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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T120000
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UID:10007590-1791028800-1791057600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Outer Light Fall Fest Packs Oysters\, Axe Throwing\, Animals\, Cheese & Live Music Into a Groton Bash
DESCRIPTION:Outer Light Fall Fest takes over the Groton brewery Saturday\, October 3\, with eight hours of local food\, fresh oysters\, axe throwing\, live animals\, seasonal beer\, and live music from Austin Neal. \nThe party runs from noon to 8 p.m. at Outer Light Brewing Company on Bridge Street\, and the brewery has assembled a lineup that feels more like a small fall festival than a typical Saturday afternoon in the taproom. \nKingdom Axe rolls in with its mobile axe-throwing trailer. Carly’s Critters brings animals for an interactive encounter. Mystic Cheese supplies the local cheese. Sixpenny Oyster Farm handles the raw-bar side of the equation. Mr. Hot Dog takes care of something considerably less complicated. \nThen Austin Neal performs from 4 to 7 p.m. \nOuter Light will handle the beer. \nFall Fest Is Back\nThis isn’t Outer Light’s first attempt at a fall party. \nThe Groton brewery has turned Fall Fest into one of its seasonal community gatherings\, and the 2026 edition is scheduled for Saturday\, October 3 from noon until 8 p.m. \nOuter Light is promising seasonal releases alongside its year-round beers\, and its current draft lineup already offers a pretty substantial clue about what’s coming. \nFall Fest Märzen\, a 6.1% ABV Oktoberfest-style lager\, is currently pouring at the brewery. \nMärzen is the amber\, malt-forward German lager most Americans traditionally associate with Oktoberfest. The name literally refers to March\, when the beer was historically brewed before warm weather made brewing more difficult. It was stored through summer and ready to drink when fall arrived. \nIn Groton\, apparently\, it’s also good preparation for throwing an axe. \nKingdom Axe Brings the Targets to the Brewery\nFrom 1 to 3 p.m.\, Kingdom Axe brings its mobile axe-throwing setup to Fall Fest. \nThis isn’t a tabletop carnival game. \nThe Rhode Island and eastern Connecticut company operates a custom mobile trailer containing two separate throwing lanes\, enclosed with protective barriers and equipped with targets\, axes\, lighting and music. \nKingdom Axe also supplies instructors it calls “axe-perts” to teach participants how to throw and supervise the activity. \nThe company says its setup uses anti-bounce-back targets\, and its coaches are First Aid and CPR trained. \nThere is one important restriction for families: Kingdom Axe’s regular minimum throwing age is 12\, with adult supervision required for minors. \nOuter Light hasn’t published separate Fall Fest participation rules\, so families interested in throwing should follow the instructions being given by Kingdom Axe staff at the event. \nCarly’s Critters Brings a Completely Different Kind of Attraction\nAlso appearing from 1 to 3 p.m. is Carly’s Critters. \nIf axe throwing sounds like an odd thing to encounter at a brewery\, wait until you add a mobile farm. \nCarly’s Critters is an eastern Connecticut-based mobile mini farm and petting zoo that travels throughout Connecticut\, Rhode Island and Massachusetts for festivals\, schools\, parties and community events. \nIts larger operation includes goats\, pigs\, chickens\, ducks\, rabbits\, guinea pigs and ponies\, along with more unusual visitors. \nIt also has a separate “Creepy Crawly Critters” program featuring reptiles\, amphibians and invertebrates. \nExactly which animals Carly’s Critters will bring to Outer Light hasn’t been announced\, and the company notes that animal selections for traveling events can change according to availability\, weather and the event setup. \nSo don’t promise the kids a particular animal. \nYou can promise them there will be critters. \nSixpenny Oysters Are About as Local as Seafood Gets\nThe raw-bar portion of Fall Fest comes from Sixpenny Oyster Farm\, a small family-run aquaculture operation based in Noank. \nSixpenny grows its oysters in Beebe Cove near the mouth of the Mystic River\, making this a genuinely local brewery-and-oyster pairing. \nThe farm is operated by William Ceddia and Jason “Matt” Hamilton II\, two aquaculture professionals who met while working at Fishers Island Oyster Farm. \nCeddia grew up in Mystic and studied Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology at the University of Rhode Island. Hamilton came to southeastern Connecticut in 2012 and entered the aquaculture world through marine science fieldwork before eventually working professionally in oyster farming. \nThe pair turned Sixpenny into a full-time operation around the beginning of the pandemic. \nToday\, the farm sells directly to customers\, supplies restaurants and events\, operates catering and raw-bar services and has expanded into educational programs and guided kayak tours of its working oyster farm. \nWhat Does a Sixpenny Taste Like?