DESCRIPTION:Nick Casey Brings Old-School Country Back Home to Rhode Island Friday\, Sept. 25\, when the Rhode Island singer-songwriter and his band take over the outdoor Down Back stage at the Charlestown Rathskeller for three hours of country\, roots and rock. \nThe 8 p.m. show puts a local artist with a decidedly old-school approach to country music into a setting built for exactly this kind of Friday night: a stage in the woods\, drinks nearby and enough room for a full band to turn things up. \nCasey isn’t trying to make country music sound like contemporary pop. His music reaches backward toward the storytelling\, baritone voices and lived-in sound of artists such as Johnny Cash\, Merle Haggard\, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. \nBut that’s only part of the story. \nThe Rhode Island musician has spent more than a decade building from coffee shops and open mics into a career that has taken him and The Whole Damn Band far beyond New England. \nFrom Rhode Island Coffee Shops to a Full Country Band\nCasey began performing at 16\, initially playing coffee shops\, open mics and busking on local streets. \nMusic was already part of the family. His mother\, Mary Ellen Casey\, is a Rhode Island folk singer-songwriter\, and Casey has said that Bruce Springsteen’s performance style was what first made him want to pick up a guitar himself. \nCountry became his direction. \nSince 2013\, Casey has performed throughout New England\, developing a style centered on traditional country sounds and a low baritone that Providence Monthly once compared to Johnny Cash\, with storytelling reminiscent of Haggard\, Jennings and Nelson. \nEventually\, those small performances grew into Nick Casey & The Whole Damn Band\, and the group began traveling well beyond Rhode Island. \nThey’ve played national stages as far west as Kansas and Montana and have opened for country artists including HARDY\, Joe Nichols\, Kameron Marlowe and William Michael Morgan. \nFriday’s Rathskeller date is billed as a full-band performance. \nA Mohegan Sun Win Helped Push Things Forward\nOne of Casey’s significant regional breakthroughs came in 2018 when the band entered Mohegan Sun’s Locals Live competition. \nThe annual contest brings regional acts into the Wolf Den and puts performers from different genres against one another before a live audience. \nCasey and his band won. \nTwo years later\, they released their debut album\, Ghosts Like Me\, establishing a recorded version of the traditional-country direction Casey had been developing onstage. \nHe later stripped things back for the acoustic solo album When I’m Alone. \nRecognition followed. Casey received six New England Music Awards nominations and was named Male Performer of the Year in 2023. \nHis more recent full-length album\, All Over the American Land\, brings the band back into the picture. \nCountry With Some Dirt Under Its Boots\nThe Rathskeller describes Casey’s show as a mixture of country\, roots and rock\, which is probably more useful than trying to squeeze his music into a narrower country category. \nThe foundation is traditional\, but this isn’t a historical reenactment. \nCasey’s shows mix originals with classic hits and newer favorites\, and the full band gives the material considerably more weight than his acoustic performances. \nThat should suit Rathskeller Down Back\, the tavern’s seasonal outdoor concert space tucked into the wooded property behind the restaurant. \nIt’s a deliberately informal place to see a band. There’s a stage\, outdoor seating\, lawn space\, games and a large fire pit rather than rows of theater seats. \nThe Rathskeller encourages concertgoers to arrive early for dinner and drinks before heading out back for the show. \nThree Hours Under the Stars\nCasey and the band are scheduled from 8 to 11 p.m.\, making this a full Friday-night show rather than a short concert set. \nAdvance tickets are $10 plus Eventbrite fees. Admission increases to $15 at the door. \nFor Casey\, it’s another stop in a career that has expanded considerably beyond the state where it started. But this particular night brings the whole operation back home: a Rhode Island country singer\, his full band and an outdoor stage in the woods of South County. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Nick Casey at the Charlestown Rathskeller 2026\nDate: Friday\, Sept. 25\, 2026\nTime: 8–11 p.m.\nVenue: Charlestown Rathskeller / Rathskeller Down Back\nAddress: 489A Old Coach Road\, Charlestown\, RI 02813\nPerformance: Full-band show\nMusic: Country\, Americana\, roots and rock\nAdvance Tickets: $10 plus Eventbrite fees\nDoor Admission: $15\nFood & Drinks: The Rathskeller encourages guests to arrive early for dinner and drinks; the kitchen is scheduled to remain open until 10 p.m.\nSeating: Down Back uses festival-style seating rather than reserved seats\nSetting: Outdoor seasonal concert venue \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/nick-casey-brings-old-school-country-back-home-to-rhode-island/
LOCATION:Rathskeller\, 489A Old Coach Rd\, Charlestown\, RI\, 02813\, United States
CATEGORIES:Rathskeller
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Nick-Casey-Brings-Old-School-Country-Back-Home-to-Rhode-Island.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T220000
DTSTAMP:20260924T195227Z
CREATED:20260924T195227Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T195227Z
UID:10008609-1790366400-1790373600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:The Subliminals Bring “Party Jazz” Underground at Tox Brewing
DESCRIPTION:The Subliminals Bring “Party Jazz” Underground at Tox Brewing Friday night\, when the New London instrumental collective takes over The Apothecary for an evening built around jazz\, funk\, and groove rather than the usual brewery soundtrack. \nThe show begins at 8 p.m. Sept. 25 in Tox Brewing Company’s downstairs performance space at 123 Bank Street. \nThe Subliminals have been part of New London’s music ecosystem for years\, but they’re difficult to squeeze into a conventional jazz-band description. Their own shorthand gets closer: music influenced by Herbie Hancock\, Miles Davis\, Roy Hargrove and John Scofield\, played with an emphasis on rhythm and groove. \nElsewhere\, the sound has earned an even simpler description: “party jazz.” \nA Jazz Band Built to Change Shape\nAt the center of The Subliminals are drummer Mike Winslow and guitarist Tom Perrone\, who conceived the project as something closer to a musical collective than a band with an unchanging lineup. \nThat’s important to understanding what happens onstage. \nDepending on the night\, The Subliminals can operate as a compact trio or expand into an ensemble of as many as nine musicians. The lineup shifts\, but the idea remains the same: use jazz as a starting point and build something atmospheric\, rhythmic and accessible around it. \nRather than treating the music like a recital\, the group leans into the parts of modern jazz that make people move. \nHancock is an obvious reference point. His 1970s work helped push jazz decisively toward funk\, electric keyboards and deep rhythmic grooves. Miles Davis was simultaneously tearing apart traditional boundaries between jazz\, rock and electric music\, while later musicians such as Roy Hargrove and John Scofield continued finding ways to move between jazz improvisation\, funk\, soul and groove. \nThat’s the musical neighborhood The Subliminals inhabit. \nIt also means listeners don’t need to be serious jazz aficionados to understand what the band is doing. \nA Band Rooted in New London’s Music Scene\nWinslow’s history helps explain why. \nHe’s moved through several very different corners of southeastern Connecticut’s music community\, performing with groups including Fatal Film\, The Hempsteadys\, Surgery Sessions and 20th Century Kids\, along with earlier work in the funk and groove-rock band Incognito Sofa Love. \nThe Subliminals gave him and Perrone another outlet: a band that could bring together musicians from that broader community and change according to the room\, the players and the night. \nThat makes Friday’s performance particularly well matched to its setting. \nDownstairs at The Apothecary\nTox Brewing itself has undergone a transformation. \nThe brewer moved from its original Broad Street home into a much larger downtown location at 123 Bank Street\, building a brewery\, taproom\, coffee operation and event space around the company’s distinctive science-inspired identity. \nThe name isn’t simply branding. \nTox traces its identity to an interest in toxicology and describes its brewing philosophy as combining the curiosity of scientists with the creativity of artists. Beer becomes an experiment\, customers become collaborators and even the visual language surrounding the brewery draws from poisons\, antidotes\, plants and chemistry. \nThen there’s The Apothecary. \nLocated downstairs from the main taproom\, the space gives Tox a separate room for music and special events\, creating something closer to an intimate underground club than a band performing alongside the regular brewery crowd. \nThat’s where The Subliminals will set up Friday night. \nThere is one accessibility consideration worth knowing beforehand: The Apothecary is downstairs and is accessible only by stairs; there is no elevator to the lower level. \nOne Band\, Two Nights\nFriday won’t be The Subliminals’ only southeastern Connecticut appearance this weekend. \nThe band is also scheduled to play Daniel Packer Inne in Mystic Saturday night\, giving listeners two opportunities to catch the group’s groove-heavy approach to jazz in two very different rooms. \nBut there’s something particularly fitting about Friday’s combination. \nA musical collective built around experimentation playing underneath a brewery that describes every beer as an experiment feels less like a random booking and more like two New London ideas meeting in the same basement. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: The Subliminals at The Apothecary\nDate: Friday\, Sept. 25\, 2026\nTime: 8 p.m.\nVenue: The Apothecary at Tox Brewing Company\nAddress: 123 Bank Street\, New London\, CT 06320\nMusic: Instrumental jazz\, funk and groove\nAccessibility: The Apothecary is located downstairs and does not have elevator access\nPhone: 860-440-8127 \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-subliminals-bring-party-jazz-underground-at-tox-brewing/
LOCATION:Tox Brewing Company\, 123 Bank Street\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tox Brewing Company
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T220000
DTSTAMP:20260921T020504Z
CREATED:20260921T020504Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260921T020504Z
UID:10008486-1790366400-1790373600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Al Copley Returns to the Knick Dance Floor Where Roomful of Blues Made History
