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SUMMARY:Neepun (Summer) Ahqeesh! Bingo
DESCRIPTION:Neepun (Summer) Ahqeesh! Bingo invites families to learn the Pequot language through an interactive game at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center on Saturday\, August 8. Designed for participants of all ages\, this unique cultural program combines the excitement of bingo with language learning\, making it an engaging way to explore Pequot words\, traditions\, and history. \nLed by Public Programs Educator Erin Hall\, the program introduces players to Pequot vocabulary by matching words with their meanings during a lively bingo game. Whether you’re visiting the museum for the first time or looking to deepen your understanding of Indigenous culture\, Ahqeesh! Bingo offers a welcoming environment where learning happens through play. \nThe program is part of the museum’s seasonal language series\, celebrating Neepun\, the Pequot word for summer. Along the way\, participants will gain a greater appreciation for the language that has been spoken in this region for generations while enjoying a fun\, family-friendly activity suitable for children and adults alike. \nHosted by the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center\, the event reflects the museum’s ongoing mission to preserve\, share\, and celebrate the history\, language\, and culture of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. \nEvent Details\nDate: Saturday\, August 8\, 2026 \nTime: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. \nLocation: Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center \nAddress: 110 Pequot Trail\, Mashantucket\, CT 06338 \nPresenter: Erin Hall\, Public Programs Educator \nAdmission: See museum for admission or registration details.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/neepun-summer-ahqeesh-bingo/
LOCATION:Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center\, 110 Pequot Trail\, Mashantucket\, 06388\, United States
CATEGORIES:Foxwoods
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Neepun-Summer-Ahqeesh-Bingo-Saturday-August-8-2pm-4pm.jpg
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SUMMARY:Sail with the Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel in New London
DESCRIPTION:Sail with the Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel in New London August 14–16 when the Tall Ship of Delaware arrives at New London City Pier for five public sailing trips on Long Island Sound. Rather than simply touring the ship at the dock\, passengers spend 2½ hours underway aboard a full-scale recreation of the 17th-century vessel that carried the first Swedish settlers to the Delaware Valley. \nThis is also a hands-on tall ship experience. Guests can help the crew raise sails and haul lines\, listen to stories about the ship and maritime life\, or find a place on deck and simply enjoy the trip. The exact sailing experience changes with the wind and conditions\, which is rather the point when you’re aboard a ship powered by canvas instead of following a sightseeing route on a motor vessel. \nFive sails are scheduled across three days\, including morning and afternoon trips Friday\, morning and late-afternoon trips Saturday\, and a final Sunday morning sail. Current booking information shows fares ranging from $40 for youth ages 12 and younger to $75 for adults\, with advance reservations recommended. (Kalmar Nyckel Booking) \nThe Ship That Helped Found New Sweden\nThe original Kalmar Nyckel played a remarkable role in early American history. \nIn 1637\, the ship left Europe as the flagship of an expedition led by Peter Minuit to establish a Swedish colony in North America. After crossing the Atlantic\, the expedition entered the Delaware River in March 1638 and established Fort Christina\, in what is now Wilmington\, Delaware. \nThat settlement became the beginning of New Sweden and the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley. (Sea History Association) \nKalmar Nyckel wasn’t finished after that first crossing. The ship ultimately completed four round-trip Atlantic voyages between Sweden and North America\, more documented crossings than any other colonial ship of the period. \nThe original vessel later returned to naval and merchant service before being sunk during a battle with English forces in 1652. \nSailing Aboard a 17th-Century Ship\nThe Kalmar Nyckel visiting New London isn’t the original ship\, but neither is it a conventional modern tour boat dressed to look old. \nThe full-scale recreation was built by the nonprofit Kalmar Nyckel Foundation in Wilmington\, Delaware\, just downstream from the site where the original ship landed in 1638. It was launched in 1997 and commissioned the following year. \nThe ship is operated with the help of a large volunteer crew trained in traditional seamanship. That working-ship approach carries over to the public sails. \nPassengers who want to participate can lend a hand as the crew handles lines and raises sail. You don’t have to\, though. Helping sail the ship is optional\, and watching the crew work from the deck is part of the experience in itself. \nFor children who’ve only seen this kind of ship in a movie or museum\, seeing the rigging put to work can make 17th-century maritime history considerably more tangible. \nFive Chances to Sail from New London\nThe New London visit includes five separate public sails. \nFriday\, August 14\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.