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SUMMARY:Three Special Thames River Cruises
DESCRIPTION:Three Special Thames River Cruises give Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival visitors three very different ways to experience New London and Groton from the water September 12 and 13\, from free transportation between festival sites to narrated history cruises and a Saturday night trip beneath a 300-drone light show. \nThames River Heritage Park is expanding its normal role during festival weekend with free Hop On\, Hop Off Harbor Cruises Saturday and Sunday\, four free 45-minute historic boat tours Sunday\, and a special Saturday night Drone Show Cruise that heads downriver toward New London Ledge Light before returning to the harbor for the festival’s nighttime spectacle. \nTogether\, the trips also demonstrate what makes Thames River Heritage Park a little unusual. \nIt isn’t one park. \nIt’s a network of historic and cultural sites spread along both shores of the Thames River\, with the river itself serving as the connection between them. \nAnd for one weekend\, much of that connection is free. \n1. Ride the Thames for Free All Weekend\nThe most useful cruise of the weekend may also be the simplest. \nThames River Heritage Park’s Hop On\, Hop Off Harbor Cruise will be completely free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday\, with the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival sponsoring the service. \nNormally\, an adult Harbor Cruise ticket costs $15. \nDuring the festival\, visitors can simply use the boats to move among three major locations: \nFort Trumbull State Park in New London \nCity Pier in downtown New London \nThames River Landing in Groton \nThere is an important change from the Heritage Park’s regular summer schedule. \nDuring festival weekend\, there will be no fixed departure or arrival times. The boats will travel continuously among the three landings\, and boarding will be first-come\, first-served. \nThat makes the service part transportation and part attraction. \nSomeone attending the festival at Fort Trumbull can board a boat\, cross the harbor to Groton\, get off to explore and later catch another boat back to downtown New London. \nOr visitors can simply stay aboard and see the harbor from the water. \nThe Boats Have a Navy History of Their Own\nEven the vessels carrying festival visitors are pieces of maritime history. \nThames River Heritage Park operates refurbished former U.S. Navy liberty boats. \nUtility boats like these weren’t designed as sightseeing vessels. They transported sailors between larger Navy ships and shore\, including taking crews ashore for “liberty\,” the Navy term for authorized time away from a ship. \nOne of the Heritage Park boats was assigned to the USS La Salle\, which served as flagship for Commander Middle East Force beginning in 1988. \nAnother was assigned to the USS Hunley\, a submarine tender that supported the Navy’s Polaris ballistic-missile submarine fleet. \nNow\, instead of carrying sailors ashore\, the old Navy boats carry visitors through the same harbor that remains home to one of America’s most important naval communities. \nIt’s particularly fitting in 2026. \nThe United States is celebrating the Navy’s 250th anniversary\, while the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London is celebrating its 150th. \nA River Where American Naval History Is Still Happening\nThe scenery from the boat isn’t simply historic. \nThe Thames remains a working military and commercial river. \nThe U.S. Coast Guard Academy occupies the New London shoreline farther upriver. \nAcross the Thames in Groton is Naval Submarine Base New London\, the Navy’s primary East Coast submarine base and a place so closely associated with undersea warfare that Groton calls itself the Submarine Capital of the World. \nNearby is the historic USS Nautilus\, the world’s first operational nuclear-powered submarine. \nDownriver\, Fort Trumbull stands near the entrance to New London Harbor\, while ferries\, fishing boats\, recreational craft\, commercial traffic and military vessels continue using the water around it. \nBut the history stretches much farther back. \nNew London became one of America’s major whaling ports during the 19th century. \nThe river witnessed colonial trade\, privateering and the American Revolution. \nIndigenous people had lived along and traveled these waters for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. \nThe Heritage Park’s weekend cruises approach those overlapping histories in very different ways. \n2. Sunday Brings Four Free 45-Minute History Cruises\nSunday offers the best deal for visitors who want more than transportation. \nThames River Heritage Park will operate four free narrated historic boat tours from City Pier in New London. \nThese aren’t the regular Hop On\, Hop Off rides. \nEach is a 45-minute mini-tour led by a Heritage Park docent\, concentrating on a particular part of the region’s history. \nNormally\, Thames River Heritage Park’s full historic boat tours cost $35 for adults. \nThe four festival mini-tours are free\, sponsored by the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival\, and available first-come\, first-served. \nTwo different subjects alternate throughout the afternoon. \n11 a.m. — Black Heritage Along the Thames: The Half That’s Never Been Told\nThe first departure introduces stories that were often missing from traditional accounts of New London’s history. \nBlack Heritage Along the Thames: The Half That’s Never Been Told draws from Thames River Heritage Park’s larger tour of the same name\, which explores approximately 400 years of local history through the experiences and contributions of the region’s Black community. \nThat history begins long before the Civil War. \nSlavery existed in colonial Connecticut. \nEnslaved people lived and worked in New London and Groton\, including within households whose surviving homes and documents are now used to interpret colonial life. \nBlack sailors worked from New London’s waterfront. \nThe city’s history intersects with abolition\, education\, military service and the long struggle for civil rights. \nAnd one of the most consequential events in American history arrived in New London Harbor aboard a ship in 1839. \nThe schooner La Amistad was seized off Long Island after captive Africans aboard the vessel revolted against the men illegally transporting them into slavery. \nThe ship was brought to New London. \nThe legal battle that followed eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court\, where former President John Quincy Adams helped argue the Africans’ case. \nThe Court ruled in their favor in 1841. \nIt is one of the most internationally significant stories connected to the New London waterfront\, but it is only one part of the Black history preserved along the Thames. \nDeparture: Sunday at 11 a.m. from City Pier \nNoon — The Mashantucket Pequot’s Story\nAt noon\, the perspective shifts much farther back. \nThe Mashantucket Pequot’s Story focuses on the Indigenous history of the region and the people who lived here long before New London or Groton existed. \nThe Pequot homeland historically encompassed portions of southeastern Connecticut. \nThe waterways of the region weren’t barriers separating communities. They were transportation corridors and sources of food\, trade and communication. \nThen European colonization transformed the landscape. \nTensions over land\, trade and political power culminated in the Pequot War of 1636–1637\, one of the defining conflicts of early colonial New England. \nThe war devastated the Pequot population\, but it did not eliminate the Pequot people. \nThat distinction matters. \nFor generations\, popular histories often treated Native nations as if they disappeared when a particular colonial-era chapter ended. \nThe Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is very much a living community today\, headquartered just a few miles from the Thames River. \nThe tour offers a chance to look at familiar southeastern Connecticut shoreline through a story that began thousands of years before the forts\, submarines and whaling ships. \nDeparture: Sunday at noon from City Pier \n1 p.m. — Black Heritage Along the Thames\nThe Black heritage mini-tour receives a second departure at 1 p.m. \nThat gives visitors who spend the morning elsewhere at the festival another opportunity to take the 45-minute narrated cruise. \nDeparture: Sunday at 1 p.m. from City Pier \n2 p.m. — The Mashantucket Pequot’s Story\nThe final free history cruise of the weekend repeats the Mashantucket Pequot program at 2 p.m. \nAll four tours depart from City Pier in downtown New London\, not from the other Hop On\, Hop Off landings. \nAnd because they’re free and first-come\, first-served\, arriving early makes sense. \nDeparture: Sunday at 2 p.m. from City Pier \n3. Saturday Night Goes From History to 300 Drones\nSaturday’s third special cruise is completely different. \nAfter the daytime festival winds down and the sun disappears\, Thames River Heritage Park heads back onto the water for its Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival Drone Show Cruise. \nThe evening begins with a trip down the Thames River. \nWeather and marine traffic permitting\, the boat will continue beyond New London Harbor toward New London Ledge Light\, the distinctive lighthouse sitting near the mouth of the Thames. \nThen it turns around. \nThe boat returns to position itself for a front-row view of the festival’s 300-drone light show over the New London waterfront. \nInstead of watching from the shore\, passengers watch from the water beneath the display. \nNew London Ledge Light Is Worth the Trip by Itself\nEven before the drones appear\, the cruise has an unusual destination. \nNew London Ledge Light stands at the entrance to the Thames River\, where New London Harbor opens toward Long Island Sound. \nCompleted in 1909\, it doesn’t resemble the stereotypical round New England lighthouse. \nInstead\, the three-story brick building looks almost like a substantial waterfront home that somebody inexplicably placed in the middle of the water and then put a lantern on top. \nLocal tradition has also supplied the lighthouse with its own ghost. \nFor decades\, stories have circulated about “Ernie\,” the supposed spirit of an early keeper said to haunt the lighthouse. \nThe legend has become part of Ledge Light’s identity\, although the more elaborate details attached to Ernie are folklore rather than established history. \nFrom the Drone Show Cruise\, passengers get a nighttime maritime trip toward one of the region’s most recognizable navigational landmarks before returning to the festival. \nThen 300 Drones Take Over the Sky\nThe show waiting back in New London Harbor is part of the America’s Navy 250 Celebration. \nThree hundred illuminated drones will fly coordinated patterns over the waterfront\, synchronized with music. \nThe planned display celebrates 250 years of the United States Navy\, using the drones to form patriotic imagery and naval symbols above the harbor. \nIt’s a striking place to do it. \nNew London’s relationship with the Navy stretches back to the Revolutionary era\, while the Groton side of the Thames became one of the most important submarine-building and submarine-operating centers in the world. \nFrom the cruise boat\, passengers will be watching a 21st-century aerial light show about American naval history while floating in the middle of a river where much of that history actually happened. \nOne Timing Detail Is Worth Watching\nThames River Heritage Park currently has two slightly different departure times published for the Drone Show Cruise. \nThe dedicated festival-weekend schedule lists departure at 7:55 p.m. \nA more recent Heritage Park event announcement lists 7:45 p.m. \nBecause this is a ticketed trip and the difference could result in someone literally missing the boat\, passengers should use the departure time shown on their ticket confirmation and verify it with Thames River Heritage Park before Saturday. \nThe Heritage Park also notes that only a small number of seats remained when it published its latest festival information. \nPassengers may bring snacks and drinks aboard\, but glass is prohibited\, and there is no restroom on the boat. \nThe trip to Ledge Light is also conditional on weather and boat traffic. \nThese Aren’t ADA-Accessible Tour Boats\nThere’s another important practical consideration for all three experiences. \nThe Heritage Park’s refurbished Navy boats are not ADA compliant. \nPassengers must be capable of walking up and down four stairs and boarding the vessel independently with only minimal courtesy assistance from the crew. \nThey must also be capable of disembarking without assistance if an emergency requires it. \nThe boats do not have restrooms. \nThe Heritage Park encourages passengers who require assistance to travel with a companion\, but the captain ultimately determines whether a passenger can safely board. \nThat’s particularly important information for anyone considering the cruises as an easy alternative to walking around the festival. \nFor some visitors\, they may not be. \nThe Free Harbor Cruise Can Change How You Do the Festival\nFor visitors who can board safely\, the free Hop On\, Hop Off service creates an interesting possibility. \nDon’t think of the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival as one event site. \nThink of the Thames as its main street. \nStart at Fort Trumbull. \nBoard an old Navy liberty boat. \nCross to Groton. \nCome back to City Pier. \nExplore downtown New London. \nOn Sunday\, trade the transportation ride for a narrated mini-tour and learn the stories of Black residents or the Mashantucket Pequot people who shaped the region. \nAnd Saturday night\, those with Drone Show Cruise tickets can return to the river after dark\, head toward Ledge Light and finish beneath 300 points of light moving across the sky. \nFor most of the year\, the Thames separates New London from Groton. \nFor Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival weekend\, Thames River Heritage Park turns it into the thing connecting everything together. \nDetails\nEvent: Three Special Thames River Cruises at the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival\nPresented By: Thames River Heritage Park\nFestival: Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival\nDates: Saturday\, September 12 and Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nLocation: Thames River\, New London and Groton \nHop On\, Hop Off Harbor Cruise\nDates: Saturday and Sunday\nTime: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.\nAdmission: Free during festival weekend\nBoarding: First-come\, first-served\nSchedule: Continuous loop with no fixed departure or arrival times during the festival\nStops: Fort Trumbull State Park\, City Pier and Thames River Landing in Groton \nFree Historic Boat Tours\nDate: Sunday\, September 13\nLength: Approximately 45 minutes each\nAdmission: Free\nBoarding: First-come\, first-served\nDeparture Location: City Pier\, New London\n11 a.m.: Black Heritage Along the Thames: The Half That’s Never Been Told\nNoon: The Mashantucket Pequot’s Story\n1 p.m.: Black Heritage Along the Thames: The Half That’s Never Been Told\n2 p.m.: The Mashantucket Pequot’s Story \nDrone Show Cruise\nDate: Saturday\, September 12\nDeparture: Heritage Park currently publishes both 7:45 and 7:55 p.m.; passengers should follow their ticket confirmation and verify the departure time before arriving\nRoute: Down the Thames River and\, weather and boat traffic permitting\, out to New London Ledge Light before returning for the drone show\nDrone Show: 300-drone display synchronized to music as part of America’s Navy 250 Celebration\nTickets: Advance ticket purchase required; Heritage Park reports limited availability\nFood and Drink: Snacks and drinks may be brought aboard; no glass\nRestrooms: None aboard \nAccessibility: Heritage Park’s former Navy utility boats are not ADA compliant. Passengers must be able to negotiate four stairs and independently board and disembark with minimal courtesy assistance.\nBoat Operations: 860-407-5655\nWeather: Boat operations and the Ledge Light portion of the evening cruise are weather-dependent; check with Thames River Heritage Park for current operating information. \nMore information is available at the Event Website 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.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/three-special-thames-river-cruises/2026-09-12/
LOCATION:RI
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SUMMARY:Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival 2026 Guide
DESCRIPTION:Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival 2026 Guide brings two days of ships\, Coast Guard demonstrations\, living history\, family activities\, music and maritime traditions to New London on Saturday and Sunday\, September 12 and 13. \nSpread between New London Waterfront Park and Fort Trumbull State Park\, the festival turns much of the city’s waterfront into a celebration of Connecticut’s relationship with the sea. Visitors can tour military and historic vessels\, watch Coast Guard crews in action\, explore living-history encampments\, hear live music and take part in activities for children. \nThis year’s festival also arrives during a significant anniversary year for New London. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is celebrating its 150th anniversary\, and several festival events recognize the milestone\, including the release of a commemorative U.S. Postal Service stamp. \nThen Saturday night takes a decidedly different turn. \nA procession through downtown New London culminates in the traditional Burning of Benedict Arnold\, followed shortly afterward by a 300-drone light show over the Thames River. \nAdmission to the festival is free\, and free water taxis and shuttle buses will connect its two main locations throughout the weekend. \nTwo Festival Locations\, One Waterfront Celebration\nThe festival takes place simultaneously at New London Waterfront Park and Fort Trumbull State Park. \nDon’t worry about choosing one. \nVisitors can park near either location and use the festival’s free Thames River Heritage Park water taxi or shuttle buses to travel between them. That makes it possible to tour vessels downtown\, catch activities at Fort Trumbull and return to Waterfront Park without repeatedly moving your car. \nMost weekend activities run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday\, although several special events take place outside those hours. \nShips and Vessels You Can Explore\nOne of the festival’s biggest attractions is the opportunity to get close to working military vessels\, historic ships and maritime training vessels. \nUSCGC Eagle\nThe unmistakable USCGC Eagle is scheduled to be part of the festival. \nThe 295-foot\, three-masted barque serves as the Coast Guard’s sail-training ship\, giving Coast Guard Academy cadets practical experience at sea. Originally built in Germany as Horst Wessel\, Eagle was taken by the United States as a war reparation following World War II. \nToday\, the tall ship is one of only two active commissioned sailing vessels in the U.S. military\, alongside USS Constitution. \nAmistad\nThe schooner Amistad recreates the type of Baltimore Clipper believed to resemble La Amistad\, the vessel at the center of the historic 1839 revolt by enslaved Africans. \nThe modern ship was created as a floating classroom\, using the story of the Amistad uprising and its connection to Connecticut to teach history while traveling from port to port. \nDenis Sullivan\nThe three-masted Denis Sullivan is a wooden schooner modeled after the Great Lakes sailing vessels of the 19th century. \nOriginally based in Milwaukee\, the vessel offers visitors another opportunity to experience traditional sailing ship design up close. \nT/V Shuman\nThe 65-foot Training Vessel Shuman gives U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadets hands-on experience with navigation\, ship handling and seamanship. \nOriginally constructed as a survey vessel for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers\, it now serves as a working classroom on the Thames River. \nCoast Guard Response Boats\nVisitors will also be able to see some considerably faster Coast Guard equipment. \nStation New London’s 45-foot Response Boat-Medium can exceed 40 knots and operates in seas up to 12 feet. It is used for missions including search and rescue\, maritime security and law enforcement. \nThe smaller 29-foot Response Boat-Small II can reach more than 45 knots and is designed for fast response in coastal and shallow-water environments. \nNaval Submarine Base Harbor Security Boats\nThe Navy will also be represented by Naval Submarine Base New London’s Harbor Security Boats. \nThe 27-foot vessels patrol waters surrounding the submarine base. Powered by twin outboards producing a combined 450 horsepower\, they can reach approximately 40 knots. \nKings Point\nBuilt in 2014\, Kings Point is a 3\,000-horsepower twin-screw tug constructed by Chesapeake Shipbuilding for the Vane Brothers Company. \nEnviro-Lab II / Project Oceanology\nGroton-based Project Oceanology brings marine science into the mix aboard Enviro-Lab II. \nProject O introduces thousands of students and adults each year to marine science through hands-on exploration of the ocean and Long Island Sound. \nSaturday: Coast Guard Action\, Music and a Big Night on the Waterfront\nSaturday begins with the festival’s Opening Ceremony at 10 a.m. \nThroughout the day\, visitors can explore vendors\, tour vessels and visit the Project Oceanology touch tank. \nFamilies have several activities of their own\, including free face painting\, costume making and a children’s walking parade featuring mermaids and privateers. \nAt noon\, Steve Elci joins the Little Mermaid and the Wayfinder for a children’s sing-along. \nThings get considerably louder at 1:30 p.m. \nCoast Guard Search and Rescue Demonstration\nA U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T helicopter is scheduled to conduct a search-and-rescue demonstration. \nThese aircraft operate from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod and are used throughout New England for search and rescue\, maritime law enforcement\, environmental protection and homeland security missions. \nSeeing one operate over New London’s harbor should be one of the weekend’s standout demonstrations. \nTactical Boat Operations\nAlso beginning at 1:30 p.m.\, crews from U.S. Coast Guard Station New London will demonstrate tactical boat maneuvers during a simulated security-zone intrusion. \nThe demonstration recreates techniques Coast Guard crews use to protect ports and critical infrastructure and intercept vessels that don’t comply with security orders. \nThe commanding officer of Station New London will narrate the demonstration. \nSaturday Night: Benedict Arnold Burns Again\nOne of New London’s strangest and most enduring traditions returns Saturday evening. \nAt 7:30 p.m.\, the March of the Traitor begins its procession along Bank Street toward Waterfront Park. \nThe event commemorates Benedict Arnold’s infamous September 1781 attack on New London and Groton after the Connecticut-born Revolutionary War general defected to the British. \nFlock Theatre brings the history to life with period costumes\, music\, fifes and drums before the procession reaches the waterfront. \nAt approximately 8 p.m.\, an effigy of Benedict Arnold is burned. \nVisitors are encouraged to join the procession\, and period clothing is welcome. \nThen Look Up: 300 Drones Over the Thames\nDon’t leave after Benedict Arnold meets his fiery fate. \nAt approximately 8:15 p.m. Saturday\, a fleet of 300 synchronized drones is scheduled to take to the sky over the New London waterfront. \nThe drones will create illuminated shapes and images above the Thames River through choreographed formations accompanied by music. \nThe show can be viewed from the New London waterfront. \nPersonal drones are prohibited during the festival. \nSunday: Fishing\, Maritime Skills and More Music\nSunday begins another full day of free vessel tours\, vendors\, authors and the Project Oceanology touch tank from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. \nAt 11 a.m.\, Submarine Veterans will conduct a Tolling of the Boats\, a remembrance ceremony honoring submarines and submariners lost at sea. \nFamilies can also head to Fort Trumbull for Breezeline’s Reel Time with Kids Fishing Clinic from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. \nChildren can learn casting\, reeling and fishing safety in a hands-on setting. No registration is required\, equipment is provided\, and participating children can receive a free fishing pole while supplies last. \nNavy vs. Coast Guard: Sea-Service Showdown\nAt noon Sunday\, attention shifts to Waterfront Park for a little interservice rivalry. \nThe Sea-Service Showdown Maritime Skills Challenge pits Navy and Coast Guard participants against each other in a friendly competition involving maritime skills\, strength and teamwork. \nThe competition runs from noon to 2 p.m. \nCome prepared to pick a side. \nSunday’s festival concludes with reggae from Tambulaytay\, performing from 2 to 5 p.m. \nLiving History at Fort Trumbull\nFort Trumbull provides an appropriate backdrop for another part of the weekend. \nAmerican and British colonial reenactors will establish 18th-century encampments Saturday and Sunday\, complete with canvas tents\, camp kitchens and open fires. \nVisitors can walk through the camps\, speak with reenactors and see demonstrations of marching formations\, military drills and everyday life during the Revolutionary era. \nIt adds something the ship tours can’t: instead of simply looking at Connecticut’s maritime past\, you can walk through a piece of it. \nU.S. Coast Guard Academy 150th Anniversary Stamp\nThe U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 150th anniversary will also be commemorated during the festival with a special U.S. Postal Service stamp presentation and availability. \nThe stamp recognizes the Academy’s history in New London and features Coast Guard imagery\, including Eagle. \nThe commemorative stamp will be available during festival hours Saturday and Sunday. \nFriday Prelude: Pirates and The Guardian\nAlthough the main festival takes place Saturday and Sunday\, activities begin Friday\, September 11. \nAt 8:30 a.m.\, New London will hold a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. \nAt 5 p.m.\, the New London Privateers & Buccaneers take over City Pier with a celebration of pirate lore\, including a pirate-map scavenger hunt and an adult costume contest. \nAt 7 p.m.\, the Garde Arts Center presents The Guardian\, the 2006 Coast Guard rescue-swimmer drama starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher. \nSaturday Schedule\n10 a.m. — Opening Ceremony\n10 a.m.–5 p.m. — Vendors\, Free Boat Tours and Project O Touch Tank\n10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — Free Face Painting\n10–11:30 a.m. — Make a Free Parade Costume\n10 a.m.–5 p.m. — U.S. Coast Guard Academy 150th Anniversary Stamp\n11:30 a.m. — Mermaid & Privateer Children’s Walking Parade\nNoon–1 p.m. — Kids’ Sing-Along with Steve Elci\, Little Mermaid and The Wayfinder\n1:30 p.m. — U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Helicopter Demonstration\n1:30 p.m. — USCG Tactical Boat Operations Demonstration\n2 p.m. – 7 p..m. –  Songs of the Sea 2026 at Parade Plaza\n2 p.m. — Community Drum Circle\n3 p.m. — Red Lion\n6 p.m. — Mass Conn Fusion\n7 p.m. – Post Songs of the Sea Shanty Pub Sing at the Oasis\n7:30 p.m. — March of the Traitor: Benedict Arnold Procession\n8–8:15 p.m. — Burning of Benedict Arnold\nApproximately 8:15 p.m. — 300-Drone Light Show \nSunday Schedule\n10 a.m.–5 p.m. — Vendors\, Authors\, Free Boat Tours and Project O Touch Tank\n10 a.m.–5 p.m. — U.S. Coast Guard Academy 150th Anniversary Stamp\n11 a.m. — Sub Vets Tolling of the Boats\n11 a.m.–2 p.m. — Breezeline’s Reel Time with Kids Fishing Clinic at Fort Trumbull\nNoon–2 p.m. — Sea-Service Showdown Maritime Skills Challenge at Waterfront Park\n2–5 p.m. — Tambulaytay \nGetting Around the Festival\nThis is worth explaining prominently because the festival is essentially one event with two campuses. \nFree transportation connects Waterfront Park and Fort Trumbull throughout the weekend. \nVisitors can ride the Thames River Heritage Park water taxi between locations or use the festival’s free shuttle buses. \nThat means there’s little reason to drive back and forth. Park once\, then use the boats and buses. \nWhere to Park\nFor Waterfront Park\, visitors have several options. \nWaterfront metered lot:\n13 Tilley Street\nNew London\, CT \nWater Street parking garage:\n160 Water Street\nNew London\, CT \nOn-street parking is also available in downtown New London. \nFor Fort Trumbull State Park: \n90 Walbach Street\nNew London\, CT \nStreet parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood. The Fort Trumbull parking lot itself is reserved for handicapped parking during the festival. \nComing by Train or Ferry\nThis is one of those rare regional festivals where leaving the car home is genuinely practical. \nNew London Union Station\, at 27 Water Street\, is within walking distance of Waterfront Park and is served by Amtrak. \nVisitors can also arrive in New London aboard Cross Sound Ferry from Long Island\, Block Island Ferry or Fishers Island Ferry. The ferry terminals are within walking distance of the festival. \nPrivate boaters can reserve overnight dockage or moorings at New London Waterfront Park. \nEvent Details\nConnecticut Maritime Heritage Festival 2026 \nDates: Saturday\, September 12 & Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nMain Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.\nLocations: New London Waterfront Park and Fort Trumbull State Park\nWaterfront Park: 2 State Street\, New London\, CT\nFort Trumbull: 90 Walbach Street\, New London\, CT\nAdmission: Free\nTransportation Between Venues: Free water taxi and shuttle bus \nMore information\, schedule updates and vessel information are available at the Event Website link below.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/connecticut-maritime-heritage-festival-2026-guide/2026-09-12/
LOCATION:RI
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SUMMARY:TreeTrails Adventures Rosh Hashanah Weekend Celebration