\nSixpenny describes its oysters as distinctly briny\, with a smooth texture\, clean finish and mild mineral notes. \nThat reflects their environment. \nOysters don’t merely live in coastal water. Their flavor can carry characteristics of the water in which they’re grown\, producing differences in salinity\, minerality\, sweetness and finish from one growing area to another. \nWine drinkers have terroir. \nOyster people sometimes call the marine version merroir. \nSixpenny also puts considerable emphasis on the environmental side of oyster farming. The company participates in the Shellfish Grower’s Climate Coalition and works in education and sustainable aquaculture. \nThat’s particularly appropriate because oysters themselves perform useful ecological work. \nThey’re filter feeders\, drawing water across their gills as they feed on phytoplankton and suspended particles. Oyster reefs and farms can also provide habitat for other marine organisms. \nSo when Sixpenny arrives at Outer Light\, the distance from farm to pint glass isn’t particularly far. \nMystic Cheese Handles the Other Half of the Pairing\nThen there’s cheese. \nMystic Cheese Company is another southeastern Connecticut producer with a story considerably more interesting than simply buying wheels of cheese and cutting them into wedges. \nMystic Cheese actually makes the stuff. \nThe company began in 2013\, originally producing cheese inside converted shipping containers on a farm in Lebanon\, Connecticut. \nAs the business grew\, Mystic Cheese moved production to a purpose-built cheesemaking facility in Groton. \nIts cheese is made and aged locally using milk sourced exclusively from Connecticut farms. \nCurrent cheeses include Melinda Mae\, The Gray and Whaledale\, among others\, and the company has earned recognition for its increasingly ambitious aged cheeses. \nThe Gray\, a Cheshire-style cheese\, was named to Culture magazine’s Best of 2025 list. \nMystic Cheese also operates its retail shop at the Velvet Mill in Stonington\, selling its own cheeses alongside domestic and imported selections\, charcuterie and provisions. \nOuter Light has not yet announced what Mystic Cheese will be serving or selling at Fall Fest\, nor has it posted the vendor’s appearance time. \nMr. Hot Dog Keeps Things Simple\nFrom 1 to 6 p.m.\, Mr. Hot Dog joins the food lineup. \nOuter Light currently identifies the vendor simply as Mr. Hot Dog and has not published a Fall Fest menu. \nSo rather than invent a list of elaborate toppings\, we’ll stick with what we know. \nThere will be hot dogs. \nFor five hours. \nSometimes journalism is easy. \nAustin Neal Takes Over the Music From 4 to 7\nThe live-music portion of the day belongs to Austin Neal\, who performs from 4 to 7 p.m. \nNeal is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who works the regional brewery\, restaurant and event circuit and has become a recurring performer at Outer Light. \nIn fact\, Fall Fest isn’t his only Outer Light appearance this fall. \nHe’s also scheduled to play the brewery’s Groton Firefighters Fundraiser on September 26\, one week before Fall Fest. \nThat familiarity makes him a natural fit for the brewery’s big community events: live music that can carry an afternoon without turning the taproom into a formal concert venue. \nFall Fest is built for people to move around\, eat\, have a beer\, visit the vendors and come back to the music. \nOuter Light Has Been Brewing in Groton Since 2015\nThe host has now been part of Groton’s craft-beer scene for more than a decade. \nOuter Light Brewing Company opened in 2015\, establishing its brewery and taproom at 266 Bridge Street. \nIts beer lineup ranges widely rather than sticking to one style\, with IPAs\, lagers\, ales\, sours and seasonal releases moving through the taps. \nOne of its best-known beers is Lonesome Boatman\, an amber ale that has become a year-round fixture. \nThe