\n3:00–5:30 p.m. \nSaturday\, August 15\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.\n5:00–7:30 p.m. \nSunday\, August 16\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. \nEach trip lasts approximately 2½ hours and departs from New London City Pier. The Saturday evening departure offers a particularly different experience\, leaving at 5 p.m. for an early-evening sail on Long Island Sound. \nThe ship’s current booking schedule lists all five New London departures. \nA Hands-On History Lesson for Kids\nFamilies don’t need any sailing experience to participate. \nKids can see how a large wooden sailing vessel actually operates and watch crew members work with the maze of ropes\, sails and rigging overhead. Those who want to get involved can help haul lines alongside the crew. \nThere’s also a larger story behind what they’re doing. Ships like Kalmar Nyckel crossed an Atlantic without engines\, GPS\, weather radar or instant communication with shore. Wind\, navigation and the ability of a crew to work together determined whether a voyage succeeded. \nThe modern Kalmar Nyckel Foundation uses the ship as a floating classroom and educational platform\, reaching tens of thousands of people through sails\, school programs and other activities each year. (Do More 24 Delaware) \nSailing from New London City Pier\nAll five trips depart from New London Waterfront Park and the City Pier area in downtown New London. \nCity Pier sits directly on the downtown waterfront near Union Station\, making the departure point unusually convenient for a tall ship sail. Restaurants and downtown New London are within walking distance\, so the trip can easily become part of a longer afternoon or evening in the city. \nPassengers should leave enough time to park and reach the pier before boarding rather than arriving at the scheduled departure time. \nTickets\nAdult admission is $75\, while tickets for youth ages 12 and younger are $40. \nAdvance reservations are recommended\, particularly because each sailing has limited capacity. Some of the ship’s other August 2026 public sails have already sold out. \nEvent Details\nDates: Friday\, August 14–Sunday\, August 16\, 2026 \nFriday Sailings: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 3:00–5:30 p.m. \nSaturday Sailings: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 5:00–7:30 p.m. \nSunday Sailing: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. \nDuration: Approximately 2½ hours \nShip: Kalmar Nyckel\, the Tall Ship of Delaware \nLocation: New London City Pier \nCity: New London\, CT \nAdult Admission: $75 \nYouth Admission: $40 for ages 12 and younger \nExperience: Public sailing excursion on Long Island Sound with opportunities to help raise sails and haul lines. \nReservations: Advance reservations are recommended. \nQuestions: (302) 429-7447 \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \nFor ticket purchases\, click on the Ticketing link below. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/sail-with-the-tall-ship-kalmar-nyckel-in-new-london/2026-08-14/1/
LOCATION:New London City Pier\, 1 Waterfront Park\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:New London City Pier
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SUMMARY:Sail with the Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel in New London
DESCRIPTION:Sail with the Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel in New London August 14–16 when the Tall Ship of Delaware arrives at New London City Pier for five public sailing trips on Long Island Sound. Rather than simply touring the ship at the dock\, passengers spend 2½ hours underway aboard a full-scale recreation of the 17th-century vessel that carried the first Swedish settlers to the Delaware Valley. \nThis is also a hands-on tall ship experience. Guests can help the crew raise sails and haul lines\, listen to stories about the ship and maritime life\, or find a place on deck and simply enjoy the trip. The exact sailing experience changes with the wind and conditions\, which is rather the point when you’re aboard a ship powered by canvas instead of following a sightseeing route on a motor vessel. \nFive sails are scheduled across three days\, including morning and afternoon trips Friday\, morning and late-afternoon trips Saturday\, and a final Sunday morning sail. Current booking information shows fares ranging from $40 for youth ages 12 and younger to $75 for adults\, with advance reservations recommended. (Kalmar Nyckel Booking) \nThe Ship That Helped Found New Sweden\nThe original Kalmar Nyckel played a remarkable role in early American history. \nIn 1637\, the ship left Europe as the flagship of an expedition led by Peter Minuit to establish a Swedish colony in North America. After crossing the Atlantic\, the expedition entered the Delaware River in March 1638 and established Fort Christina\, in what is now Wilmington\, Delaware. \nThat settlement became the beginning of New Sweden and the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley. (Sea History Association) \nKalmar Nyckel wasn’t finished after that first crossing. The ship ultimately completed four round-trip Atlantic voyages between Sweden and North America\, more documented crossings than any