DESCRIPTION:TreeTrails Adventures Rosh Hashanah Weekend Celebration offers three days of climbing\, ziplining\, grilling\, and time with family and friends in Mystic from Friday\, September 11 through Sunday\, September 13. The special weekend coincides with the beginning of Rosh Hashanah and the Hebrew calendar year\, giving families an unconventional outdoor option for spending part of the holiday together. \nTreeTrails is setting aside space for families and groups to gather and grill between adventures in the trees. Groups of 10 or more can also receive special rates by booking in advance. \nThe celebration begins Friday at 4 p.m. and continues until 10 p.m. Saturday’s hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.\, followed by a final day Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. \nCelebrate the Jewish New Year Outdoors\nRosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Friday\, September 11\, 2026\, and continues through nightfall on Sunday\, September 13\, putting the TreeTrails weekend directly alongside this year’s holiday. \nRosh Hashanah means “head of the year” in Hebrew and marks the beginning of the Jewish calendar year. It opens the High Holy Days\, a period that culminates with Yom Kippur. \nTraditional observances include synagogue services and the sounding of the shofar\, along with festive meals shared with family and friends. Apples dipped in honey are among the holiday’s most familiar traditions\, symbolizing hopes for a sweet year ahead. \nTreeTrails isn’t presenting the weekend as a religious service or organized observance. Instead\, the park is offering its outdoor space as a place where families and friends can gather during the holiday weekend\, bring food\, grill and spend time together while taking advantage of the park’s regular aerial adventures. \nClimb and Zip Through the Mystic Woods\nTreeTrails Adventures Mystic is an aerial adventure park spread across roughly nine wooded acres a few minutes from downtown Mystic. \nIts Main Park is designed for climbers ages 7 through adult\, with five aerial trails that increase in difficulty from beginner through expert. \nThe courses combine approximately 70 challenges constructed from wood\, rope and cable\, including suspended bridges\, ladders\, balancing obstacles and other elements connecting platforms throughout the woods. \nThen there are the zip lines. Eighteen of them are incorporated into the Main Park trails. \nThe easiest courses remain roughly 12 feet above the ground\, while the most challenging sections can take climbers as high as 55 feet into the trees. Trails are color-coded by difficulty\, beginning with Yellow courses and progressing through Green\, Blue and Black. \nFirst-time visitors don’t simply get clipped into a harness and sent 50 feet into the air. Every participant receives equipment and safety instruction followed by time on a practice course. First-time guests begin on a Yellow or Green trail before moving on to more difficult challenges. \nThe experience is largely self-guided after that. Climbers can choose trails based on their comfort and ability rather than following everyone through one predetermined course. \nKidTrails Gives Younger Children Their Own Adventure\nChildren don’t have to wait until they’re big enough for the Main Park. \nKidTrails is a separate aerial adventure area designed specifically for ages 4 to 7. Instead of simply putting small children onto adult-sized obstacles\, TreeTrails scales the experience down for younger climbers. \nIts two trails contain 24 challenges\, including bridges and other aerial obstacles similar in concept to those found in the Main Park. They’re positioned only a few feet above the ground\, allowing a parent or guardian to walk alongside while the child navigates the course. \nAdult supervision is required in KidTrails\, with one adult permitted to supervise up to two children. \nThat separation gives families with children of different ages options during the Rosh Hashanah weekend rather than limiting the climbing experience to older kids and adults. \nSeptember Nights Bring Glow in the Park\nFriday and Saturday have another wrinkle once daylight begins disappearing. \nTreeTrails continues its Glow in the Park nighttime climbing program on Thursdays\, Fridays and Saturdays throughout September. \nAs darkness settles into the woods\, colorful lights illuminate the aerial park while music plays below. Climbers receive glow accessories to wear as they move through the courses\, turning the same bridges\, obstacles and zip lines into a different experience after sunset. \nBoth the Main Park and KidTrails participate in Glow in the Park\, so the nighttime experience isn’t limited to older climbers. \nAdvance reservations are particularly worthwhile for nighttime climbs because Glow in the Park is one of TreeTrails’ more popular programs. Glow tickets for the Main Park start at $66 when purchased in advance. \nThe most difficult trails begin closing 45 minutes before the park itself closes\, allowing climbers already in the trees enough time to finish their courses. \nBring Food\, Grill and Gather Between Climbs\nThe Rosh Hashanah weekend puts additional emphasis on gathering rather than simply arriving\, climbing and heading home. \nTreeTrails says it has ample space available for families and friends to grill and spend time together at the park. Guests can bring their own food\, making it possible to turn a climbing reservation into a longer family outing or holiday get-together. \nSnacks and nonalcoholic drinks are also available for purchase at the park. \nOutside alcoholic beverages aren’t permitted. \nFamilies planning a larger Rosh Hashanah gathering have another option. TreeTrails offers special pricing for groups of 10 or more\, although those arrangements should be made with the group sales team in advance rather than waiting until arrival. \nWhat to Know Before You Climb\nTreeTrails recommends making reservations in advance\, particularly for popular nighttime sessions. Walk-ins are accepted when space is available\, but same-day admission costs more and visitors may have to wait for an available climbing time. \nClimbers should arrive about 15 minutes before their reservation to check in and prepare for the adventure. TreeTrails suggests allowing roughly three hours for the overall visit\, including check-in\, harnessing\, the safety briefing and approximately two hours of climbing. \nClosed-toe\, fully enclosed shoes are required. Sneakers or hiking shoes are good choices; sandals\, flip-flops and Crocs aren’t permitted on the courses. Long hair must be tied back\, and loose clothing or objects that could become caught in ropes or cables should be secured. \nMain Park climbers must weigh more than 45 pounds and less than 265 pounds and meet a minimum reach requirement of 65 inches. Age restrictions also apply to some of the more difficult trails. \nWeather can affect operations. TreeTrails may evacuate the aerial courses during unsafe conditions such as lightning or high winds. When weather forces the park to stop climbing\, guests may be offered a rain check or an opportunity to reschedule. \nA Different Kind of Rosh Hashanah Gathering\nThe weekend isn’t intended to replace the religious traditions of Rosh Hashanah. There’s no announced worship service\, shofar ceremony or formal holiday program at TreeTrails. \nWhat the park is providing is the setting. \nFamilies can bring food\, gather around a grill\, spend an afternoon together and\, for those who want the adventure\, climb into the canopy and zip between the trees. \nWith the celebration running throughout all three days of Rosh Hashanah weekend\, families can choose the part of the holiday that fits their own plans rather than attending at a single scheduled time. \nDetails\nEvent: TreeTrails Adventures Rosh Hashanah Weekend Celebration\nDates: Friday\, September 11–Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nFriday Hours: 4–10 p.m.\nSaturday Hours: 10 a.m.–10 p.m.\nSunday Hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.\nLocation: TreeTrails Adventures Mystic\nAddress: 715 Noank Ledyard Road\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nMain Park: Ages 7 through adult\nKidTrails: Ages 4–7\nMain Park Advance Admission: $69\nKidTrails Advance Admission: $23\nGlow in the Park: Available Friday and Saturday nights; Main Park advance tickets start at $66\nGroup Rates: Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more; advance arrangements are required\nFood: Guests may bring their own food; snacks and drinks are available for purchase\nGrilling: Space is available for grilling and family gatherings\nAlcohol: Outside alcoholic beverages are prohibited\nReservations: Advance reservations are strongly recommended; walk-ins are accepted subject to availability at higher same-day prices\nClimbing Time: Approximately two hours; TreeTrails recommends allowing about three hours for the complete experience\nArrival: Approximately 15 minutes before the reserved climbing time\nFootwear: Fully enclosed\, closed-toe shoes required; Crocs\, sandals and flip-flops are not permitted\nMain Park Weight Requirement: More than 45 pounds and less than 265 pounds\nWeather: Courses may close during lightning\, high winds or other unsafe conditions\nGroup Reservations: 570-534-7515\nGeneral Information: 860-980-3874 \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/treetrails-adventures-rosh-hashanah-weekend-celebration/2026-09-12/
LOCATION:RI
CATEGORIES:TreeTrails Adventures
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T220000
DTSTAMP:20260817T223910Z
CREATED:20260817T223910Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T223910Z
UID:10007215-1789239600-1789250400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Radiotricity 30th Anniversary Show Brings '90s Alt-Rock Reunion to Hygienic Art Park
DESCRIPTION:Radiotricity 30th Anniversary Show brings the Connecticut alt-rock band back together for a special reunion concert at Hygienic Art Park in downtown New London on Saturday\, September 12. \nThe outdoor show begins at 7 p.m. and pairs Radiotricity with The Dylan Read Band\, giving the evening a particularly local connection. Dylan Read is the son of Radiotricity singer Brett Eckhart\, bringing two generations of musicians together on the same stage. \nAdmission is $10. \nFor Radiotricity\, the night marks a return to a band whose roots reach back to Connecticut’s 1990s alternative-rock scene. \nRadiotricity Returns\nRadiotricity is reuniting for what is being billed as the band’s 30th Anniversary Show\, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the band’s breakup. \nThe lineup includes Ben Gelfand and Eric Gelfand\, with Eric having also played as an original member of Connecticut band The Rivergods. \nRadiotricity’s history predates the Rivergods\, placing the group within the local alternative-rock scene of the 1990s. The September performance gives longtime listeners a rare opportunity to hear the band again three decades later. \nA Second Generation Takes the Stage\nOpening the evening is The Dylan Read Band. \nThere’s a family connection hidden in the billing: Dylan Read is the son of Radiotricity singer Brett Eckhart. \nThat puts a younger generation of the same musical family onstage for a concert celebrating a band that was playing Connecticut clubs three decades earlier. \nIt should give the anniversary show a nice full-circle quality. One band is looking backward at where it began. The other represents what came afterward. \nWhat Exactly Is Hygienic Art?\nIf you’ve spent any time in downtown New London\, you’ve probably seen the name. And yes\, Hygienic really was once a restaurant. \nThe building at 79 Bank Street dates to the city’s whaling era. Built in 1844\, it originally served as a whaling grocery and provisioning store. It later became the Columbia Hotel before eventually housing a restaurant. \nIn 1931\, the business became the Hygienic Restaurant and Delicatessen\, a 24-hour New London institution frequented over the decades by sailors\, fishermen\, downtown residents and late-night customers. \nBut the connection between Hygienic and art began in 1979. \nLocal artists started holding an annual exhibition inside the restaurant based on the Salon des Indépendants tradition in Paris. The idea was deliberately open: art didn’t need the approval of judges or juries before people could see it. \nThe restaurant eventually closed\, but the artists kept the Hygienic Art Show alive elsewhere. \nThen the building itself nearly disappeared. \nNine Days From Demolition\nBy 1996\, the old Hygienic building was vacant and scheduled to be demolished for a bank parking lot. \nArtists and community members organized to save it. \nAccording to the history of the property\, Hygienic Art was only nine days from demolition when supporters mounted the grassroots effort that eventually stopped the building from being destroyed. After raising hundreds of thousands of dollars and securing additional support\, the nonprofit purchased the building in 1998. \nIt reopened in 2000 as an arts center with galleries and affordable live/work studios for artists. \nThat’s why Hygienic Art isn’t simply another New London concert venue. The organization itself grew out of the city’s underground arts community and then helped preserve part of downtown New London. \nFrom Vacant Lot to Hygienic Art Park\nThe outdoor Hygienic Art Park came next. \nHygienic expanded beyond the original building\, turning neighboring property into public outdoor arts spaces and eventually creating the performance park used today for concerts\, festivals\, films and other community events. \nThat history makes it an unusually appropriate place for a local band reunion. \nRadiotricity isn’t returning in a polished corporate amphitheater. It’s playing in an outdoor arts space that grew from essentially the same thing that keeps old local bands alive: people deciding something from their community is worth preserving. \nEvent Details\nEvent: Radiotricity 30th Anniversary Show\nDate: Saturday\, September 12\, 2026\nTime: 7 p.m.\nLocation: Hygienic Art Park\nAddress: 79 Bank Street\, New London\, CT 06320\nFeaturing: Radiotricity with The Dylan Read Band\nAdmission: $10 \n[To purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link at the bottom of the page] \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/radiotricity-30th-anniversary-show-brings-90s-alt-rock-reunion-to-hygienic-art-park/
LOCATION:Hygienic Art Park\, 79 Bank Street\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hygenic Art Park
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Radiotricity-30th-Anniversary-Show-Brings-90s-Alt-Rock-Reunion-to-Hygienic-Art-Park.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T220000
DTSTAMP:20260910T181120Z
CREATED:20260910T180237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260910T181120Z
UID:10007543-1789239600-1789250400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Post Songs of the Sea Shanty Pub Sing
DESCRIPTION:Post Songs of the Sea Shanty Pub Sing moves the maritime music from Parade Plaza as part of the CT Maritime Heritage Festival into Oasis Pub on Saturday\, September 12\, with veteran chanteyman Marc Bernier hosting an informal night of sea songs immediately following Songs of the Sea 2026. \nThe pub sing begins at 7 p.m. at Oasis Pub\, 16 Bank Street in downtown New London\, almost as soon as The Dreadnoughts finish the final set of the free Songs of the Sea concert across the street. \nThere is no announced band lineup and no conventional stage show to watch. \nThat’s the point. \nA pub sing turns the audience into part of the music. Someone starts a song\, the room picks up the chorus and another singer eventually launches the next one. Expect traditional chanteys\, maritime songs\, drinking songs\, Irish and British folk material and whatever else the singers in the room happen to know. \nAnd Saturday should bring an unusually deep bench of people who know the songs. \nFrom Parade Plaza Straight Into the Pub\nThe timing is deliberate. \nSongs of the Sea runs throughout Saturday afternoon at Parade Plaza as part of the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival\, with six acts representing different corners of maritime\, traditional and folk-punk music. \nNone Of Us Saints opens at 2 p.m.\, followed by Littlefield & Morneault\, Marc Bernier\, Hold Fast and New London’s My Druthers. \nAt 6 p.m.\, Canadian folk-punk band The Dreadnoughts takes the final slot\, finishing at approximately 6:45. \nThen everyone has to do is cross the street. \nThe poster for the evening couldn’t make the transition much clearer: \n“Starts when the concert ends.” \nOasis Pub sits at 16 Bank Street\, directly across from the Parade Plaza area. Its normal Saturday opening time is 7 p.m.\, which essentially allows the afternoon concert crowd to walk out of Songs of the Sea and into the next round of singing. \nThis Time\, Marc Bernier Isn’t Just Performing\nBernier already has a 3:30 p.m. performance slot at Songs of the Sea. \nA few hours later\, his role changes. \nHe becomes the host. \nThat’s a good job for someone who spent more than 30 years on staff at Mystic Seaport Museum\, including five years working as one of the museum’s chanteymen. \nBernier has also worked as a musician and educator with the Hudson River’s Clearwater program and has sailed aboard traditional vessels as a cook\, deckhand and entertainer from Maine to the Chesapeake Bay. \nHis repertoire draws heavily from Ireland\, Britain and the northeastern United States\, particularly maritime songs\, pub songs and drinking songs. \nHe accompanies himself on guitar\, mandolin and tenor banjo\, but his musical background goes considerably further. Bernier plays bodhrán in Irish music and frottior\, or rubboard\, in Cajun and Zydeco music. \nHe’s also been part of Connecticut’s fife-and-drum community since his teenage years\, performing and teaching and eventually taking his fife playing throughout North America and Europe. \nFor the pub sing\, however\, Bernier’s most important instrument may simply be his voice. \nHe’s a traditional song leader. \nA Pub Sing Isn’t a Concert\nIf you’ve never attended a maritime pub sing\, don’t expect Saturday night to operate like the concert that precedes it. \nThere doesn’t need to be a carefully programmed set list. \nThere may not even be a clear separation between performer and audience. \nOne singer starts. \nEveryone who knows the chorus joins in. \nThen somebody else takes a turn. \nSome songs may be accompanied by instruments. Others work best with nothing but voices. \nPeople who don’t know a song can usually figure out the chorus after hearing it once or twice. \nThat’s one reason maritime music lends itself particularly well to this kind of gathering. \nMany of the songs were designed for participation in the first place. \nA Chantey Was Music With a Job\nThe sea chantey began as working music aboard sailing vessels. \nA chanteyman supplied the verses while sailors responded together on the chorus or refrain. The rhythm helped coordinate physical labor that required several people to pull\, push or move at the same time. \nDifferent kinds of work produced different kinds of chanteys. \nHalyard chanteys helped coordinate the heavy pulling involved in raising sails. \nShort-drag or short-haul chanteys suited jobs requiring shorter bursts of effort. \nCapstan and windlass songs accompanied longer\, repetitive tasks such as raising an anchor. \nNot every song sailors sang was a work chantey\, either. \nWhen the day’s labor ended\, sailors also sang for entertainment. Those recreational songs are often called forebitters\, a name associated with sailors gathering near the forebitts on deck during their free time. \nThat distinction gets blurred today\, when “sea shanty” is frequently used as a catch-all description for almost any traditional maritime song. \nAt a pub sing\, the distinction matters less than the chorus. \nThe Songs Were Built to Be Learned Quickly\nThere was a practical reason chanteys relied so heavily on repetition and call-and-response. \nThe crew needed to join in. \nA sailor didn’t need sheet music or formal training. The chanteyman could improvise verses while everyone else supplied the familiar response. \nThat structure has given the music remarkable durability. \nSomeone can walk into Oasis Saturday knowing none of the songs and still participate. \nListen to the first chorus. \nListen again. \nBy the third one\, sing. \nThere aren’t many musical traditions where a complete newcomer can become part of the ensemble in less than a minute. \nNew London Already Has a Living Shanty Scene\nSaturday’s pub sing isn’t an attempt to manufacture a maritime tradition for festival weekend. \nPeople are already singing these songs here. \nOasis has hosted Sea Shanty Nights featuring New London groups My Druthers and Bards of Gungywamp. One was held as recently as August 28. \nThose evenings mix sea songs\, Celtic folk\, old maritime tunes\, drinking songs and working-class ballads. \nMy Druthers has become particularly closely connected to the local scene. \nThe New London-based rotating collective\, led by Stuart Fensom\, approaches maritime music from punk-rock roots. Its repertoire combines traditional chanteys\, Irish rebel songs and working-class folk\, often using guitar\, fiddle\, banjo and mandolin. \nBards of Gungywamp takes another expansive approach\, mixing Celtic folk and chanteys with bluegrass\, old-time music\, country\, Cajun influences\, punk and original songs inspired by New England history and folklore. \nThe result is a maritime music community that isn’t especially interested in keeping traditional songs sealed behind museum glass. \nPeople still sing them because they’re fun to sing. \nSaturday Could Produce an Interesting Room\nThe timing of this particular pub sing makes it different from an ordinary shanty night. \nLook at who’s playing across the street during the afternoon. \nLittlefield & Morneault are veteran maritime musicians with deep connections to traditional sea music. \nBernier is performing. \nMy Druthers is performing. \nThe Dreadnoughts are in town. \nNone Of Us Saints and Pennsylvania Celtic-punk band Hold Fast are on the bill. \nThe organizers haven’t announced a lineup of special guests for the Oasis sing\, so nobody should assume that every Songs of the Sea performer will appear. \nBut New London will have an unusually large concentration of maritime\, Celtic and folk-punk musicians within a few blocks Saturday. \nA pub sing is exactly the kind of event where that matters. \nOasis Is a Natural Place for It\nOasis Pub has been part of New London’s downtown music culture for years. \nIt’s small. \nThat’s an advantage for this. \nA room built for hundreds of spectators would work against the intimacy of a traditional pub sing. Oasis puts people close together\, where one unaccompanied voice can start a song and the rest of the room can answer. \nThe Bank Street bar is primarily known for craft beer and live music\, with 20 rotating drafts and a large selection of cans alongside wine\, cocktails and nonalcoholic choices. \nIt’s also emphatically a music bar. \nTouring and regional bands have passed through its small room\, while its current programming ranges from indie rock and punk to DJs\, movie nights and maritime music. \nFor Saturday’s pub sing\, the modest size should make the distinction between stage and audience almost irrelevant. \nThere’s a Long History Behind Singing Sea Songs in a Pub\nMaritime music and drinking establishments have been companions for a very long time. \nPort cities were filled with boarding houses\, taverns and waterfront saloons catering to sailors between voyages. \nSongs traveled with them. \nA sailor might learn a melody in one port\, carry it across an ocean and hear it again with different words somewhere else. Chanteymen borrowed from folk songs\, popular music\, minstrel songs\, spirituals and whatever else circulated through the ports. \nSongs evolved because they were transmitted person to person. \nThere was no definitive recording to consult. \nThat helps explain why the same traditional maritime song can exist under different titles\, with different verses\, melodies or even choruses. \nA pub sing continues that oral tradition in miniature. \nNobody needs to perform the definitive version. \nThere probably isn’t one. \nFrom Maritime Heritage to Maritime Participation\nMuch of the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival is understandably about looking. \nVisitors can look at ships. \nTour historic sites. \nWatch demonstrations. \nSee exhibits. \nLearn about whaling\, submarines\, the Coast Guard\, the Navy and the people who built their lives around the Thames River. \nSongs of the Sea moves a little closer to participation by putting living maritime music in the center of downtown. \nThe Shanty Pub Sing finishes the journey. \nThere isn’t really an audience anymore. \nThe old songs survive because somebody starts singing them and somebody else answers. \nThat’s what Saturday night at Oasis is for. \nSongs of the Sea ends across the street around 6:45. \nOasis opens at 7. \nMarc Bernier starts a song. \nThe rest is up to the room. \nDetails\nEvent: Post Songs of the Sea Shanty Pub Sing\nDate: Saturday\, September 12\, 2026\nTime: 7 p.m.\nHost: Marc Bernier\nVenue: Oasis Pub\nAddress: 16 Bank Street\, New London\, CT 06320\nAges: 21+\nFormat: Informal participatory maritime pub sing\nMusic: Sea chanteys\, maritime songs\, folk songs\, pub and drinking songs\nRelated Event: Songs of the Sea 2026 at Parade Plaza\nSongs of the Sea: 2–6:45 p.m.\nLocation From Concert: Oasis Pub is across Bank Street from the Parade Plaza area\nSaturday Oasis Hours: 7 p.m.–2 a.m.\nPhone: 860-447-3929\nFood: Oasis is primarily a bar and music venue rather than a full-service restaurant\nDrinks: Craft beer\, canned drinks\, wine and nonalcoholic options are available\nParticipation: No maritime-music experience is necessary; pub sings are built around group choruses and audience participation \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/post-songs-of-the-sea-shanty-pub-sing/
LOCATION:Oasis Pub\, 16 Bank Street\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:Oasis Pub
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T213000
DTSTAMP:20260906T030454Z
CREATED:20260906T030454Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260906T030454Z
UID:10007479-1789241400-1789248600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:This Chaos Live at The Golden Owl in New London
DESCRIPTION:This Chaos performs at The Golden Owl in downtown New London on Saturday\, September 12\, bringing an intimate night of live music to the independent bookstore\, art space\, and community gathering place on Golden Street. \nThe performance runs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.\, with a $10 suggested donation. \nLive Music Inside The Golden Owl\nThe Golden Owl isn’t a conventional music venue. \nLocated at 19 Golden Street in downtown New London\, the independent shop combines books\, art\, plants\, loose-leaf tea and coffee with spaces designed for people to actually stay awhile. \nLive music is part of a broader calendar of community programming that has included open mics\, writing groups\, creative gatherings\, Dungeons & Dragons and other small-scale events. The shop’s Owl Lounge provides space for performances and gatherings alongside art\, books and comfortable seating. \nThat makes a show here considerably different from seeing a band across a crowded club. \nThere’s little separation between performer and audience\, and the room itself becomes part of the experience. \nEvent Details\nEvent: This Chaos at The Golden Owl\nDate: Saturday\, September 12\, 2026\nTime: 7:30–9:30 p.m.\nVenue: The Golden Owl\nAddress: 19 Golden Street\, New London\, CT 06320\nAdmission: $10 suggested donation\nPerformance: Live music by This Chaos \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \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/this-chaos-live-at-the-golden-owl-in-new-london/
LOCATION:The Golden Owl\, 19 Golden Street\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:Golden Owl
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/This-Chaos-Live-at-The-Golden-Owl-in-New-London.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T230000
DTSTAMP:20260528T144458Z
CREATED:20260528T144458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260528T144458Z
UID:10002630-1789241400-1789254000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Dance Saturday at THE MISFIT CLUB
DESCRIPTION:Dance Saturday at THE MISFIT CLUB brings late-night dance energy to downtown Mystic every Saturday with DJs\, theme nights\, and a growing nightlife crowd looking for something a little louder after dinner hours wind down around town. Doors open early in the evening before the dance floor fully shifts into party mode at 7:30 p.m.\, with modern dance music and big-city club energy taking over the space for the rest of the night. \nWhile Mystic is often associated with quieter waterfront evenings and laid-back coastal bars\, spots like THE MISFIT CLUB are helping carve out a younger nightlife scene built around DJs\, dancing\, themed parties\, and late-night social crowds. The venue leans into a more playful and high-energy atmosphere than many traditional shoreline spots\, with rotating themes like “Pink Underground” adding an extra layer of unpredictability from week to week. \nFor anyone looking to trade vineyard sunsets and seafood dinners for flashing lights\, dance music\, and a packed floor later in the evening\, Dance Saturday offers one of the more nightlife-focused experiences happening around southeastern Connecticut right now. Organizers encourage guests to follow the club’s Instagram page for updates on upcoming themes\, music\, and special event nights. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/dance-saturday-at-the-misfit-club/2026-09-12/
LOCATION:The Misfit Club\, 12 Water St APT 12\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:The Misfit Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Dance-Saturday-at-the-Misfit-Club-Saturdays-730-pm.jpeg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T230000
DTSTAMP:20260910T013229Z
CREATED:20260910T013229Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260910T013229Z
UID:10007532-1789243200-1789254000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Nutshell with Free Thinkers Are Dangerous at the Rathskeller