DESCRIPTION:Al Copley Returns to the Knick Dance Floor Where Roomful of Blues Made History Friday\, Sept. 25\, bringing his quintet to Westerly for an evening of swing\, blues\, and boogie-woogie at the Knick Music Lab. \nThis isn’t simply a veteran musician playing another local show. Copley’s history and the Knick’s history are intertwined. \nCopley co-founded Roomful of Blues with Duke Robillard in Westerly in the late 1960s. The band eventually established a residency at the Knickerbocker Cafe that lasted roughly 15 years\, helping turn the room into one of southern New England’s important homes for blues and roots music. \nNow Copley is coming back to that same storied dance floor for the Knick’s first dance night of fall. \nAnd yes\, this one is meant for dancing. \nFrom Westerly to Roomful of Blues\nCopley was still a teenager when the musical partnership that became Roomful of Blues began taking shape. \nHe had become fascinated with boogie-woogie piano and Chicago blues\, absorbing the work of players including Albert Ammons\, Pete Johnson\, Meade Lux Lewis and Otis Spann. By his mid-teens\, he was already performing around the Westerly area. \nCopley and Robillard formed Roomful of Blues in 1967. The early group concentrated on Chicago electric blues before its musical vocabulary expanded dramatically. \nA trip to the Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival in 1971 helped convince the musicians to pursue a horn-driven sound rooted in the jumping blues\, jazz and R&B of the 1940s and ’50s. \nThat decision became central to the Roomful of Blues sound. \nThe group eventually backed some of the musicians who had helped inspire it\, including Big Joe Turner and Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson. Roomful also shared the stage with Count Basie\, who became an admirer of the band. \nCopley remained with Roomful for 16 years before leaving in 1984 and moving to Europe. \nA Career That Went Far Beyond Westerly\nCopley’s departure from Roomful began another long chapter. \nHe established a solo career in Europe\, performing at jazz and blues festivals and developing a reputation for a highly energetic piano style that moves between boogie-woogie\, blues\, swing and jazz. \nHis résumé eventually connected him with an extraordinary collection of musicians. \nCopley has recorded with the Fabulous Thunderbirds\, Lou Rawls\, Big Joe Turner\, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson\, Duke Robillard and others. His performance history includes appearances with B.B. King\, Etta James\, Stevie Ray Vaughan\, Ruth Brown\, the original Blues Brothers and Big Mama Thornton. \nHe also played a series of Royal Albert Hall dates with Jimmie Vaughan opening for Eric Clapton and later opened additional shows for Clapton himself. \nIn 2002 and again in 2009\, Copley performed his own symphonic orchestrations before audiences of more than 25\,000 with the Boston Festival Orchestra. \nThrough all of it\, the Westerly connection remained. \nBack to the Knick\nThat’s what makes Friday night’s location particularly interesting. \nRoomful of Blues didn’t merely pass through the Knickerbocker. The band’s lengthy residency there helped establish both the group and the club. \nThe Knick became a place where audiences could hear the increasingly sophisticated mixture of blues\, swing\, jazz and R&B that Roomful was developing\, years before the band accumulated an international following. \nDecades later\, the building is now the Knick Music Lab\, part of the UNITED Theatre’s expanded arts campus. \nFor Dance Night\, the room returns to one of its original purposes: putting a band onstage and people on the dance floor. \nThe UNITED describes the show as an evening of swing\, so this isn’t a concert where everyone is expected to remain planted in a chair. The Al Copley Quintet will be playing the room as a dance band. \nNo dance partner or elaborate swing-dance experience is required. The point is to use the floor. \nA Different Kind of Friday Night at the Knick\nThe Knick does not currently have a working kitchen\, so anyone expecting the old dinner-and-show experience should plan accordingly. \nPrepackaged snacks and soft drinks will be available for purchase\, along with a limited bar serving prepackaged beer\, wine and canned cocktails. \nThe music begins at 8 p.m. \nFor longtime local music fans\, there is a considerable amount of history packed into that simple setup: Al Copley at a piano\, a band behind him and people dancing at the Knick. \nNearly six decades after Copley helped start Roomful of Blues in Westerly\, he’s coming back to one of the rooms where the band’s sound became part of the city’s musical identity. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Dance Night at The Knick with the Al Copley Quintet\nDate: Friday\, Sept. 25\, 2026\nTime: 8 p.m.\nVenue: Knick Music Lab\nAddress: 35 Railroad Avenue\, Westerly\, RI\nMusic: Swing\, blues\, boogie-woogie and jazz\nFormat: Live music and dancing\nFood: No working kitchen; prepackaged concession snacks available\nDrinks: Soft drinks plus a limited bar with prepackaged beer\, wine and canned cocktails\nPresented By: The UNITED Theatre / Knick Music Lab \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/al-copley-returns-to-the-knick-dance-floor-where-roomful-of-blues-made-history/
LOCATION:Knickerbocker Music Center\, 35 Railroad Ave\, Westerly\, RI\, 02891\, United States
CATEGORIES:The Knickerbocker
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T210000
DTSTAMP:20260928T002413Z
CREATED:20260428T143316Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260928T002413Z
UID:10000107-1790366400-1790370000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:The Best of Steve Martin & Martin Short
DESCRIPTION:There’s something kind of rare about watching two comedy legends who genuinely enjoy messing with each other… and that’s exactly what you get with *The Best of Steve Martin & Martin Short* tour. It’s not just stand-up\, and it’s not quite a traditional show either… it lands somewhere in between\, blending sharp jokes\, playful jabs\, and decades of shared history into something that feels loose but incredibly dialed in. From the moment they step on stage\, the tone is set: this is going to be fast\, funny\, and just a little unpredictable. \nWhat makes it hit is the chemistry. Steve Martin and Martin Short don’t just perform side by side… they bounce off each other constantly\, trading insults\, building bits together\, and stretching moments in ways that feel spontaneous even when the timing is razor sharp. The show moves quickly between stand-up\, sketches\, and even music\, with Martin bringing out his banjo and Short slipping into some of his classic characters. It keeps shifting just enough that you never quite settle into one rhythm… in a good way. \nLive\, it feels more like a shared night than a scripted performance. Some parts are polished\, others feel like they could go off in any direction depending on the crowd or the moment. That mix of structure and freedom is what makes it work… you’re watching two masters who know exactly what they’re doing\, but still leave room for surprise. If you’re into comedy that’s smart\, playful\, and built on timing and personality instead of shock value\, this tour delivers in a way that’s both nostalgic and completely alive.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/the-best-of-steve-martin-martin-short/
LOCATION:Foxwoods\, 350 Trolley Line Boulevard\, Mashantucket\, CT\, 06338\, United States
CATEGORIES:Foxwoods
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/The-Best-of-Steve-Martin-Martin-Short.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T220000
DTSTAMP:20260924T191549Z
CREATED:20260924T191549Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T191549Z
UID:10008607-1790364600-1790373600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:The Franklin Brothers Turn The Social Into a Two-Night Steely Dan and ’70s Soul Showcase
DESCRIPTION:The Franklin Brothers Turn The Social Into a Two-Night Steely Dan and ’70s Soul Showcase Friday and Saturday\, Sept. 25–26\, when the New London-based 10-piece brings its horns\, harmonies\, and deep catalog back to Bank Street for consecutive 7:30 p.m. performances. \nThis isn’t a stripped-down bar band squeezing Steely Dan songs into a corner. \nThe Franklin Brothers Band travels with keyboards\, guitars\, bass\, drums\, percussion\, multiple vocalists\, and a four-piece horn section\, giving it the personnel needed to tackle music famous for being difficult to reproduce outside a recording studio. \nAnd while Steely Dan has become the band’s calling card\, it isn’t the whole show. \nThe Franklin Brothers mix those songs with ’70s soul and funk\, contemporary material and their own original music\, making the two-night stand considerably broader than a conventional tribute concert. \nThey Didn’t Set Out to Become a Steely Dan Band\nBrothers Carl and Jay Franklin formed the Franklin Brothers Band in New London in 2013. \nJay handles keyboards and vocals\, while Carl plays guitar and sings. \nInitially\, Steely Dan wasn’t the plan. \nThe brothers were writing and performing their own horn-driven material\, drawing from jazz\, soul\, funk and sophisticated pop. But as Steely Dan songs began working their way into the repertoire\, something became obvious. \nAudiences wanted more of them. \nCarl Franklin has explained that the band noticed more people came to shows when they advertised the Steely Dan material. Around 2017\, Strange Brew Pub owner Jason Wallace suggested going further and devoting an entire night to it. \nThere was one problem. \nThey needed roughly seven more Steely Dan songs to fill out the set. \nThe musicians learned them\, packed the room and discovered a direction for the band that has lasted ever since. \nToday\, the Franklin Brothers describe themselves as Southern New England’s premier Steely Dan tribute band\, while deliberately maintaining the soul\, funk\, rock and original music that came before it. \nTen Musicians for Music That Demands Them\nThere’s a reason Steely Dan attracts musicians. \nDonald Fagen and Walter Becker built records around unusually sophisticated chord changes\, jazz-influenced harmonies and meticulous studio arrangements. Their albums became famous for assembling exceptional session players and demanding performances precise enough to survive Becker and Fagen’s notoriously exacting standards. \nReproducing that music live takes more than knowing the chords to Reelin’ in the Years. \nThe Franklin Brothers’ current lineup gives them considerable firepower. \nAlongside Carl and Jay are Nichelle Rollins on lead and backing vocals\, Kevin Carey on bass\, Tom DeFaria on drums and Big Al Daniels on percussion. \nThen comes the horn section: Dave Cafro on trumpet\, Rob Funk on trombone\, Gary Boigon on tenor and baritone saxophones and Mike King on alto saxophone. \nThat’s ten musicians. \nIt allows the band to dig much deeper into the Steely Dan catalog than the obvious radio songs. \nIts repertoire includes Peg\, Deacon Blues\, Black Cow\, My Old School\, Aja\, Home at Last\, Josie\, Dirty Work\, Dr. Wu\, Gaucho\, Babylon Sisters\, Green Earrings\, Don’t Take Me Alive and The Caves of Altamira. \nFor Steely Dan listeners\, that’s a set list that reaches well beyond greatest-hits territory. \nThen the Band Leaves Steely Dan Behind\nThe other half of the Franklin Brothers identity may be even more revealing. \nTheir non-Steely repertoire includes music associated with Stevie Wonder\, Tower of Power\, Labelle\, Dusty Springfield\, Average White Band\, The Beatles and B.B. King\, among others. \nSongs the band has performed include Lady Marmalade\, Pick Up the Pieces\, Son of a Preacher Man\, Ain’t Nobody\, What Is Hip?