current tap list illustrates just how broad things can get. Alongside Lonesome Boatman and the Fall Fest Märzen\, recent pours have included a passion-fruit New England IPA\, cherry-limeade sour\, orange hefeweizen collaboration and green-tea pale ale. \nFall Fest gives the brewery a reason to lean particularly hard into the seasonal side. \nThe Brewery Is Also a Coffee Shop Now\nHere’s something people who haven’t visited Outer Light recently may not know. \nThe brewery now opens in the morning as Outer Light Brewing Coffee. \nThe same industrial taproom that pours beer later in the day serves espresso drinks\, drip coffee\, cold brew\, cappuccino\, lattes\, chai\, matcha and other nonalcoholic drinks earlier in the day\, along with light food including bagels\, muffins and croissants. \nOuter Light’s Fall Fest promotion specifically says coffee will be available at the bar all day\, along with its seasonal beers and year-round favorites. \nThat makes this one brewery festival where “I don’t drink beer” doesn’t leave you holding a bottle of water for eight hours. \nIt Works as a Family Fall Festival\, Too\nThe combination of Carly’s Critters\, food vendors and afternoon activities makes Fall Fest much broader than a beer release. \nOuter Light itself is generally child friendly\, and the festival doesn’t carry a published 21-and-over restriction. \nKingdom Axe has its own age restriction for participating in axe throwing\, but families can still visit the animals\, get something to eat\, listen to the music and spend time at the brewery. \nOuter Light also has outdoor seating. \nDogs are permitted outside only\, according to the brewery’s current policy. Only service animals are allowed indoors. \nWith Carly’s Critters on the property\, that distinction may be especially worth remembering. \nStart With an Axe. Finish With an Oyster and a Märzen.\nThe schedule also makes it possible to plan the day without having to stay for all eight hours. \nThe festival opens at noon. \nAt 1 p.m.\, the activity ramps up when Kingdom Axe\, Carly’s Critters and Mr. Hot Dog get started. \nKingdom Axe and Carly’s Critters wrap at 3. \nAustin Neal begins at 4. \nMr. Hot Dog continues until 6. \nThe music carries the party until 7. \nOuter Light keeps Fall Fest going until 8. \nMystic Cheese and Sixpenny Oyster Farm are confirmed for the festival\, although Outer Light has not yet posted their specific serving times. \nThat gives the day a nice progression. \nCoffee if you’re early. \nAnimals and axes in the afternoon. \nOysters\, cheese and beer somewhere along the way. \nLive music into the evening. \nAnd\, because this is New England in October\, presumably at least one person wearing flannel who has been waiting since July for permission to wear it again. \nDetails\nEvent: Outer Light Fall Fest\nDate: Saturday\, October 3\, 2026\nTime: Noon–8 p.m.\nVenue: Outer Light Brewing Company\nAddress: 266 Bridge Street\, Unit 1\, Groton\, CT 06340\nAdmission: No admission charge is listed by Outer Light\nKingdom Axe: 1–3 p.m.\nCarly’s Critters: 1–3 p.m.\nMr. Hot Dog: 1–6 p.m.\nMystic Cheese: Confirmed; time TBD\nSixpenny Oyster Farm: Confirmed; time TBD\nAustin Neal: Live music\, 4–7 p.m.\nBeer: Seasonal releases\, including Fall Fest Märzen\, plus year-round Outer Light beers\nOther Drinks: Coffee available at the bar throughout the day\nFamilies: Outer Light is child friendly; individual attractions may have participation restrictions\nAxe Throwing: Kingdom Axe normally allows participants ages 12 and older\, with adult supervision for minors\nDogs: Permitted in Outer Light’s outdoor seating area only; service animals allowed indoors\nPhone: 475-201-9972 \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/outer-light-fall-fest-packs-oysters-axe-throwing-animals-cheese-and-live-music-into-one-big-groton-bash/
LOCATION:Outer Light Brewing Company\, 266 Bridge Street\, Groton\, CT\, 06340\, United States
CATEGORIES:Outer Light Brewing
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T200000
DTSTAMP:20260924T183510Z
CREATED:20260920T211648Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T183510Z
UID:10008482-1790427600-1790452800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:The Pioneer Fundraiser Brings a New IPA\, Live Music and a Community Cause to Outer Light (postponed. new date TBA)