DESCRIPTION:Nutshell with Free Thinkers Are Dangerous at the Rathskeller turns the wooded Down Back stage into a slice of the 1990s on Saturday\, September 12\, with a double bill devoted to two bands that took heavy music in very different directions: Alice in Chains and System of a Down. \nBoston-based Nutshell headlines with the dark harmonies\, grinding guitar riffs\, and uneasy beauty of Alice in Chains. Opening act Free Thinkers Are Dangerous takes on System of a Down\, whose collision of metal\, punk\, Armenian musical influences and political absurdism produced some of the strangest songs ever to become mainstream rock hits. \nThe three-hour show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance plus fees or $20 at the door. \nNutshell Has Been Playing Alice in Chains Since 2005\nThis isn’t a new tribute assembled for the current wave of ’90s nostalgia. \nNutshell traces its history to 2005\, making it the longest-tenured Alice in Chains tribute in New England. \nThe Boston-based group has spent more than two decades performing around New England\, appearing in clubs\, theaters and larger rock venues while concentrating on something particularly difficult to reproduce: the relationship between Alice in Chains’ voices and guitars. \nNutshell’s current lineup is built around lead vocals\, dual guitars and vocals\, bass and drums. The band’s performances range from full electric shows to recreations of Alice in Chains’ celebrated MTV Unplugged material. \nThat gives Nutshell a catalog with enormous dynamic range. \nA set can move from the violence of Them Bones and Man in the Box to Down in a Hole\, No Excuses or Nutshell\, where volume gives way to something much more vulnerable. \nThe tribute band’s name comes from one of the latter. \nAlice in Chains Was Never Quite a Grunge Band\nAlice in Chains is inevitably grouped with Nirvana\, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden as one of the four great bands to emerge from Seattle during the grunge explosion. \nGeography makes that reasonable. \nMusically\, things are more complicated. \nAlice in Chains was considerably heavier than much of the movement surrounding it. Jerry Cantrell’s guitar riffs owed an obvious debt to heavy metal\, while Layne Staley possessed a powerful voice that could move from a low\, haunted melody to an anguished roar. \nThe defining sound\, however\, often came when Cantrell sang with him. \nStaley and Cantrell’s voices could lock into unsettling harmonies that sounded simultaneously beautiful and ominous. That’s why reproducing Alice in Chains convincingly requires more than finding someone who can imitate Staley. \nThe harmonies are part of the architecture of the songs. \nNutshell specifically emphasizes those vocal arrangements in its performances\, along with the guitar tones and emotional weight of the original recordings. \nDirt Turned Darkness Into a Masterpiece\nAlice in Chains had already scored a breakthrough with Facelift in 1990 and Man in the Box\, but 1992’s Dirt became the defining album of the band’s early career. \nIt arrived while alternative rock was exploding into the mainstream. \nThe record contained Would?\, Rooster\, Them Bones\, Angry Chair and Down in a Hole\, but there was little of the youthful liberation normally associated with a rock band becoming famous. \nMuch of Dirt is claustrophobic. \nAddiction\, depression\, war\, anger and self-destruction run through the record. Staley’s struggles with heroin increasingly became part of both his songwriting and his life. \nCantrell wrote Rooster about his father\, Jerry Cantrell Sr.\, a Vietnam veteran whose nickname supplied the title. \nWould? was written in memory of Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood\, who died of a heroin overdose in 1990. \nAnd then there was Down in a Hole\, a Cantrell composition whose harmonies between Cantrell and Staley became one of the clearest demonstrations of what made Alice in Chains different from its contemporaries. \nThe album eventually became one of the essential records of the 1990s. \nThe Quiet Alice in Chains Could Be Even Heavier\nOne of the band’s most interesting contradictions emerged when the amplifiers were turned down. \nAlice in Chains released the mostly acoustic EP Sap in 1992 and followed it with Jar of Flies in 1994. \nJar of Flies became the first EP ever to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. \nIt included No Excuses\, I Stay Away and the song that gives Saturday’s tribute band its name: Nutshell. \nThen came the band’s April 1996 appearance on MTV Unplugged. \nBy that point\, Alice in Chains had largely disappeared from touring as Staley’s health and addiction problems worsened. The performance was the band’s first concert in roughly two and a half years. \nSitting under subdued lights with “Alice in Chains” written across the stage\, the group performed Nutshell\, Down in a Hole\, Rooster\, Would? and other songs in arrangements that stripped away the distortion without removing any of the tension. \nThe performance has become one of the most celebrated installments of the entire MTV Unplugged series. \nNutshell has made recreating that acoustic side of Alice in Chains part of its own identity\, alongside the full electric material. \nLayne Staley’s Story Gives the Music a Different Weight Now\nIt’s impossible to hear some of these songs today without knowing how the story ended. \nLayne Staley gradually withdrew from public life during the second half of the 1990s as his addiction worsened. \nHe died in 2002 at age 34. \nAlice in Chains eventually returned with Cantrell\, Sean Kinney and Mike Inez joined by vocalist and guitarist William DuVall. Beginning with Black Gives Way to Blue in 2009\, the revived lineup established a successful second era while acknowledging rather than attempting to erase Staley’s place in the band’s history. \nThe band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025. \nFor a tribute act like Nutshell\, that means performing songs whose meaning has changed with time. \nNutshell was already devastating in 1994. \nThree decades later\, it’s difficult not to hear it as something more. \nThen Free Thinkers Are Dangerous Changes the Entire Mood\nIf Nutshell represents brooding Seattle darkness\, Free Thinkers Are Dangerous brings something considerably more frantic to the opening slot. \nThe band performs the music of System of a Down. \nThat means the night can jump from Alice in Chains’ slow\, sludgy riffs and mournful harmonies into music that can change tempo\, mood and genre several times before a song reaches its chorus. \nFree Thinkers Are Dangerous has shared bills with Nutshell before\, including a January 2026 Worcester show with Tool tribute Schism. At that concert\, FTAD opened with a dedicated System of a Down set before Nutshell’s Alice in Chains performance. \nIt’s a pairing that makes sense without the bands sounding particularly alike. \nBoth original groups fall somewhere under the broad alternative-metal umbrella. \nAfter that\, almost everything changes. \nSystem of a Down Was Supposed to Be Too Weird for This to Work\nSystem of a Down emerged from Southern California in the 1990s with four Armenian-American musicians: Serj Tankian\, Daron Malakian\, Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan. \nThe band’s sound was difficult to classify from the beginning. \nHeavy metal riffs collided with punk\, progressive rock\, folk-derived melodies and sudden rhythmic shifts. Tankian could move from a whisper to a scream to something approaching operatic singing\, sometimes within the same song. \nMalakian’s writing added another layer of unpredictability. \nAnd the lyrics could move from war\, genocide\, incarceration and political hypocrisy to deliberately surreal nonsense. \nSomehow\, this became commercially enormous. \nChop Suey! arrived in 2001 as the lead single from Toxicity. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. \nToxicity and Aerials followed as major songs\, and the band’s catalog eventually produced B.Y.O.B.\, Sugar\, Spiders\, Hypnotize\, Question! and Lonely Day. \nFew mainstream bands of the era sounded remotely like them. \nB.Y.O.B. Put the Iraq War on Rock Radio\nSystem of a Down’s politics were rarely hidden behind vague language. \nThe members’ Armenian heritage informed their activism around recognition of the Armenian genocide. Their music also addressed prisons\, drug policy\, authoritarianism\, media\, war and the people who benefit from it. \nThat reached a particularly large audience with 2005’s B.Y.O.B. \nThe title stands for “Bring Your Own Bombs.” \nThe song asks why political leaders send the poor to fight wars and then erupts into an almost absurdly cheerful chorus about everybody going to a party. \nThe contrast is intentional. \nThe song won the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. \nIts parent album\, Mezmerize\, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Later that same year\, companion album Hypnotize did the same. \nSystem of a Down had taken music that sounded as though it shouldn’t fit anywhere on mainstream American radio and turned it into some of the biggest hard rock of the decade. \nTwo Tributes\, Two Completely Different Kinds of Heavy\nThat’s what makes the Charlestown pairing more interesting than simply booking two tribute bands. \nAlice in Chains and System of a Down demonstrate how broad “heavy music” became during the 1990s and early 2000s. \nAlice in Chains could build a song around repetition\, weight and atmosphere. System of a Down might change direction three times in 30 seconds. \nLayne Staley and Jerry Cantrell created tightly interlocked harmonies. \nSerj Tankian and Daron Malakian could sound as though they were having an argument in the middle of the song. \nAlice in Chains made despair feel enormous. \nSystem of a Down could make political rage sound manic\, funny and terrifying at the same time. \nNutshell and Free Thinkers Are Dangerous put both approaches on the same stage Saturday night. \nCome Early and Make a Night of It\nThe Charlestown Rathskeller is particularly well suited to shows that don’t require everyone to arrive five minutes before the first chord. \nThe tavern sits back from Old Coach Road in a wooded setting\, with its seasonal Down Back entertainment area adding an outdoor stage\, fire pit\, lawn games and room to spread out. \nThe kitchen is open from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays\, while the Rathskeller itself remains open until 1 a.m. \nThat creates plenty of room to arrive before the 8 p.m. show for dinner. \nThe menu leans into tavern food and New England favorites\, including burgers\, fish and chips\, clam chowder\, stuffies\, calamari and the Rathskeller’s well-known fries\, alongside steaks and dishes such as jägerschnitzel. \nThen head Down Back. \nFree Thinkers Are Dangerous provides the chaos. \nNutshell supplies the darkness. \nAnd somewhere along the way\, there’s a pretty good chance several hundred people are going to yell the opening of Man in the Box together. \nDetails\nEvent: Nutshell with Free Thinkers Are Dangerous at the Charlestown Rathskeller\nDate: Saturday\, September 12\, 2026\nTime: 8–11 p.m.\nHeadliner: Nutshell\, tribute to Alice in Chains\nOpening Band: Free Thinkers Are Dangerous\, tribute to System of a Down\nMusic: Grunge / alternative metal / hard rock\nAdmission: $15 online plus Eventbrite fees; $20 at the door\nVenue: The Charlestown Rathskeller\nAddress: 489A Old Coach Road\, Charlestown\, RI 02813\nSaturday Hours: Noon–1 a.m.\nKitchen: Noon–10 p.m.\nPhone: 401-792-1000\nRefund Policy: Eventbrite currently lists refunds up to seven days before the event \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.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/nutshell-with-free-thinkers-are-dangerous-at-the-rathskeller/
LOCATION:Rathskeller\, 489A Old Coach Rd\, Charlestown\, RI\, 02813\, United States
CATEGORIES:Rathskeller
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T230000
DTSTAMP:20260428T123823Z
CREATED:20260428T123823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260428T123823Z
UID:10000094-1789246800-1789254000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:ZZ Top with special guest George Thorogood & The Destroyers
DESCRIPTION:If you’re looking for a night that feels like straight-up American rock history hitting the stage at full volume\, this tour delivers it. ZZ Top are out on their ongoing *The Big One!* Tour\, stretching across the U.S. with dates running through late summer and into the fall\, bringing that unmistakable Texas blues-rock sound to arenas and amphitheaters everywhere. ([Pollstar News][1]) The trio’s groove is instantly recognizable… thick guitar tone\, driving rhythms\, and that laid-back swagger that somehow still feels effortless after decades. \nSharing the bill\, George Thorogood & The Destroyers bring a raw\, boogie-blues energy that pairs perfectly with ZZ Top’s style. Their sets are built on hard-driving riffs and crowd-ready staples like “Bad to the Bone\,” the kind of songs that don’t just play… they hit. ([georgethorogoodtour.us][2]) When these two acts come together\, it turns into more than just a concert… it feels like a double-shot of classic rock\, where every song lands with familiarity and force. \nThe tour itself has been expanding with additional dates\, including stops across the country and select shows where both bands share the stage\, like their scheduled appearance together in Uncasville\, Connecticut\, this September. ([Ultimate Classic Rock][3]) Live\, it’s all about the feel… big sound\, no frills\, just guitars\, rhythm\, and a crowd that knows exactly why they showed up. If you’re chasing that old-school rock experience… loud\, loose\, and unapologetically real… this is one of those nights that delivers exactly what you came for.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/zz-top-with-special-guest-george-thorogood-the-destroyers/
LOCATION:Mohegan Sun\, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd\, Uncasville\, 06382\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mohegan Sun
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T230000
DTSTAMP:20260911T014725Z
CREATED:20260909T001736Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260911T014725Z
UID:10007527-1789246800-1789254000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:The Lady Gaga Experience Featuring Haus of Monsters at the Ocean Mist
DESCRIPTION:The Lady Gaga Experience Featuring Haus of Monsters at the Ocean Mist turns one of Rhode Island’s most enduring beach bars into a full-scale Gaga production Saturday\, September 12\, with a live band\, backup dancers\, costumes\, choreography\, and a catalog built around nearly two decades of pop hits. \nDoors open at 8 p.m. and the show begins at 9. This is a 21-and-over night at the Ocean Mist\, and Haus of Monsters isn’t approaching the material as four musicians standing onstage playing Lady Gaga covers. The New York-based group describes itself as a complete tribute experience\, combining the music with the visual spectacle and theatricality that have been part of Gaga’s identity since Just Dance and Poker Face first made her a global star. \nAnd there’s something appropriately excessive about putting all of that inside the Ocean Mist\, a weathered Matunuck institution sitting practically on top of the Atlantic Ocean. \nMore Than a Lady Gaga Cover Band\nHaus of Monsters has a fairly ambitious goal. \nIt isn’t trying simply to sound like Lady Gaga. It’s attempting to reproduce the feeling of a Gaga show on a scale that can travel into theaters\, clubs and music venues around the country. \nThe production combines a live band made up of New York session musicians with a lead performance\, backup dancers\, elaborate costumes and choreography. \nThe group is based in New York City\, Gaga’s hometown\, and describes its members as both professional musicians and longtime “Little Monsters\,” the name Gaga has used for her fans throughout her career. \nThat distinction matters with an artist whose music has never really existed separately from presentation. \nA faithful Lady Gaga tribute needs Bad Romance\, but it also needs some drama. \nIt needs Poker Face\, but preferably with considerably more happening onstage than someone singing into a microphone. \nAnd a song like Born This Way carries an identity and message that go well beyond its chorus. \nHaus of Monsters has built the show around that complete package\, moving between dance-floor records and ballads while changing the visual presentation along with the music. \nNearly 20 Years of Gaga to Work With\nAt this point\, there’s a surprisingly deep catalog from which to build the night. \nLady Gaga’s first album\, The Fame\, arrived in 2008 and produced Just Dance and Poker Face. The expanded The Fame Monster era followed with Bad Romance\, Telephone and Alejandro. \nThen came Born This Way\, with its title track\, The Edge of Glory and You and I. \nBut Gaga didn’t stay in one musical lane. \nARTPOP pushed further into electronic pop. Her collaboration with Tony Bennett on Cheek to Cheek moved into jazz standards. Joanne pulled back some of the electronic production. Then A Star Is Born introduced an entirely different audience to songs including Shallow and Always Remember Us This Way. \nShe returned to dance-pop with Chromatica and Rain on Me\, followed by another Tony Bennett album and eventually a darker return to maximalist pop with Mayhem. \nFor a tribute act\, that creates a lot of territory to cover. \nHaus of Monsters says its performances travel through Gaga’s biggest hits\, from dance anthems to the large-scale ballads. That gives the band room to change gears rather than simply reproducing two hours of late-2000s club music. \nThe Costumes Are Part of the Assignment\nThere are artists where a tribute band can get away with jeans\, guitars and a convincing setlist. \nLady Gaga is not one of them. \nFrom the beginning of her career\, fashion and theatrical presentation have been part of the work itself. Gaga has appeared in everything from sculptural couture and towering footwear to the infamous meat dress she wore to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. \nHer concert tours have followed the same philosophy. \nThe Monster Ball became a theatrical journey to the fictional Monster Ball itself. The Born This Way Ball used an enormous Gothic castle as part of its staging. Later tours incorporated elaborate video\, choreography\, costume changes\, props and narrative elements. \nHaus of Monsters borrows from that tradition without pretending this is an official Gaga production. \nThe group explicitly identifies itself as an independent\, fan-created tribute with no connection to or endorsement from Lady Gaga or her management. \nWhat it does attempt to reproduce is the combination of music and spectacle. \nThat means dancers aren’t decoration around the band. Costumes aren’t an occasional novelty. Both are fundamental parts of the show. \nFor anyone deciding between this and a conventional tribute-band night\, that’s probably the biggest difference. \nHaus of Monsters Has Been Taking the Production on the Road\nThe Ocean Mist date is part of a much broader 2026 run for Haus of Monsters. \nThe production has been appearing at clubs and theaters throughout the Northeast and beyond\, including City Winery Boston\, the Claremont Opera House in New Hampshire\, The Rex Theatre in Manchester\, Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury\, Massachusetts\, and Brooklyn Bowl in New York. \nThe group played Brooklyn Bowl in June and The Cut in Gloucester in August. Following Matunuck\, additional dates include the Bijou Theatre in Bridgeport and Musikfest Café at ArtsQuest in Bethlehem\, Pennsylvania. \nThose rooms vary considerably in size and format. \nThat’s useful context for the Ocean Mist show because Haus of Monsters is essentially bringing a theatrical tribute production into a Rhode Island beach bar. \nAnd not just any beach bar. \nThe Ocean Mist Has Been Doing This Since 1988\nThe building at 895 Matunuck Beach Road was part of the neighborhood long before anyone called it the Ocean Mist. \nIts history reaches back to Carpenter’s Bar and Grill\, which served surfers\, beachgoers and residents of the nearby summer campgrounds. The property went through different names and owners and survived the punishment that comes with placing a building directly beside the Atlantic. \nThen Kevin Finnegan bought the Ocean Mist in 1988. \nFinnegan had spent summers in Matunuck and saw an opportunity to bring something to South County that often required a drive to Providence at the time: nightlife and serious live music. \nThe Ocean Mist began booking local bands\, emerging acts and national performers while developing the combination that still defines it: restaurant during the day\, music venue at night and ocean immediately outside. \nJohn Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band\, BOP (harvey)\, The M.80s and a long list of regional and touring performers became part of that history. \nThe Ocean Mist now describes itself with a wonderfully understated phrase: “Just a Beach Bar.” \nTechnically\, that’s true. \nIt’s just a beach bar that has spent nearly four decades turning a small piece of Matunuck shoreline into one of Rhode Island’s most recognizable live-music rooms. \nGaga With the Atlantic Outside the Door\nThat location changes the experience. \nThe Ocean Mist isn’t a purpose-built theater with a formal lobby and rows of seats. It’s an oceanfront bar where breakfast starts in the morning\, the kitchen runs through the day and live music takes over at night. \nThe building sits directly along Matunuck Beach\, with the Atlantic visible from the property. \nBy the time Haus of Monsters starts at 9 p.m.\, the atmosphere will be very different from the daytime crowd stopping for breakfast or lunch. \nThis is a 21-plus show\, doors open an hour before the performance\, and Ocean Mist shows can get crowded. Anyone who wants time to get inside\, grab a drink and find a comfortable place before the production begins would be better served arriving closer to doors than showtime. \nParking for this event is listed as free. \nAnd because this is the Ocean Mist\, there’s a particularly good argument for arriving well before 8. \nCome down to Matunuck early. Eat. Watch the ocean for a while. \nThen go inside and watch somebody put on an outrageous costume and launch into Bad Romance. \nSouth County doesn’t offer many Saturday nights quite like that. \nDetails\nEvent: The Lady Gaga Experience Featuring Haus of Monsters at the Ocean Mist\nDate: Saturday\, September 12\, 2026\nDoors: 8 p.m.\nShow: 9 p.m.\nPerformer: Haus of Monsters\nMusic: Lady Gaga tribute / pop / dance\nShow Format: Live band with backup dancers\, costumes and theatrical production\nAge: 21+\nVenue: Ocean Mist\nAddress: 895 Matunuck Beach Road\, South Kingstown\, RI 02879\nParking: Free parking\nRefund Policy: No refunds\nPhone: 401-782-3740 \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.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/the-lady-gaga-experience-featuring-haus-of-monsters-at-the-ocean-mist/
LOCATION:Ocean Mist\, 895 Matunuck Beach Road\, South Kingston\, RI\, 02879\, United States
CATEGORIES:Ocean Mist
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T180000
DTSTAMP:20260901T212201Z
CREATED:20260901T212201Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T212201Z
UID:10007315-1789290000-1789322400@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/2026-09-13/
LOCATION:B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill\, 129 North Stonington Road\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BF-Clydes-Cider-Mill-2026-Complete-Guide.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T150000
DTSTAMP:20260909T012035Z
CREATED:20260909T012035Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260909T012035Z
UID:10007528-1789293600-1789311600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Deaf Awareness Day at Mystic Aquarium
DESCRIPTION:Deaf Awareness Day at Mystic Aquarium brings the Deaf\, hard of hearing\, and hearing communities together Sunday\, September 13\, for a day of animals\, American Sign Language and connection at one of southeastern Connecticut’s most popular attractions. \nThe special event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is being promoted by both Mystic Aquarium and the American School for the Deaf. Rather than separating Deaf Awareness Day from a regular aquarium visit\, the event takes place amid the beluga whales\, sea lions\, penguins\, sharks and other animals that make up the Mystic Aquarium experience. \nIt’s also an opportunity for hearing visitors and people learning ASL to spend time in an environment where signing and Deaf culture are visible parts of the day. \nA Day Built Around the Deaf Community\nDeaf Awareness Day isn’t simply about providing access to an otherwise hearing-centered event. \nThe larger purpose is community. \nThe American School for the Deaf’s ASL Department describes its community events as opportunities to use and learn American Sign Language\, celebrate Deaf culture and identity\, and connect Deaf and hard of hearing people\, their families and the wider community. \nThat makes Mystic Aquarium a particularly family-friendly setting for the September gathering. \nThere’s no lecture hall to sit in all afternoon. Families can explore the aquarium\, watch the animals\, meet other members of the community and participate in the day’s activities at their own pace. \nAnd visitors don’t need to be Deaf or fluent in ASL to appreciate why the event matters. \nDeaf Awareness Day also gives hearing people an opportunity to encounter a culture and language that are frequently misunderstood. \nASL Is a Language\, Not Signed English\nOne of the most important things to understand about American Sign Language is right there in its name. \nIt’s a language. \nASL isn’t English translated word by word into hand movements. It has its own grammar\, syntax\, vocabulary and linguistic structure\, with meaning communicated through handshapes and movement along with facial expressions and body position. \nIt also has a culture built around it. \nThe term Deaf\, when capitalized\, is commonly used when referring to cultural identity and membership in the signing Deaf community rather than simply describing a person’s level of hearing. \nThat distinction helps explain why events like Deaf Awareness Day aren’t framed solely around disability or accommodation. \nThey can also be celebrations of language\, identity and community. \nFor hearing parents of Deaf or hard of hearing children\, students studying ASL or anyone simply interested in learning more\, an event where Deaf and hearing people naturally occupy the same space can do something a textbook can’t. \nIt makes the language visible as something people actually live in. \nThe American School for the Deaf Has Been Doing This Since 1817\nThere’s considerable history behind the organization promoting Sunday’s event. \nThe American School for the Deaf in West Hartford was founded in 1817 and is the oldest permanent school for Deaf students in the United States. \nIts creation is tied to Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet\, who traveled to Europe searching for methods of educating Deaf children. In England\, he met French Deaf educator Laurent Clerc. \nClerc eventually returned to America with Gallaudet. \nTogether with physician Mason Fitch Cogswell and other supporters\, they established what was originally called the Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons in Hartford. \nAmong the school’s first students was Cogswell’s daughter\, Alice. \nThe school’s importance reaches far beyond Connecticut. \nClerc brought French Sign Language traditions to America\, where they interacted with existing signing systems and communities. That history played an important role in the development of what became American Sign Language. \nMore than two centuries later\, ASD continues serving Deaf and hard of hearing people from birth through adulthood through educational programs and services. \nIts ASL Department also works beyond the classroom\, supporting events where families\, students and community members can practice ASL and participate in Deaf culture. \nDeaf Awareness Day at Mystic Aquarium is one of those gatherings. \nBelugas\, Penguins\, Sea Lions and Sharks\nOf course\, there’s another reason to go. \nIt’s still Mystic Aquarium. \nThe aquarium’s best-known residents are its beluga whales. Mystic is the only aquarium in New England where visitors can see belugas\, making them one of the signature experiences on the property. \nThe campus also includes California sea lions\, African penguins\, sharks\, rays and a collection of marine and terrestrial species from ecosystems around the world. \nSome experiences are interactive. \nThe ray touch habitat gives visitors an opportunity to gently make contact with rays under staff guidance\, while other exhibits explore the waters much closer to home\, including the ecosystem of Long Island Sound. \nThe aquarium’s California sea lions have their own Marine Theater presentations\, combining animal behavior with the training and husbandry work involved in caring for them. \nThere’s also the Marsh Trek\, a short boardwalk through a freshwater wetland habitat where visitors may encounter native birds\, turtles\, frogs and other wildlife. \nFamilies with younger children can break up the animal exhibits with the Seal Pup Playspace\, designed for children ages 2 to 5. \nAccessibility Goes Beyond One Special Sunday\nWhile Deaf Awareness Day puts a particular focus on Deaf and hard of hearing visitors\, Mystic Aquarium maintains accessibility services throughout the year. \nThe aquarium is wheelchair accessible\, and a limited number of wheelchairs are available on a first-come\, first-served basis. \nMystic Aquarium is also a KultureCity Sensory Inclusive venue. Sensory bags can be borrowed by guests who may benefit from them\, and the aquarium identifies quiet areas and headphone zones around the property. \nA Yale New Haven Health Family Lounge and First Aid Center provides another quieter space on the campus. \nThose services matter because accessibility isn’t one thing. \nA visitor who is Deaf may have completely different needs from someone who is autistic\, has limited mobility\, is DeafBlind or experiences sensory overload. Building a genuinely accessible attraction means recognizing those differences rather than treating “accessible” as a single checkbox. \nDeaf Awareness Day adds another layer by putting communication\, language and Deaf culture at the center of the experience for a day. \nDeaf Awareness in the Middle of September\nThe timing also carries some significance. \nSeptember is widely recognized as Deaf Awareness Month\, with organizations\, schools and Deaf communities using the month to increase understanding of Deaf culture\, sign languages\, accessibility and the experiences of Deaf and hard of hearing people. \nThe goal isn’t simply to teach hearing people a few signs. \nAwareness can mean understanding why captions matter\, recognizing ASL as a complete language\, learning appropriate ways to communicate with Deaf and hard of hearing people and understanding that Deaf people don’t all communicate in the same way. \nSome use ASL as their primary language. Others use spoken language\, lipreading\, hearing aids or cochlear implants. Some use multiple methods depending on the situation. \nThere isn’t a single Deaf experience. \nThat’s another reason community events matter. They replace abstractions with people. \nA Different Kind of Aquarium Day\nMystic Aquarium hosts plenty of special events during the year\, from adults-only evenings to conservation programs and seasonal celebrations. \nDeaf Awareness Day is different. \nThe aquarium itself is still the attraction. Families can come to see belugas\, watch sea lions\, explore the exhibits and spend a Sunday together. \nBut for five hours on September 13\, there’s another community gathering inside that experience. \nFor Deaf and hard of hearing visitors\, it’s an opportunity to spend the day in a space where their language and community are deliberately being recognized. \nFor hearing families\, ASL students and anyone interested in Deaf culture\, it’s an invitation to join them. \nDetails\nEvent: Deaf Awareness Day at Mystic Aquarium\nDate: Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nTime: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.\nVenue: Mystic Aquarium\nAddress: 55 Coogan Boulevard\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nPresented/Promoted With: American School for the Deaf\nAudience: Deaf\, hard of hearing and hearing community members\, families and ASL learners\nAquarium Hours: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.\nParking: Free on-site parking\nAccessibility: Wheelchair accessible; sensory resources are also available\nPhone: 860-572-5955 \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/deaf-awareness-day-at-mystic-aquarium/