\, Superstition\, I Wish\, Drive My Car and The Thrill Is Gone. \nThat explains the horns. \nIt also explains why the poster advertises “Steely Dan\, ’70s Soul & More” rather than simply calling this a tribute show. \nThe connective tissue is groove. \nThe band’s own recordings follow the same philosophy. \nThe Franklin Brothers’ second album\, Lifeboat to Nowhere\, includes songs such as New London Blues\, I’ve Been to the Waters\, State Street Jam and She Won. Carl Franklin’s solo album Been a While even includes jazz guitarist John Scofield on Chain Reaction. \nThe New London connection isn’t decorative\, either. It’s embedded in the music. \nThe Band Came Together Because of a Friend\nThere’s a more personal story behind the current version of the group. \nCarl Franklin traces its real beginning to 2015 and a childhood friend named John Boyle\, who was terminally ill. \nBoyle wanted the brothers to assemble an exceptional band to play his wedding and gave them enough money to hire some of the area’s best musicians. They bought and wrote arrangements\, brought together the larger lineup and began rehearsing. \nBoyle never made it to the wedding. \nInstead\, the musicians performed at his celebration of life on the same date. \nThe group stayed together. \nThe horn players discovered they had a band capable of tackling music they’d long wanted to perform\, the repertoire kept expanding\, and eventually those Steely Dan arrangements helped turn the Franklin Brothers into one of southeastern Connecticut’s larger and more recognizable ensembles. \nMore than a decade later\, they’re still playing together. \nTwo Nights Back Home in New London\nFor this weekend\, the band doesn’t have to travel far. \nThe Social Bar + Kitchen sits at 208 Bank Street in downtown New London\, and the venue has made the Franklin Brothers a full weekend booking rather than a single-night appearance. \nThe Social is promoting Friday as Night 1 and Saturday as Night 2\, with music beginning at 7:30 p.m. both evenings. The band’s own schedule lists a $15 cover and says reservations are required for a table. \nThat last part is worth paying attention to. \nA 10-piece band takes up considerably more room than the average trio or quartet\, and this is music that attracts listeners who may actually want to sit down and hear the arrangements rather than simply encounter background music over dinner. \nTwo nights gives them another option. \nIf Friday fills up\, there’s Saturday. \nAnd if you’re the kind of Steely Dan fan who knows the difference between Peg and Dr. Wu\, there may be an argument for both. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: A Weekend With The Franklin Brothers\nDates: Friday\, Sept. 25 and Saturday\, Sept. 26\, 2026\nTime: 7:30 p.m. both nights\nVenue: The Social Bar + Kitchen\nAddress: 208 Bank Street\, New London\, CT 06320\nAdmission: $15 cover\nReservations: Required for a table according to the band’s current schedule\nMusic: Steely Dan\, ’70s soul\, funk\, rock\, contemporary covers and originals\nBand: 10-piece ensemble with vocals\, keyboards\, guitars\, bass\, drums\, percussion and four-piece horn section\nPhone: 860-442-6900 \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-franklin-brothers-turn-the-social-into-a-two-night-steely-dan-and-70s-soul-showcase/2026-09-25/
LOCATION:The Social Bar + Kitchen\, 208 Bank Street\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T220000
DTSTAMP:20260924T180015Z
CREATED:20260924T180015Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T180015Z
UID:10008605-1790364600-1790373600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Nick Di Maria Brings Connecticut Jazz to New London’s Newest Music Room
DESCRIPTION:Nick Di Maria Brings Connecticut Jazz to New London’s Newest Music Room Friday\, Sept. 25\, when the New Haven trumpeter\, composer and bandleader takes the stage at The Marquee on State Street for a 7:30 p.m. performance. \nDi Maria arrives with bassist Jason Santini and drummer John Soni\, giving the night the compact instrumentation of a trumpet-led trio. For a musician whose career has moved between straight-ahead jazz\, funk\, fusion and more experimental territory\, that stripped-down lineup leaves plenty of room for improvisation. \nIt also puts one of Connecticut’s established jazz musicians inside a venue that is barely two months old. \nFrom Straight-Ahead Jazz to Funk and Fusion\nDi Maria has been leading his own groups on the Connecticut jazz circuit since 2006. \nA graduate of Western Connecticut State University’s jazz performance program\, he studied with acclaimed trumpeter Eddie Henderson and has worked with musicians including Abraham Burton\, Brian Charette\, Peter Bernstein and Mike Clark. \nBut Di Maria’s musical history doesn’t stay neatly inside jazz. \nHe spent part of his early career playing in Connecticut’s ska and punk scene with The Flaming Tsunamis before developing his own jazz projects. Over the years\, his original music has incorporated post-bop\, electronic jazz\, funk\, groove music and fusion. \nThat range is particularly apparent in SkyLab\, Di Maria’s jazz-funk-fusion project. \nIts 2025 album\, SKYLAB\, was recorded at New Haven’s Firehouse 12 and moves through electric keyboards\, horns\, bass and drums with an emphasis on groove and improvisation. Di Maria wrote and arranged the album’s music\, with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt producing several tracks. \nIt’s music that can reward close listening without treating jazz like something that has to be studied before it can be enjoyed. \nMore Than a Performer\nDi Maria has also spent years working on the other side of Connecticut jazz: creating places for musicians to actually play it. \nHe founded and directs the New Haven Jazz Underground\, a grassroots organization devoted to producing and preserving jazz in Connecticut. \nThat matters in a genre where the ecosystem depends heavily on small rooms. \nMajor jazz festivals and concert halls may attract the attention\, but working musicians develop bands\, test material and build audiences in clubs\, bars\, restaurants and listening rooms. \nWhich makes Friday’s location particularly interesting. \nThe Marquee Is Brand New\nThe Marquee on State Street opened in July 2026 at 312 State Street\, in the former DEVS/Nico’s space in downtown New London. \nThe concept combines a jazz bar with the visual atmosphere of classic cinema. \nThe intimate room has seating for roughly 45 people\, a performance stage\, classic-movie memorabilia\, cocktails and small plates. The venue describes the atmosphere as bringing together the glamour of old movies and live jazz. \nThat adds another music room to a downtown already unusually rich in performance spaces. \nThe Garde Arts Center is just down State Street. The Oasis Room operates inside the Garde complex. Hygienic Art has its outdoor and indoor performance spaces nearby\, while clubs and bars around downtown regularly book local and regional musicians. \nThe Marquee fills a somewhat different niche: a small room deliberately built around sitting down with a drink and listening to musicians play. \nFor jazz\, that’s a useful thing to have. \nA Trio Leaves Nowhere to Hide\nFriday’s lineup should also make for a different Di Maria performance than one of his larger ensembles. \nWith trumpet\, bass and drums\, there isn’t a dense arrangement surrounding the soloist. \nSpace becomes part of the music. \nThe bass can move from accompaniment into melody. The drums can shift the direction of a piece without waiting for an arrangement to tell them where to go. And the trumpet has enormous freedom to move over both. \nIt’s one of the things that can make a small jazz group fascinating even when the audience doesn’t know the composition. \nYou don’t have to know what is supposed to happen next. \nOften\, neither do the musicians. \nThat’s the point. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Nick Di Maria at The Marquee on State Street\nDate: Friday\, Sept. 25\, 2026\nTime: 7:30 p.m.\nVenue: The Marquee on State Street\nAddress: 312 State St.\, New London\, CT\nPerformers: Nick Di Maria\, trumpet; Jason Santini\, bass; John Soni\, drums\nMusic: Jazz and improvisational music\nVenue: Intimate jazz bar and performance room with cocktails and small plates \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/nick-di-maria-brings-connecticut-jazz-to-new-londons-newest-music-room/
LOCATION:The Marquee on State Street\, 312 State Street\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:The Marquee on State Street
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T203000
DTSTAMP:20260928T002425Z
CREATED:20260921T031409Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260928T002425Z
UID:10007879-1790362800-1790368200@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-2/
LOCATION:Gates of Whitehall Burial Ground\, Hendel Drive\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Gates of Whitehall Burial Ground
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T210000
DTSTAMP:20260928T002443Z
CREATED:20260818T185404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260928T002443Z
UID:10007220-1790359200-1790370000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Granite Theatre's Heritage and Horizons Gala
DESCRIPTION:Granite Theatre’s Heritage and Horizons Gala brings an evening of American-inspired food\, music and storytelling to Stonington on Friday\, September 25\, while raising money for the future of one of Westerly’s longtime community arts organizations. \nHeld at The Hounds\, the gala will mark America’s 250th anniversary with a cabaret-style celebration drawing from generations of American music and theater. Guests can expect performances\, storytelling and historical theatrical imagery surrounded by vintage Americana-inspired décor. \nBut the evening isn’t intended simply as a look backward. \nProceeds will support Granite Theatre and its work providing live theater\, educational opportunities and creative experiences in Westerly\, including the theater’s growing youth programming. Granite operates as Renaissance City Theatre\, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on contributions and community support. \nHeritage and Horizons: Celebrating the Past\, Investing in the Future\nThe theme for the September gala is “Heritage and Horizons: Celebrating our Foundations and Investing in our Future.” \nGranite is tying that theme to the country’s 250th anniversary by presenting a cabaret-style program exploring American music and storytelling across generations. \nRather than staging a traditional theatrical production\, the evening is designed as a celebration\, with performances and stories woven into the event alongside food and socializing. \nThe fundraiser comes during an important period for the theater itself. \nGranite entered its 2026 season under new artistic leadership\, while continuing to develop educational programs intended to introduce younger performers to theater. Its current mission emphasizes making theatrical entertainment and education accessible throughout the community. \nA Westerly Theater With a History of Its Own\nGranite’s story makes the “Heritage” portion of the gala particularly appropriate. \nThe theater occupies a restored Greek Revival church built in the 1840s at the highest point of downtown Westerly. The former Broad Street Christian Church eventually became home to theatrical organizations before opening its doors as the Granite Theatre in 2000. \nToday\, the intimate theater seats about 140 people\, giving productions a scale quite different from larger regional performing arts centers. \nGranite has developed into a year-round community theater presenting plays and musicals while creating opportunities for local performers\, technicians and volunteers. \nIts 2026 mainstage season illustrates the range. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! opened the summer\, followed by the youth production Willy Wonka Jr. in August and Almost\, Maine in September. Following the gala\, Granite will return to the stage with Arthur Miller’s The Crucible in October and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever for the holiday season. \nAddison Roush Leads Granite’s 2026 Season\nThe gala also comes during the first season under Artistic Director Addison Roush. \nRoush grew up in Waco\, Texas\, and traces his interest in theater to seeing The Music Man and Alice Through the Looking Glass when he was 10. He began performing himself that same year. He later earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and Directing from Sam Houston State University\, where his work included lead roles\, directing and play workshops. \nGranite audiences had already seen him onstage before he took the leadership position. Roush appeared as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the theater’s production of The Rocky Horror Show. \nThe Granite Theatre board selected Roush from a field of candidates to succeed Nicole DiMattei beginning in January 2026. He was initially announced as interim artistic director with responsibility for overseeing the season and personally directing three productions. Granite now lists him simply as its Artistic Director. \nHe’s joined in the theater’s current leadership by Theatre Manager Caitlyn Ordway\, a Rhode Island native whose academic background includes writing and rhetoric\, film media and theater. Granite says her role focuses in part on creating a collaborative environment for staff and volunteers and making audiences feel welcome and engaged. \nInvesting in Young Performers\nThe “Horizons” side of the fundraiser becomes clearer when you look at what Granite has been building for children and teenagers. \nThe theater operates educational programs designed around the idea that theater can develop more than acting\, singing and dancing skills. Granite specifically identifies communication\, social development\, confidence and self-esteem among the benefits it hopes students gain from participating. \nIts youth program serves children and teenagers and has already resulted in full productions. \nIn 2026\, young performers ages 8 to 18 rehearsed and performed Disney’s Newsies Jr. in June. Granite followed that during the summer with Willy Wonka Jr.\, including a theater camp and August performances involving young actors. \nThat gives some substance to the gala’s promise to “invest in our future.” Money raised isn’t simply maintaining a building or filling out another theater season. It helps an organization trying to create a place where the area’s next generation can learn how theater works from both sides of the curtain. \nAn Americana Evening at The Hounds\nThe setting takes the gala across the state line from Granite’s Westerly home to The Hounds at 769 Stonington Road in Stonington. \nThe Hounds is an event venue situated near Stonington Borough and protected marshland\, giving the fundraiser a setting that fits the evening’s New England-meets-Americana atmosphere. \nGuests can expect vintage Americana-inspired décor\, historical theatrical imagery and a program combining performances and storytelling. \nGranite describes the evening as both a celebration of 250 years of American stories and an investment in ensuring another generation has a place to tell its own. \nEvent Details\nEvent: Heritage and Horizons: Granite Theatre Gala Fundraiser\nDate: Friday\, September 25\, 2026\nVenue: The Hounds\nAddress: 769 Stonington Road\, Stonington\, CT 06378 \nWhat to Expect: An Americana-inspired cabaret evening featuring live performances\, storytelling\, historical theatrical imagery\, food and a celebration of American artistic traditions. \nBeneficiary: Proceeds support the nonprofit Granite Theatre’s theatrical productions\, educational programs and community arts mission. \n  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/granite-theatres-heritage-and-horizons-gala/
LOCATION:The Hounds\, 769 Stonington Road\, Stonington\, CT\, 06378\, United States
CATEGORIES:The Hounds
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Granite-Theatres-Heritage-and-Horizons-Gala.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T193000
DTSTAMP:20260928T002457Z
CREATED:20260921T031136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260928T002457Z
UID:10008478-1790357400-1790364600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Full Moon Sunset Sail Pairs Two of Mystic’s Best Views Aboard the ARGIA
DESCRIPTION:Full Moon Sunset Sail Pairs Two of Mystic’s Best Views Aboard the ARGIA Sept. 25 and 26\, timing a two-hour evening sail so passengers can watch the sun disappear in the west as the full moon rises over the water. \nThe special sail aboard Mystic’s familiar two-masted schooner departs Steamboat Wharf at 5:30 p.m.\, just as the late-September light begins changing over the Mystic River and Fishers Island Sound. \nUnlike a standard sunset cruise\, the timing gives passengers two celestial events to watch from the deck: the colors of sunset spreading across one side of the sky and the full moon climbing into view from the other. \nPassengers are welcome to bring a picnic and a bottle of wine and settle in for the evening. \nSunset in One Direction\, Moonrise in the Other\nThere’s a reason the timing of this sail matters. \nA full moon rises near the time the sun sets because the moon is positioned on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun. That means passengers can look toward the fading western sky for sunset\, then turn toward the eastern horizon for the moonrise. \nOut on the water\, there’s also considerably less in the way. \nBuildings\, trees and other obstructions that can hide a low moon from shore give way to longer views across the river and Sound. As daylight fades\, the moonlight begins reflecting from the water. \nARGIA schedules only a handful of these Full Moon Sunset Sails during its May-to-mid-October sailing season. The September trips are set for Friday and Saturday evenings\, with both departing at 5:30 p.m. \nSailing Mystic on a 19th-Century Rig\nThe setting adds another layer to the evening. \nARGIA isn’t an antique\, but she was built to sail like one. \nThe 81-foot wooden vessel was designed by Capt. Frank Fulchiero and built in 1986. Her rig is based on the working East Coast trading vessels of the 19th century and is properly described as a two-masted gaff topsail schooner. \nHer hull is Honduran mahogany over white oak frames\, with Douglas fir masts\, a cypress bowsprit and long-leaf yellow pine used in her Chesapeake Bay-style bottom planking. \nAbove deck are four sails carrying roughly 1\,500 square feet of sail area. \nThe schooner carries up to 49 passengers\, which keeps the experience considerably smaller than a sightseeing cruise aboard a large excursion vessel. Passengers can move around the wooden deck as the view changes and may even be invited to help the crew hoist and trim the sails. \nFrom the Mystic River to the Sound\nARGIA sails from Steamboat Wharf in downtown Mystic\, close to the Mystic River Bascule Bridge. \nThe beginning of the trip offers a familiar view from an unfamiliar angle as the schooner makes its way along the Mystic River past waterfront homes\, marinas and working docks. \nFarther south\, the river opens toward Fishers Island Sound and the shoreline begins to fall away. \nThat’s where ARGIA can become less of a sightseeing boat and more of a sailing ship. When conditions cooperate\, the crew raises the sails and lets the wind take over. \nFor a September evening trip\, the transition should coincide with the changing light: bright late-afternoon sky giving way to gold\, orange and pink before dusk settles over the water. \nBring Dinner — and a Bottle of Wine\nThe Full Moon Sunset Sail is also one of those events where bringing your own food is part of the experience rather than something you have to sneak aboard. \nGuests may pack a picnic and bring beer or wine. Hard liquor isn’t permitted. \nThat leaves plenty of room to make the two-hour trip into dinner on the water\, whether that means sandwiches and snacks or something more ambitious packed for the occasion. \nAnd unlike ARGIA’s daytime excursions\, sunset sails are limited to passengers age 10 and older. \nThe Friday and Saturday trips are priced differently. The Sept. 25 sail is $85 per person\, while the Sept. 26 sail is $95. \nBy late September\, Mystic’s summer crowds are beginning to thin and darkness arrives noticeably earlier. For two evenings\, ARGIA is using that changing season to its advantage: leaving the village in daylight\, sailing through sunset and returning with a full moon over the water. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Full Moon Sunset Sail aboard ARGIA\nDates: Friday\, Sept. 25 and Saturday\, Sept. 26\, 2026\nTime: 5:30–7:30 p.m.\nDuration: Two hours\nDeparture: Argia Mystic Cruises\, Steamboat Wharf\nAddress: 12 Steamboat Wharf\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nFriday Admission: $85 per person\nSaturday Admission: $95 per person\nVessel: ARGIA\, an 81-foot two-masted gaff topsail schooner\nCapacity: Up to 49 passengers\nAge: Children younger than 10 are not permitted on sunset sails\nFood: Guests may bring a picnic basket\nAlcohol: Beer and wine may be brought aboard; no hard liquor\nWeather: Sailing conditions and itinerary are subject to weather and conditions on the water\nWhat to Bring: A picnic\, drinks if desired and an extra layer for cooler evening temperatures on the water \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/full-moon-sunset-sail-pairs-two-of-mystics-best-views-aboard-the-argia-2/
LOCATION:Argia Mystic Cruises\, Steamboat Wharf\, Mystic\, CT\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Argia Mystic Cruises
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Sail-on-the-Argia-with-Live-Music.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T190000
DTSTAMP:20260922T020953Z
CREATED:20260922T020953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T020953Z
UID:10008489-1790357400-1790362800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Full Harvest Moon Cruise Puts New London’s Waterfront Under the September Moon
DESCRIPTION:Full Harvest Moon Cruise Puts New London’s Waterfront Under the September Moon Sept. 25 and 26\, taking passengers onto the Thames River just as daylight begins fading and one of early autumn’s most recognizable full moons rises over southeastern Connecticut. \nThe one-hour cruise departs New London City Pier at 5:45 p.m.