DESCRIPTION:The Pioneer Fundraiser Brings a New IPA\, Live Music and a Community Cause to Outer Light Saturday\, Sept. 26\, as Groton firefighters return to the local brewery for seven hours of beer\, music\, food and family activities benefiting their scholarship fund and other community causes. \nThe annual fundraiser runs from 1 to 8 p.m. at Outer Light Brewing Company on Bridge Street\, and admission is free . \nThis year’s event also comes with its own beer. Outer Light is introducing The Pioneer\, a Juicy IPA created for the fundraiser\, continuing a tradition of pairing the firefighters’ annual event with a special brew. \nA Fundraiser That’s Becoming a Groton Tradition\nThis is the fourth annual Groton Firefighters fundraiser at Outer Light. \nLast year’s event was built around The Can Man\, an Oktoberfest-style beer\, with the same basic idea: turn an afternoon at the brewery into a community fundraiser where people can stay for a beer\, eat\, listen to music and bring the kids rather than simply dropping off a donation. \nFor 2026\, The Pioneer takes over as the event’s signature beer. \nThe brewery and firefighters haven’t published detailed tasting notes for the new Juicy IPA\, leaving one of the day’s discoveries for the first pour. \nMore important is what happens to the money raised. \nOrganizers say 100 percent of fundraiser proceeds will benefit the Groton Firefighters’ Scholarship Fund and other benevolent causes supporting the community. \nThe scholarship fund provides the event with a purpose beyond the brewery. Money raised helps the firefighters put something back into the community they serve\, including supporting students as they continue their education. \nAustin Neal Brings Country and Rock to the Brewery\nLive music comes from Austin Neal\, a singer-songwriter with a musical background that stretches from traditional country into Southern and classic rock. \nNeal grew up in the Ozark foothills of southeast Missouri and started playing guitar as a child\, absorbing the music of Alabama\, George Jones\, Don Williams and Waylon Jennings before adding influences including The Eagles\, The Black Crowes and Jim Croce. \nHe’s also a U.S. Navy veteran who has made Eastern Connecticut home in recent years. \nLocal audiences may recognize him from Mohegan Sun’s Locals Live competition. Neal was one of 12 acts selected for the 2024 competition at the Wolf Den\, advanced through the preliminary round and ultimately finished third in the finals. \nHis performance background also includes opening for country artists including Shenandoah\, Mark Chesnutt\, Craig Campbell\, Shooter Jennings and Neal McCoy. \nThat mix of country roots and rock influences should fit comfortably into an afternoon built around a brewery rather than a formal concert stage. \nTacos\, Raffles\, Games and a Bounce House\nThe fundraiser is designed to work for families as well as people coming specifically for the beer. \nTaqueria Cinco will be on hand serving food\, while the afternoon also includes raffles and prizes\, yard games and a bounce house provided by J&S Bounce House and Beyond. \nOuter Light will have its regular selection of beer and other beverages available in addition to The Pioneer. \nThat gives the event a loose\, drop-in structure. It runs for seven hours\, admission is free and there’s no requirement to arrive at the beginning or stay through the evening. \nCome for lunch and the bounce house with the kids\, stay for Austin Neal and the raffles\, or make the new IPA the excuse for stopping in. \nOuter Light Has Made Fundraising Part of the Taproom\nThe firefighters’ event also fits into a broader pattern at Outer Light. \nThe Groton brewery regularly uses its taproom for community fundraisers and benefit events. Its 2026 calendar alone has included events supporting the United Way’s Tommy Toy Program\, Groton Community Meals\, military and veterans’ programs and people affected by the Ledges fire. \nThe brewery has also collaborated with local organizations on beers tied specifically to Groton history and community events. \nThat makes Saturday’s fundraiser less like a charity event temporarily dropped into a brewery and more like something that has become part of how Outer Light uses the space. \nThis time\, it’s Groton’s firefighters taking over the taproom\, bringing a new beer with them and raising money for what comes next. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nDetails\nEvent: The Pioneer: Annual Groton Firefighters’ Fundraiser\nDate: Saturday\, Sept. 26\, 2026\nTime: 1–8 p.m.\nVenue: Outer Light Brewing Company\nAddress: 266 Bridge Street\, Unit 1\, Groton\, CT 06340\nAdmission: Free\nSpecial Beer: The Pioneer\, a Juicy IPA\nLive Music: Austin Neal Music\nFood: Taqueria Cinco\nActivities: Raffles and prizes\, yard games and a bounce house from J&S Bounce House and Beyond\nBeneficiary: Groton Firefighters’ Scholarship Fund and other community benevolent causes\nFundraising: Organizers state that 100 percent of proceeds benefit the scholarship fund and other benevolent causes\nFamily Friendly: Yes; children’s activities include a bounce house \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-pioneer-fundraiser-brings-a-new-ipa-live-music-and-a-community-cause-to-outer-light/