LOCATION:Mystic Aquarium\, 55 Coogan Blvs\, Mystic\, CT\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Aquarium
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Deaf-Awareness-Day-at-Mystic-Aquarium-b.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T150000
DTSTAMP:20260909T211744Z
CREATED:20260909T211744Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260909T211744Z
UID:10007529-1789293600-1789311600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Belugas Count at Mystic Aquarium
DESCRIPTION:Belugas Count at Mystic Aquarium connects Connecticut families with a conservation effort taking place more than 3\,000 miles away on Sunday\, September 13\, as Mystic celebrates its signature whales while scientists\, volunteers\, and residents in Alaska search the waters of Cook Inlet for one of America’s most endangered marine mammal populations. \nThe family-friendly event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is included with regular aquarium admission. Interactive tables and hands-on activities will explore belugas\, their Arctic and sub-Arctic environment\, Mystic Aquarium’s research in Alaska\, and something that may initially seem far removed from whales: how building more resilient communities here at home can help protect ecosystems around the world. \nSeptember 13 wasn’t chosen randomly. The Mystic event coincides with the 2026 Belugas Count! Celebration in Alaska\, where publicly accessible viewing stations around Cook Inlet will be staffed by beluga experts searching for\, counting\, and teaching visitors about the endangered whales. \nMystic Aquarium is one of the national partners supporting that effort. \nThe White Whales That Talk\nSpend enough time beside Mystic Aquarium’s beluga habitat and one thing becomes apparent: these are unusually expressive whales. \nBelugas whistle\, chirp\, squeal\, click\, and produce such a broad range of sounds that sailors nicknamed them the “canaries of the sea.” \nThose sounds aren’t incidental. \nBelugas live in Arctic and sub-Arctic waters where visibility can be poor\, particularly around river mouths and estuaries filled with sediment. Sound is an essential part of how they navigate\, locate prey and communicate. \nThe large rounded structure on a beluga’s forehead is called the melon. Unlike the fixed forehead people might imagine on a whale\, a beluga’s melon is remarkably flexible. The animal can change its shape while producing and directing sounds used for echolocation. \nA beluga sends out clicks and listens for the returning echoes\, effectively building an acoustic picture of its surroundings. \nIt’s a useful ability for an animal that may spend part of the year living around sea ice or swimming through water where seeing what’s ahead isn’t particularly easy. \nThe scientific name Delphinapterus leucas reflects another unusual feature. Delphinapterus essentially means “dolphin without a fin.” \nBelugas have no dorsal fin. \nInstead\, they have a tough dorsal ridge along their backs\, an adaptation that makes sense for whales living in icy northern waters. A protruding fin would lose heat and could become a liability while moving beneath ice. \nBelugas Aren’t Born White\nThe bright white color that makes an adult beluga almost unmistakable doesn’t appear at birth. \nCalves are born dark gray and gradually become lighter as they grow\, eventually turning white as adults. \nThey’re substantial animals. NOAA Fisheries says belugas can reach about 16 feet in length and average roughly 3\,150 pounds\, with lifespans potentially reaching 90 years. \nThey’re also toothed whales\, generally possessing between 32 and 40 teeth. \nBelugas are highly social and can gather in groups to feed\, migrate and interact. Their flexible necks make them particularly distinctive among whales because their cervical vertebrae aren’t fused together. That allows a beluga to turn and move its head in ways most whales cannot. \nAnd while they’re strongly associated with Arctic ice\, their lives also depend on rivers. \nDuring warmer months\, belugas may congregate in shallow coastal areas and around river mouths where fish are abundant. Those relatively warm\, shallow waters are particularly important for mothers and newborn calves\, which haven’t yet developed the thick layer of blubber they’ll eventually use to insulate themselves from extreme cold. \nIn Alaska\, September 13 Really Is About Counting Belugas\nWhile visitors in Mystic are learning about belugas\, people around Cook Inlet will be looking for the real thing. \nNOAA Fisheries’ annual Belugas Count! event brings scientists\, conservation organizations\, Alaska Native communities\, government agencies\, universities\, aquariums and members of the public together every September. \nOn Sunday\, September 13\, publicly accessible observation stations will be operating at locations around Cook Inlet. \nPeople armed with binoculars will watch the water alongside beluga experts. \nWhen whales appear\, they’ll look. \nThey’ll count. \nAnd they’ll learn why every whale matters. \nAn afternoon celebration at the Alaska Zoo will add educational booths\, children’s activities and presentations by beluga specialists. \nElsewhere along Cook Inlet\, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center will conduct monitoring from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.\, with volunteers recording beluga sightings and environmental observations that can contribute to ongoing conservation work. \nMystic Aquarium’s Connecticut celebration effectively becomes an East Coast extension of something happening in Alaska that same day. \nWhy Scientists Are So Concerned About Cook Inlet\nThere isn’t just one worldwide population of belugas. \nSeveral distinct populations inhabit northern waters\, and the whales living in Alaska’s Cook Inlet are particularly important because they remain there throughout their lives and are genetically distinct from other beluga populations. \nTheir story is alarming. \nNOAA estimates that between 1979 and 2018\, the Cook Inlet population fell nearly 80 percent\, from approximately 1\,300 whales to 279. \nThe population was listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act in 2008. \nThe newest estimate offers a small measure of hope: approximately 331 Cook Inlet belugas. \nScientists say that could indicate the population is stabilizing and possibly beginning to increase. But there isn’t enough evidence yet to declare a recovery. Continued monitoring over the coming years will be needed to determine whether the change represents a genuine upward trend. \nThat’s what gives the event’s name some weight. \nWhen only a few hundred animals remain in a distinct population\, individual whales really do count. \nStopping the Hunt Didn’t Solve the Problem\nThe Cook Inlet decline has a complicated history. \nSubsistence hunting contributed substantially to the population’s earlier losses\, and harvest restrictions followed. Alaska Native hunters last harvested Cook Inlet belugas in the mid-2000s\, and harvest has not been permitted for years because the population remains below management thresholds. \nScientists expected removing that pressure would help the population rebound. \nIt didn’t rebound as expected. \nThat shifted the research question from what caused the original decline? to something more difficult: \nWhat’s preventing the whales from recovering now? \nNOAA’s recovery work identifies a collection of potential pressures rather than one simple explanation. \nThey include underwater noise\, reduced or changing prey availability\, habitat degradation\, pollution and contaminants\, disease\, strandings\, climate-related changes\, predation by killer whales and the cumulative effects of several stressors occurring together. \nCook Inlet makes those questions especially challenging because it isn’t an isolated Arctic wilderness. \nAnchorage and the Belugas Share the Same Neighborhood\nCook Inlet stretches north from the Gulf of Alaska\, and its upper reaches border Anchorage\, the state’s largest city. \nThat puts an endangered whale population beside Alaska’s largest concentration of people\, transportation and industrial activity. \nDuring ice-free months\, Cook Inlet belugas concentrate heavily in upper Cook Inlet and around river mouths where salmon and other fish provide food. \nThose same waters are influenced by shipping\, construction\, development and other human activity. \nNoise is particularly important for an animal that relies so heavily on sound. \nIf a beluga uses acoustics to communicate\, find food and understand its environment\, underwater noise isn’t merely an annoyance. It can interfere with some of the sensory information the whale depends upon. \nNOAA reviews projects in Cook Inlet for their potential effects on belugas and has developed guidelines intended to reduce harmful underwater construction noise. \nTwo large portions of Cook Inlet were designated critical habitat in 2011 because they contain feeding areas and places that provide refuge from predators. (NOAA Fisheries) \nMystic Aquarium’s Connection Goes All the Way to Alaska\nThat brings the story back to Connecticut. \nMystic Aquarium isn’t participating in Belugas Count simply because belugas happen to be the aquarium’s best-known animals. \nThe institution has been involved in beluga research and conservation\, including work connected to Cook Inlet. \nNOAA lists Mystic Aquarium among the partner organizations supporting Belugas Count!\, alongside the Alaska Zoo\, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center\, Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo-ID Project\, Alaska Beluga Monitoring Program\, Georgia Aquarium\, Shedd Aquarium\, Alaska Native organizations\, government agencies and conservation groups. \nThat collaboration is important because researchers can’t answer every question about a small\, endangered population by working directly with wild animals. \nSome questions require field observations in Alaska. Others can be investigated through acoustic monitoring\, population surveys\, photographic identification\, health assessment and biological research. \nAquariums can contribute another piece by allowing scientists to conduct carefully controlled research with animals in human care. \nMystic’s long association with belugas therefore creates a bridge between the whales visitors can watch in Connecticut and animals scientists are trying to save in Alaska. \nThe “Canaries of the Sea” Have a Noise Problem\nThere’s an irony at the heart of beluga conservation. \nOne of the things that makes the species extraordinary may also make it particularly vulnerable to a changing environment. \nBelugas are acoustic animals. \nThey live in a world of sound. \nTheir clicks can help them find objects and prey. Their whistles and other vocalizations help them communicate. Their hearing gives them information that human beings would primarily gather with their eyes. \nNow imagine continually adding sound to that environment. \nShips. Construction. Industrial activity. Machinery. \nNOAA identifies ocean noise as an important threat to Cook Inlet belugas and studies how human-generated sound can affect marine mammal behavior and hearing. Research suggests sufficiently intense disturbance can interrupt normal behavior and potentially drive whales away from habitat important to their survival. \nThat makes the familiar squeaks\, whistles and clicks of a beluga more than an entertaining fact for an aquarium sign. \nUnderstanding how belugas communicate may help scientists understand how to protect them. \nFrom Cook Inlet to Long Island Sound\nMystic Aquarium describes Sunday’s event as connecting the Arctic with “our own backyard.” \nThat’s where Belugas Count becomes broader than a day about whales. \nConnecticut doesn’t have a population of belugas swimming through Long Island Sound. But some of the environmental questions aren’t particularly foreign. \nHealthy waterways depend on healthy watersheds. Animals depend on reliable food webs. Pollution that enters rivers doesn’t necessarily remain where it started. Coastal ecosystems respond to development and climate pressures. Communities have to decide how to balance human activity with habitat protection. \nThat’s why Sunday’s activities are also built around the idea of resilience. \nThe endangered whales of Cook Inlet provide a dramatic example of what happens when a population falls far enough that recovery becomes difficult. \nThe local lesson is considerably more optimistic. \nConservation doesn’t have to begin after an ecosystem reaches a crisis. \nIt can begin with understanding how the pieces fit together. \nSee the Whales\, Then Understand Why They Matter\nThere’s a natural advantage to holding Belugas Count at Mystic Aquarium. \nThe subject of the conservation story is swimming nearby. \nA child can learn that a beluga uses its melon for echolocation and then walk over and look at one. \nThey can discover that calves begin life gray and see what an adult white whale looks like. \nThey can learn that belugas communicate acoustically and then understand why underwater noise in Cook Inlet could matter. \nAnd they can discover that while the whales in Mystic are ambassadors for their species\, hundreds of their wild counterparts in Alaska are part of an endangered population whose future remains uncertain. \nThat’s the connection Belugas Count is trying to make. \nThe distance between Mystic and Alaska is enormous. \nThe conservation story isn’t. \nDetails\nEvent: Belugas Count at Mystic Aquarium\nDate: Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nTime: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.\nEvent Type: Family / Animals / Conservation / Educational\nActivities: Interactive tables\, hands-on activities and educational programming about belugas\, Arctic ecosystems\, conservation and community resilience\nAdmission: Included with regular Mystic Aquarium general admission\nVenue: Mystic Aquarium\nAddress: 55 Coogan Boulevard\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nParking: Free on-site parking\nPhone: 860-572-5955\nGeneral Information: info@mysticaquarium.org \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nExcerpt: \nMeta Description: \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/belugas-count-at-mystic-aquarium/
LOCATION:Mystic Aquarium\, 55 Coogan Blvs\, Mystic\, CT\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Aquarium
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Belugas-Count-at-Mystic-Aquarium.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T170000
DTSTAMP:20260910T180326Z
CREATED:20260817T041105Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260910T180326Z
UID:10007211-1789293600-1789318800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival 2026 Guide
DESCRIPTION:Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival 2026 Guide brings two days of ships\, Coast Guard demonstrations\, living history\, family activities\, music and maritime traditions to New London on Saturday and Sunday\, September 12 and 13. \nSpread between New London Waterfront Park and Fort Trumbull State Park\, the festival turns much of the city’s waterfront into a celebration of Connecticut’s relationship with the sea. Visitors can tour military and historic vessels\, watch Coast Guard crews in action\, explore living-history encampments\, hear live music and take part in activities for children. \nThis year’s festival also arrives during a significant anniversary year for New London. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is celebrating its 150th anniversary\, and several festival events recognize the milestone\, including the release of a commemorative U.S. Postal Service stamp. \nThen Saturday night takes a decidedly different turn. \nA procession through downtown New London culminates in the traditional Burning of Benedict Arnold\, followed shortly afterward by a 300-drone light show over the Thames River. \nAdmission to the festival is free\, and free water taxis and shuttle buses will connect its two main locations throughout the weekend. \nTwo Festival Locations\, One Waterfront Celebration\nThe festival takes place simultaneously at New London Waterfront Park and Fort Trumbull State Park. \nDon’t worry about choosing one. \nVisitors can park near either location and use the festival’s free Thames River Heritage Park water taxi or shuttle buses to travel between them. That makes it possible to tour vessels downtown\, catch activities at Fort Trumbull and return to Waterfront Park without repeatedly moving your car. \nMost weekend activities run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday\, although several special events take place outside those hours. \nShips and Vessels You Can Explore\nOne of the festival’s biggest attractions is the opportunity to get close to working military vessels\, historic ships and maritime training vessels. \nUSCGC Eagle\nThe unmistakable USCGC Eagle is scheduled to be part of the festival. \nThe 295-foot\, three-masted barque serves as the Coast Guard’s sail-training ship\, giving Coast Guard Academy cadets practical experience at sea. Originally built in Germany as Horst Wessel\, Eagle was taken by the United States as a war reparation following World War II. \nToday\, the tall ship is one of only two active commissioned sailing vessels in the U.S. military\, alongside USS Constitution. \nAmistad\nThe schooner Amistad recreates the type of Baltimore Clipper believed to resemble La Amistad\, the vessel at the center of the historic 1839 revolt by enslaved Africans. \nThe modern ship was created as a floating classroom\, using the story of the Amistad uprising and its connection to Connecticut to teach history while traveling from port to port. \nDenis Sullivan\nThe three-masted Denis Sullivan is a wooden schooner modeled after the Great Lakes sailing vessels of the 19th century. \nOriginally based in Milwaukee\, the vessel offers visitors another opportunity to experience traditional sailing ship design up close. \nT/V Shuman\nThe 65-foot Training Vessel Shuman gives U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadets hands-on experience with navigation\, ship handling and seamanship. \nOriginally constructed as a survey vessel for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers\, it now serves as a working classroom on the Thames River. \nCoast Guard Response Boats\nVisitors will also be able to see some considerably faster Coast Guard equipment. \nStation New London’s 45-foot Response Boat-Medium can exceed 40 knots and operates in seas up to 12 feet. It is used for missions including search and rescue\, maritime security and law enforcement. \nThe smaller 29-foot Response Boat-Small II can reach more than 45 knots and is designed for fast response in coastal and shallow-water environments. \nNaval Submarine Base Harbor Security Boats\nThe Navy will also be represented by Naval Submarine Base New London’s Harbor Security Boats. \nThe 27-foot vessels patrol waters surrounding the submarine base. Powered by twin outboards producing a combined 450 horsepower\, they can reach approximately 40 knots. \nKings Point\nBuilt in 2014\, Kings Point is a 3\,000-horsepower twin-screw tug constructed by Chesapeake Shipbuilding for the Vane Brothers Company. \nEnviro-Lab II / Project Oceanology\nGroton-based Project Oceanology brings marine science into the mix aboard Enviro-Lab II. \nProject O introduces thousands of students and adults each year to marine science through hands-on exploration of the ocean and Long Island Sound. \nSaturday: Coast Guard Action\, Music and a Big Night on the Waterfront\nSaturday begins with the festival’s Opening Ceremony at 10 a.m. \nThroughout the day\, visitors can explore vendors\, tour vessels and visit the Project Oceanology touch tank. \nFamilies have several activities of their own\, including free face painting\, costume making and a children’s walking parade featuring mermaids and privateers. \nAt noon\, Steve Elci joins the Little Mermaid and the Wayfinder for a children’s sing-along. \nThings get considerably louder at 1:30 p.m. \nCoast Guard Search and Rescue Demonstration\nA U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T helicopter is scheduled to conduct a search-and-rescue demonstration. \nThese aircraft operate from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod and are used throughout New England for search and rescue\, maritime law enforcement\, environmental protection and homeland security missions. \nSeeing one operate over New London’s harbor should be one of the weekend’s standout demonstrations. \nTactical Boat Operations\nAlso beginning at 1:30 p.m.\, crews from U.S. Coast Guard Station New London will demonstrate tactical boat maneuvers during a simulated security-zone intrusion. \nThe demonstration recreates techniques Coast Guard crews use to protect ports and critical infrastructure and intercept vessels that don’t comply with security orders. \nThe commanding officer of Station New London will narrate the demonstration. \nSaturday Night: Benedict Arnold Burns Again\nOne of New London’s strangest and most enduring traditions returns Saturday evening. \nAt 7:30 p.m.\, the March of the Traitor begins its procession along Bank Street toward Waterfront Park. \nThe event commemorates Benedict Arnold’s infamous September 1781 attack on New London and Groton after the Connecticut-born Revolutionary War general defected to the British. \nFlock Theatre brings the history to life with period costumes\, music\, fifes and drums before the procession reaches the waterfront. \nAt approximately 8 p.m.\, an effigy of Benedict Arnold is burned. \nVisitors are encouraged to join the procession\, and period clothing is welcome. \nThen Look Up: 300 Drones Over the Thames\nDon’t leave after Benedict Arnold meets his fiery fate. \nAt approximately 8:15 p.m. Saturday\, a fleet of 300 synchronized drones is scheduled to take to the sky over the New London waterfront. \nThe drones will create illuminated shapes and images above the Thames River through choreographed formations accompanied by music. \nThe show can be viewed from the New London waterfront. \nPersonal drones are prohibited during the festival. \nSunday: Fishing\, Maritime Skills and More Music\nSunday begins another full day of free vessel tours\, vendors\, authors and the Project Oceanology touch tank from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. \nAt 11 a.m.\, Submarine Veterans will conduct a Tolling of the Boats\, a remembrance ceremony honoring submarines and submariners lost at sea. \nFamilies can also head to Fort Trumbull for Breezeline’s Reel Time with Kids Fishing Clinic from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. \nChildren can learn casting\, reeling and fishing safety in a hands-on setting. No registration is required\, equipment is provided\, and participating children can receive a free fishing pole while supplies last. \nNavy vs. Coast Guard: Sea-Service Showdown\nAt noon Sunday\, attention shifts to Waterfront Park for a little interservice rivalry. \nThe Sea-Service Showdown Maritime Skills Challenge pits Navy and Coast Guard participants against each other in a friendly competition involving maritime skills\, strength and teamwork. \nThe competition runs from noon to 2 p.m. \nCome prepared to pick a side. \nSunday’s festival concludes with reggae from Tambulaytay\, performing from 2 to 5 p.m. \nLiving History at Fort Trumbull\nFort Trumbull provides an appropriate backdrop for another part of the weekend. \nAmerican and British colonial reenactors will establish 18th-century encampments Saturday and Sunday\, complete with canvas tents\, camp kitchens and open fires. \nVisitors can walk through the camps\, speak with reenactors and see demonstrations of marching formations\, military drills and everyday life during the Revolutionary era. \nIt adds something the ship tours can’t: instead of simply looking at Connecticut’s maritime past\, you can walk through a piece of it. \nU.S. Coast Guard Academy 150th Anniversary Stamp\nThe U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 150th anniversary will also be commemorated during the festival with a special U.S. Postal Service stamp presentation and availability. \nThe stamp recognizes the Academy’s history in New London and features Coast Guard imagery\, including Eagle. \nThe commemorative stamp will be available during festival hours Saturday and Sunday. \nFriday Prelude: Pirates and The Guardian\nAlthough the main festival takes place Saturday and Sunday\, activities begin Friday\, September 11. \nAt 8:30 a.m.\, New London will hold a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. \nAt 5 p.m.\, the New London Privateers & Buccaneers take over City Pier with a celebration of pirate lore\, including a pirate-map scavenger hunt and an adult costume contest. \nAt 7 p.m.\, the Garde Arts Center presents The Guardian\, the 2006 Coast Guard rescue-swimmer drama starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher. \nSaturday Schedule\n10 a.m. — Opening Ceremony\n10 a.m.–5 p.m. — Vendors\, Free Boat Tours and Project O Touch Tank\n10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — Free Face Painting\n10–11:30 a.m. — Make a Free Parade Costume\n10 a.m.–5 p.m. — U.S. Coast Guard Academy 150th Anniversary Stamp\n11:30 a.m. — Mermaid & Privateer Children’s Walking Parade\nNoon–1 p.m. — Kids’ Sing-Along with Steve Elci\, Little Mermaid and The Wayfinder\n1:30 p.m. — U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Helicopter Demonstration\n1:30 p.m. — USCG Tactical Boat Operations Demonstration\n2 p.m. – 7 p..m. –  Songs of the Sea 2026 at Parade Plaza\n2 p.m. — Community Drum Circle\n3 p.m. — Red Lion\n6 p.m. — Mass Conn Fusion\n7 p.m. – Post Songs of the Sea Shanty Pub Sing at the Oasis\n7:30 p.m. — March of the Traitor: Benedict Arnold Procession\n8–8:15 p.m. — Burning of Benedict Arnold\nApproximately 8:15 p.m. — 300-Drone Light Show \nSunday Schedule\n10 a.m.–5 p.m. — Vendors\, Authors\, Free Boat Tours and Project O Touch Tank\n10 a.m.–5 p.m. — U.S. Coast Guard Academy 150th Anniversary Stamp\n11 a.m. — Sub Vets Tolling of the Boats\n11 a.m.–2 p.m. — Breezeline’s Reel Time with Kids Fishing Clinic at Fort Trumbull\nNoon–2 p.m. — Sea-Service Showdown Maritime Skills Challenge at Waterfront Park\n2–5 p.m. — Tambulaytay \nGetting Around the Festival\nThis is worth explaining prominently because the festival is essentially one event with two campuses. \nFree transportation connects Waterfront Park and Fort Trumbull throughout the weekend. \nVisitors can ride the Thames River Heritage Park water taxi between locations or use the festival’s free shuttle buses. \nThat means there’s little reason to drive back and forth. Park once\, then use the boats and buses. \nWhere to Park\nFor Waterfront Park\, visitors have several options. \nWaterfront metered lot:\n13 Tilley Street\nNew London\, CT \nWater Street parking garage:\n160 Water Street\nNew London\, CT \nOn-street parking is also available in downtown New London. \nFor Fort Trumbull State Park: \n90 Walbach Street\nNew London\, CT \nStreet parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood. The Fort Trumbull parking lot itself is reserved for handicapped parking during the festival. \nComing by Train or Ferry\nThis is one of those rare regional festivals where leaving the car home is genuinely practical. \nNew London Union Station\, at 27 Water Street\, is within walking distance of Waterfront Park and is served by Amtrak. \nVisitors can also arrive in New London aboard Cross Sound Ferry from Long Island\, Block Island Ferry or Fishers Island Ferry. The ferry terminals are within walking distance of the festival. \nPrivate boaters can reserve overnight dockage or moorings at New London Waterfront Park. \nEvent Details\nConnecticut Maritime Heritage Festival 2026 \nDates: Saturday\, September 12 & Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nMain Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.\nLocations: New London Waterfront Park and Fort Trumbull State Park\nWaterfront Park: 2 State Street\, New London\, CT\nFort Trumbull: 90 Walbach Street\, New London\, CT\nAdmission: Free\nTransportation Between Venues: Free water taxi and shuttle bus \nMore information\, schedule updates and vessel information are available at the Event Website link below.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/connecticut-maritime-heritage-festival-2026-guide/2026-09-13/
LOCATION:RI
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T170000
DTSTAMP:20260910T173727Z
CREATED:20260910T173727Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260910T173727Z
UID:10007542-1789293600-1789318800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Three Special Thames River Cruises