other colonial ship of the period. \nThe original vessel later returned to naval and merchant service before being sunk during a battle with English forces in 1652. \nSailing Aboard a 17th-Century Ship\nThe Kalmar Nyckel visiting New London isn’t the original ship\, but neither is it a conventional modern tour boat dressed to look old. \nThe full-scale recreation was built by the nonprofit Kalmar Nyckel Foundation in Wilmington\, Delaware\, just downstream from the site where the original ship landed in 1638. It was launched in 1997 and commissioned the following year. \nThe ship is operated with the help of a large volunteer crew trained in traditional seamanship. That working-ship approach carries over to the public sails. \nPassengers who want to participate can lend a hand as the crew handles lines and raises sail. You don’t have to\, though. Helping sail the ship is optional\, and watching the crew work from the deck is part of the experience in itself. \nFor children who’ve only seen this kind of ship in a movie or museum\, seeing the rigging put to work can make 17th-century maritime history considerably more tangible. \nFive Chances to Sail from New London\nThe New London visit includes five separate public sails. \nFriday\, August 14\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.\n3:00–5:30 p.m. \nSaturday\, August 15\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.\n5:00–7:30 p.m. \nSunday\, August 16\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. \nEach trip lasts approximately 2½ hours and departs from New London City Pier. The Saturday evening departure offers a particularly different experience\, leaving at 5 p.m. for an early-evening sail on Long Island Sound. \nThe ship’s current booking schedule lists all five New London departures. \nA Hands-On History Lesson for Kids\nFamilies don’t need any sailing experience to participate. \nKids can see how a large wooden sailing vessel actually operates and watch crew members work with the maze of ropes\, sails and rigging overhead. Those who want to get involved can help haul lines alongside the crew. \nThere’s also a larger story behind what they’re doing. Ships like Kalmar Nyckel crossed an Atlantic without engines\, GPS\, weather radar or instant communication with shore. Wind\, navigation and the ability of a crew to work together determined whether a voyage succeeded. \nThe modern Kalmar Nyckel Foundation uses the ship as a floating classroom and educational platform\, reaching tens of thousands of people through sails\, school programs and other activities each year. (Do More 24 Delaware) \nSailing from New London City Pier\nAll five trips depart from New London Waterfront Park and the City Pier area in downtown New London. \nCity Pier sits directly on the downtown waterfront near Union Station\, making the departure point unusually convenient for a tall ship sail. Restaurants and downtown New London are within walking distance\, so the trip can easily become part of a longer afternoon or evening in the city. \nPassengers should leave enough time to park and reach the pier before boarding rather than arriving at the scheduled departure time. \nTickets\nAdult admission is $75\, while tickets for youth ages 12 and younger are $40. \nAdvance reservations are recommended\, particularly because each sailing has limited capacity. Some of the ship’s other August 2026 public sails have already sold out. \nEvent Details\nDates: Friday\, August 14–Sunday\, August 16\, 2026 \nFriday Sailings: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 3:00–5:30 p.m. \nSaturday Sailings: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 5:00–7:30 p.m. \nSunday Sailing: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. \nDuration: Approximately 2½ hours \nShip: Kalmar Nyckel\, the Tall Ship of Delaware \nLocation: New London City Pier \nCity: New London\, CT \nAdult Admission: $75 \nYouth Admission: $40 for ages 12 and younger \nExperience: Public sailing excursion on Long Island Sound with opportunities to help raise sails and haul lines. \nReservations: Advance reservations are recommended. \nQuestions: (302) 429-7447 \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \nFor ticket purchases\, click on the Ticketing link below. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/sail-with-the-tall-ship-kalmar-nyckel-in-new-london/2026-08-14/2/
LOCATION:New London City Pier\, 1 Waterfront Park\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:New London City Pier
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Sail-with-the-Tall-Ship-Kalmar-Nyckel-in-New-London-Friday-Sun-August-14-16.jpg
END:VEVENT
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T100000
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DTSTAMP:20260813T142204Z
CREATED:20260813T142204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260813T142204Z
UID:10007176-1786788000-1786797000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Sail with the Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel in New London