LOCATION:Outer Light Brewing Company\, 266 Bridge Street\, Groton\, CT\, 06340\, United States
CATEGORIES:Outer Light Brewing
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T140000
DTSTAMP:20260915T022654Z
CREATED:20260907T030609Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260915T022654Z
UID:10007492-1789209000-1789221600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Groton City Brew Run & Food Trucks
DESCRIPTION:Groton City Brew Run returns to Eastern Point Beach on Saturday\, September 12\, combining a waterfront 5K run and walk with a post-race beer garden\, live music\, food trucks\, and craft beverages from breweries and producers across Southern New England. \nNow in its sixth year\, the event begins with a free kids run at 10:30 a.m.\, followed by the 5K run and walk at 11 a.m. The Brew Garden opens at 11:30 a.m. and continues until 2 p.m.\, with Acoustic Marshpit returning to provide live music. \nThe 2026 Brew Run benefits The Riverfront Children’s Center and is hosted by the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce\, Groton Utilities and Kelley’s Pace. \nFrom a Local 5K to a Groton Tradition\nThe Groton City Brew Run began in 2021 with a fairly simple combination: go for a run and have a beer afterward. \nSix years later\, the event has grown into one of the City of Groton’s signature late-summer gatherings. \nNearly 600 people participated in 2025\, according to the City of Groton\, marking the first time the event surpassed 500 runners and walkers. \nThe location is a significant part of its appeal. \nThe race starts and finishes at Eastern Point Beach\, where the Thames River meets Long Island Sound. With Shore Avenue reopened following two years of construction\, organizers say the 2026 course returns to a scenic finish with water views. \nRunners and walkers share a single mass start at 11 a.m. \nYou Don’t Have to Run to Join the Brewfest\nDespite the name\, the Groton City Brew Run isn’t limited to runners. \nParticipants can register for the 5K run or walk\, combine the race with admission to the Brew Garden\, or skip the race entirely and purchase Brew Garden admission. \nThe post-race festivities begin at 11:30 a.m.\, when Eastern Point Beach shifts from race course to beer festival. \nThe current 2026 lineup includes 18 breweries\, distilleries and beverage producers\, bringing together a particularly strong collection of Connecticut and Rhode Island names. \nBeer’d Brewing Company\, which operates The Silo in Groton and The Mill in Stonington\, is among the participating breweries. Groton’s Outer Light Brewing Company is also represented. \nThe larger lineup includes Athletic Brewing Company\, B-Sharp Brewing\, Barn Brew Co.\, Back East Brewing\, BAD SONS Brewing\, Creature Brewing Company\, Grey Sail Brewing\, Levine Distributing\, Litchfield Distillery\, Owl’s Brew\, Schooner’s Beverages\, Tapped Apple\, These Guys Brewing\, Two Roads Brewing\, Waypoint Spirits and Whalers Brewing Company. \nThat mix means the Brew Garden extends beyond conventional craft beer\, with spirits and other beverages represented alongside the breweries. \nBrew Garden admission is restricted to guests 21 and older. \nAcoustic Marshpit Returns to the Beach\nThe music portion of the afternoon belongs to Acoustic Marshpit\, returning after previously performing at the Brew Run two years ago. \nThe acoustic act provides the soundtrack once the race gives way to the post-run celebration\, with music continuing alongside the Brew Garden and food trucks. \nThe City of Groton specifically cited the group’s previous Brew Run appearance in announcing its return for 2026\, describing a performance that kept the post-race party moving. \nRather than treating the music as a separate concert\, the Brew Run builds it into the larger beach gathering. Runners can finish their 5K\, grab something to eat and spend