DESCRIPTION:Three Special Thames River Cruises give Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival visitors three very different ways to experience New London and Groton from the water September 12 and 13\, from free transportation between festival sites to narrated history cruises and a Saturday night trip beneath a 300-drone light show. \nThames River Heritage Park is expanding its normal role during festival weekend with free Hop On\, Hop Off Harbor Cruises Saturday and Sunday\, four free 45-minute historic boat tours Sunday\, and a special Saturday night Drone Show Cruise that heads downriver toward New London Ledge Light before returning to the harbor for the festival’s nighttime spectacle. \nTogether\, the trips also demonstrate what makes Thames River Heritage Park a little unusual. \nIt isn’t one park. \nIt’s a network of historic and cultural sites spread along both shores of the Thames River\, with the river itself serving as the connection between them. \nAnd for one weekend\, much of that connection is free. \n1. Ride the Thames for Free All Weekend\nThe most useful cruise of the weekend may also be the simplest. \nThames River Heritage Park’s Hop On\, Hop Off Harbor Cruise will be completely free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday\, with the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival sponsoring the service. \nNormally\, an adult Harbor Cruise ticket costs $15. \nDuring the festival\, visitors can simply use the boats to move among three major locations: \nFort Trumbull State Park in New London \nCity Pier in downtown New London \nThames River Landing in Groton \nThere is an important change from the Heritage Park’s regular summer schedule. \nDuring festival weekend\, there will be no fixed departure or arrival times. The boats will travel continuously among the three landings\, and boarding will be first-come\, first-served. \nThat makes the service part transportation and part attraction. \nSomeone attending the festival at Fort Trumbull can board a boat\, cross the harbor to Groton\, get off to explore and later catch another boat back to downtown New London. \nOr visitors can simply stay aboard and see the harbor from the water. \nThe Boats Have a Navy History of Their Own\nEven the vessels carrying festival visitors are pieces of maritime history. \nThames River Heritage Park operates refurbished former U.S. Navy liberty boats. \nUtility boats like these weren’t designed as sightseeing vessels. They transported sailors between larger Navy ships and shore\, including taking crews ashore for “liberty\,” the Navy term for authorized time away from a ship. \nOne of the Heritage Park boats was assigned to the USS La Salle\, which served as flagship for Commander Middle East Force beginning in 1988. \nAnother was assigned to the USS Hunley\, a submarine tender that supported the Navy’s Polaris ballistic-missile submarine fleet. \nNow\, instead of carrying sailors ashore\, the old Navy boats carry visitors through the same harbor that remains home to one of America’s most important naval communities. \nIt’s particularly fitting in 2026. \nThe United States is celebrating the Navy’s 250th anniversary\, while the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London is celebrating its 150th. \nA River Where American Naval History Is Still Happening\nThe scenery from the boat isn’t simply historic. \nThe Thames remains a working military and commercial river. \nThe U.S. Coast Guard Academy occupies the New London shoreline farther upriver. \nAcross the Thames in Groton is Naval Submarine Base New London\, the Navy’s primary East Coast submarine base and a place so closely associated with undersea warfare that Groton calls itself the Submarine Capital of the World. \nNearby is the historic USS Nautilus\, the world’s first operational nuclear-powered submarine. \nDownriver\, Fort Trumbull stands near the entrance to New London Harbor\, while ferries\, fishing boats\, recreational craft\, commercial traffic and military vessels continue using the water around it. \nBut the history stretches much farther back. \nNew London became one of America’s major whaling ports during the 19th century. \nThe river witnessed colonial trade\, privateering and the American Revolution. \nIndigenous people had lived along and traveled these waters for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. \nThe Heritage Park’s weekend cruises approach those overlapping histories in very different ways. \n2. Sunday Brings Four Free 45-Minute History Cruises\nSunday offers the best deal for visitors who want more than transportation. \nThames River Heritage Park will operate four free narrated historic boat tours from City Pier in New London. \nThese aren’t the regular Hop On\, Hop Off rides. \nEach is a 45-minute mini-tour led by a Heritage Park docent\, concentrating on a particular part of the region’s history. \nNormally\, Thames River Heritage Park’s full historic boat tours cost $35 for adults. \nThe four festival mini-tours are free\, sponsored by the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival\, and available first-come\, first-served. \nTwo different subjects alternate throughout the afternoon. \n11 a.m. — Black Heritage Along the Thames: The Half That’s Never Been Told\nThe first departure introduces stories that were often missing from traditional accounts of New London’s history. \nBlack Heritage Along the Thames: The Half That’s Never Been Told draws from Thames River Heritage Park’s larger tour of the same name\, which explores approximately 400 years of local history through the experiences and contributions of the region’s Black community. \nThat history begins long before the Civil War. \nSlavery existed in colonial Connecticut. \nEnslaved people lived and worked in New London and Groton\, including within households whose surviving homes and documents are now used to interpret colonial life. \nBlack sailors worked from New London’s waterfront. \nThe city’s history intersects with abolition\, education\, military service and the long struggle for civil rights. \nAnd one of the most consequential events in American history arrived in New London Harbor aboard a ship in 1839. \nThe schooner La Amistad was seized off Long Island after captive Africans aboard the vessel revolted against the men illegally transporting them into slavery. \nThe ship was brought to New London. \nThe legal battle that followed eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court\, where former President John Quincy Adams helped argue the Africans’ case. \nThe Court ruled in their favor in 1841. \nIt is one of the most internationally significant stories connected to the New London waterfront\, but it is only one part of the Black history preserved along the Thames. \nDeparture: Sunday at 11 a.m. from City Pier \nNoon — The Mashantucket Pequot’s Story\nAt noon\, the perspective shifts much farther back. \nThe Mashantucket Pequot’s Story focuses on the Indigenous history of the region and the people who lived here long before New London or Groton existed. \nThe Pequot homeland historically encompassed portions of southeastern Connecticut. \nThe waterways of the region weren’t barriers separating communities. They were transportation corridors and sources of food\, trade and communication. \nThen European colonization transformed the landscape. \nTensions over land\, trade and political power culminated in the Pequot War of 1636–1637\, one of the defining conflicts of early colonial New England. \nThe war devastated the Pequot population\, but it did not eliminate the Pequot people. \nThat distinction matters. \nFor generations\, popular histories often treated Native nations as if they disappeared when a particular colonial-era chapter ended. \nThe Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is very much a living community today\, headquartered just a few miles from the Thames River. \nThe tour offers a chance to look at familiar southeastern Connecticut shoreline through a story that began thousands of years before the forts\, submarines and whaling ships. \nDeparture: Sunday at noon from City Pier \n1 p.m. — Black Heritage Along the Thames\nThe Black heritage mini-tour receives a second departure at 1 p.m. \nThat gives visitors who spend the morning elsewhere at the festival another opportunity to take the 45-minute narrated cruise. \nDeparture: Sunday at 1 p.m. from City Pier \n2 p.m. — The Mashantucket Pequot’s Story\nThe final free history cruise of the weekend repeats the Mashantucket Pequot program at 2 p.m. \nAll four tours depart from City Pier in downtown New London\, not from the other Hop On\, Hop Off landings. \nAnd because they’re free and first-come\, first-served\, arriving early makes sense. \nDeparture: Sunday at 2 p.m. from City Pier \n3. Saturday Night Goes From History to 300 Drones\nSaturday’s third special cruise is completely different. \nAfter the daytime festival winds down and the sun disappears\, Thames River Heritage Park heads back onto the water for its Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival Drone Show Cruise. \nThe evening begins with a trip down the Thames River. \nWeather and marine traffic permitting\, the boat will continue beyond New London Harbor toward New London Ledge Light\, the distinctive lighthouse sitting near the mouth of the Thames. \nThen it turns around. \nThe boat returns to position itself for a front-row view of the festival’s 300-drone light show over the New London waterfront. \nInstead of watching from the shore\, passengers watch from the water beneath the display. \nNew London Ledge Light Is Worth the Trip by Itself\nEven before the drones appear\, the cruise has an unusual destination. \nNew London Ledge Light stands at the entrance to the Thames River\, where New London Harbor opens toward Long Island Sound. \nCompleted in 1909\, it doesn’t resemble the stereotypical round New England lighthouse. \nInstead\, the three-story brick building looks almost like a substantial waterfront home that somebody inexplicably placed in the middle of the water and then put a lantern on top. \nLocal tradition has also supplied the lighthouse with its own ghost. \nFor decades\, stories have circulated about “Ernie\,” the supposed spirit of an early keeper said to haunt the lighthouse. \nThe legend has become part of Ledge Light’s identity\, although the more elaborate details attached to Ernie are folklore rather than established history. \nFrom the Drone Show Cruise\, passengers get a nighttime maritime trip toward one of the region’s most recognizable navigational landmarks before returning to the festival. \nThen 300 Drones Take Over the Sky\nThe show waiting back in New London Harbor is part of the America’s Navy 250 Celebration. \nThree hundred illuminated drones will fly coordinated patterns over the waterfront\, synchronized with music. \nThe planned display celebrates 250 years of the United States Navy\, using the drones to form patriotic imagery and naval symbols above the harbor. \nIt’s a striking place to do it. \nNew London’s relationship with the Navy stretches back to the Revolutionary era\, while the Groton side of the Thames became one of the most important submarine-building and submarine-operating centers in the world. \nFrom the cruise boat\, passengers will be watching a 21st-century aerial light show about American naval history while floating in the middle of a river where much of that history actually happened. \nOne Timing Detail Is Worth Watching\nThames River Heritage Park currently has two slightly different departure times published for the Drone Show Cruise. \nThe dedicated festival-weekend schedule lists departure at 7:55 p.m. \nA more recent Heritage Park event announcement lists 7:45 p.m. \nBecause this is a ticketed trip and the difference could result in someone literally missing the boat\, passengers should use the departure time shown on their ticket confirmation and verify it with Thames River Heritage Park before Saturday. \nThe Heritage Park also notes that only a small number of seats remained when it published its latest festival information. \nPassengers may bring snacks and drinks aboard\, but glass is prohibited\, and there is no restroom on the boat. \nThe trip to Ledge Light is also conditional on weather and boat traffic. \nThese Aren’t ADA-Accessible Tour Boats\nThere’s another important practical consideration for all three experiences. \nThe Heritage Park’s refurbished Navy boats are not ADA compliant. \nPassengers must be capable of walking up and down four stairs and boarding the vessel independently with only minimal courtesy assistance from the crew. \nThey must also be capable of disembarking without assistance if an emergency requires it. \nThe boats do not have restrooms. \nThe Heritage Park encourages passengers who require assistance to travel with a companion\, but the captain ultimately determines whether a passenger can safely board. \nThat’s particularly important information for anyone considering the cruises as an easy alternative to walking around the festival. \nFor some visitors\, they may not be. \nThe Free Harbor Cruise Can Change How You Do the Festival\nFor visitors who can board safely\, the free Hop On\, Hop Off service creates an interesting possibility. \nDon’t think of the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival as one event site. \nThink of the Thames as its main street. \nStart at Fort Trumbull. \nBoard an old Navy liberty boat. \nCross to Groton. \nCome back to City Pier. \nExplore downtown New London. \nOn Sunday\, trade the transportation ride for a narrated mini-tour and learn the stories of Black residents or the Mashantucket Pequot people who shaped the region. \nAnd Saturday night\, those with Drone Show Cruise tickets can return to the river after dark\, head toward Ledge Light and finish beneath 300 points of light moving across the sky. \nFor most of the year\, the Thames separates New London from Groton. \nFor Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival weekend\, Thames River Heritage Park turns it into the thing connecting everything together. \nDetails\nEvent: Three Special Thames River Cruises at the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival\nPresented By: Thames River Heritage Park\nFestival: Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival\nDates: Saturday\, September 12 and Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nLocation: Thames River\, New London and Groton \nHop On\, Hop Off Harbor Cruise\nDates: Saturday and Sunday\nTime: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.\nAdmission: Free during festival weekend\nBoarding: First-come\, first-served\nSchedule: Continuous loop with no fixed departure or arrival times during the festival\nStops: Fort Trumbull State Park\, City Pier and Thames River Landing in Groton \nFree Historic Boat Tours\nDate: Sunday\, September 13\nLength: Approximately 45 minutes each\nAdmission: Free\nBoarding: First-come\, first-served\nDeparture Location: City Pier\, New London\n11 a.m.: Black Heritage Along the Thames: The Half That’s Never Been Told\nNoon: The Mashantucket Pequot’s Story\n1 p.m.: Black Heritage Along the Thames: The Half That’s Never Been Told\n2 p.m.: The Mashantucket Pequot’s Story \nDrone Show Cruise\nDate: Saturday\, September 12\nDeparture: Heritage Park currently publishes both 7:45 and 7:55 p.m.; passengers should follow their ticket confirmation and verify the departure time before arriving\nRoute: Down the Thames River and\, weather and boat traffic permitting\, out to New London Ledge Light before returning for the drone show\nDrone Show: 300-drone display synchronized to music as part of America’s Navy 250 Celebration\nTickets: Advance ticket purchase required; Heritage Park reports limited availability\nFood and Drink: Snacks and drinks may be brought aboard; no glass\nRestrooms: None aboard \nAccessibility: Heritage Park’s former Navy utility boats are not ADA compliant. Passengers must be able to negotiate four stairs and independently board and disembark with minimal courtesy assistance.\nBoat Operations: 860-407-5655\nWeather: Boat operations and the Ledge Light portion of the evening cruise are weather-dependent; check with Thames River Heritage Park for current operating information. \nMore information is available at the Event Website 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.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/three-special-thames-river-cruises/2026-09-13/
LOCATION:RI
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T180000
DTSTAMP:20260705T020116Z
CREATED:20260520T023536Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260705T020116Z
UID:10002545-1789293600-1789322400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Tree Trails Adventures Locals Day!
DESCRIPTION:Tree Trails Adventures Locals Day! returns Sundays throughout the summer from June 21 through September 20 at TreeTrails Adventures Mystic\, giving residents from Mystic\, Stonington\, Groton\, and Ledyard discounted access to one of SE Connecticut’s most popular outdoor adventure attractions. The seasonal promotion was created specifically to encourage local families and residents to enjoy the aerial adventure park during the busy summer tourism season while making new summer memories close to home. \nGuests who live in Mystic (06355)\, Stonington (06378)\, Groton (06340)\, or Ledyard (06339) can use promo code BRNeighbor25 to receive $10 off Main Park tickets for up to four people. Valid ID is required for verification. The park’s aerial obstacle courses\, climbing elements\, rope bridges\, and zipline-style experiences have become a major summer attraction in the Mystic area\, offering a mix of outdoor recreation\, physical activity\, and family-friendly adventure surrounded by wooded scenery. \nTree Trails Adventures Locals Day! adds a community-focused layer to the park’s summer programming by reserving space and discounts specifically for nearby residents during one of the busiest times of year along the shoreline. Whether visiting with family\, friends\, or returning for repeat visits throughout the season\, the promotion offers local residents a chance to experience the adventure park at a reduced price while staying active outdoors during the summer months. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/tree-trails-adventures-locals-day/2026-09-13/
LOCATION:TreeTrails Adventures\, 715 Noank Ledyard Road\, Mystic\, CT\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:TreeTrails Adventures
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T180000
DTSTAMP:20260911T013455Z
CREATED:20260907T164234Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260911T013455Z
UID:10007504-1789293600-1789322400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:TreeTrails Adventures Rosh Hashanah Weekend Celebration
DESCRIPTION:TreeTrails Adventures Rosh Hashanah Weekend Celebration offers three days of climbing\, ziplining\, grilling\, and time with family and friends in Mystic from Friday\, September 11 through Sunday\, September 13. The special weekend coincides with the beginning of Rosh Hashanah and the Hebrew calendar year\, giving families an unconventional outdoor option for spending part of the holiday together. \nTreeTrails is setting aside space for families and groups to gather and grill between adventures in the trees. Groups of 10 or more can also receive special rates by booking in advance. \nThe celebration begins Friday at 4 p.m. and continues until 10 p.m. Saturday’s hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.\, followed by a final day Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. \nCelebrate the Jewish New Year Outdoors\nRosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Friday\, September 11\, 2026\, and continues through nightfall on Sunday\, September 13\, putting the TreeTrails weekend directly alongside this year’s holiday. \nRosh Hashanah means “head of the year” in Hebrew and marks the beginning of the Jewish calendar year. It opens the High Holy Days\, a period that culminates with Yom Kippur. \nTraditional observances include synagogue services and the sounding of the shofar\, along with festive meals shared with family and friends. Apples dipped in honey are among the holiday’s most familiar traditions\, symbolizing hopes for a sweet year ahead. \nTreeTrails isn’t presenting the weekend as a religious service or organized observance. Instead\, the park is offering its outdoor space as a place where families and friends can gather during the holiday weekend\, bring food\, grill and spend time together while taking advantage of the park’s regular aerial adventures. \nClimb and Zip Through the Mystic Woods\nTreeTrails Adventures Mystic is an aerial adventure park spread across roughly nine wooded acres a few minutes from downtown Mystic. \nIts Main Park is designed for climbers ages 7 through adult\, with five aerial trails that increase in difficulty from beginner through expert. \nThe courses combine approximately 70 challenges constructed from wood\, rope and cable\, including suspended bridges\, ladders\, balancing obstacles and other elements connecting platforms throughout the woods. \nThen there are the zip lines. Eighteen of them are incorporated into the Main Park trails. \nThe easiest courses remain roughly 12 feet above the ground\, while the most challenging sections can take climbers as high as 55 feet into the trees. Trails are color-coded by difficulty\, beginning with Yellow courses and progressing through Green\, Blue and Black. \nFirst-time visitors don’t simply get clipped into a harness and sent 50 feet into the air. Every participant receives equipment and safety instruction followed by time on a practice course. First-time guests begin on a Yellow or Green trail before moving on to more difficult challenges. \nThe experience is largely self-guided after that. Climbers can choose trails based on their comfort and ability rather than following everyone through one predetermined course. \nKidTrails Gives Younger Children Their Own Adventure\nChildren don’t have to wait until they’re big enough for the Main Park. \nKidTrails is a separate aerial adventure area designed specifically for ages 4 to 7. Instead of simply putting small children onto adult-sized obstacles\, TreeTrails scales the experience down for younger climbers. \nIts two trails contain 24 challenges\, including bridges and other aerial obstacles similar in concept to those found in the Main Park. They’re positioned only a few feet above the ground\, allowing a parent or guardian to walk alongside while the child navigates the course. \nAdult supervision is required in KidTrails\, with one adult permitted to supervise up to two children. \nThat separation gives families with children of different ages options during the Rosh Hashanah weekend rather than limiting the climbing experience to older kids and adults. \nSeptember Nights Bring Glow in the Park\nFriday and Saturday have another wrinkle once daylight begins disappearing. \nTreeTrails continues its Glow in the Park nighttime climbing program on Thursdays\, Fridays and Saturdays throughout September. \nAs darkness settles into the woods\, colorful lights illuminate the aerial park while music plays below. Climbers receive glow accessories to wear as they move through the courses\, turning the same bridges\, obstacles and zip lines into a different experience after sunset. \nBoth the Main Park and KidTrails participate in Glow in the Park\, so the nighttime experience isn’t limited to older climbers. \nAdvance reservations are particularly worthwhile for nighttime climbs because Glow in the Park is one of TreeTrails’ more popular programs. Glow tickets for the Main Park start at $66 when purchased in advance. \nThe most difficult trails begin closing 45 minutes before the park itself closes\, allowing climbers already in the trees enough time to finish their courses. \nBring Food\, Grill and Gather Between Climbs\nThe Rosh Hashanah weekend puts additional emphasis on gathering rather than simply arriving\, climbing and heading home. \nTreeTrails says it has ample space available for families and friends to grill and spend time together at the park. Guests can bring their own food\, making it possible to turn a climbing reservation into a longer family outing or holiday get-together. \nSnacks and nonalcoholic drinks are also available for purchase at the park. \nOutside alcoholic beverages aren’t permitted. \nFamilies planning a larger Rosh Hashanah gathering have another option. TreeTrails offers special pricing for groups of 10 or more\, although those arrangements should be made with the group sales team in advance rather than waiting until arrival. \nWhat to Know Before You Climb\nTreeTrails recommends making reservations in advance\, particularly for popular nighttime sessions. Walk-ins are accepted when space is available\, but same-day admission costs more and visitors may have to wait for an available climbing time. \nClimbers should arrive about 15 minutes before their reservation to check in and prepare for the adventure. TreeTrails suggests allowing roughly three hours for the overall visit\, including check-in\, harnessing\, the safety briefing and approximately two hours of climbing. \nClosed-toe\, fully enclosed shoes are required. Sneakers or hiking shoes are good choices; sandals\, flip-flops and Crocs aren’t permitted on the courses. Long hair must be tied back\, and loose clothing or objects that could become caught in ropes or cables should be secured. \nMain Park climbers must weigh more than 45 pounds and less than 265 pounds and meet a minimum reach requirement of 65 inches. Age restrictions also apply to some of the more difficult trails. \nWeather can affect operations. TreeTrails may evacuate the aerial courses during unsafe conditions such as lightning or high winds. When weather forces the park to stop climbing\, guests may be offered a rain check or an opportunity to reschedule. \nA Different Kind of Rosh Hashanah Gathering\nThe weekend isn’t intended to replace the religious traditions of Rosh Hashanah. There’s no announced worship service\, shofar ceremony or formal holiday program at TreeTrails. \nWhat the park is providing is the setting. \nFamilies can bring food\, gather around a grill\, spend an afternoon together and\, for those who want the adventure\, climb into the canopy and zip between the trees. \nWith the celebration running throughout all three days of Rosh Hashanah weekend\, families can choose the part of the holiday that fits their own plans rather than attending at a single scheduled time. \nDetails\nEvent: TreeTrails Adventures Rosh Hashanah Weekend Celebration\nDates: Friday\, September 11–Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nFriday Hours: 4–10 p.m.\nSaturday Hours: 10 a.m.–10 p.m.\nSunday Hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.\nLocation: TreeTrails Adventures Mystic\nAddress: 715 Noank Ledyard Road\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nMain Park: Ages 7 through adult\nKidTrails: Ages 4–7\nMain Park Advance Admission: $69\nKidTrails Advance Admission: $23\nGlow in the Park: Available Friday and Saturday nights; Main Park advance tickets start at $66\nGroup Rates: Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more; advance arrangements are required\nFood: Guests may bring their own food; snacks and drinks are available for purchase\nGrilling: Space is available for grilling and family gatherings\nAlcohol: Outside alcoholic beverages are prohibited\nReservations: Advance reservations are strongly recommended; walk-ins are accepted subject to availability at higher same-day prices\nClimbing Time: Approximately two hours; TreeTrails recommends allowing about three hours for the complete experience\nArrival: Approximately 15 minutes before the reserved climbing time\nFootwear: Fully enclosed\, closed-toe shoes required; Crocs\, sandals and flip-flops are not permitted\nMain Park Weight Requirement: More than 45 pounds and less than 265 pounds\nWeather: Courses may close during lightning\, high winds or other unsafe conditions\nGroup Reservations: 570-534-7515\nGeneral Information: 860-980-3874 \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/treetrails-adventures-rosh-hashanah-weekend-celebration/2026-09-13/
LOCATION:RI
CATEGORIES:TreeTrails Adventures
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/TreeTrails-Adventures-Rosh-Hashanah-Weekend-Celebration.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T120000
DTSTAMP:20260911T020412Z
CREATED:20260907T154955Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260911T020412Z
UID:10007499-1789295400-1789300800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Donuts & Design at the Mystic Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION:Donuts & Design brings artmaking\, donuts\, coffee\, and a little end-of-summer fun to the museum’s riverfront patio on Sunday\, September 13. The 90-minute family program runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon and is designed for both families already familiar with the museum and newcomers looking for an easy way to introduce children to art. \nThe morning combines hands-on creative activities with time to explore the museum. Families can make art together\, use bubbles and chalk\, enjoy donuts and coffee\, and visit Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways\, Mystic Museum of Art’s summer exhibition exploring Connecticut’s long relationship with textiles\, craftsmanship\, and fashion. \nThe event takes place at Mystic Museum of Art at 9 Water Street in downtown Mystic. Rather than setting up a formal children’s class where adults watch from the sidelines\, Donuts & Design is being presented as a family morning\, with creative activities meant to be shared by children and the adults who bring them. \nAdmission is priced per family rather than per person: $25 for Mystic Museum of Art member families and $35 for nonmember families. Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. \nDonuts\, Coffee and Artmaking by the Mystic River\nThe morning starts with two things that should make getting the family out of the house on a Sunday a little easier: donuts and coffee. \nDonuts for the event come from Deviant Donuts\, the Mystic shop known for elaborate small-batch creations and frequently changing specialty flavors. Deviant began in 2017 as a pop-up inside its sister business\, Vault Coffee\, before developing into its own shop at Olde Mistick Village. The bakery makes its fillings\, glazes and garnishes by hand and has built its menu around rotating flavors rather than a fixed lineup of conventional donuts. \nCoffee comes from Wakin’ Up Waggin’\, a Pawcatuck-based mobile coffee and kombucha business founded by Tim and Erika Lebling. The mobile operation serves organic nitro coffee\, kombucha and other nonalcoholic drinks and has become a familiar sight at southeastern Connecticut events\, including the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival. \nOnce everyone is sufficiently caffeinated and sugared\, the art begins. \nMystic Museum of Art staff and educators will lead creative activities\, while families will also have access to bubbles\, chalk and opportunities to spend time together on the museum grounds. The museum specifically welcomes its summer camp families and workshop participants back for the morning but has made clear that newcomers are invited as well. \nA Family Introduction to Mystic Museum of Art\nDonuts & Design also offers families who haven’t visited Mystic Museum of Art an informal introduction to what happens there beyond its gallery exhibitions. \nArt education is a significant part of the museum’s work. Its programming ranges from classes and camps to family programs\, school visits and hands-on studio experiences for children\, teens and adults. The museum describes its broader mission as fostering the creation\, understanding\, appreciation and enjoyment of art\, with education programs intended to encourage creativity\, observation and critical thinking. \nThat makes Donuts & Design somewhat different from simply taking children through an art museum. \nKids get something to do with their hands. Parents and caregivers can participate rather than spending the morning reminding everyone not to touch anything. And the museum’s location along the Mystic River gives families room to move between art\, food and outdoor activities during the 90-minute program. \nExplore Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways\nFamilies can also explore Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways\, the museum’s major summer exhibition\, which remains on view through October 11. \nThe exhibition looks at Connecticut’s textile history from the precolonial period through contemporary fashion\, with particular attention paid to southeastern Connecticut’s once-important velvet industry. \nHistoric and contemporary beadwork\, embroidery\, quilts\, velvet and fashion are used to tell stories about the people behind the objects\, including labor\, immigration\, cultural identity and the changing meaning of luxury. \nThe exhibition was developed with Historic Stonington\, Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center\, Mystic Seaport Museum and the Connecticut Region of Studio Art Quilt Associates. It also brings the story into the present through work by contemporary fashion designers with Connecticut connections\, including Christian Siriano\, Peter Som\, Xarea Lockhart and Toriana Sauro. \nFor families attending Donuts & Design\, that creates a natural bridge between making something themselves and then seeing how materials\, design and craft are used by working artists and designers. \nMore Than a Century of Art in Mystic\nMystic Museum of Art’s roots stretch back well before the current museum took its name. \nThe institution grew from the Mystic Art Colony and Mystic Art Association\, founded in 1913 by artists who had been drawn to Mystic and the surrounding shoreline. The organization later operated as the Mystic Arts Center before adopting the Mystic Museum of Art name in 2016. \nToday\, the museum occupies a riverfront location just west of the Mystic River Bascule Bridge\, a short walk from the center of downtown Mystic. Along with exhibitions\, its calendar includes studio classes\, children’s programming\, workshops\, gallery talks and community events. \nDonuts & Design fits neatly into that community side of the museum: less of a formal museum visit\, more of a Sunday morning where a child can draw\, make something\, wander through a gallery and leave with a little evidence of the morning on their hands. \nDonuts & Design Details\nEvent: Donuts & Design: A Family Morning at Mystic Museum of Art\nDate: Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nTime: 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.\nLocation: Mystic Museum of Art\nAddress: 9 Water Street\, Mystic\, CT 06355\nAdmission: $25 per member family; $35 per nonmember family\nRegistration: Advance registration is recommended; space is limited\nFood & Drink: Donuts from Deviant Donuts and coffee from Wakin’ Up Waggin’\nActivities: Family artmaking\, creative activities\, coloring\, bubbles\, chalk and more\nAlso Included: Access to Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways\nWho Can Attend: Families\, including newcomers as well as museum members\, previous workshop participants and summer camp families\nEvent Contact: Mystic Museum of Art\, 860-536-7601 \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \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/donuts-design/