DESCRIPTION:Sail with the Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel in New London August 14–16 when the Tall Ship of Delaware arrives at New London City Pier for five public sailing trips on Long Island Sound. Rather than simply touring the ship at the dock\, passengers spend 2½ hours underway aboard a full-scale recreation of the 17th-century vessel that carried the first Swedish settlers to the Delaware Valley. \nThis is also a hands-on tall ship experience. Guests can help the crew raise sails and haul lines\, listen to stories about the ship and maritime life\, or find a place on deck and simply enjoy the trip. The exact sailing experience changes with the wind and conditions\, which is rather the point when you’re aboard a ship powered by canvas instead of following a sightseeing route on a motor vessel. \nFive sails are scheduled across three days\, including morning and afternoon trips Friday\, morning and late-afternoon trips Saturday\, and a final Sunday morning sail. Current booking information shows fares ranging from $40 for youth ages 12 and younger to $75 for adults\, with advance reservations recommended. (Kalmar Nyckel Booking) \nThe Ship That Helped Found New Sweden\nThe original Kalmar Nyckel played a remarkable role in early American history. \nIn 1637\, the ship left Europe as the flagship of an expedition led by Peter Minuit to establish a Swedish colony in North America. After crossing the Atlantic\, the expedition entered the Delaware River in March 1638 and established Fort Christina\, in what is now Wilmington\, Delaware. \nThat settlement became the beginning of New Sweden and the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley. (Sea History Association) \nKalmar Nyckel wasn’t finished after that first crossing. The ship ultimately completed four round-trip Atlantic voyages between Sweden and North America\, more documented crossings than any other colonial ship of the period. \nThe original vessel later returned to naval and merchant service before being sunk during a battle with English forces in 1652. \nSailing Aboard a 17th-Century Ship\nThe Kalmar Nyckel visiting New London isn’t the original ship\, but neither is it a conventional modern tour boat dressed to look old. \nThe full-scale recreation was built by the nonprofit Kalmar Nyckel Foundation in Wilmington\, Delaware\, just downstream from the site where the original ship landed in 1638. It was launched in 1997 and commissioned the following year. \nThe ship is operated with the help of a large volunteer crew trained in traditional seamanship. That working-ship approach carries over to the public sails. \nPassengers who want to participate can lend a hand as the crew handles lines and raises sail. You don’t have to\, though. Helping sail the ship is optional\, and watching the crew work from the deck is part of the experience in itself. \nFor children who’ve only seen this kind of ship in a movie or museum\, seeing the rigging put to work can make 17th-century maritime history considerably more tangible. \nFive Chances to Sail from New London\nThe New London visit includes five separate public sails. \nFriday\, August 14\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.\n3:00–5:30 p.m. \nSaturday\, August 15\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.\n5:00–7:30 p.m. \nSunday\, August 16\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. \nEach trip lasts approximately 2½ hours and departs from New London City Pier. The Saturday evening departure offers a particularly different experience\, leaving at 5 p.m. for an early-evening sail on Long Island Sound. \nThe ship’s current booking schedule lists all five New London departures. \nA Hands-On History Lesson for Kids\nFamilies don’t need any sailing experience to participate. \nKids can see how a large wooden sailing vessel actually operates and watch crew members work with the maze of ropes\, sails and rigging overhead. Those who want to get involved can help haul lines alongside the crew. \nThere’s also a larger story behind what they’re doing. Ships like Kalmar Nyckel crossed an Atlantic without engines\, GPS\, weather radar or instant communication with shore. Wind\, navigation and the ability of a crew to work together determined whether a voyage succeeded. \nThe modern Kalmar Nyckel Foundation uses the ship as a floating classroom and educational platform\, reaching tens of thousands of people through sails\, school programs and other activities each year. (Do More 24 Delaware) \nSailing from New London City Pier\nAll five trips depart from New London Waterfront Park and the City Pier area in downtown New London. \nCity Pier sits directly on the downtown waterfront near Union Station\, making the departure point unusually convenient for a tall ship sail. Restaurants and downtown New London are within walking distance\, so the trip can easily become part of a longer afternoon or evening in the city. \nPassengers should leave enough time to park and reach the pier before boarding rather than arriving at the scheduled departure time. \nTickets\nAdult admission is $75\, while tickets for youth ages 12 and younger are $40. \nAdvance reservations are recommended\, particularly because each sailing has limited capacity. Some of the ship’s other August 2026 public sails have already sold out. \nEvent Details\nDates: Friday\, August 14–Sunday\, August 16\, 2026 \nFriday Sailings: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 3:00–5:30 p.m. \nSaturday Sailings: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 5:00–7:30 p.m. \nSunday Sailing: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. \nDuration: Approximately 2½ hours \nShip: Kalmar Nyckel\, the Tall Ship of Delaware \nLocation: New London City Pier \nCity: New London\, CT \nAdult Admission: $75 \nYouth Admission: $40 for ages 12 and younger \nExperience: Public sailing excursion on Long Island Sound with opportunities to help raise sails and haul lines. \nReservations: Advance reservations are recommended. \nQuestions: (302) 429-7447 \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \nFor ticket purchases\, click on the Ticketing link below. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/sail-with-the-tall-ship-kalmar-nyckel-in-new-london/2026-08-15/1/