\, timed for that transition when the waterfront begins losing its daylight colors and reflections become more prominent across the river. \nThere is no formal dinner\, no complicated itinerary and no lengthy historical program attached to this one. Guests can pack their own drinks and snacks\, board one of Thames River Heritage Park’s boats and spend an hour on the water. \nThe moon provides the main attraction. \nWhy It’s Called the Harvest Moon\n“Harvest Moon” doesn’t identify one particular month’s full moon. \nInstead\, it is the name traditionally given to the full moon occurring closest to the autumnal equinox. Depending on the year\, that can make it either September’s or October’s full moon. \nThe name has a practical origin. \nAround the autumn equinox\, successive moonrises occur unusually close together in time. Before tractors carried powerful headlights into agricultural fields\, the bright moon rising shortly after sunset provided farmers with additional natural light during one of the busiest periods of the agricultural year. \nThat connection between moonlight and the harvest eventually gave the moon its familiar name. \nThe September full moon is also traditionally called the Corn Moon\, reflecting the time of year when corn and other crops reached harvest. \nThames River Heritage Park combines both names for its September cruise. \nThe Thames Looks Different From the Water\nThe route also puts passengers in the middle of one of Connecticut’s most historically dense waterways. \nNew London and Groton rise on opposite sides of the Thames\, a river corridor shaped by centuries of maritime trade\, military activity and shipbuilding. \nFrom the water\, the landscape includes working waterfronts and naval infrastructure alongside historic sites such as Fort Trumbull and Fort Griswold\, with the river opening toward Long Island Sound. \nThe cruise is operated by Thames River Heritage Park\, an organization that treats the river itself as the connecting corridor between historic and cultural sites on both shores. \nAnd the boats have some history of their own. \nThe Heritage Park uses refurbished former U.S. Navy utility boats that once transported sailors between ships and shore. Their second career now involves carrying visitors through the same river that remains closely associated with the Navy and the region’s submarine industry. \nBring Your Own Drinks and Snacks\nThis is also one of the more informal specialty cruises on the Thames. \nGuests are invited to bring a cooler with their favorite beverages and snacks\, making it possible to turn the hour into a floating picnic. \nAll ages are welcome. \nTickets are $50 for adults 18 and older\, $35 for children ages 4–17 and free for children 3 and younger. \nThe cruise leaves from City Pier at New London Waterfront Park and runs from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. \nThere are departures on both Friday\, Sept. 25 and Saturday\, Sept. 26. \nAn Autumn Cruise With One Uncontrollable Guest\nOf course\, putting the moon at the center of an event comes with one obvious complication. \nThe sky has to cooperate. \nCloud cover can determine whether the moon dominates the evening or remains hidden\, while wind and other marine conditions can affect whether the boat sails at all. \nThames River Heritage Park notes that its evening cruises are weather dependent and advises ticket holders to check its website and social media for the latest schedule information. \nBut even before the moon takes over\, the departure time provides another reason to be on the river. \nAt 5:45 on a late-September evening\, the cruise catches the Thames during the transition toward sunset\, turning what is normally a familiar New London and Groton waterfront into an hour framed by fading daylight\, autumn air and the approaching night. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Full “Corn or Harvest” Moon Cruise\nDates: Friday\, Sept. 25 and Saturday\, Sept. 26\, 2026\nTime: 5:45–6:45 p.m.\nDeparture: New London City Pier / Waterfront Park\nAddress: 1 Waterfront Park\, New London\, CT 06320\nOperator: Thames River Heritage Park\nAdult Admission (18+): $50\nChildren (4–17): $35\nChildren 3 and Younger: Free\nAge: All ages welcome\nFood & Drinks: Guests may bring a cooler with beverages and snacks\nLength: Approximately one hour\nWeather: Evening cruises are weather dependent; check for schedule updates before departure\nQuestions: 860-333-6706 \nExcerpt: \nMeta Description: \nReference Links\nhttps://business.mysticchamber.org/event-calendar/Details/full-corn-or-harvest-moon-cruise-1913594?sourceTypeId=Website \nhttps://business.mysticchamber.org/ap/Events/Register/wZFlBmGIeCxCw \nhttps://www.thamesriverheritagepark.org/ \nhttps://www.thamesriverheritagepark.org/repeating-harbor-cruises-historic-boat-tours-wrap-up-for-season/ \nhttps://ctvisit.com/events/full-corn-or-harvest-moon-cruise \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/full-harvest-moon-cruise-puts-new-londons-waterfront-under-the-september-moon/2026-09-25/
LOCATION:New London Waterfront Park\, 1 Waterfront Park\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:New London Waterfront Park
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Full-Harvest-Moon-Cruise-Puts-New-Londons-Waterfront-Under-the-September-Moon.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T190000
DTSTAMP:20260621T233508Z
CREATED:20260621T233508Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260621T233508Z
UID:10006141-1790352000-1790362800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Bozrah Farmers Market
DESCRIPTION:Bozrah Farmers Market returns each Friday with a season-long lineup of themed events that combine local shopping\, food\, entertainment\, and community fun. While visitors can always expect fresh produce\, local vendors\, and a welcoming atmosphere\, each market date brings a unique theme designed to give guests something new to experience throughout the summer and fall. \nFrom pickle tastings and berry celebrations to classic cars\, tacos\, chocolate\, and even a Renaissance-themed evening\, the weekly themes add an extra layer of fun to one of the region’s most popular community markets. Whether you’re stopping by to shop local\, grab dinner from a food truck\, or enjoy one of the special activities\, every Friday offers a different reason to visit. \nFamilies\, food lovers\, and shoppers alike will find plenty to enjoy as the market transforms throughout the season with themed activities\, special vendors\, and community celebrations. \nEvent Details \nWhen: Fridays \nLocation: Bozrah Farmers Market \n2026 Theme Schedule \nJuly 3\nPickle Festival \nJuly 10\nTractor Night \nJuly 17\nMakers Market \nJuly 24\nClassic Car Night \nJuly 31\nBerry Festival \nAugust 7\nDog Days \nAugust 14\nKids Entrepreneur Day \nAugust 21\nClassic Car Night \nAugust 28\nFood Truck Night \nSeptember 4\nChocolate Night \nSeptember 11\nTaco Festival \nSeptember 18\nAmerica 250 Celebration \nSeptember 25\nVintage Vibes \nOctober 2\nMakers of the Realm (Renaissance Theme) \nOctober 9\nTent-or-Treat \nAdditional Information \n\nWeekly Friday market\nLocal vendors and artisans\nFresh produce and farm products\nFamily-friendly atmosphere\nRotating seasonal themes and activities\n\n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/bozrah-farmers-market/2026-09-25/
LOCATION:Bozrah Farmers Market\, 45 Bozrah Street\, Bozrah\, 06344\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bozrah Farmers Market
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bozrah-Farmers-Market-Fridays-July-3-through-October-with-a-different-theme-every-Friday-4pm-to-7pm.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T210000
DTSTAMP:20260922T025349Z
CREATED:20260922T025231Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T025349Z
UID:10008492-1790335800-1790370000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Mystic Film Festival Brings Four Days of Independent Cinema to Mystic and Westerly
DESCRIPTION:Mystic Film Festival Brings Four Days of Independent Cinema to Mystic and Westerly Sept. 24–27\, turning multiple venues on both sides of the Connecticut-Rhode Island line into screening rooms for one of the region’s largest celebrations of independent film. \nAnd the Chamber calendar seriously undersells this one. \nThe 9th Annual Mystic Film Festival includes narrative features\, feature documentaries\, dozens of short films\, three blocks devoted entirely to student filmmakers\, filmmaker conversations\, networking events\, a screenplay competition\, and a closing-night awards ceremony. \nThe official festival site is: Mystic Film Festival 2026 \nThe 2026 festival runs across several venues rather than operating out of a single theater. Mystic Luxury Cinemas in Olde Mistick Village remains the cornerstone venue and hosts opening night\, while screenings and programs expand to La Grua Center in Stonington Borough\, the Mystic & Noank Library\, and The UNITED in Westerly. \nMore Than a Weekend at the Movies\nMystic Film Festival was created by area filmmakers and artists with a deliberate dual mission: give Connecticut and New England filmmakers somewhere to show their work while bringing independent films from around the world to southeastern Connecticut. \nNine years later\, that local festival has developed a surprisingly large footprint. \nThe 2026 official slate contains more than 100 films\, spanning narrative and documentary features\, narrative and documentary shorts\, animation and student work. The feature-documentary program alone includes films about politics\, sports\, Native identity\, aviation\, photography\, speed\, international borders and defectors. \nThis is also a festival where the people who made the films are part of the experience. Filmmaker Q&As\, workshops\, industry events and informal conversations are built around the screenings rather than treating each movie as a standalone theatrical showing. \nThe 2026 Film Schedule\nBecause several screens and venues operate simultaneously\, there isn’t one linear schedule. Audiences build their own festival. \nThe festival’s official individual film pages and venue schedules confirm the following major screening blocks. The festival’s Event Schedule should be checked before attending for the final screen assignment and any last-minute changes. \nThursday\, Sept. 24 — Opening Night\nThe festival opens at Mystic Luxury Cinemas in Olde Mistick Village\, traditionally putting the spotlight on locally produced work and filmmakers from the region. \nOpening night is specifically designed to celebrate films made by local filmmakers before the festival expands into its multi-venue schedule Friday through Sunday. \nFriday\, Sept. 25 — UNITED Theatre\n12–2 p.m. — Crystal Cross\nNarrative Feature \n2:30–4:30 p.m. — The Life We Leave\nFeature Documentary \n5–7 p.m. — Micronations\nFeature Documentary \n7:30–9 p.m. — Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story\nFeature Documentary \nAll four screen in the UNITED Micro Cinema in Westerly. \nFriday — Mystic & Noank Library\nThe festival also moves into the library for programming Friday. One confirmed screening block runs 12:45–2:45 p.m. and includes Forever Home\, a 20-minute student documentary directed by Kyle Francis Barton about Newhouse Wildlife Rescue in Massachusetts and the work of rehabilitating injured wildlife for eventual release. \nFriday — Mystic Luxury Cinemas\nMultiple short-film programs also run at the festival’s Mystic anchor venue. \nAmong the confirmed Friday programs is a 4–6 p.m. documentary-short block that includes Under the Ice\, director John Martin’s nearly 30-minute documentary about a woman confronting depression and alcoholism through an attempt to swim beneath the ice of a frozen Norwegian lake and pursue a Guinness World Record. \nSaturday\, Sept. 26 — UNITED Theatre\n12–2 p.m. — Tails of the Himalayas…Of Dogs & Devotees + Unspoken Bond\nDocumentary Short + Feature Documentary \n2:30–4:30 p.m. — Art of Destruction\nFeature Documentary \n5–7 p.m. — Nobody Wants to Be Here\, Nobody Wants to Leave\nNarrative Feature \n7:30–9:15 p.m. — Act One\nNarrative Feature \nSaturday — La Grua Center Student Film Showcase\nSaturday brings an entire parallel festival-within-the-festival to Stonington Borough. \nLa Grua Center hosts three blocks of student films\, moderated by Jim Quinn\, with opportunities for audiences to hear from participating filmmakers. \n11 a.m. — Student Shorts Block 1 \nYer Smackin’\nBusker\nWiwa\nRunning On The Edge\nUs And Them\nI Constantly Thank God For Estaban\nThe Magic Words\nPerspico\nHow’d It Go? \n1:30 p.m. — Student Shorts Block 2 \nThe Locked Groove\nNo Small Matter\nClucky’s\nValue\nDental Breakdown\nTrapped Air: Life With No Burp-Zone\nGarden Of Babel\nSeparate Together\nFace Me Face You \n4 p.m. — Student Films Block 3 \nSame Time Tomorrow\nMade Whole\nNight Of Silence\nFalling Behind\nRunning Against The Odds\nBatteries\nThe Last Hug\nCorsano’s Roach \nThe subjects alone demonstrate how broad the student program has become. Running Against the Odds\, for example\, tells the story of Narragansett runner Tarzan Brown\, a two-time Boston Marathon winner who represented the United States at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. \nNo Small Matter comes from a 15-year-old filmmaker and examines a court designed to address homelessness and mental-health issues through treatment and support rather than conventional punishment. \nAnd Trapped Air: Life With No-Burp Syndrome is a five-minute documentary about R-CPD and the patients who live with the inability to burp. \nSaturday — Mystic Luxury Cinemas\nMystic Luxury Cinemas simultaneously hosts additional short-film blocks. \nA confirmed 2–4 p.m. narrative-short program includes My Dog: The Paradox\, an animated short from Matthew Inman\, creator of The Oatmeal and co-creator of Exploding Kittens\, about the joy and inevitable heartbreak of loving a dog. \nThat same block includes The Lord of All Future Space and Time\, a 23-minute mashup of Western revenge story\, science fiction and comedy. \nAnother narrative-short program runs 4–6 p.m.