LOCATION:Mystic Museum of Art\, 9 Water Street\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Museum of Art
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Donuts-Design.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T180000
DTSTAMP:20260903T140908Z
CREATED:20260903T140908Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T140908Z
UID:10007443-1789295400-1789322400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Connecticut Renaissance Faire 2026 Guide
DESCRIPTION:Connecticut Renaissance Faire 2026 transforms the Lebanon Country Fairgrounds into a sprawling 16th-century fantasy village for nine weekends of jousting\, comedy\, live music\, costumed characters\, artisan shopping\, food\, games and themed adventures. \nThe Faire runs from August 29 through October 25 at 122 Mack Road in Lebanon\, with regular hours from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. It also opens on holiday Mondays\, including Labor Day and Columbus Day. \nFor 2026\, the Faire is advertising more than 40 shows each day across 13 stages\, along with dozens of games and activities and more than 200 artisans\, food vendors and other merchants. \nAnd this isn’t an event where you simply watch from the sidelines. \nWalk through the gates and you enter a village populated by kings\, queens\, knights\, fairies\, musicians\, rogues and other characters who interact with visitors throughout the day. You can watch armored combat\, cheer at the joust\, throw an axe\, shop for a handmade sword or drinking horn\, take the kids on human-powered rides\, eat a turkey leg and end up in a conversation with a member of the royal court on the way to your next show. \nHere’s how to plan a day at the 2026 Connecticut Renaissance Faire. \nWhen Is the Connecticut Renaissance Faire?\nThe 2026 season runs from August 29 through October 25. \nThe Faire is generally open Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.\, with special openings on Labor Day and Columbus Day. \nThe season is divided into themed weekends\, so the experience changes as fall progresses. Themes for 2026 include Dragons & Dungeons\, Roses & Romance\, Shirefolk\, Faerie Ring Revels\, Pirates & Vikings\, Time Travelers\, All Hallows and the new Merry Macabre weekend. \nLabor Day weekend\, September 5–7\, is Dragons & Dungeons\, a fantasy-focused weekend built around quests\, heroes and legendary characters. \nCostumes aren’t required to attend. Some visitors arrive in everyday clothes\, while others treat the themed weekends as an opportunity to build elaborate Renaissance\, fantasy\, pirate\, Viking or other character costumes. \nHow Much Are Connecticut Renaissance Faire Tickets?\nGeneral admission for the 2026 season is $18 for adults and $10 for youth\, while children in the Faire’s child admission category enter free. \nAdmission covers the Faire itself and its regular stage performances. Certain games\, rides\, food\, drinks and premium experiences cost extra. \nOne useful change from the way some fairs and festivals operate is that there are no food tickets. Food and beverages are purchased directly from individual merchants. \nSame-day re-entry is also permitted with a handstamp\, so leaving the grounds doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your Faire day. \nStart With the Shows\nTrying to see everything at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire in one day is probably the wrong approach. \nThere are simply too many performances. \nThe 2026 Faire uses 13 stages and advertises more than 40 shows daily. Entertainment ranges from music and comedy to acrobatics\, combat demonstrations\, theatrical performances and interactive shows. \nOne of the biggest spectacles is the armored combat demonstration from the Knights of Gore. These aren’t performers simply swinging lightweight theatrical weapons around one another. The demonstrations feature fighters in plate armor engaging in full-contact medieval-style combat. \nThe Knights of Gore also present educational demonstrations throughout the day covering subjects such as medieval helmets\, the roles of knights and squires and siege weapons including the trebuchet. \nThe Joust Remains a Centerpiece\nIt’s difficult to imagine a Renaissance faire without knights charging toward one another on horseback. \nJousting remains one of the major attractions in Lebanon. \nThe 2026 season includes jousting from Roundtable Productions and Equus Nobilis\, both listed among the Faire’s new entertainment additions this year. \nThe joust combines horsemanship\, theatrical storytelling and medieval-style competition on a scale that’s difficult to replicate on one of the smaller stages. \nIf seeing a joust is high on your list\, check the schedule when you arrive and build the rest of the day around it rather than assuming you’ll simply stumble across the right performance. \nThere Is Plenty of Comedy\nNot everything involves swords and armor. \nComedy is scattered throughout the Faire\, sometimes on a stage and sometimes walking directly toward you in the lanes. \nThe Norfolk Theatricals specialize in interactive theatrical comedy\, presenting deliberately chaotic original plays with audience members sometimes pulled into the performance. \nBone Dallaire roams the grounds as a self-important thespian and playwright whose opinion of his own talent may exceed everyone else’s. \nThe Faire’s cast of Crown Players adds another layer of continuous theater. Instead of performing only at scheduled times\, characters inhabit the village and interact with guests throughout the day. \nThat distinction is important for first-time visitors. \nThe Connecticut Renaissance Faire isn’t simply a collection of scheduled shows surrounded by food booths. The space between the stages is part of the performance. \nMusic Runs From Celtic Traditions to Sea Chanteys\nLive music is another major part of the day. \nThe 2026 roster includes performers working with Celtic music\, traditional folk\, sea chanteys and other styles that fit naturally into the Faire setting. \nJesse Ofgang and the Diaspora\, new for 2026\, combine Scottish and Irish musical traditions with contemporary rhythms using instruments including bagpipes\, whistles and guitars. \nNemeton: Folk Fantasy Music and Dance brings an especially unusual collection of instruments to the Faire\, including bagpipes\, drums\, double flutes\, penny whistles\, English concertina\, medieval small pipes\, rauschpfeife and hurdy-gurdy. \nNew England’s Misfits of Avalon draw from Celtic music with hammered dulcimer\, mandolin\, guitar and violin. \nOther weekends bring different musicians\, including the maritime and Celtic sounds of the Crimson Pirates and southeastern Connecticut’s Bards of Gungywamp. \nBecause performers vary by themed weekend\, it’s worth checking the schedule for the specific date you’re attending. \nSome of the Best Entertainment Is Strange\nRenaissance faires have always left room for acts that don’t fit neatly into a category. \nThat’s part of the fun. \nFor 2026\, Fly by Night joins the Connecticut Faire with a combination of comedy\, juggling\, whip cracking and sideshow skills. The duo of Steve King and Ryan Roberts has been performing since 1990 and appeared as semifinalists on the fourth season of America’s Got Talent. \nCircus Stella puts rescued dogs into a circus environment alongside Dextre Tripp\, mixing canine tricks with juggling\, ladder balancing\, rope walking and unicycling. \nElsewhere\, visitors can encounter puppetry\, dance\, storytelling\, magic and roaming performers without necessarily planning to see them. \nLeave some empty space in the schedule. \nAt a Renaissance faire\, getting distracted is part of the itinerary. \nGames and Rides Go Beyond the Stages\nThere’s plenty to do when you want to participate rather than watch. \nThe Faire’s games and activities include old-fashioned and Renaissance-inspired challenges\, physical games and human-powered attractions. \nSome activities carry an additional fee. \nYou’ll find opportunities to test skill and strength\, explore the Royal Maze and take part in attractions spread throughout the village. \nFor families with younger children\, this can provide a useful break between longer stage performances. \nFor adults\, it can become surprisingly competitive. \nEat the Turkey Leg\, But Don’t Stop There\nYes\, there are giant turkey legs. \nThe Faire’s Turkey Legs and More stand serves the oversized roasted festival staple along with turkey sundaes\, mac and cheese\, smoked chicken\, lemonade and fried dough. \nBut the food selection has grown far beyond the Renaissance-faire stereotype. \nThe 2026 Faire lists 37 food merchants and seven pubs and taverns\, with meals\, desserts\, snacks and beverages distributed throughout the grounds. \nThere are burgers and hot dogs\, chicken sandwiches\, baked goods\, fried seafood\, sweets and a broad assortment of festival food. \nThe Faire also identifies vendors offering vegetarian\, vegan\, gluten-free and dairy-free choices. \nEvery food merchant is required to offer at least one item priced at $7\, an attempt to keep at least one lower-priced choice available at each location. \nOutside snacks and nonalcoholic drinks are also permitted. \nYou Can Walk the Faire With a Drink\nThere are no isolated beer tents requiring guests to remain inside a designated drinking area. \nAdults can purchase alcoholic beverages from the Faire’s pubs and taverns and carry their drinks while exploring the grounds. \nValid identification is required for alcohol purchases. \nThat also makes the taverns part of the atmosphere rather than simply concession stands. \nFor visitors looking for something more structured\, the Faire offers two separate 21-and-over experiences. \nThe Pub Crawl Is a 90-Minute Quest\nThe Connecticut Renaissance Faire Pub Crawl isn’t simply four drink tickets stapled together. \nThe approximately 90-minute experience is hosted by Fae Frostwhiperer and takes a group of no more than 15 participants through four Faire taverns. \nThere are four alcoholic drinks along the way\, but participants also complete challenges\, play games\, sing\, chant and interact with their guide. \nOne stop at Shattered Shield includes Liar’s Dice\, a vegetable platter and an exclusive small-batch mead that isn’t sold from the tavern’s regular menu. \nAnother stop includes a Test of Strength at King’s Inn Crossing. \nPub Crawls depart twice each Faire day\, at 11 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. \nThe price is $75\, plus a processing fee when purchased online. Tickets can also be purchased at Shattered Shield without the online processing fee\, although each crawl is limited to 15 participants and can sell out. \nParticipants must be 21 or older with valid identification. \nRegular Faire admission is not included with the Pub Crawl. \nWhiskey Tastings Offer a Quieter Break\nFor adults who prefer sipping to crawling\, guided whiskey tastings offer a considerably calmer experience. \nThe approximately one-hour sessions explore a curated selection of whiskies\, with hosts discussing origins\, production methods\, flavor profiles and techniques for nosing and tasting. \nCharcuterie is served alongside the pours. \nThe experience is designed for both beginners and experienced whiskey drinkers\, and advance reservations are strongly recommended because seating is intentionally limited. \nParticipants must be 21 or older and bring valid government-issued photo identification. \nLike the Pub Crawl\, a whiskey tasting is an additional experience. Regular Connecticut Renaissance Faire admission must be purchased separately. \nShopping Is a Major Part of the Faire\nDon’t treat the merchant area as an afterthought. \nThe Faire says the 2026 season includes 213 artisans\, games and food vendors\, with 32 new shops joining the grounds this year. \nThe marketplace is where the fantasy world starts becoming something you can take home. \nDepending on the merchant\, visitors can find clothing\, leatherwork\, jewelry\, drinking vessels\, artwork\, fantasy accessories\, home décor and handcrafted goods. \nSome merchants make items that are specifically useful for people building Renaissance or fantasy costumes\, while others sell pieces that work perfectly well outside the Faire. \nFor someone arriving without a costume\, the marketplace also provides an easy way to gradually become more appropriately dressed as the day progresses. \nYou may enter in jeans. \nThere is no guarantee you will leave without a cloak. \n2026 Is a Significant Expansion Year\nThe Faire has added a substantial amount of new material for 2026. \nIts official count includes 11 new shows\, 32 new shops and seven new food offerings. \nAmong the new entertainment are the two jousting productions\, Fly by Night and Jesse Ofgang and the Diaspora. \nThe Faire is also introducing Merry Macabre\, a new themed weekend for October 24–25 that takes the season into darker territory just before Halloween. \nThat expansion matters even to people who have attended in previous years. \nThe basic formula remains recognizable\, but the Faire is deliberately designed so returning on another weekend doesn’t simply reproduce the same day. \nBringing Kids to the Connecticut Renaissance Faire\nChildren don’t have to understand Renaissance history to find things to do here. \nThere are family-oriented performances\, interactive games\, rides and characters throughout the village. \nOne particularly memorable experience is the Knighting Ceremony with the King and Queen\, where children can present themselves before King Basil and Queen Gwendolyn Genevieve and receive royal recognition before the parade. \nThere are also quests and interactive encounters with the Knights of Gore. \nThe Faire’s combination of structured shows and wandering characters means children can become involved in the fantasy rather than spending the entire day watching adults perform. \nYes\, You Can Bring Your Pet\nThe Connecticut Renaissance Faire has an unusually broad pet policy. \nWell-behaved dogs\, cats\, rabbits\, ferrets\, rats and lizards are permitted. \nPet admission is $5 per animal\, while service animals enter free. \nDogs and cats must have proof of current rabies vaccination. A veterinarian’s letter\, email or current rabies tag can serve as proof. \nPets must remain on a non-retractable leash no longer than six feet and owners are responsible for cleaning up after them. \nLivestock\, horses\, donkeys\, mules and other large animals aren’t permitted. \nThe Faire advises owners to bring food and water for their animals. Water bowls may be available from merchants\, but pet food isn’t sold on the grounds. \nPets are also permitted on the parking shuttles. \nParking Has Changed for 2026\nThis is one section worth reading before leaving home. \nThe Faire has a new parking system for 2026. \nVisitors who want to park directly at the Faire grounds at 122 Mack Road can purchase Premium Parking for $10 per vehicle. \nThere are only 525 Premium Parking spaces available each Faire day\, and they must be purchased online in advance for the specific date you’re attending. \nYou cannot purchase Premium Parking when you arrive at the lot. \nVIP admission includes Premium Parking. \nThere are also 125 free ADA parking spaces at the main Faire site for vehicles displaying a valid handicapped placard or plate. These spaces can’t be reserved and are available on a first-available basis. \nMotorcycles can park at the main site for free. \nFree Parking and Shuttles Are Available\nYou don’t have to pay to park. \nThe Faire operates free satellite parking with continuous shuttle service beginning at 9:30 a.m. \nOne free lot is located at 744 Trumbull Highway in Lebanon. \nAdditional parking is available at Lebanon Middle School\, 891 Exeter Road\, and Lyman Memorial High School\, 917 Exeter Road. \nThere is one important wrinkle with the school lots: the shuttles do not pick up directly at the schools. \nGuests parking at either school walk to the Mobil station located between the two schools\, which serves as the shuttle pickup and drop-off point. \nThe last shuttle leaves the Faire 30 minutes after closing. \nAnd don’t blindly follow your GPS. \nThe Faire specifically warns visitors not to use Barker Road\, which police close to through traffic on Faire weekends. \nWhere to Stay\nFor visitors coming from farther away\, the Faire maintains a list of nearby lodging options rather than operating an on-site campground. \nBecause the event runs for nine weekends\, staying overnight can also make sense for visitors who want to attend both Saturday and Sunday without making the drive twice. \nCheck lodging availability early for popular themed weekends\, particularly as the season moves toward October and foliage season in eastern Connecticut. \nWhat First-Time Visitors Should Know\nThe easiest mistake is approaching the Connecticut Renaissance Faire like an attraction where everything follows one obvious route. \nIt doesn’t. \nThere are performances happening simultaneously\, characters wandering the lanes\, merchants to explore\, food to try and activities that can consume far more time than expected. \nCheck the day’s performance schedule first and choose the handful of shows you really don’t want to miss. \nThen allow the rest of the day to happen around them. \nYou might stop for lunch and encounter a roaming performer. \nYou might head toward a stage and spend 30 minutes shopping instead. \nYou might intend to watch one song and stay for an entire set. \nThat’s not poor planning. \nThat’s pretty much how a Renaissance faire is supposed to work. \nConnecticut Renaissance Faire 2026 Details\nEvent: Connecticut Renaissance Faire\nSeason: August 29–October 25\, 2026\nRegular Days: Saturdays and Sundays\, plus Labor Day and Columbus Day\nHours: 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m.\nLocation: Lebanon Country Fairgrounds\nAddress: 122 Mack Road\, Lebanon\, CT 06249\nAdult General Admission: $18\nYouth Admission: $10\nChild Admission: Free\nEntertainment: More than 40 shows daily across 13 stages\nMarketplace: More than 200 artisans\, food vendors\, games and other merchants\nFood: 37 food merchants and seven pubs and taverns\nPremium On-Site Parking: $10\, advance date-specific purchase required\nFree Parking: Satellite lots with shuttle service\nPet Admission: $5; service animals free\nSame-Day Re-Entry: Permitted with handstamp\nOutside Food: Snacks and nonalcoholic drinks permitted \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \n  \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/connecticut-renaissance-faire-2026-guide/2026-09-13/
LOCATION:Lebanon Fair Grounds\, 122 Mack Road\, Lebanon\, 06249\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lebanon Fairgrounds
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Connecticut-Renaissance-Faire-2026-Guide.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T150000
DTSTAMP:20260907T032941Z
CREATED:20260907T032813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260907T032941Z
UID:10007493-1789297200-1789311600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Misquamicut Ocean Bar Pig Roast
DESCRIPTION:Misquamicut Ocean Bar Pig Roast brings an all-you-can-eat Sunday afternoon cookout to the beach at Sandy Shore Motel on September 13\, with food\, games\, prizes\, and music from DJ Mike Land. \nThe party runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 149 Atlantic Avenue in Westerly\, with admission priced at $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and younger. Participants in the weekend’s Surftown Half Marathon\, along with Sandy Shore Motel guests\, receive $5 off admission. \nThe pig roast takes place at the Misquamicut Ocean Bar\, better known as the M.O.B.\, the beachfront bar and gathering spot at Sandy Shore Motel. \nAn All-You-Can-Eat Sunday Pig Roast\nThe centerpiece of the September 13 party is an all-you-can-eat pig roast\, giving the M.O.B. a decidedly different Sunday menu for the occasion. \nThe event is being billed as more than a meal. Food will be accompanied by games and prizes throughout the afternoon\, with DJ Mike Land handling the music from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. \nThe setup puts the party directly into the beach atmosphere that defines the M.O.B.\, rather than moving the event into a conventional banquet or restaurant space. \nSandy Shore Motel describes its bar as a beachside cocktail lounge with ocean views\, live music and a casual atmosphere. Its location at the edge of Misquamicut Beach means the Atlantic is part of the backdrop. \nDJ Mike Land Provides the Soundtrack\nDJ Mike Land will provide music throughout the four-hour event. \nRather than scheduling a separate evening performance after the meal\, the music runs alongside the pig roast\, games and other activities from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m. \nThat gives the afternoon the feel of an end-of-summer beach party\, with guests free to eat\, grab a drink\, play games or simply stay by the water while the music continues. \nA Beach Bar at the Sandy Shore Motel\nThe M.O.B. operates at Sandy Shore Motel\, an oceanfront property that has been part of the Misquamicut beach strip for 25 years. \nThe motel marked its 25th anniversary in 2026 and sits directly along the shoreline at 149 Atlantic Avenue. In addition to its oceanfront accommodations\, the property has developed its beach bar into a destination of its own. \nMisquamicut Ocean Bar is positioned directly by the beach\, with cocktails\, food and live entertainment forming a major part of its identity during the warmer months. \nThat makes a pig roast a natural fit for the space. Instead of separating the cookout from the beach\, the September event puts the two together. \nSurftown Runners Get a Post-Race Discount\nThe timing also connects the pig roast with one of Westerly’s major September running events. \nThe Surftown Half Marathon takes place in the Misquamicut area the same weekend\, and participants can receive $5 off admission to the pig roast. \nSandy Shore Motel guests receive the same $5 discount. \nFor runners\, that creates a considerably less competitive second half of the day: finish the race\, trade the course for the beach and head for the pig roast. \nThe discount applies to the event’s regular admission price rather than creating a separate ticket package. \nFood\, Games and Prizes by the Beach\nThe event flyer keeps the afternoon deliberately straightforward: food\, fun\, games and prizes. \nThere is no complicated schedule to follow. The party begins at 11 a.m.\, DJ Mike Land plays throughout the event\, and the pig roast continues until 3 p.m. \nAdmission includes the all-you-can-eat portion of the event. \nAdults are $25\, while children age 12 and younger are $15\, making the afternoon open to families as well as adults spending a Sunday at the beach. \nIt also arrives late enough in the season to feel like one of the closing celebrations of summer in Misquamicut\, but while the beach bars and businesses along Atlantic Avenue are still active. \nEvent Details\nEvent: Misquamicut Ocean Bar Pig Roast\nDate: Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nTime: 11 a.m.–3 p.m.\nVenue: Misquamicut Ocean Bar at Sandy Shore Motel\nAddress: 149 Atlantic Avenue\, Westerly\, RI 02891\nFood: All-you-can-eat pig roast\nMusic: DJ Mike Land\nActivities: Games and prizes\nAdults: $25\nChildren 12 and Younger: $15\nDiscount: $5 off for Surftown Half participants and Sandy Shore Motel guests \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/misquamicut-ocean-bar-pig-roast/
LOCATION:Misquamicut Ocean Bar\, 149 Atlantic Ave\, Westerly\, RI\, 02891\, United States
CATEGORIES:Misquamicut Ocean Bar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Misquamicut-Ocean-Bar-Pig-Roast.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T170000
DTSTAMP:20260705T020852Z
CREATED:20260510T162306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260705T020852Z
UID:10000480-1789297200-1789318800@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-3/2026-09-13/
LOCATION:Mystic Seaport\, 75 Greenmanville Ave\, Mystic\, CT\, \,06355-1946\,\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Seaport
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Brickwrecks-Sunked-Ships-in-Lego-Bricks.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T170000
DTSTAMP:20260701T201347Z
CREATED:20260701T201347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260701T201347Z
UID:10006474-1789297200-1789318800@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/2026-09-13/
LOCATION:Mystic Museum of Art\, 9 Water Street\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mystic Museum of Art
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Luxe-CT-Velvet-Mills-to-Modern-Runways-at-Mystic-Museum-of-Art-daily-11am-5pm.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T150000
DTSTAMP:20260712T235944Z
CREATED:20260531T024717Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260712T235944Z
UID:10003094-1789300800-1789311600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Denison Farmers Market
DESCRIPTION:Denison Farmers Market returns for its 22nd season on Sunday\, June 7\, bringing fresh Connecticut-grown products and a vibrant community atmosphere to Mystic. The popular weekly market showcases local farmers\, food producers\, and artisans\, offering residents and visitors an opportunity to shop directly from the people who grow and make the products they bring to market. \nThroughout the season\, shoppers can browse a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables\, along with locally produced foods and specialty items sourced from across Connecticut. The market has become a seasonal tradition for many families\, providing access to high-quality local products while supporting regional agriculture and small businesses. The 2026 season runs every Sunday from June 7 through October 25. \nWhether you’re stocking up on fresh produce\, discovering new local products\, or simply enjoying a Sunday afternoon in Mystic\, the Denison Farmers Market offers something for everyone. It’s an ideal destination for food lovers\, home cooks\, and anyone who appreciates supporting local farms and producers. \nEvent Details \nEvent: Denison Farmers Market 2026 \nDates: Every Sunday\, June 7 – October 25\, 2026 \nTime: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. \nLocation: Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center \nTown: Mystic\, CT \nAdmission: Free \nMarket Highlights \n\nConnecticut-grown fruits and vegetables\nLocal farmers and food producers\nFresh baked goods and specialty foods\nArtisan and handcrafted products\nSeasonal offerings throughout the summer and fall\nFamily-friendly community atmosphere\n\nWhy Attend \n\nShop directly from local farmers and makers\nSupport Connecticut agriculture and small businesses\nFind fresh\, seasonal ingredients\nDiscover unique local foods and artisan goods\nEnjoy a relaxing Sunday morning in Mystic\n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/denison-farmers-market/2026-09-13/
LOCATION:Denison Homestead Musuem\, 120 Pequotsepos Rd\, Mystic\, 06355\, United States
CATEGORIES:Denison Homestead Museum
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Denison-Farmers-Market-Sundays-12-to-3-through-October-25.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T210000
DTSTAMP:20260911T214533Z
CREATED:20260910T022601Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260911T214533Z
UID:10007533-1789300800-1789333200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:South County Folk Festival in Downtown Wakefield (Postponed)