LOCATION:New London City Pier\, 1 Waterfront Park\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:New London City Pier
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T150000
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CREATED:20260813T145348Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260821T234415Z
UID:10007180-1786788000-1786806000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:History Day at Samuel Smith Farmstead
DESCRIPTION:History Day at Samuel Smith Farmstead turns the East Lyme property into a living-history classroom on Saturday\, August 15\, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event explores everyday life in 18th-century Connecticut through Revolutionary-era clothing\, spinning demonstrations\, hearth cooking and tours of the historic John Johnson House. \nRather than putting artifacts behind glass\, History Day focuses on how things were actually done. Visitors can watch fibers become yarn on an antique spinning wheel\, see corn chowder prepared over a colonial fireplace and learn what clothing could reveal about the people who lived and worked in Connecticut during the American Revolution. \nThe setting adds considerably to the experience. The centerpiece of the Samuel Smith Farmstead is the John Johnson House\, a remarkably intact colonial home dating to about 1748. The house and surrounding property are being preserved as a living museum of Connecticut farm life\, making History Day less a recreation dropped into a modern location than a chance to interpret the past in a place where that history actually happened. (Samuel Smith Farmstead) \nLiving History with the Dirty Blue Shirts\nThe Dirty Blue Shirts will present two programs during History Day: “Clothing & Fabric in the 18th Century” and “The Farmstead During the American Revolution.” \nThe Connecticut-based living-history group specializes in researched interpretations of everyday life rather than simply dressing in period clothing. Its programs explore material culture\, women’s history\, maritime history and the Revolutionary era\, often incorporating hands-on demonstrations to show how people worked and lived. (Dirty Blue Shirts) \nTheir 2026 schedule includes programs across Connecticut and Rhode Island tied to America’s 250th anniversary\, and the group specifically lists its August 15 appearance at Samuel Smith Farmstead as a living-history event. \nFor visitors\, that means clothing becomes more than costume. Fabrics had to be produced\, purchased\, altered\, repaired and reused\, and what someone wore could reflect occupation\, wealth and circumstance. Those details provide another way into the Revolutionary period beyond battles and famous political figures. \nSpinning Wool\, Mohair\, Silk and Alpaca\nJessica Hoadley will demonstrate the art of turning natural fibers into yarn using an antique spinning wheel. \nThe demonstration includes wool\, mohair\, silk and alpaca\, allowing visitors to see differences between materials that can look fairly similar once they’ve become finished clothing. \nIt’s also a reminder of how many steps stood between raw material and a piece of clothing in the 18th century. Before fabric could become a shirt\, dress or blanket\, fibers had to be prepared and spun into usable thread or yarn. \nWatching that happen by hand gives a much clearer sense of the time and skill hidden inside an ordinary piece of colonial clothing. \nColonial Cooking at the Fireplace\nHistory Day moves into the kitchen with Colonial Cooking with Courtney\, who will prepare corn chowder in the fireplace. \nThere won’t be a temperature dial or stovetop burner involved. Hearth cooking required managing an actual fire\, positioning pots correctly and judging heat through experience. \nFood also offers an unusually direct way to understand daily life. A farm family’s meals depended on what could be grown\, preserved\, stored or obtained locally\, and the fireplace wasn’t decorative. It was one of the working centers of the household. \nTour the John Johnson House\nVisitors can also tour the historic John Johnson House\, built around 1748. \nResearch into the building has included architectural investigation\, archaeology and even dendrochronology\, which uses tree rings in structural timbers to help establish construction dates. Archaeological work on the property recovered 1\,887 artifacts\, primarily dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. ( \nThe house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places\, while the property has been identified by Connecticut’s Office of State Archaeology as an archaeological site containing both prehistoric and colonial deposits. \nMuch of the house’s historic fabric survives\, making the tour particularly useful alongside the day’s