\, including Drowned\, about a single mother with chronic illness confronting medical setbacks and the possibility of losing custody of her child. \nSaturday Night Becomes a Filmmaker Gathering\nAt 6:30 p.m. Saturday\, the movies give way to an Industry Networking Event at La Grua Center. \nThe gathering runs until 9 p.m. and brings filmmakers\, screenwriters and other festival participants together away from the theaters. \nIt’s an important part of what Mystic Film Festival has become. The festival isn’t only trying to find an audience for finished movies. It’s also trying to create relationships among people who may make the next ones. \nThe event requires a separate RSVP for participating filmmakers and screenplay finalists. \nSunday\, Sept. 27 — UNITED Theatre\nThe Westerly screenings continue throughout the festival’s final day. \n12–2 p.m. — In Spite of Ourselves\nNarrative Feature \n2:15–4:15 p.m. — School For Defectors\nFeature Documentary \n2:30–4:30 p.m. — Documentary Shorts Block\nResume of Regrets\nOne Soupy Season\nHow I Survived a Kamikaze Attack\nThe Petal Pusher\nPlant Life \n4:30–6 p.m. — Fat + One Woman One Bra\nNarrative Short + Narrative Feature \nThe 2:30 documentary block screens in the UNITED Main Cinema while the other Sunday programs use the Micro Cinema\, allowing simultaneous programming. \nSunday — Mystic Luxury Cinemas\nAdditional programs continue in Mystic. \nOne confirmed block begins at 11:30 a.m. and includes animation such as Half Baked\, a short comedy about a young adult repeatedly failing to learn how to cook and ordering pizza after every disaster. \nA 4–6 p.m. narrative shorts program includes The Yellow Sponge is the Dish Sponge\, Michele Noble’s comedy about a couple whose disagreements over cleaning and household chores escalate on the day of a party. \nMore Than 100 Films\, From Features to Six-Minute Experiments\nThe size of the slate makes the festival difficult to summarize with a handful of marquee titles. \nAmong the documentary features are Art of Destruction\, Micronations\, Remaining Native\, Fork In The Road\, March Forth\, Nasty\, Public Access\, School For Defectors\, Sculptors of Speed\, Outliers\, People Vs. Politics\, Slowburn Shoot\, Team 28\, The Flight of Jackie Cochran\, The Life We Leave\, They Fight With Cameras\, Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story and Unspoken Bond. \nNarrative features include A Woman’s Work\, Act One\, Crystal Cross\, In Spite of Ourselves\, Nobody Wants to Be Here\, Nobody Wants to Leave\, One Woman One Bra and Road To L’Etape Du Tour. \nThe shorts program goes considerably deeper\, with dozens of narrative and documentary films running from just a few minutes to nearly feature length. \nThat makes the festival less like going out to see one movie and more like sampling a film world that normally doesn’t make it to a commercial multiplex. \nScreenwriters Get Their Own Competition\nFilms aren’t the only stories competing. \nThe Mystic Film Festival’s Screenplay Competition is now in its sixth year\, providing a route into the festival for writers whose work hasn’t yet become a finished movie. \nThe competition has expanded its categories as the festival has grown\, and the top screenplay winners are announced during festival weekend. \nThat distinction matters. Independent film festivals often become one of the few places where an unproduced writer can enter the same professional conversation as directors and producers with completed films. \nMystic has deliberately made that part of its mission. \nSunday Night Ends With the Awards\nThe four days conclude where they began: Mystic Luxury Cinemas. \nThe Mystic Film Festival Awards Ceremony runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday. \nA wine reception is scheduled from 6:30 to 7 p.m.\, followed by the ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. \nAwards recognize standout work across the festival’s categories\, and the winners of the screenplay competition are also announced during the festival. \nBy that point\, audiences will have moved among two states\, several theaters and cultural venues\, features\, documentaries\, shorts and student films. \nThat’s a considerably bigger event than the little Chamber calendar listing suggests. \nFor four days\, Mystic and Westerly effectively become one regional independent-film campus. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: 9th Annual Mystic Film Festival\nDates: Thursday\, Sept. 24 through Sunday\, Sept. 27\, 2026\nLocations: Mystic and Stonington\, Connecticut\, and Westerly\, Rhode Island\nCornerstone Venue: Mystic Luxury Cinemas\, 27 Coogan Boulevard\, Mystic\nAdditional Venues: The UNITED\, La Grua Center\, Mystic & Noank Library and other festival locations\nProgramming: Narrative features\, documentary features\, narrative and documentary shorts\, animation and student films\nAlso Included: Filmmaker Q&As\, workshops\, networking events\, screenplay competition and awards celebration\nSaturday Student Showcase: La Grua Center\, 11 a.m.\, 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.\nSaturday Industry Networking: La Grua Center\, 6:30–9 p.m.\nSunday Awards: Mystic Luxury Cinemas\, 6:30–9 p.m.; wine reception at 6:30 p.m.\, ceremony at 7 p.m.\nTickets: Individual screening tickets and festival passes are available through the festival’s ticketing system. Because multiple programs run simultaneously\, ticket holders should confirm the venue and screen for each selection when reserving. \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/15878/2026-09-25/
LOCATION:Mystic Luxury Cinemas\, 27 Coogan Blvd Ste. 1-B\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Luxury Cinemas
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Mystic-Film-Festival-Brings-Four-Days-of-Independent-Cinema-to-Mystic-and-Westerly.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T210000
DTSTAMP:20260913T020703Z
CREATED:20260913T020703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260913T020703Z
UID:10007560-1790335800-1790370000@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/2026-09-25/
LOCATION:Jealous Monk\, 27 Coogan Blvd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Jealous Monk
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T170000
DTSTAMP:20260701T201347Z
CREATED:20260701T201347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260701T201347Z
UID:10006486-1790334000-1790355600@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/2026-09-25/
LOCATION:Mystic Museum of Art\, 9 Water Street\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Museum of Art
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T170000
DTSTAMP:20260705T020852Z
CREATED:20260510T162306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260705T020852Z
UID:10000492-1790334000-1790355600@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-3/2026-09-25/
LOCATION:Mystic Seaport\, 75 Greenmanville Ave\, Mystic\, CT\, \,06355-1946\,\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Seaport
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T123000
DTSTAMP:20260924T154656Z
CREATED:20260924T154656Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T154656Z
UID:10008600-1790334000-1790339400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Are Humans Really Exceptional? Tom Verde Leads a Stonington Discussion of The Arrogant Ape
DESCRIPTION:Are Humans Really Exceptional? Tom Verde Leads a Stonington Discussion of The Arrogant Ape Friday\, Sept. 25\, bringing readers together at the Stonington Free Library to examine a provocative question: Are humans actually as unique\, intelligent\, and superior to the rest of life as we have convinced ourselves we are? \nAuthor and journalist Tom Verde will lead the 90-minute discussion of Christine Webb’s The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why It Matters\, a 2025 book that uses primatology\, animal behavior and other research to challenge the idea that humanity naturally belongs at the top of a biological hierarchy. \nParticipants are encouraged to read the book beforehand and arrive ready to discuss it. \nWhat Makes Us So Sure We’re Special?\nWebb begins with an idea that reaches well beyond whether a chimpanzee can solve a puzzle or a bird can use a tool. \nHumans have developed an extraordinarily powerful story about ourselves. \nWe’re the intelligent species. The rational one. The species with culture\, language\, morality and complex emotions. Other forms of life are commonly evaluated according to how closely they approach abilities we’ve already decided are particularly human. \nWebb argues that this can create a rigged contest. \nHer book examines evidence of complexity throughout the living world\, including communication among songbirds and prairie dogs\, cultures among chimpanzees and reef fish and sophisticated behavior extending even into plants and fungi. \nShe also challenges how scientists themselves have sometimes approached comparisons between humans and other species. \nThe question becomes not simply whether another species can do something humans can do\, but whether we’re capable of understanding another organism on its own terms. \nDarwin Didn’t Put Us at the Top\nOne of Webb’s starting points is Charles Darwin. \nEvolution doesn’t really produce a ladder with primitive organisms at the bottom and humans triumphantly standing at the top. It produces branching relationships shaped by different environments and evolutionary pressures. \nHumans are one branch. \nYet Webb argues that older ideas of hierarchy survived the arrival of evolutionary theory and continue to shape how people think about intelligence\, emotion and the moral value of other living things. \nThat matters because the belief isn’t merely philosophical. \nIf humans consider themselves fundamentally separate from and superior to the rest of nature\, Webb argues\, it becomes easier to treat animals\, ecosystems and natural resources primarily according to their usefulness to us. \nThe Arrogant Ape connects that thinking to environmental exploitation and the ecological instability humans now face. \nBut Webb doesn’t frame abandoning human exceptionalism simply as a sacrifice made for other species. \nShe argues that humans also have something to gain. \nSeeing ourselves as participants in a much larger living system can replace superiority with curiosity\, connection and what she describes as humility before the natural world. \nThe Author Studies Our Closest Living Relatives\nWebb comes to the subject through primatology. \nShe is an assistant professor in New York University’s Department of Environmental Studies and part of its Animal Studies program\, with expertise in social behavior\, cognition and emotion. \nHer research with nonhuman primates has helped shape her interest in what happens when scientists stop treating human abilities as the default measurement against which other animals must be judged. \nHer