DESCRIPTION:NOTE: The festival has been postponed due to the possibility of lightning on Sunday. It has been rescheduled to next Saturday same time.\n  \nSouth County Folk Festival in Downtown Wakefield makes its debut Sunday\, September 13\, turning Sunset Stage at Birch & Bay into a nine-hour outdoor celebration of folk\, indie folk\, Americana\, and the music being made around Rhode Island right now. \nPresented by Westerly Sound in partnership with Sunset Stage at Birch & Bay\, the first-year festival runs from noon to 9 p.m. Its announced lineup brings together internationally touring musicians and emerging regional artists\, including Brad Barr\, Nic Panken\, Lefty Parker\, Ruby of Thanks\, Lily Rhodes and Breachway. \nThere will also be food\, drinks and vendors throughout the day. The festival is open to all ages; children 12 and younger get in free\, and free parking is available. \nBut the most interesting thing about this new festival may be its definition of “folk.” \nThis isn’t an afternoon devoted exclusively to traditional acoustic music. The musicians gathered in Wakefield stretch the term through indie rock\, alt-country\, experimental folk\, lo-fi recording and contemporary singer-songwriter music. \nAt the center is a musician whose Rhode Island roots reach back decades. \nBrad Barr Comes Home to Rhode Island\nBrad Barr has spent much of his musical career elsewhere\, but his story begins in Providence. \nBarr and his brother Andrew grew up in Rhode Island and became known through The Slip\, the adventurous trio they formed with bassist Marc Friedman. The band developed a following through years of touring and an improvisational approach that resisted easy classification\, moving among rock\, jazz\, folk and experimental music. \nBrad and Andrew eventually relocated to Montreal. \nThere\, an accidental musical connection helped create the next major chapter of their careers. \nBrad Barr heard harpist Sarah Pagé practicing through the wall of his apartment. The musicians met\, began playing together\, and The Barr Brothers eventually emerged around Brad and Andrew Barr with Pagé. \nThe resulting music was difficult to categorize in a different way than The Slip had been. Folk and Americana sat alongside blues\, African and other global influences\, unconventional guitar techniques and Pagé’s harp. \nThe Barr Brothers’ 2014 album Sleeping Operator earned a Juno Award nomination\, while subsequent records and extensive touring established the group internationally. \nBrad Barr has now spent roughly three decades making music professionally\, but Sunday’s appearance brings a Providence-born songwriter back to Rhode Island for a festival explicitly celebrating the state’s folk music community. \nThat makes him an especially appropriate anchor for the first South County Folk Festival. \nNic Panken Arrives With a New Album\nNic Panken brings another branch of contemporary folk music to Wakefield. \nThe songwriter has spent years exploring the intersection of traditional songwriting\, poetry and more experimental arrangements\, and he arrives at the festival behind his new album\, Near Divine or Merely Rhyme. \nPanken’s own schedule lists his South County Folk Festival performance for 7 p.m. Sunday\, providing at least one confirmed individual performance time within the nine-hour festival. \nHis new record includes Into Eternity\, Dear Companion\, Another World and 2 Hearts\, among other songs. \nPanken’s music fits particularly well with what the festival appears to be attempting. It retains the intimacy and storytelling associated with folk while leaving plenty of room for music that doesn’t conform to a traditional singer-with-an-acoustic-guitar formula. \nFor anyone who thinks of a folk festival strictly in terms of old standards and traditional instrumentation\, much of Sunday’s lineup should broaden that definition. \nRuby of Thanks Finds Beauty in Small Things\nOne of the more intriguing artists on the bill is Ruby of Thanks\, the songwriting and home-recording project of Hudson Valley musician Andy Weaver. \nWeaver is a fourth-generation New Yorker whose résumé includes work with Widowspeak\, Castanets\, Wildflower and Andre Ethier. Away from music\, he’s also worked as a house painter\, an ordinary-life background that seems entirely appropriate for songs that frequently find their subject matter in small observations rather than grand declarations. \nHis album In Another World was originally self-released in 2020\, received a limited cassette reissue through Primordial Void in 2024 and was reissued by Woodsist in May 2026. \nThe music occupies a warm\, slightly psychedelic corner of indie folk\, built from acoustic guitars\, gentle percussion and Weaver’s relaxed vocals. \nAnd he’s arriving in Wakefield just days before another record. \nRuby of Thanks’ Before You Turn Into A Dog is scheduled for release September 18\, only five days after the festival. Weaver wrote and produced the 12-song album\, which includes Terror Dogs\, Spicebush Grove\, Shadow\, Dandelion Street\, When I Turn Around and Windowsill. \nThat puts Sunday’s audience in the interesting position of potentially hearing material from an album that isn’t officially out yet. \nBreachway Brings Rhode Island Alt-Country Back Home\nBreachway is Noah Barreto\, a Rhode Island-born songwriter now living in Brooklyn whose music lives somewhere among alt-country\, indie folk and indie rock. \nBarreto has deep roots in the New England independent music community and has collaborated with Rhode Island artists including NOVA ONE as well as organizations including the Newport Festivals Foundation and Westerly Sound. \nThere’s also a direct Newport Folk Festival connection in his musical story. \nGrowing up in Rhode Island\, Barreto attended Newport Folk with his father. Artists he encountered there\, including The Head and the Heart and Hozier\, became part of the inspiration that led him toward writing his own music. \nHis recordings show how far the folk umbrella has expanded. \nPedal steel\, banjo and acoustic guitar can coexist with synthesizers\, indie-rock production and atmospheric arrangements. Barreto has described the project through tags including alt-country\, countrygaze\, indie folk and indie rock. \nHis 2025 collection There’s No Such Thing As Good Ol’ Days explored the difficulty of staying present rather than romanticizing the past. \nHe’s continued releasing new music in 2026\, including Come On Back\, Giving Tree and You\, and is touring extensively this fall. \nBreachway’s appearance also strengthens one of the festival’s central ideas: Rhode Island musicians don’t have to stay in Rhode Island for their work to remain connected to the state’s musical community. \nLily Rhodes Represents Another Side of Rhode Island Songwriting\nLily Rhodes brings the festival closer to home again. \nBased in Warren\, Rhode Island\, Rhodes describes herself as a singer-songwriter\, producer\, writer and multimedia artist. \nHer released music includes Weather the Storm\, Leave Me Blue\, Calling To Say and Rightful Place. \nShe’s been part of Rhode Island’s independent music scene for years. Her performances have included WaterFire Providence and Newport’s NIMFest summer concert series\, where she appeared at King Park in August. \nRhodes’ work sits comfortably within the singer-songwriter tradition while reflecting the increasingly fluid boundaries between folk\, indie music and self-produced recording. \nThat variety matters on a nine-hour bill. \nA festival built entirely around musicians who approach songwriting the same way can become repetitive no matter how talented they are. South County Folk Festival appears to be using “folk” more as a common starting point than a strict musical rule. \nLefty Parker Adds Another Voice to the Bill\nLefty Parker joins Brad Barr\, Nic Panken\, Ruby of Thanks\, Lily Rhodes and Breachway on the festival’s announced lineup. \nCompared with some of Sunday’s other performers\, reliable published biographical material about Parker is relatively limited. Rather than fill that gap with assumptions\, it’s more useful to view the booking in the context of the festival itself. \nThe organizers aren’t presenting South County Folk Festival simply as a collection of established touring acts. They’re explicitly pairing artists with broader touring histories with rising talent connected to South County and the regional scene. \nThat creates a discovery component. \nYou may arrive because you recognize Brad Barr or another artist on the bill and leave having heard someone you didn’t know at noon. \nThat’s one of the things small festivals can still do particularly well. \nA First-Year Festival With a Rhode Island Point of View\nThe phrase “first annual” carries a certain optimism. \nThere isn’t yet a long South County Folk Festival tradition to draw upon. No stories about legendary performances from ten years ago. No established routine about where everyone puts their blankets or which performer traditionally closes the afternoon. \nThis is year one. \nWesterly Sound and Sunset Stage are effectively asking whether there’s room for a new folk-oriented gathering in South County. \nRhode Island already occupies an unusually important place in American folk music because of the Newport Folk Festival\, whose history reaches back to 1959. \nTrying to duplicate Newport would make little sense. \nSouth County Folk Festival instead appears to be working on a deliberately smaller scale\, using a downtown Wakefield venue and a mixture of touring and regional musicians to build something centered on the community around it. \nThe lineup itself tells that story. \nBrad Barr was born in Providence and built an international career. \nBreachway’s Noah Barreto grew up attending Newport Folk Festival and now lives and performs beyond Rhode Island. \nLily Rhodes is actively making music in the state. \nNic Panken and Ruby of Thanks bring outside voices into the mix. \nIt’s regional without being insular. \nFolk Music Has Never Stayed Still\nThere’s also something fitting about calling all of this folk music. \nThe genre has always changed depending on who was making it and when. \nTraditional songs became singer-songwriter music. Blues and country became intertwined with it. Bob Dylan plugged in an electric guitar at Newport and helped ignite one of the most famous arguments in American music history. \nLater generations brought rock\, psychedelia\, indie music\, electronic textures and experimental recording techniques with them. \nThe South County lineup reflects that continuing evolution. \nBreachway can use pedal steel and synthesizers. \nRuby of Thanks can make a home-recorded song feel like an artifact discovered from another decade. \nBrad Barr can move between folk songwriting and guitar experimentation. \nLily Rhodes can be songwriter\, producer and multimedia artist at the same time. \nThere doesn’t have to be one correct answer to what folk music sounds like in 2026. \nThe common thread remains the song. \nSunset Stage Puts the Festival in Downtown Wakefield\nThe setting gives the festival another advantage. \nBirch & Bay sits at 323 Main Street in downtown Wakefield\, rather than on an isolated festival field miles outside town. \nThe coastal-inspired restaurant includes indoor dining and bar space along with its seasonal outdoor areas\, while Sunset Stage provides the setting for live music. \nFor the festival\, organizers are promising food\, drinks and vendors in addition to the performances. \nThat makes this more than a sequence of concerts with everyone asked to leave between sets. \nIt’s designed as an all-day gathering. \nWith music running from noon until 9 p.m.\, attendees can make an afternoon of it\, stay through dinner and continue into the evening sets. \nKids 12 and younger are admitted free\, which also makes the festival unusually approachable for families interested in exposing younger listeners to live music without buying another full-price ticket. \nNine Hours Is Enough Time to Discover Something\nThere are easier ways to see live music. \nPick a headliner. Arrive at 7:30. Watch the show. Go home. \nA festival asks for something different. \nYou wander. \nYou hear part of a set by someone whose name you’ve never seen before. You get something to eat. You come back when another artist starts. You discover that the musician you weren’t planning to watch becomes the one you remember. \nThat’s especially true at a first-year event where the lineup isn’t built around one giant marquee name and five acts everyone treats as opening bands. \nSouth County Folk Festival is presenting the entire day as the attraction. \nBrad Barr provides a connection to decades of Rhode Island music history. \nNic Panken arrives with a new album. \nRuby of Thanks arrives five days before releasing one. \nBreachway represents a younger Rhode Island songwriter carrying folk influences into alt-country and indie music. \nLily Rhodes brings another home-state voice. \nLefty Parker adds another opportunity for discovery. \nAnd downtown Wakefield gets a new festival. \nIf year one works\, September 13 could become the beginning of something South County gets to do again. \nDetails\nEvent: South County Folk Festival\nDate: Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nTime: Noon–9 p.m.\nLocation: Sunset Stage at Birch & Bay\nSetting: Outdoor festival at Birch & Bay’s Sunset Stage\nAddress: 323 Main Street\, Wakefield\, RI 02879\nPresented by: Westerly Sound in partnership with Sunset Stage at Birch & Bay\nAnnounced Lineup: Brad Barr\, Nic Panken\, Lefty Parker\, Ruby of Thanks\, Lily Rhodes and Breachway\nNic Panken Performance: 7 p.m.\, according to the artist’s official schedule\nAdmission: Ticketed event; advance purchase is encouraged and capacity is limited\nAges: All ages\nChildren: Ages 12 and younger admitted free\nFood & Drink: Food and beverages available during the festival\nVendors: Vendors will be on site\nParking: Free parking\nDuration: Approximately nine hours\nRefunds: Available up to seven days before the event through Eventbrite \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \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/south-county-folk-festival-in-downtown-wakefield/
LOCATION:Sunset Stage at Birch & Bay\, 323 Main Street\, Wakefield\, RI\, 02879\, United States
CATEGORIES:Sunset Stage at Birch & Bay
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T153000
DTSTAMP:20260908T005412Z
CREATED:20260908T005412Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260908T005412Z
UID:10007510-1789308000-1789313400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Almost\, Maine at the Granite Theatre
DESCRIPTION:Almost\, Maine at the Granite Theatre opens Friday\, September 11\, for a two-week run of John Cariani’s romantic comedy about love found\, lost and occasionally turned upside down beneath the northern lights. \nThe Granite Theatre production runs September 11–20 in downtown Westerly\, with 7:30 p.m. performances on Thursdays\, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees. Tickets are $30–$35. \nRather than following one couple through a conventional love story\, Almost\, Maine tells nine interconnected stories about the residents of a tiny fictional community in northern Maine. During the course of one cold Friday night\, relationships begin\, end\, stumble and take some wonderfully strange turns. \nWelcome to Almost\nAlmost isn’t technically a town. \nIn Cariani’s fictional geography\, it’s an unorganized community so far north in Maine that it’s almost in Canada. On a clear winter night\, with the aurora borealis overhead\, its residents experience a series of encounters that revolve around falling in love\, falling out of it or discovering that what they thought they understood about another person wasn’t quite right. \nThe structure is closer to a collection of short stories performed on stage than a traditional beginning-to-end narrative. \nMost of the scenes involve just two characters\, with different residents moving in and out of focus as the evening progresses. The stories stand on their own\, but the shared place\, time and themes gradually turn them into a portrait of one small community. \nCariani also gives the play a touch of magical realism. \nEmotions sometimes become physical things. Characters carry the consequences of love in ways that couldn’t happen in the real world\, yet the feelings behind those moments remain recognizable. That lets Almost\, Maine move quickly between comedy\, absurdity\, heartbreak and tenderness without becoming a conventional romantic comedy. \nA Play That Almost Disappeared\nThe story behind Almost\, Maine is nearly as unlikely as some of the stories inside it. \nJohn Cariani developed the play at the Cape Cod Theatre Project in 2002. It received its world premiere at Portland Stage Company in Maine in 2004\, where it broke box-office records. \nBy then\, Cariani was already familiar to Broadway audiences as an actor. He earned a Tony Award nomination for playing Motel the tailor in the 2004 Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof and had appeared on television in Law & Order. \nAlmost\, Maine reached New York next\, opening Off-Broadway at the Daryl Roth Theatre in January 2006. \nThat production lasted only about a month. \nOrdinarily\, that might have been the end of the story. Instead\, after the play was published and became available to other theaters\, something unexpected happened. \nSmall professional theaters began producing it. Then community theaters picked it up. Colleges and high schools followed. \nAnd they kept doing it. \nFrom Short Off-Broadway Run to Thousands of Productions\nToday\, Almost\, Maine has become one of the most frequently produced contemporary American plays. \nThe play’s official site reports that more than 6\,000 theater companies in the United States have staged it\, along with more than 100 international companies. It has also repeatedly ranked among the most-produced plays in North American high schools. \nPart of the appeal is built into Cariani’s unusual structure. \nWith largely self-contained two-person scenes\, directors can distribute substantial material among an ensemble rather than building an entire production around one or two leading roles. Each vignette gives its actors a complete little story to develop. \nAudiences get something different from that structure\, too. One scene may land as broad comedy while the next turns unexpectedly bittersweet. Not every relationship works out\, and the title itself becomes something of a running idea. \nThings in Almost are frequently close. \nAlmost a town. Almost Canada. Almost together. Almost over someone. Almost happy. \nBut not quite. \nJohn Cariani Wrote About the Maine He Knew\nThe fictional setting wasn’t chosen at random. \nCariani grew up in Presque Isle in Aroostook County\, the enormous and sparsely populated region at the northern end of Maine. He has said those years shaped his affection for the landscape\, language and people that eventually found their way into Almost\, Maine. \nThe setting is intentionally remote. The cold matters. The darkness matters. So does the northern sky. \nAgainst that isolation\, the small interactions between people become bigger. A conversation on a bench\, an unexpected visitor at the door or an encounter between two neighbors can become the most important thing happening for miles. \nCariani eventually returned to the world he created in another form. In 2022\, he adapted Almost\, Maine into a novel\, expanding the interconnected stories and characters beyond what audiences see on stage. \nBut the theatrical version remains the work that made Almost into a place thousands of actors and audiences have visited. \nInside Westerly’s Historic Granite Theatre\nThe setting for this production has its own story. \nGranite Theatre occupies a restored Greek Revival building at 1 Granite Street in downtown Westerly. Long before actors performed there\, the building was a church. \nThe congregation that became the Broad Street Christian Church was organized in 1843\, and the building was completed in 1849. Its prominent classical façade and columns remain part of one of downtown Westerly’s distinctive historic structures. \nThe building eventually found a second life as a performance space\, reopening as the Granite Theatre in 2000. \nToday\, Renaissance City Theatre operates the Granite as a nonprofit theater\, presenting plays\, musicals\, family productions\, educational programs and special events throughout the year. \nIt’s also an intimate room. With roughly 140 seats\, the audience is close to the performers rather than watching from the distance of a large regional theater. That should suit a play built around small conversations and two-person encounters particularly well. \nOpening Night Begins a Seven-Performance Run\nAlmost\, Maine opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday\, September 11. \nA second evening performance follows Saturday\, September 12\, before the first Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. September 13. \nThe production returns the following Thursday and continues through Sunday\, September 20\, for seven performances in all: \n\nFriday\, September 11 at 7:30 p.m.\nSaturday\, September 12 at 7:30 p.m.\nSunday\, September 13 at 2 p.m.\nThursday\, September 17 at 7:30 p.m.\nFriday\, September 18 at 7:30 p.m.\nSaturday\, September 19 at 7:30 p.m.\nSunday\, September 20 at 2 p.m.\n\nTickets range from $30 to $35. \nAccessibility at the Granite\nBecause the Granite occupies a historic 19th-century building\, accessibility comes with some limitations. \nThe theater performance space itself is wheelchair accessible\, but the Granite notes that its lobby and restrooms are not fully accessible. \nA small number of accessible parking spaces are available behind the building and need to be reserved. The theater recommends that anyone who needs accessible parking or has mobility concerns call ahead rather than relying on availability when arriving for a performance. \nDetails\nEvent: Almost\, Maine\nPlaywright: John Cariani\nOpening Night: Friday\, September 11\, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.\nRun: September 11–20\, 2026\nEvening Performances: 7:30 p.m.\nSunday Matinees: 2 p.m.\nNumber of Performances: Seven\nGenre: Romantic comedy\nVenue: Granite Theatre\nAddress: 1 Granite Street\, Westerly\, RI 02891\nTickets: $30–$35\nBox Office: 401-596-2341\nAccessibility: Theater space is wheelchair accessible; lobby and restrooms are not fully accessible\nAccessible Parking: Limited spaces are available and should be reserved in advance \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo purchase tickets\, click the Event Ticketing link below. \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/almost-maine-at-the-granite-theatre/2026-09-13/
LOCATION:The Granite Theater\, 1 Granite Street\, Westerly\, RI\, 02891\, United States
CATEGORIES:The Granite Street Theater
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T173000
DTSTAMP:20260716T173134Z
CREATED:20260716T173134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260716T173134Z
UID:10006852-1789309800-1789320600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Sunday Jam Sessions at Deans Mill Farm
DESCRIPTION:Sunday Jam Sessions at Deans Mill Farm return every Sunday through the season\, bringing live local music\, food trucks\, and refreshing drinks to one of Stonington’s favorite outdoor gathering spots. Held from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.\, the free weekly series offers a relaxed afternoon where families\, friends\, and music lovers can unwind while enjoying performances from talented local musicians in the scenic setting of Deans Mill Farm. \nEach Sunday features a different performer\, giving visitors something new to experience throughout the season. Along with live entertainment\, food trucks serve a variety of favorites while the farm offers signature drinks and other cold beverages. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs\, settle in for the afternoon\, and enjoy a casual community atmosphere. The event is family-friendly\, although outside alcohol and pets are not permitted. \nEvent Details\n\nEvent: Sunday Jam Sessions\nSchedule: Every Sunday\nTime: 2:30-5:30 p.m.\nSeason: Through October (Weather Permitting)\nVenue: Deans Mill Farm\nAddress: 1189 Pequot Trail\, Stonington\, CT\nAdmission: Free\n\nWhat to Expect\n\nLive music from local performers\nRotating food trucks\nSignature drinks and cold beverages\nFamily-friendly outdoor atmosphere\n\n2026 Concert Schedule\nJuly 19 \n\nBig Lux\n\nJuly 26 \n\nT. Ray Taylor\n\nAugust 2 \n\nBen Freiert\n\nAugust 9 \n\nFrankenphil\n\nAugust 16 \n\nBen Freiert\n\nAugust 23 \n\nRobbed By Locals\n\nAugust 30 \n\nJames Harris\n\nSeptember 6 \n\nTo Be Announced\n\nSeptember 13 \n\nFrankenphil\n\nSeptember 20 \n\nTo Be Announced\n\nSeptember 27 \n\nJonny Debit\n\nOctober 4 \n\nKGB\n\nOctober 11 \n\nFrankenphil\n\nOctober 18 \n\nDan Watson\n\nOctober 25 \n\nJames Harris\n\nKnow Before You Go\n\nFamily-friendly event\nNo outside alcohol\nNo pets\nWeather permitting\nTimes are subject to change\n\nWhy Attend\n\nFree weekly live music\nRotating lineup of local musicians\nFood trucks and beverages\nRelaxed outdoor setting\nGreat Sunday afternoon tradition\n\n  \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/sunday-jam-sessions-at-deans-mill-farm/2026-09-13/
LOCATION:Deans Mill Farm\, 1189 Pequot Trail\, Stonington\, CT\, 06378\, United States
CATEGORIES:Deans Mill Farm
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Sunday-Jam-Sessions-at-Deans-Mill-Farm-Sundays-230-pm-530-pm.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T170000
DTSTAMP:20260908T023533Z
CREATED:20260908T022932Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260908T023533Z
UID:10007518-1789311600-1789318800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Live Music & Food Trucks at Saltwater Farm Vineyard
DESCRIPTION:Live Music & Food Trucks at Saltwater Farm Vineyard pairs a relatively new local country duo with wood-fired pizza and Stonington wine on Sunday\, September 13. Violet Theory performs from 3 to 5 p.m.\, while Fire in the Kitchen Pizza Truck fires up its mobile oven at the vineyard. \nViolet Theory may be a new name on the southeastern Connecticut music scene\, but the musicians behind it aren’t approaching the project casually. Victoria White and Chris Cofoni formed the duo in 2025\, began writing together\, and headed to Nashville in March to record their first original songs. \nTheir Sunday afternoon set at Saltwater Farm will mix that developing catalog with country\, rock and pop covers\, all against one of the more unusual backdrops on the Connecticut Wine Trail: a vineyard built around a preserved airplane hangar. \nMeet Violet Theory\nViolet Theory began with a chance meeting at Westerly’s Thirsty Beaver. \nChris Cofoni was performing there with another band in 2025 when he was introduced to vocalist Victoria White. The two discovered a musical connection\, began performing together later that fall and developed Violet Theory around White’s vocals and Cofoni’s playing\, songwriting\, and production. \nCountry provides the foundation\, but their repertoire isn’t restricted to it. \nThe duo covers music ranging from Johnny Cash to Morgan Wallen while pulling rock and pop into its live sets. Depending on the engagement\, Violet Theory can expand from the core duo into a trio or full band. \nFor the September 13 Saltwater Farm appearance\, the act is scheduled as the Violet Theory duo\, putting the emphasis on White and Cofoni and the vocal-and-instrumental chemistry that started the project. \nThe pair has spent much of 2026 building an audience around southeastern Connecticut and Rhode Island\, appearing at vineyards\, breweries\, restaurants and outdoor events including Stonington Vineyards\, Preston Ridge Vineyard\, Grey Sail Brewing\, Gooseneck Vineyards\, the Breachway Grill and Westerly’s Sunday Funday in Wilcox Park. \nSaltwater Farm has become a particularly regular stop. Violet Theory has several dates at the vineyard during its 2026 schedule\, including performances in May\, July and September\, with another scheduled for October. \nFrom Local Stages to a Nashville Studio\nViolet Theory is also beginning to move beyond covers. \nWhite and Cofoni have written three original songs together: Country Golden\, Half As Mean and To the Old Me. All three were recorded at Country Q Studios in Nashville in March 2026. \nThe songs offer an early look at what the duo wants Violet Theory to become. \nCountry Golden tells the story of a woman who finds companionship and emotional rescue through her “Country Golden” companion. Half As Mean takes a lighter approach to adult relationships and learning to live with one another’s faults\, while To the Old Me looks backward\, with a young woman addressing younger versions of herself. \nThat mix of storytelling and contemporary production reflects the duo’s stated goal: country-influenced music rooted in traditional songwriting without trying to sound as though it came from another era. \nFor a group formed only last year\, 2026 has essentially been Violet Theory’s first full season of taking that sound on the road. \nPizza Straight From a Wood-Fired Oven\nSunday’s food truck is almost as mobile as the musicians. \nFire in the Kitchen Pizza is the creation of husband-and-wife team Matt and Kristen Griffin\, who turned Matt’s longtime obsession with making pizza into a traveling wood-fired business. \nIt started small. Very small. \nKristen bought Matt his first wood-fired pizza oven\, with a cooking surface measuring only about 12 by 14 inches. After Matt refined his dough and the couple decided to pursue the idea further\, the little oven was replaced by a larger wood-burning model. \nThen came a commercial oven mounted to a trailer. \nToday\, Fire in the Kitchen operates from a full-size box truck and brings its wood-fired setup to events around Connecticut and neighboring states. Unlike a mobile operation that sends employees out to work events\, Matt and Kristen say they’re the chefs customers will actually find behind the truck. \nTheir sample menu goes considerably beyond cheese and pepperoni. \nThe Lemon Boy combines garlic\, smoked mozzarella\, sliced lemon\, Aleppo pepper and honey. Gettin Figgy adds prosciutto\, caramelized onion\, fig\, arugula and balsamic reduction\, while the Tater uses mashed potato\, bacon and chives. \nThere’s also a Pulled Pickle with pulled pork\, dill pickles\, Monterey Jack and cheddar\, barbecue sauce and ranch; a Street Corn pie with corn\, cilantro\, jalapeños\, cotija and chipotle-lime aioli; and the meat-heavy Carnivore with pepperoni\, bacon\, sausage and hot cherry peppers. \nThe exact selection at Saltwater Farm can vary. Fire in the Kitchen says its menu changes seasonally and it generally brings a mix of core pizzas and seasonal specialties to events. \nA Vineyard Inside an Old Airfield\nSaltwater Farm Vineyard’s history goes back considerably further than its vines. \nThe property traces its agricultural roots to the 17th century\, when Walter Palmer established a farm on roughly 230 acres surrounding Wequetequock Cove in 1653. Portions of that land continued operating as farmland for generations. \nThen airplanes arrived. \nIn the late 1930s\, William J. Foster established a small community airport on the property. Architect and engineer John W. Lincoln designed its hangar\, and Foster Field\, also known as Westone Airport\, operated until restrictions surrounding World War II ended its use as a public airport. \nCommercial aviation briefly returned after the war\, but the property eventually fell into other uses. Over the decades\, the old hangar served at various times as a warehouse\, restaurant and manufacturing space. \nMichael Connery purchased the long-dormant property in 2001 as part of 108 acres and began transforming the former airfield into a vineyard. \nRather than demolishing the hangar\, the project made it the centerpiece. \nArchitect Stephen Lloyd helped transform the historic structure into the winery visitors see today\, retaining its massive timber trusses and original wood sheathing while incorporating a milled aluminum exterior and an open interior beneath the building’s high roof. \nEven the old airfield hasn’t entirely disappeared. A grassy landing strip remains on the property. \nConnecticut Grapes With a French Connection\nSaltwater Farm’s wines are overseen by consulting winemaker Gilles Martin\, whose résumé stretches from France to Australia\, California\, Virginia and Long Island. \nMartin grew up near France’s Champagne region and earned degrees in biology\, food science and oenology from the University of Montpellier. His master’s thesis on wine ultrafiltration received a national award presented by future French president Jacques Chirac. \nHis career then took him through wineries in Germany and Australia before bringing him to the United States. \nFrom 1990 through 1996\, Martin worked as assistant winemaker at Roederer Estate in California’s Anderson Valley\, the American sparkling-wine operation established by Champagne Louis Roederer. He later returned to France to make Viognier and Syrah for Delas-Frères in the Rhône Valley. \nBy the late 1990s\, he was working on Long Island’s North Fork\, where he helped develop several wineries before becoming a consulting winemaker. \nToday\, Martin works with both Saltwater Farm and its sister property\, Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard in North Stonington. \nThe combination gives Saltwater Farm an unusual identity: Connecticut-grown wine shaped by a winemaker with Old World training\, served inside a restored aviation landmark overlooking vines and coastal marshland. \nAn Easy Sunday Afternoon\nThere isn’t much structure required for this one\, and that’s part of its appeal. \nArrive at Saltwater Farm\, order a glass of wine\, grab a wood-fired pizza and find a spot to hear Violet Theory. \nThe music begins at 3 p.m. and continues until 5. It’s part of Saltwater Farm’s seasonal live music and food truck schedule\, which extends into October with performers including Colin Van Pelt\, James Harris\, Nick Bosse and Brad Bensko. \nViolet Theory itself returns October 25. \nFor September 13\, however\, it’s the duo configuration: Victoria White and Chris Cofoni\, two hours of country-influenced music\, a mobile wood-fired oven and an old Connecticut airfield that found a second life growing grapes. \nDetails\nEvent: Live Music & Food Trucks at Saltwater Farm Vineyard\nDate: Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nTime: 3–5 p.m.\nPerformer: Violet Theory\nViolet Theory Lineup: Victoria White and Chris Cofoni\, duo performance\nMusic: Country-influenced originals plus country\, rock and pop covers\nFood Truck: Fire in the Kitchen Pizza\nFood: Wood-fired pizza; exact event menu may vary\nVenue: Saltwater Farm Vineyard\nAddress: 349 Elm Street\, Stonington\, CT 06378\nVineyard Phone: 860-415-9072\nWinemaker: Gilles Martin\nUpcoming Saltwater Farm Music: \nColin Van Pelt Sept. 20; \nLuke & Mike Sept. 27; \nadditional music continues into October \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/live-music-food-trucks-at-saltwater-farm-vineyard/