living-history demonstrations. Instead of imagining where a colonial family cooked and worked\, visitors can walk through the rooms themselves. \nA Farmstead with Revolutionary War Connections\nHistory Day’s focus on the American Revolution has a direct connection to the people who lived here. \nJohn Johnson Jr. and his son Reynolds Johnson served in the local militia and Coastal Guard during the Revolution. John responded to the Lexington alarm and helped construct Fort Trumbull in New London before serving as an officer closer to home. His teenage son later joined the Coastal Guard under his father’s command. \nTheir job included patrolling the shores of Niantic Bay\, where Loyalists could cross Long Island Sound from British-controlled Long Island in small boats to obtain supplies. \nThat history recently brought national attention to the house. \nA Little Piece of Ken Burns’ The American Revolution\nVisitors who watched Ken Burns’ 2025 PBS series The American Revolution may have already seen part of the Samuel Smith Farmstead without realizing it. \nThe production initially contacted the Farmstead about photographing the historic house’s front door. Once the crew was there\, Farmstead board president Betsey Goetsch invited them inside. \nThey filmed the interior\, including the kitchen\, and footage from the John Johnson House ultimately appeared in the documentary’s first episode\, In Order to Be Free. (CT Insider) \nThat makes the house an especially interesting place to visit during America’s 250th anniversary year. The same rooms being used to teach visitors about Revolutionary-era Connecticut were selected to help represent that period for a national television audience. \nAbout Samuel Smith Farmstead\nThe Farmstead sits on 17 acres of rural land that were once part of a 37.5-acre parcel purchased by Samuel Smith and Thomas Bradford in 1702. The property had previously been occupied by the Nehantic people. \nToday\, the Friends of Samuel Smith House and Property preserve the site as a living museum devoted to 18th- and 19th-century Connecticut farm life. \nThe property includes the historic house and barn along with farmland\, woods\, stone walls and period-inspired gardens. \nHistory Day puts those surroundings to work. Instead of visiting the house for a conventional tour and leaving\, families can move among demonstrations that connect clothing\, food\, farming and domestic life with the building standing beside them. \nA Good History Day for Families\nChildren don’t need to know anything about the Revolution before coming. \nThe demonstrations give them concrete things to watch: a spinning wheel moving\, fibers turning into yarn and food cooking over a fireplace. Touring an actual 18th-century house can also make the period easier to understand than simply reading about colonial life. \nThe event is free\, making it easy for families to stop in for part of the day or stay to see several demonstrations. \nEvent Details\nDate: Saturday\, August 15\, 2026 \nTime: 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. \nLocation: Samuel Smith Farmstead \nAddress: 82 Plants Dam Road\, East Lyme\, CT 06333 \nAdmission: Free \nLiving History: The Dirty Blue Shirts \nPrograms: Clothing & Fabric in the 18th Century and The Farmstead During the American Revolution \nSpinning Demonstration: Jessica Hoadley demonstrates spinning wool\, mohair\, silk and alpaca fiber into yarn using an antique wheel. \nColonial Cooking: Fireplace preparation of corn chowder with Courtney. \nHouse Tours: Tours of the historic John Johnson House\, circa 1748. \nRecommended For: Families\, children\, history enthusiasts and anyone interested in colonial Connecticut or the American Revolution. \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/history-day-at-samuel-smith-farmstead/
LOCATION:Samuel Smith Farmstead\, 82 Plants Dam Rd\, East Lyme\, 06333\, United States
CATEGORIES:Samuel Smith Farmstead
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/History-Day-at-Samuel-Smith-Farmstead-Saturday-August-15-from-10am-to-3pm.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T160000
DTSTAMP:20260811T212659Z
CREATED:20260811T212602Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T212659Z
UID:10007149-1786791600-1786809600@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Pirate Days at Hempsted Houses
DESCRIPTION:Pirate Days at Hempsted Houses turns one of New London’s oldest historic sites into a pirate encampment for two days of hands-on family activities on Saturday and Sunday\, August 15–16. Children can build and race their own ships\, try pirate-themed crafts\, walk the plank\, explore the encampment\, and hear stories about the real pirates who once sailed the waters around New England. \nThere’s history beneath the eye patches and pirate games. The program introduces families to figures such as Captain William Kidd\, who visited Connecticut in 1690 and became part of the state’s treasure lore. Connecticut stories have long claimed Kidd may have hidden treasure along the coast near what is now Milford. Pirate Days uses those stories as an entry point into the maritime world children often encounter through books and movies\, but connects it to places surprisingly close to home. (Connecticut Landmarks) \nThe setting adds another layer. The Hempsted Houses include a home dating to 1678\, making the property