work also crosses disciplinary lines\, bringing scientific research into conversation with scholars in the social sciences and humanities and with debates over the moral status humans assign to other animals. \nThe Arrogant Ape\, published by Avery in September 2025\, runs 336 pages and was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2025. \nTom Verde Has Spent a Career Asking Questions Across Cultures\nThe discussion leader brings his own unusually broad background to the subject. \nPawcatuck-based writer and journalist Tom Verde has reported from Europe\, Africa\, the Middle East and the United States for outlets and programs including The New York Times\, The Boston Globe\, Marketplace\, Living on Earth and The Savvy Traveler. \nHis magazine work has appeared in publications including Newsweek\, Travel + Leisure\, Reader’s Digest\, National Geographic Adventure and ARTnews. \nOne assignment took him along the ancient frankincense trade route across the Arabian Peninsula\, traveling by camel\, dhow\, four-wheel-drive vehicle and on foot. His public-radio work on Cairo earned a National Headliner Award for Best Radio Documentary Series as well as a New York Festivals Award. \nReligion has also been a recurring subject in Verde’s work. He hosted a public-radio discussion series called What to Believe\, and earlier this year the Stonington Free Library hosted him for a presentation of Queens of Islam\, his exploration of Muslim women who exercised political power across centuries of Islamic history. \nThe September gathering is part of the library’s continuing Tom Verde Book Discussions series. In June\, Verde led readers through Steven Waldman’s Sacred Liberty\, examining the history of religious freedom in America. \nThis time\, the discussion moves from what humans believe about one another to what humans believe about themselves as a species. \nRead It First\, Then Argue About It\nThis is a book discussion rather than a lecture by Webb herself. \nThe library encourages participants to read The Arrogant Ape beforehand and come prepared to engage with its ideas. \nCopies are available through the Stonington Free Library\, and the book can also be purchased locally at Bank Square Books. \nThat preparation matters with a book built around a proposition as large as human exceptionalism. \nWebb isn’t merely asking whether animals are smarter than we’ve historically assumed. \nShe’s asking whether the framework humans use to define intelligence\, culture\, success and even our place in nature was built around an answer we had already decided upon: \nUs. \nFriday morning\, readers in Stonington get 90 minutes to decide what they think about that. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Book Discussion with Tom Verde\nBook: The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why It Matters by Christine Webb\nDiscussion Leader: Tom Verde\nDate: Friday\, Sept. 25\, 2026\nTime: 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.\nLocation: Stonington Free Library\nAddress: 20 High St.\, Stonington\, CT 06378\nProgram: Tom Verde Book Discussions\nAudience: Adults\nPreparation: Participants are encouraged to read the book in advance\nBooks: Available at Stonington Free Library or for purchase at Bank Square Books\nOrganizer: Millie Donovan\nLibrary Phone: 860-535-0658 \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/are-humans-really-exceptional-tom-verde-leads-a-stonington-discussion-of-the-arrogant-ape/
LOCATION:Stonington Free Library\, 20 High Street\, Stonington\, CT\, 06378\, United States
CATEGORIES:Stonington Free Library
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T170000
DTSTAMP:20260924T160515Z
CREATED:20260924T160515Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T160515Z
UID:10008601-1790330400-1790355600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Honor Book Weekend Lets You Put a Loved One’s Name Inside the Mystic & Noank Library
DESCRIPTION:Honor Book Weekend Lets You Put a Loved One’s Name Inside the Mystic & Noank Library Friday and Saturday\, when a collaboration with Bank Square Books turns buying a book into something that can remain on the library’s shelves for years. \nThe idea is wonderfully simple. \nMystic & Noank Library librarians have pre-selected books they would like to add to the collection. Visitors browse those titles at Bank Square Books\, choose one or more to purchase for the library and dedicate the donation to someone they want to honor or remember. \nThe book then becomes part of the library’s collection\, complete with a custom bookplate creating a permanent record of the donation. \nOne transaction supports the library\, supports an independent Mystic bookstore and creates a lasting tribute to someone who matters to you. \nThe Librarians Have Already Done the Shopping\nHonor Book Weekend isn’t a general book drive. \nInstead of purchasing an arbitrary title and hoping the library needs it\, visitors choose from books selected in advance by Mystic & Noank Library staff. \nThat distinction matters. \nModern libraries have limited shelf space and collections that are continually changing. Librarians have to consider demand\, gaps in the collection\, condition\, relevance and what their particular community actually reads. \nHere\, that selection work has already happened. \nThe donor’s job is the fun part: browse the choices and find the book that feels right. \nPerhaps it’s a children’s book dedicated to a new grandchild\, a novel honoring someone who never went anywhere without a book\, a history title for the person who loved the past or something chosen simply because it reminds you of somebody. \nOnce donated\, the custom bookplate connects that person to the book. \nIt’s a small memorial that doesn’t have to feel like one. \nOne Purchase Helps Two Mystic Institutions\nThere’s another layer to the weekend. \nThe books aren’t being ordered from a warehouse. They’re being purchased through Bank Square Books\, Mystic’s independent bookstore. \nBank Square has been part of the community since 1988 and describes its mission as extending beyond selling books. The store hosts author appearances\, book clubs\, children’s programming and workshops while also donating books and money to local nonprofit organizations. \nIts relationship with Mystic & Noank Library is visible throughout the year. \nThe two organizations collaborate on literary programming and author events\, creating the sort of relationship that makes sense in a town where an independent bookstore and independent library serve many of the same readers. \nHonor Book Weekend makes that partnership particularly direct. \nBuy one book and the bookstore makes a sale. \nThe library gains a title its librarians have already decided belongs in the collection. \nAnd the donor gets to attach someone’s name to it. \nMystic & Noank Isn’t a Municipal Library\nThere’s also a financial reason events like this matter more than people might assume. \nDespite serving the community as a public library\, Mystic & Noank Library is a private nonprofit rather than a municipal library. \nAccording to the library’s 2025 annual report\, roughly 27 percent of its operating funding came from the towns of Stonington and Groton and the State of Connecticut. \nThe rest has to come from the library itself through fundraising\, philanthropy\, its endowment and careful financial management. \nThat means community support isn’t merely paying for extras. \nIt helps sustain the institution. \nDonating a requested book is a particularly tangible way to contribute because you can see exactly where the money goes. \nIt goes onto a shelf. \nA Library Built by a Gift\nThere’s something especially fitting about honoring someone through a donation to Mystic & Noank Library. \nThe institution itself began with philanthropy. \nIn 1891\, Mystic ship captain Elihu Spicer announced plans to build a library for the communities of Mystic and Noank. He died before seeing the project completed\, but his sister\, Sarah Dickinson\, continued the effort. \nThe Roman-brick library was dedicated in January 1894 and remains one of downtown Mystic’s most recognizable civic buildings. \nMore than 130 years later\, the model has changed considerably. The library now offers digital books and audiobooks\, streaming services\, computers\, children’s programming\, workshops\, book discussions\, museum passes and community events alongside the shelves of physical books. \nBut the basic idea behind Spicer’s gift remains remarkably recognizable. \nSomeone gives something because they believe other people should be able to use it. \nHonor Book Weekend reduces that idea to its smallest possible unit. \nOne book. \nOne donor. \nOne name inside the cover. \nAnd then\, potentially\, hundreds of readers who will never know the person being honored but will continue benefiting from the gift. \nTwo Days to Choose a Book\nHonor Book Weekend runs Friday\, Sept. 25\, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday\, Sept. 26\, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. \nThe event takes place off-site at Bank Square Books rather than at the library. \nOne important location note: although some older library calendar information still displays Bank Square Books’ former downtown address\, Bank Square Books is now located at 80 Stonington Road\, Suite 8\, in Mystic\, and the event description specifically directs participants to the new location. \nThere’s no requirement that the person being honored be a reader\, donor or library patron. \nThe permanence comes afterward. \nYears from now\, somebody may pull the book from a shelf at Mystic & Noank Library\, open the cover and find a name waiting inside. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: MNL Honor Books at Bank Square Books\nDates: Friday\, Sept. 25 and Saturday\, Sept. 26\, 2026\nFriday Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.\nSaturday Hours: 10 a.m.–1 p.m.\nLocation: Bank Square Books\nCurrent Address: 80 Stonington Road\, Suite 8\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nWho Can Participate: Everyone\nHow It Works: Browse books pre-selected by Mystic & Noank Library librarians\, purchase one or more for the library’s collection and dedicate the donation in honor or memory of someone\nBookplate: Donated books receive a custom bookplate creating a permanent record of the gift\nBenefits: Mystic & Noank Library and Bank Square Books\nLibrary Contact: Christine Bradley\nPhone: 860-536-7721 \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/honor-book-weekend-lets-you-put-a-loved-ones-name-inside-the-mystic-noank-library/2026-09-25/
LOCATION:Bank Square Books\, 80 Stonington Rd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bank Square Books
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260925T180000
DTSTAMP:20260901T212201Z
CREATED:20260901T212201Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T212201Z
UID:10007327-1790326800-1790359200@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/2026-09-25/
LOCATION:B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill\, 129 North Stonington Road\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260924T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260924T210000
DTSTAMP:20260922T025349Z
CREATED:20260922T025231Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T025349Z
UID:10008491-1790274600-1790283600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Mystic Film Festival Brings Four Days of Independent Cinema to Mystic and Westerly