LOCATION:Saltwater Farm Vineyard\, 349 Elm Street\, Stonington\, CT\, 06378\, United States
CATEGORIES:Saltwater Farm Vineyard
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Live-Music-and-Food-Trucks-at-Saltwater-Farm-Vineyard.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T190000
DTSTAMP:20260908T025219Z
CREATED:20260908T025219Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260908T025219Z
UID:10007519-1789315200-1789326000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Jus-Tus at the Charlestown Rathskeller 2026
DESCRIPTION:Jus-Tus at the Charlestown Rathskeller 2026 brings Motown\, soul\, R&B\, classic rock\, and blues to the woods of Charlestown on Sunday\, September 13\, with a free afternoon performance from 4 to 7 p.m. \nJus-Tus is a familiar presence at the Rathskeller\, where the duo has become particularly well suited to Sunday afternoons Down Back. Rather than the high-volume tribute bands and rock shows that fill many Friday and Saturday nights\, Jus-Tus leans into bluesy vocals\, guitar\, and songs that have been around long enough for much of the crowd to know them by heart. \nAdmission is free. Guests can RSVP in advance through Eventbrite or simply show up\, with the Rathskeller suggesting an early arrival for lunch or drinks before the music begins. \nMotown\, Soul and R&B With a Classic-Rock Side\nThe Rathskeller has described Jus-Tus as a local duo with decades of musical chemistry\, and its appearances there reveal a broader repertoire than the usual shorthand of “classic vibes.” \nAt its 2025 season-closing concert\, the venue described Jus-Tus as performing Motown\, soul and R&B hits that cross generations. For its 2026 appearances\, the Rathskeller has highlighted the duo’s bluesy vocals and smooth guitar\, while its June Art Festival performance was promoted around a mix of classic rock and blues. \nPut those descriptions together and the picture becomes clearer. \nThis isn’t a narrowly defined blues act or a band devoted to one era. Jus-Tus works from the American songbook that grew out of soul\, Motown\, rhythm and blues\, blues and classic rock\, with arrangements scaled to the intimacy of a duo. \nThat makes the group a different proposition from many of the acts appearing on the Rathskeller’s late-summer calendar. The weekend begins September 11 with eight-piece funk\, soul and rock band Take It To The Bridge. Saturday turns considerably heavier with Alice in Chains tribute Nutshell and System of a Down tribute Free Thinkers Are Dangerous. \nThen Sunday afternoon belongs to Jus-Tus. \nA Duo the Rathskeller Keeps Bringing Back\nThe September 13 performance isn’t a one-off booking. \nJus-Tus has become one of the recurring acts in the Rathskeller’s outdoor music series\, with multiple appearances during the 2026 season. \nThe duo played a free Sunday show on May 10\, returned June 28 as the musical act for the Rathskeller’s annual Art Festival and came back again August 2. September 13 marks another Sunday afternoon appearance as the outdoor season moves toward fall. \nThat recurring relationship says something useful about what to expect. \nJus-Tus isn’t being booked to turn Down Back into a massive concert. Its role is closer to providing the soundtrack for the entire property: music substantial enough to sit and watch\, but relaxed enough that people can eat\, have a drink\, talk with friends and spend an afternoon outside without every other part of the experience competing with the stage. \nThe Rathskeller describes the duo’s shows as laid-back but fully engaging. \nFor a Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m.\, that’s probably the point. \nDown Back in the Woods\nThe setting helps. \nThe Charlestown Rathskeller sits at 489A Old Coach Road\, tucked into a wooded property away from the busier commercial strips of South County. \nBehind the restaurant is Down Back\, the Rathskeller’s seasonal outdoor entertainment area. The grounds include a stage\, outdoor seating\, lawn games and a large central fire pit\, creating something closer to a backyard music venue than a conventional restaurant patio. \nDuring the warmer months\, the Rathskeller builds much of its entertainment schedule around the space\, with live music generally running from spring into fall. \nThe programming can change considerably from one night to the next. Tribute bands\, rock groups\, country acts\, funk and soul bands and smaller acoustic performers all appear on the calendar. \nSeptember is particularly busy. Following Jus-Tus\, the schedule continues with Aquanett on September 18\, Blizzard of Ozz on September 19\, the Take It To The Bridge Trio on September 20\, Nick Casey on September 25\, Steve Smith & The Nakeds on September 26 and Roc-Kin’-On on September 27. \nIt’s essentially a final full month of outdoor music before cooler weather begins taking over South County. \nMake Lunch or Dinner Part of It\nBecause Jus-Tus doesn’t begin until 4 p.m.\, the show falls directly between lunch and dinner. \nThe Rathskeller opens at noon on Sundays\, and the kitchen remains open until 10 p.m.\, so there’s no need to choose between eating and catching the band. \nThe menu mixes pub food with New England staples and more substantial entrées. Burgers\, wings and the Rathskeller’s signature fries share the menu with clam chowder\, stuffies\, calamari\, fish and chips\, linguine and clams\, steak frites and jägerschnitzel. \nThere’s a full bar as well\, with beer\, wine and cocktails. \nFor the best choice of outdoor seating\, arriving before the 4 p.m. start makes sense. Down Back operates more like festival-style outdoor seating than a traditional theater\, and a free show doesn’t come with an assigned table or chair. \nCome early\, order something\, find a comfortable spot and settle in. \nOne of the Easier Sunday Plans of September\nThere are events that require planning: timed admission\, advance tickets\, parking strategies and schedules that need to be studied before leaving home. \nThis isn’t one of them. \nJus-Tus starts at 4. Admission costs nothing. The restaurant is already open. Food and drinks are available on the property. The band plays for three hours\, and the Rathskeller remains open after the final song. \nEven the music fits the lack of complication. \nMotown and soul. R&B and blues. Classic rock. Guitar and vocals. Familiar songs played by a local duo that has spent enough time on the Rathskeller stage to know the room — or\, in this case\, the backyard. \nSometimes Sunday afternoon doesn’t need a more elaborate plan than that. \nDetails\nEvent: Jus-Tus at the Charlestown Rathskeller 2026\nDate: Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nTime: 4–7 p.m.\nPerformer: Jus-Tus\nMusic: Motown\, soul\, R&B\, classic rock and blues\nAdmission: Free\nRSVP: Free advance RSVP available through Eventbrite; walk-ins are also welcome\nVenue: The Charlestown Rathskeller\nAddress: 489A Old Coach Road\, Charlestown\, RI 02813\nSetting: Seasonal outdoor live music at the Rathskeller’s Down Back entertainment area\nFood: Full restaurant menu available\nSunday Hours: Noon–10 p.m.\nKitchen Hours: Noon–10 p.m.\nPhone: 401-792-1000 \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nFor free advance registration\, 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.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/jus-tus-at-the-charlestown-rathskeller-2026/
LOCATION:Rathskeller\, 489A Old Coach Rd\, Charlestown\, RI\, 02813\, United States
CATEGORIES:Rathskeller
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T203000
DTSTAMP:20260909T213839Z
CREATED:20260909T213839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260909T213839Z
UID:10007530-1789326000-1789331400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Candy-O: The Premier Tribute to The Cars at Wolf Den
DESCRIPTION:Candy-O: The Premier Tribute to The Cars at Wolf Den brings the music of one of New England’s most important rock bands back to southeastern Connecticut on Sunday\, September 13\, with a free 7 p.m. performance at Mohegan Sun. \nThis isn’t the long-running California tribute band that also performs under the Candy-O name. The group coming to Wolf Den is a New England-based five-piece devoted to recreating The Cars’ recordings with the synthesizers\, guitar tones\, vocal arrangements\, and deliberate precision that made the originals instantly recognizable. \nCandy-O puts particular emphasis on The Cars’ first two albums\, 1978’s The Cars and 1979’s Candy-O\, but reaches across the band’s catalog for songs including Just What I Needed\, My Best Friend’s Girl\, Good Times Roll\, Let’s Go\, Shake It Up\, Magic\, You Might Think\, Drive\, Moving in Stereo and Tonight She Comes. \nCandy-O Is About the Sound\, Not the Costumes\nThere are two basic approaches to a tribute band. \nOne is impersonation. Find musicians who resemble the original members\, dress them appropriately and recreate the visual experience along with the music. \nCandy-O deliberately takes the other route. \nThe band says it gives a nod to the visual style of the late-’70s proto-new-wave period but doesn’t present itself as a costumed look-alike act. Its focus is on what it calls “hyper-accurate” analog tones and note-for-note performances. \nThat’s a particularly interesting challenge with The Cars. \nAt first listen\, many of their biggest songs seem almost impossibly simple. A synthesizer figure. A tight drumbeat. A few carefully placed guitar chords. Ric Ocasek or Benjamin Orr singing a melody without a lot of unnecessary decoration. \nBut those records were meticulously constructed. \nCandy-O’s lineup mirrors the five-piece structure that produced them: Steve Werner handles lead vocals and rhythm guitar\, Meg Browning plays bass and sings\, Gerry Giaimo handles lead guitar and vocals\, Dave Branning plays keyboards and sings\, and Mike Genovese is on drums. \nThat combination matters. The Cars’ identity depended as much on Greg Hawkes’ keyboards and Elliot Easton’s economical guitar work as it did on the singers standing out front. \nThe Cars Came Out of Boston\nFor a New England tribute band\, this isn’t imported nostalgia. \nThe Cars belong to the region’s music history. \nRic Ocasek and Benjamin Orr had spent years playing together before The Cars existed\, eventually settling in Boston and working through several musical configurations. Guitarist Elliot Easton joined them\, followed by keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson\, who had played with Jonathan Richman’s Modern Lovers and Boston punk band DMZ. \nRobinson suggested the name. \nBy 1977\, The Cars were working the Boston club circuit and recording demos. Then something happened that seems particularly appropriate given the history of New England radio. \nWBCN started playing them. \nDJ Maxanne Sartori put the demo of Just What I Needed on the air\, and listeners responded. The song became heavily requested before The Cars even had a record contract. Elektra eventually signed the band. \nTheir self-titled debut arrived in June 1978. \nIt didn’t sound quite like the rock bands that came before it\, and it didn’t completely belong to the punk and new-wave underground developing around it either. \nThe Cars found the middle. \nA Debut Album That Barely Needed a Greatest-Hits Collection\nLook at the track list of The Cars today and it borders on ridiculous. \nSide one opens with Good Times Roll. \nThen comes My Best Friend’s Girl. \nThen Just What I Needed. \nAnd those aren’t the only songs that became rock-radio staples. You’re All I’ve Got Tonight\, Bye Bye Love and Moving in Stereo were on the same record. \nThe album eventually sold more than six million copies in the United States and remained on the Billboard album chart for 139 weeks. \nIt also established the formula Candy-O is trying to reproduce nearly half a century later. \nThe Cars took guitar rock\, power pop\, punk’s economy and increasingly prominent synthesizers and fit them together without allowing any one element to take over. \nOcasek’s songs had enormous hooks but often carried an emotional distance that kept them from becoming conventional pop. \nThe Rock & Roll Hall of Fame later described that combination as a meeting of new wave and classic rock that helped move underground sounds into the mainstream. \nThen Came Candy-O\nCandy-O takes its name from The Cars’ second album\, released in 1979. \nFollowing a debut that successful should have been a nearly impossible assignment. \nInstead\, Candy-O reached No. 3 on the Billboard album chart and eventually went quadruple Platinum in the United States. Let’s Go\, sung by Benjamin Orr\, became The Cars’ first single to reach the Billboard Top 15. \nIt’s also why the tribute band’s emphasis on those first two records makes sense. \nTogether\, The Cars and Candy-O contain a remarkable concentration of the band’s defining material: Good Times Roll\, My Best Friend’s Girl\, Just What I Needed\, Moving in Stereo\, You’re All I’ve Got Tonight\, Let’s Go\, It’s All I Can Do\, Candy-O and Dangerous Type. \nCandy-O lists all of them among the songs it performs. \nBut the Wolf Den show isn’t limited to 1978 and 1979. \nThe Cars Became an MTV Band Before MTV Bands Were Everywhere\nThe Cars continued evolving through Panorama in 1980 and Shake It Up in 1981\, but 1984’s Heartbeat City gave the group an entirely new wave of popularity. \nBy then\, MTV had changed how pop music was marketed. \nThe Cars were perfectly suited for it. \nYou Might Think became an early landmark of computer-assisted music video\, while Magic\, Hello Again and Drive helped turn Heartbeat City into one of the biggest albums of the band’s career. \nAnd Drive demonstrated something that can get lost when people remember The Cars primarily as Ric Ocasek’s band. \nOcasek wrote the song. \nBenjamin Orr sang it. \nThe two men shared lead-vocal duties throughout The Cars’ career\, and some of the group’s most recognizable recordings were Orr performances. In addition to Drive\, his lead vocals included Just What I Needed\, Let’s Go and Moving in Stereo. \nOrr’s smoother\, more melodic voice created a useful contrast with Ocasek’s unmistakably detached delivery. Years later\, Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes both spoke about just how important Orr’s voice had been to the band’s sound. \nOrr died of pancreatic cancer in 2000. \nThey Were New Wave Without Really Fitting in New Wave\nTrying to put The Cars into one genre has always been difficult. \nThey arrived at roughly the same moment as punk and new wave\, used synthesizers extensively and looked unlike the denim-and-long-hair rock establishment of the early 1970s. \nBut they also wrote songs with the kind of hooks that worked on mainstream pop radio. \nThere was power pop in there. Art rock. Electronic music. Straight rock & roll. A little punk minimalism. \nGreg Hawkes once described The Cars as a “pop-art band\,” a description that may fit them better than most genre labels. \nThey could sound futuristic without abandoning guitars. \nThey could make extremely polished records without sanding away all their weirdness. \nAnd Ocasek understood the value of leaving space in a song. The Cars rarely sounded as though five musicians were fighting to prove how much they could play. \nThat’s part of what makes faithfully recreating the records more complicated than simply learning the chords. \nThe spaces count\, too. \nFrom Just What I Needed to Drive\nCandy-O’s published repertoire covers all six of The Cars’ original Elektra-era studio albums: The Cars\, Candy-O\, Panorama\, Shake It Up\, Heartbeat City and Door to Door. \nThe band lists: \nDrive\, Just What I Needed\, Let’s Go\, You Might Think\, My Best Friend’s Girl\, Magic\, Good Times Roll\, Hello Again\, Shake It Up\, Tonight She Comes\, Since You’re Gone\, It’s All I Can Do\, Bye Bye Love\, Moving in Stereo\, Dangerous Type and You’re All I’ve Got Tonight among the songs in its repertoire. \nThat’s a substantial portion of the music that ultimately carried The Cars into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. \nOcasek\, Orr\, Easton\, Hawkes and Robinson were all inducted as members. The surviving Cars performed together at the ceremony\, with Brandon Flowers of The Killers doing the induction. \nOcasek died the following year. \nThat makes a Cars tribute different today than it would have been when all five members were still around. \nThere is no possibility of seeing the classic lineup again. \nThe records are the permanent version now. \nA Connecticut Band Playing Boston Music at Wolf Den\nCandy-O has already built a history with Wolf Den. \nThe band lists Mohegan Sun among the venues it has played\, alongside Connecticut rooms including the Bijou Theatre\, Kinsmen Brewing Co.\, Crystal Bees\, Small Batch Cellars\, New Britain Museum of American Art and Woodbury Brewing. \nSunday’s show runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. \nLike other Wolf Den performances\, admission is free\, but seating is limited and available on a first-come\, first-served basis. The venue sits in the center of Mohegan Sun\, making this one of the easier ways to catch a full tribute show without buying a concert ticket. \nAnd The Cars may be particularly well matched to a 90-minute set. \nThere isn’t much need for filler. \nWhen a band’s first album alone gives you Good Times Roll\, My Best Friend’s Girl\, Just What I Needed\, You’re All I’ve Got Tonight\, Bye Bye Love and Moving in Stereo\, the problem isn’t finding enough songs to play. \nIt’s deciding what you can possibly leave out. \nDetails\nEvent: Candy-O: The Premier Tribute to The Cars at Wolf Den\nDate: Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nTime: 7–8:30 p.m.\nPerformer: Candy-O\nMusic: Tribute to The Cars / new wave / rock / power pop\nBand: Steve Werner\, lead vocals and rhythm guitar; Meg Browning\, bass and vocals; Gerry Giaimo\, lead guitar and vocals; Dave Branning\, keyboards and vocals; Mike Genovese\, drums\nAdmission: Free\nVenue: Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun\nAddress: 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard\, Uncasville\, CT 06382\nSeating: Limited; Wolf Den seating is first come\, first served\nAge: Wolf Den guests must be 21 or older unless accompanied by a parent\, legal guardian or spouse\nParking: Free parking is available at Mohegan Sun \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/candy-o-the-premier-tribute-to-the-cars-at-wolf-den/
LOCATION:Wolf Den\, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvs\, Uncasville\, CT\, 06382\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mohegan Sun
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T220000
DTSTAMP:20260909T220058Z
CREATED:20260909T220058Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260909T220058Z
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SUMMARY:Brandon Lake at Mohegan Sun Arena
DESCRIPTION:Brandon Lake at Mohegan Sun Arena brings one of contemporary Christian music’s biggest stars to Uncasville on Sunday\, September 13\, for a 7:30 p.m. arena concert with special guest Ben Fuller. \nCalling Lake a successful worship artist understates what has happened to his career over the past few years. His 2025 album King of Hearts debuted at No. 7 on the all-genre Billboard 200; he’s accumulated six Grammy Awards\, and his collaboration with Jelly Roll on Hard Fought Hallelujah pushed him beyond Christian radio and onto the Billboard Hot 100. \nHis concerts have expanded accordingly. \nLake’s current music mixes contemporary worship with rock\, country\, gospel\, pop\, and the kind of massive singalong choruses designed for arenas rather than church sanctuaries. At the 10\,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena\, that means Sunday night’s show will be much closer to a modern arena-rock production than the quieter image the words “Christian music” may suggest. \nFrom Worship Pastor to Arena Headliner\nBrandon Lake grew up in South Carolina as the son of a pastor. \nMusic was part of his life early. His father showed him some basic guitar chords\, and Lake continued teaching himself\, including learning songs by Christian artists such as Third Day and Chris Tomlin. \nHe eventually became a worship pastor at Seacoast Church in South Carolina and began releasing his own music independently. \nThe major turning point came after Lake joined Bethel Music in 2019. \nHis version of This Is a Move\, co-written with Tasha Cobbs Leonard\, brought him his first Grammy nomination and a GMA Dove Award. From there came a succession of songs and collaborations that increasingly made Lake one of the recognizable voices in contemporary worship music. \nHouse of Miracles followed in 2020\, including I Need a Ghost\, Just Like Heaven and the title track. \nThen came songs that spread well beyond Lake’s own recordings. \nYou May Know His Songs Without Knowing His Name\nContemporary worship music operates differently from most popular genres. \nSongs regularly move between artists and churches. One songwriter may help create a song\, another group records it\, and thousands of worship teams eventually perform it. \nLake has thrived in that environment. \nHe’s closely associated with songs including Graves Into Gardens\, RATTLE!\, Gratitude\, Praise You Anywhere\, Count ‘Em and That’s Who I Praise\, while also contributing as a writer or performer to music released by Bethel Music\, Elevation Worship\, Maverick City Music and other major contemporary Christian acts. \nGratitude became particularly important to his solo career\, reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart. \nBut Lake’s career took another leap with a song about praising God when praise doesn’t come easily. \nHard Fought Hallelujah Changed Everything\nHard Fought Hallelujah wasn’t conceived as a cheerful song about everything going right. \nIts central idea is almost the opposite. \nSometimes faith comes through struggle. Sometimes gratitude is difficult. Sometimes a hallelujah has to be fought for. \nThat theme found an unlikely second voice in Jelly Roll. \nThe Nashville singer had built his own career around addiction\, incarceration\, regret\, redemption and faith\, first moving through hip-hop and rock before becoming one of country’s biggest crossover stars. \nLake and Jelly Roll’s version of Hard Fought Hallelujah connected those worlds. \nThe collaboration gave Lake his first appearance on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and helped expose his music to listeners who might never turn on a contemporary Christian station. \nThen\, at the 2026 Grammy Awards\, Hard Fought Hallelujah won Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song. \nThat brought Lake’s career Grammy total to six wins from 15 nominations. \nIt also illustrated something that’s becoming increasingly noticeable in contemporary Christian music: the walls around the genre aren’t as high as they once were. \nChristian Music Is Crossing Into Country\nJelly Roll isn’t Lake’s only connection to country music. \nHe’s performed with Thomas Rhett. His recent music has leaned openly into country and Southern rock influences. And his collaborations have increasingly put him alongside artists who aren’t confined to Christian radio. \nThat includes a 2026 collaboration with Bailey Zimmerman\, Just Believe\, which topped the Christian Digital Song Sales chart\, as well as The Jesus I Know with Lainey Wilson. \nThe crossover makes musical sense. \nModern country and contemporary Christian music increasingly share production styles\, songwriters and audiences\, particularly when songs deal with redemption\, addiction\, family\, struggle and faith. \nLake’s voice helps the transition. \nHe doesn’t sing like a traditional choir-based gospel performer. There’s grit in it\, and his records frequently borrow from rock and country as readily as contemporary worship. \nThat becomes even more obvious on King of Hearts. \nKing of Hearts Reached No. 7 in America\nReleased in June 2025\, King of Hearts is Lake’s fifth studio album and the record that pushed his commercial career into another category. \nIt debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200\, Lake’s first Top 10 album on the all-genre chart. \nThe 16-song record deliberately moves around stylistically. \nThere’s pop-rock on But God\, gospel on I Know a Name with CeCe Winans\, hip-hop influence through Hulvey on Right in the Middle\, the crossover country connection of Hard Fought Hallelujah with Jelly Roll and arena-ready worship throughout the record. \nThe title itself carries Lake’s central idea for the album. \nRather than concentrating on the image of God as a distant ruler\, Lake has explained that King of Hearts is about a God concerned with individuals: broken people\, lonely people\, hopeless people\, misfits and even critics. \nFor Lake\, that’s also tied to how he views his own increasingly large platform. \nHe told the Recording Academy that he isn’t interested in simply becoming a rock star. He sees his role as caring for people and pointing them toward Jesus. \nThat may sound like a traditional worship leader speaking. \nThe setting in which he’s doing it is increasingly anything but traditional. \nA Worship Show Built for an Arena\nLake’s recent concerts demonstrate just how much contemporary Christian touring has changed. \nA 2026 King of Hearts performance in Charleston included King of Hearts\, Count ‘Em\, That’s Who I Praise\, Plans\, RATTLE!\, Rest on Us\, Tear Off the Roof\, DADDY’S DNA\, House of Miracles and I Know a Name\, along with acoustic portions and collaborations. \nThe presentation combines the communal participation of worship music with the production scale of an arena rock concert. \nAudiences don’t simply watch. \nThey sing. \nThat’s fundamental to understanding the genre if you’ve never attended a large contemporary Christian show. A song like Gratitude may have a lead singer onstage\, but once thousands of people know every word\, the relationship between performer and audience becomes different from a conventional concert. \nMohegan Sun Arena should amplify that considerably. \nBen Fuller Opens the Night\nLake won’t be alone in Uncasville. \nMohegan Sun and Live Nation list Ben Fuller as the special guest for the September 13 show. \nFuller’s path into Christian music is markedly different from the polished worship-school route someone might expect. \nRaised on a dairy farm in Vermont\, he has spoken publicly about a past involving substance abuse and the deaths of people close to him before his conversion to Christianity redirected his life and music. \nThat history became part of his songwriting. \nHis breakout Who I Am reached No. 1 at Christian radio\, while songs including If I Got Jesus continued his autobiographical approach to faith\, recovery and redemption. \nIt’s a natural pairing with Lake\, particularly as both artists increasingly make Christian music that borrows from country without disguising its spiritual purpose. \nSix Grammys and Counting\nLake’s awards history has become substantial. \nThe Recording Academy currently credits him with six Grammy wins and 15 nominations. \nHis Grammy-winning work includes collaborations connected to Maverick City Music and worship projects as well as his own Hard Fought Hallelujah. \nHe’s also accumulated GMA Dove\, K-LOVE and ASCAP recognition\, while becoming a prominent songwriter for other performers. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz \nThe numbers help explain why a Sunday-night Christian concert is landing in one of Connecticut’s major arenas rather than a church or small theater. \nBut they don’t completely explain Lake’s growth. \nThe more interesting story is where contemporary Christian music itself is going. \nThe Line Between Worship\, Rock and Country Is Getting Thin\nThere was a period when contemporary Christian music largely operated as its own parallel industry. \nIt had its own radio stations\, record labels\, festivals\, magazines and stars. An artist could become enormous within Christian music while remaining almost invisible to the mainstream audience. \nThat’s changing. \nJelly Roll can appear on a Brandon Lake record. \nCeCe Winans and a Christian hip-hop artist can appear on the same album. \nCountry stars can record explicitly faith-centered collaborations without treating them as side projects. \nAnd a contemporary worship singer can debut at No. 7 on the same Billboard chart measuring every other major album in America. \nLake sits directly in the middle of that shift. \nHis music doesn’t hide what it is. These aren’t secular pop songs with vaguely inspirational lyrics designed to cross over unnoticed. \nThey’re explicitly Christian. \nWhat’s changing is the sound and the audience around them. \nOn September 13\, that evolution arrives at Mohegan Sun Arena. \nDetails\nEvent: Brandon Lake at Mohegan Sun Arena\nDate: Sunday\, September 13\, 2026\nTime: 7:30 p.m.\nHeadliner: Brandon Lake\nSpecial Guest: Ben Fuller\nMusic: Contemporary Christian / worship / rock / country\nVenue: Mohegan Sun Arena\nAddress: 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard\, Uncasville\, CT 06382\nPit: Standing general admission; no chairs are permitted in the pit\nParking: Free self-parking is available at Mohegan Sun; reserved Riverview Garage parking is also available for purchase\nBag Policy: Backpacks\, string bags\, diaper bags\, shopping bags\, messenger bags\, briefcases and rolling-style bags are not permitted in the arena\nArena Box Office: 860-862-8499 \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.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/brandon-lake-at-mohegan-sun-arena/
LOCATION:Mohegan Sun Arena\, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd\, Uncasville\, 06382\, United States
CATEGORIES:Mohegan Sun
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