the remainder of the afternoon at Eastern Point Beach without needing to head elsewhere. \nA Free Race for Younger Runners\nBefore the main field takes off\, younger runners get a race of their own. \nThe Kids Run begins at 10:30 a.m. and is free for children age 10 and younger. \nPre-registration is required even though there is no entry fee. \nThe Kids Run\, food and live music also give families something to do beyond the adult Brew Garden\, making the larger event more than a beer festival attached to a road race. \nSupporting The Riverfront Children’s Center\nThis year’s Brew Run benefits The Riverfront Children’s Center\, adding a community fundraising component to the event. \nThe Groton nonprofit has served children and families in southeastern Connecticut for decades\, providing early childhood education and care with an emphasis on making quality programs available to families across different income levels. \nThat mission fits an event designed to bring together runners\, walkers\, families\, local businesses and breweries from throughout the region. \nRace Registration and Brew Garden Tickets\nSeveral registration options are available depending on how much of the day visitors want to participate in. \nAs of the current registration period\, the 5K run or walk is $37\, while the combined 5K and Brew Garden package is $49. Brew Garden admission without participating in the race is $39. \nThe Kids Run remains free. \nRace-day packet pickup runs from 8:30 to 10:45 a.m. \nParticipants can also avoid the race-morning pickup line by collecting their bib and shirt in advance at the City of Groton Municipal Building\, 295 Meridian Street. Early packet pickup is scheduled for Thursday\, September 10\, and Friday\, September 11\, from 3 to 7 p.m. \nTech shirts are available to registered 5K runners and walkers while supplies last. \nAn End-of-Summer Party at Eastern Point\nThe combination is an unusual one\, but after six years it has become the identity of the event. \nThe morning starts with running shoes and a starting line. A half-hour after the 5K begins\, taps start pouring\, food trucks are serving and live music takes over the beach. \nPeople who have no interest in running can simply come for the Brew Garden. Families can bring younger children for their own race. Serious runners can treat it as a competitive 5K. \nIn 2025\, William Sanders won the overall race in 15:58\, while Shelly Rivera was the women’s winner in 20:31. \nFor everyone else\, there’s beer waiting at the finish. \nEvent Details\nEvent: 6th Annual Groton City Brew Run\nDate: Saturday\, September 12\, 2026\nLocation: Eastern Point Beach\nAddress: 1 Beach Pond Road\, Groton\, CT 06340\nKids Run: 10:30 a.m.\n5K Run & Walk: 11 a.m.\nBrew Garden\, Music & Food Trucks: 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.\nLive Music: Acoustic Marshpit\n5K Run/Walk: $37\n5K + Brew Garden: $49\nBrew Garden Only: $39\nKids Run: Free; pre-registration required\nBrew Garden Age: 21+\nBeneficiary: The Riverfront Children’s Center\nHosts: Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce\, Groton Utilities and Kelley’s Pace\nRace-Day Packet Pickup: 8:30–10:45 a.m. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. \nTo register\, 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. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/groton-city-brew-run/
LOCATION:Zbierski House\, Eastern Point Beach\, 1 Beach Pond Road\, Groton\, 06340\, United States
CATEGORIES:Zbierski House
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260814T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260814T210000
DTSTAMP:20260813T135446Z
CREATED:20260813T135446Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260813T135446Z
UID:10007173-1786732200-1786741200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:City of Groton Concerts in the Park: Diva and the Playboys