one of the best surviving places to explore what everyday life was actually like in colonial New London. Admission to Pirate Days is free\, although donations are encouraged to support the preservation of the historic property and future educational programs. \nStep Into a Pirate Encampment\nFor the weekend\, the grounds become a place for kids to do more than simply hear about history. \nYoung visitors can explore the pirate encampment and take part in activities including ship building and racing\, crafts\, and the essential test facing every aspiring pirate: walking the plank. \nPast editions of Pirate Days have expanded the encampment with period games\, children’s toys\, maritime storytelling\, treasure hunts\, and demonstrations of historic food and drink preparation. Connecticut Landmarks reported that more than 80 people attended the returning program in 2025. \nThe activities make Pirate Days particularly approachable for younger children. Instead of asking them to stand still while someone explains colonial maritime history\, the program gives them something to build\, race\, discover\, and try for themselves. \nReal Pirates and Connecticut’s Coast\nPiracy wasn’t confined to the Caribbean. \nNew England’s ports and coastal waters were connected to the Atlantic trading world\, and stories of pirates became part of Connecticut folklore. One of the most famous involves Captain William Kidd\, the Scottish privateer who was eventually convicted of piracy and executed in London in 1701. \nKidd was in Connecticut in 1690\, and stories later developed that he had buried treasure near Milford. Pirate Days explores stories such as these while introducing children to the difference between the pirates of popular culture and the people who actually sailed these waters centuries ago. \nA Historic Setting Dating to 1678\nThe Hempsted Houses are an attraction in their own right. \nThe Joshua Hempsted House\, built in 1678 with a later addition\, is one of New England’s oldest and best-documented surviving homes. Joshua Hempsted was born there and kept an extensive diary from 1711 until his death in 1758. His writings provide historians with an unusually detailed record of work\, family\, commerce\, and everyday life in colonial New London. \nBeside it stands the stone Nathaniel Hempsted House\, built in 1759 by Acadian exiles for Joshua’s grandson Nathaniel. Remarkably\, both houses survived the burning of New London by Benedict Arnold’s forces in 1781. \nThat means children attending Pirate Days aren’t experiencing colonial history against a reproduction backdrop. They’re playing and learning on grounds where people were living during the period being explored. \nThe Hempsted Houses Tell a Bigger Story\nThe history preserved here also extends well beyond the Hempsted family. \nJoshua Hempsted’s diary documents the life and labor of Adam Jackson\, a man of African descent whom Hempsted enslaved for more than three decades. Jackson lived and worked on the property\, including in a small attic garret that remains part of the site’s interpretation today. \nConnecticut Landmarks uses the property to examine colonial life alongside the history of Northern slavery\, resistance\, abolition\, and the lives of the people who lived and worked there. \nIt’s an unusual combination for a family outing: Pirate Days gives younger visitors an accessible\, playful doorway into the past\, while the historic site surrounding them holds much deeper stories for families interested in exploring further. \nGood for Families\nPirate Days is designed as a hands-on family program rather than a traditional house tour. \nElementary-age children are likely to get the most from the ship building\, races\, crafts\, pirate games\, and storytelling\, while younger children can participate with help from an adult. \nFamilies should plan enough time to explore rather than arriving just before closing. The program runs for five hours each day\, so visitors can move through the activities at their own pace. \nAdmission and Registration\nPirate Days is free. \nAdvance registration is suggested but not required\, and walk-up visitors are welcome on both days. \nDonations are encouraged and help Connecticut Landmarks fund restoration work and programming at the Hempsted Houses. \nBecause Saturday and Sunday have separate registrations\, choose the day you plan to attend: \nRegister for Pirate Days on Saturday\, August 15 \nRegister for Pirate Days on Sunday\, August 16 \nEvent Details\nDates\nSaturday\, August 15\, 2026\nSunday\, August 16\, 2026 \nTime\n11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. both days \nLocation\nHempsted Houses \nAddress\n11 Hempstead Street\nNew London\, CT \nAdmission\nFree \nRegistration\nAdvance registration is suggested. Walk-ups are welcome. \nRecommended Ages\nBest suited to families with preschool and elementary-age children\, although all ages may attend. \nActivities\nPirate encampment\, ship making and racing\, crafts\, walking the plank\, and stories about real pirates and Connecticut’s maritime past. \nImportant Notes\nDonations support restoration and educational programming at the Hempsted Houses. Questions about the program can be directed to the Hempsted Houses staff. \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \nFor ticket purchases\, use the Saturday or Sunday registration links above. \n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/pirate-days-at-hempsted-houses/2026-08-15/