DESCRIPTION:Mystic Film Festival Brings Four Days of Independent Cinema to Mystic and Westerly Sept. 24–27\, turning multiple venues on both sides of the Connecticut-Rhode Island line into screening rooms for one of the region’s largest celebrations of independent film. \nAnd the Chamber calendar seriously undersells this one. \nThe 9th Annual Mystic Film Festival includes narrative features\, feature documentaries\, dozens of short films\, three blocks devoted entirely to student filmmakers\, filmmaker conversations\, networking events\, a screenplay competition\, and a closing-night awards ceremony. \nThe official festival site is: Mystic Film Festival 2026 \nThe 2026 festival runs across several venues rather than operating out of a single theater. Mystic Luxury Cinemas in Olde Mistick Village remains the cornerstone venue and hosts opening night\, while screenings and programs expand to La Grua Center in Stonington Borough\, the Mystic & Noank Library\, and The UNITED in Westerly. \nMore Than a Weekend at the Movies\nMystic Film Festival was created by area filmmakers and artists with a deliberate dual mission: give Connecticut and New England filmmakers somewhere to show their work while bringing independent films from around the world to southeastern Connecticut. \nNine years later\, that local festival has developed a surprisingly large footprint. \nThe 2026 official slate contains more than 100 films\, spanning narrative and documentary features\, narrative and documentary shorts\, animation and student work. The feature-documentary program alone includes films about politics\, sports\, Native identity\, aviation\, photography\, speed\, international borders and defectors. \nThis is also a festival where the people who made the films are part of the experience. Filmmaker Q&As\, workshops\, industry events and informal conversations are built around the screenings rather than treating each movie as a standalone theatrical showing. \nThe 2026 Film Schedule\nBecause several screens and venues operate simultaneously\, there isn’t one linear schedule. Audiences build their own festival. \nThe festival’s official individual film pages and venue schedules confirm the following major screening blocks. The festival’s Event Schedule should be checked before attending for the final screen assignment and any last-minute changes. \nThursday\, Sept. 24 — Opening Night\nThe festival opens at Mystic Luxury Cinemas in Olde Mistick Village\, traditionally putting the spotlight on locally produced work and filmmakers from the region. \nOpening night is specifically designed to celebrate films made by local filmmakers before the festival expands into its multi-venue schedule Friday through Sunday. \nFriday\, Sept. 25 — UNITED Theatre\n12–2 p.m. — Crystal Cross\nNarrative Feature \n2:30–4:30 p.m. — The Life We Leave\nFeature Documentary \n5–7 p.m. — Micronations\nFeature Documentary \n7:30–9 p.m. — Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story\nFeature Documentary \nAll four screen in the UNITED Micro Cinema in Westerly. \nFriday — Mystic & Noank Library\nThe festival also moves into the library for programming Friday. One confirmed screening block runs 12:45–2:45 p.m. and includes Forever Home\, a 20-minute student documentary directed by Kyle Francis Barton about Newhouse Wildlife Rescue in Massachusetts and the work of rehabilitating injured wildlife for eventual release. \nFriday — Mystic Luxury Cinemas\nMultiple short-film programs also run at the festival’s Mystic anchor venue. \nAmong the confirmed Friday programs is a 4–6 p.m. documentary-short block that includes Under the Ice\, director John Martin’s nearly 30-minute documentary about a woman confronting depression and alcoholism through an attempt to swim beneath the ice of a frozen Norwegian lake and pursue a Guinness World Record. \nSaturday\, Sept. 26 — UNITED Theatre\n12–2 p.m. — Tails of the Himalayas…Of Dogs & Devotees + Unspoken Bond\nDocumentary Short + Feature Documentary \n2:30–4:30 p.m. — Art of Destruction\nFeature Documentary \n5–7 p.m. — Nobody Wants to Be Here\, Nobody Wants to Leave\nNarrative Feature \n7:30–9:15 p.m. — Act One\nNarrative Feature \nSaturday — La Grua Center Student Film Showcase\nSaturday brings an entire parallel festival-within-the-festival to Stonington Borough. \nLa Grua Center hosts three blocks of student films\, moderated by Jim Quinn\, with opportunities for audiences to hear from participating filmmakers. \n11 a.m. — Student Shorts Block 1 \nYer Smackin’\nBusker\nWiwa\nRunning On The Edge\nUs And Them\nI Constantly Thank God For Estaban\nThe Magic Words\nPerspico\nHow’d It Go? \n1:30 p.m. — Student Shorts Block 2 \nThe Locked Groove\nNo Small Matter\nClucky’s\nValue\nDental Breakdown\nTrapped Air: Life With No Burp-Zone\nGarden Of Babel\nSeparate Together\nFace Me Face You \n4 p.m. — Student Films Block 3 \nSame Time Tomorrow\nMade Whole\nNight Of Silence\nFalling Behind\nRunning Against The Odds\nBatteries\nThe Last Hug\nCorsano’s Roach \nThe subjects alone demonstrate how broad the student program has become. Running Against the Odds\, for example\, tells the story of Narragansett runner Tarzan Brown\, a two-time Boston Marathon winner who represented the United States at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. \nNo Small Matter comes from a 15-year-old filmmaker and examines a court designed to address homelessness and mental-health issues through treatment and support rather than conventional punishment. \nAnd Trapped Air: Life With No-Burp Syndrome is a five-minute documentary about R-CPD and the patients who live with the inability to burp. \nSaturday — Mystic Luxury Cinemas\nMystic Luxury Cinemas simultaneously hosts additional short-film blocks. \nA confirmed 2–4 p.m. narrative-short program includes My Dog: The Paradox\, an animated short from Matthew Inman\, creator of The Oatmeal and co-creator of Exploding Kittens\, about the joy and inevitable heartbreak of loving a dog. \nThat same block includes The Lord of All Future Space and Time\, a 23-minute mashup of Western revenge story\, science fiction and comedy. \nAnother narrative-short program runs 4–6 p.m.\, including Drowned\, about a single mother with chronic illness confronting medical setbacks and the possibility of losing custody of her child. \nSaturday Night Becomes a Filmmaker Gathering\nAt 6:30 p.m. Saturday\, the movies give way to an Industry Networking Event at La Grua Center. \nThe gathering runs until 9 p.m. and brings filmmakers\, screenwriters and other festival participants together away from the theaters. \nIt’s an important part of what Mystic Film Festival has become. The festival isn’t only trying to find an audience for finished movies. It’s also trying to create relationships among people who may make the next ones. \nThe event requires a separate RSVP for participating filmmakers and screenplay finalists. \nSunday\, Sept. 27 — UNITED Theatre\nThe Westerly screenings continue throughout the festival’s final day. \n12–2 p.m. — In Spite of Ourselves\nNarrative Feature \n2:15–4:15 p.m. — School For Defectors\nFeature Documentary \n2:30–4:30 p.m. — Documentary Shorts Block\nResume of Regrets\nOne Soupy Season\nHow I Survived a Kamikaze Attack\nThe Petal Pusher\nPlant Life \n4:30–6 p.m. — Fat + One Woman One Bra\nNarrative Short + Narrative Feature \nThe 2:30 documentary block screens in the UNITED Main Cinema while the other Sunday programs use the Micro Cinema\, allowing simultaneous programming. \nSunday — Mystic Luxury Cinemas\nAdditional programs continue in Mystic. \nOne confirmed block begins at 11:30 a.m. and includes animation such as Half Baked\, a short comedy about a young adult repeatedly failing to learn how to cook and ordering pizza after every disaster. \nA 4–6 p.m. narrative shorts program includes The Yellow Sponge is the Dish Sponge\, Michele Noble’s comedy about a couple whose disagreements over cleaning and household chores escalate on the day of a party. \nMore Than 100 Films\, From Features to Six-Minute Experiments\nThe size of the slate makes the festival difficult to summarize with a handful of marquee titles. \nAmong the documentary features are Art of Destruction\, Micronations\, Remaining Native\, Fork In The Road\, March Forth\, Nasty\, Public Access\, School For Defectors\, Sculptors of Speed\, Outliers\, People Vs. Politics\, Slowburn Shoot\, Team 28\, The Flight of Jackie Cochran\, The Life We Leave\, They Fight With Cameras\, Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story and Unspoken Bond. \nNarrative features include A Woman’s Work\, Act One\, Crystal Cross\, In Spite of Ourselves\, Nobody Wants to Be Here\, Nobody Wants to Leave\, One Woman One Bra and Road To L’Etape Du Tour. \nThe shorts program goes considerably deeper\, with dozens of narrative and documentary films running from just a few minutes to nearly feature length. \nThat makes the festival less like going out to see one movie and more like sampling a film world that normally doesn’t make it to a commercial multiplex. \nScreenwriters Get Their Own Competition\nFilms aren’t the only stories competing. \nThe Mystic Film Festival’s Screenplay Competition is now in its sixth year\, providing a route into the festival for writers whose work hasn’t yet become a finished movie. \nThe competition has expanded its categories as the festival has grown\, and the top screenplay winners are announced during festival weekend. \nThat distinction matters. Independent film festivals often become one of the few places where an unproduced writer can enter the same professional conversation as directors and producers with completed films. \nMystic has deliberately made that part of its mission. \nSunday Night Ends With the Awards\nThe four days conclude where they began: Mystic Luxury Cinemas. \nThe Mystic Film Festival Awards Ceremony runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday. \nA wine reception is scheduled from 6:30 to 7 p.m.\, followed by the ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. \nAwards recognize standout work across the festival’s categories\, and the winners of the screenplay competition are also announced during the festival. \nBy that point\, audiences will have moved among two states\, several theaters and cultural venues\, features\, documentaries\, shorts and student films. \nThat’s a considerably bigger event than the little Chamber calendar listing suggests. \nFor four days\, Mystic and Westerly effectively become one regional independent-film campus. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \nDetails\nEvent: 9th Annual Mystic Film Festival\nDates: Thursday\, Sept. 24 through Sunday\, Sept. 27\, 2026\nLocations: Mystic and Stonington\, Connecticut\, and Westerly\, Rhode Island\nCornerstone Venue: Mystic Luxury Cinemas\, 27 Coogan Boulevard\, Mystic\nAdditional Venues: The UNITED\, La Grua Center\, Mystic & Noank Library and other festival locations\nProgramming: Narrative features\, documentary features\, narrative and documentary shorts\, animation and student films\nAlso Included: Filmmaker Q&As\, workshops\, networking events\, screenplay competition and awards celebration\nSaturday Student Showcase: La Grua Center\, 11 a.m.\, 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.\nSaturday Industry Networking: La Grua Center\, 6:30–9 p.m.\nSunday Awards: Mystic Luxury Cinemas\, 6:30–9 p.m.; wine reception at 6:30 p.m.\, ceremony at 7 p.m.\nTickets: Individual screening tickets and festival passes are available through the festival’s ticketing system. Because multiple programs run simultaneously\, ticket holders should confirm the venue and screen for each selection when reserving. \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/15878/2026-09-24/
LOCATION:Mystic Luxury Cinemas\, 27 Coogan Blvd Ste. 1-B\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Luxury Cinemas
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