DESCRIPTION:City of Groton Concerts in the Park: Diva and the Playboys brings decades of pop hits to Washington Park on Friday\, August 14\, at 6:30 p.m. The free summer concert pairs a dance-friendly set from one of this year’s newcomers with food trucks\, ice cream and plenty of room for families to spread out across the park. \nDiva and the Playboys are built for a crowd with a wide age range. Their songbook stretches from Dion and the pop and rock of the 1960s all the way to Dua Lipa and current hits. Rather than concentrating on a single decade or style\, the band moves through generations of familiar music\, with an interactive show designed to keep people singing and dancing. \nThe concert is part of the annual Friday night series co-sponsored and co-produced by Groton Utilities and the City of Groton Parks and Recreation Department. Diva and the Playboys are one of four bands making their series debut in 2026\, joining Mystic Dead\, Branded and Whiskey Boulevard among a schedule that also brings back local favorites including Wild Nights\, The Cartells and Wicked Peach. \nAbout Diva and the Playboys\nDiva and the Playboys approach the cover-band format with a very broad definition of “pop.” \nThat means a set can jump across decades instead of spending the night locked into one musical era. The band’s repertoire reaches back to 1960s favorites and moves through classic rock\, dance music and later pop before arriving at contemporary artists. \nIt’s an approach that makes sense at Washington Park. This isn’t a late-night club show aimed at one particular audience. Parents\, kids and grandparents can all recognize different parts of the set\, and the band’s emphasis on audience interaction keeps the concert moving. \nThe basketball court also becomes an unofficial dance floor during the summer concerts\, so nobody needs to stay planted in a lawn chair once the band gets going. \nA Friday Night Tradition at Washington Park\nGroton’s summer concerts are designed as inexpensive family nights rather than formal performances. \nAll shows begin at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays at Washington Park\, with spectators encouraged to bring chairs or blankets and settle in for the evening. \nThere’s room for children to come along without parents worrying about keeping them silent through a concert\, and the open park setting gives people the freedom to move around\, grab food or head over to the basketball court to dance. \nDiva and the Playboys’ August 14 appearance comes near the end of a season that mixes returning regional favorites with several bands appearing at the series for the first time. \nFood Trucks for August 14\nYou don’t necessarily need to eat before coming to the park. \nSeveral food vendors are scheduled for the Diva and the Playboys concert\, giving families options for dinner\, dessert and coffee during the show. \nScheduled vendors include: \n\nTaqueria Cinco\nIssa Catering\nRobin’s Ice Cream\nTravelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck\n\nA concession stand is also part of the concert setup. \nWith music starting at 6:30 p.m.\, arriving a little early makes sense if you’re planning to order dinner and find a good place for your chairs before the performance begins. \nWhat to Bring\nThe concerts take place outdoors in Washington Park\, so bring your own lawn chairs or a blanket. \nFamilies planning to stay for the full evening may also want sunscreen for the beginning of the concert and insect repellent as the sun starts going down. \nIf dancing is more your speed\, you won’t have to negotiate your way between rows of chairs. The park’s basketball court provides a large open area where concertgoers can dance during the show. \nWeather and Cancellations\nBecause the concert is outdoors\, weather can affect the schedule. \nThe City of Groton maintains a dedicated concert hotline for current information and cancellation notices. If rain or thunderstorms are threatening Friday evening\, call 860-446-4129 before heading to Washington Park. \nEvent Details\nDate: Friday\, August 14\, 2026 \nTime: 6:30 p.m. \nPerformer: Diva and the Playboys \nSeries: City of Groton Concerts in the Park \nLocation: Washington Park \nAddress: Meridian Street\, Groton\, CT \nAdmission: Free \nFood: Taqueria Cinco\, Issa Catering\, Robin’s Ice Cream and Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck are scheduled for the evening. \nSeating: Bring your own lawn chair or blanket. \nDancing: The basketball court provides space for dancing. \nRecommended For: All ages and families. \nPresented By: Groton Utilities and the City of Groton Parks and Recreation Department \nWeather/Cancellation Hotline: 860-446-4129 \nImportant Note: This is an outdoor concert. Check the hotline for cancellation information if poor weather is expected. \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/city-of-groton-concerts-in-the-park-diva-and-the-playboys/
LOCATION:Washington Park\, 155 Meridian Street\, Groton\, 06340\, United States
CATEGORIES:Washington Park
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