LOCATION:Hempsted Houses\, 11 Hempstead St\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hempsted Houses
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Pirate-Days-at-Hempsted-Houses-Saturday-and-Sunday-August-15-and-16.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T180000
DTSTAMP:20260813T013033Z
CREATED:20260813T013033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260813T013033Z
UID:10007166-1786811400-1786816800@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Haunted Harbor Tour on the Thames River
DESCRIPTION:Haunted Harbor Tour on the Thames River takes passengers onto the water Saturday\, August 15\, for an afternoon of ghost stories drawn from the centuries of history surrounding Groton Bank. Departing from Thames River Landing in Groton at 4:45 p.m.\, the 75-minute cruise explores stories of unexplained encounters\, Revolutionary War soldiers and residents who\, according to local lore\, never quite left the neighborhood. \nThe guides aren’t simply repeating stories collected from the internet. The tour is led by Hali Keeler and Leslie Evans\, two of the authors behind Ghosts of Groton Bank\, a book devoted to the supernatural stories attached to this small but remarkably historic section of Groton. Evans is associated with the Avery-Copp House Museum\, while Keeler has worked with Fort Griswold Battlefield\, putting both guides close to the places and history behind the stories. (averycopphouse.org) \nAnd then there’s the setting. Rather than walking from one supposedly haunted building to another\, passengers hear the stories from a boat on the Thames River\, looking back toward the actual shoreline where many of them originated. \nThe Ghosts of Groton Bank\nGroton Bank occupies only about half a square mile\, but its history reaches deep into the colonial and Revolutionary periods. \nThat history has produced its share of ghost stories. \nGhosts of Groton Bank\, published by Arcadia Publishing in 2016\, collects accounts connected to historic houses\, military sites and waterfront buildings throughout the neighborhood. Its stories range from phantom Revolutionary War soldiers and unexplained footsteps to sea captains who never returned home and former residents who apparently aren’t ready to move out. (openroadmedia.com) \nThe book was written by Hali Keeler with Leslie Evans and David Rose\, drawing the supernatural stories together with the documented history of the neighborhood. (goodreads.com) \nThe Haunted Harbor Tour takes some of those stories back to the landscape where they began. \nMother Bailey and the Battle of Groton Heights\nOne of the names passengers will hear is Mother Bailey\, a legendary figure in Groton’s Revolutionary War history. \nBut some of the darkest stories surrounding Groton Bank trace back to Fort Griswold. \nOn September 6\, 1781\, British forces under Benedict Arnold attacked New London and Groton. The fighting at Fort Griswold became one of the bloodiest episodes in Connecticut’s Revolutionary War history\, with scores of American defenders killed during and immediately after the battle. \nMore than two centuries later\, stories of soldiers who never left the battlefield have become part of Groton Bank’s folklore. Ghosts of Groton Bank recounts reports of ghostly soldiers around the neighborhood\, along with other unexplained activity connected to the historic homes surrounding the fort. \nHearing those stories from the river adds some perspective. The battlefield and surrounding neighborhood aren’t distant historical abstractions. They’re right there on the hillside above the boat. \nHaunted Houses Along the Thames\nThe battlefield isn’t the only source of Groton Bank’s supernatural reputation. \nThe Avery-Copp House\, built around 1800 and standing above the Thames River\, appears in the area’s ghost lore through accounts of former residents who seem reluctant to leave. \nNearby\, the Ebenezer Avery House has its own stories\, including reports of unexplained footsteps. The house also has a direct connection to the Battle of Groton Heights: wounded soldiers were brought there after the fighting at Fort Griswold. \nOther tales collected in Ghosts of Groton Bank reach into the Submarine Veterans Club and Fleet Reserve\, giving the neighborhood a surprisingly crowded cast of alleged spectral residents. \nWhether you believe any of it is another question. \nThe documented history beneath the stories is real enough. \nA Historic Boat for a History Tour\nEven the boat has a past. \nThames River Heritage Park operates its cruises aboard refurbished former U.S. Navy liberty launches. These utility boats were originally used to carry sailors between larger Navy vessels and shore during liberty periods. \nOne of the Heritage Park boats served aboard the USS LaSalle\, which became flagship of the U.S. Middle East Force in 1988. Another was assigned to the USS Hunley\, a submarine tender that supported the Navy’s nuclear-powered Polaris submarine fleet. (thamesriverheritagepark.org) \nToday\, those former Navy boats carry visitors through a stretch of river that has witnessed everything from colonial trade and one of America’s great 19th-century whaling ports to the birth of the nuclear submarine age. \nFor this trip\, they’re carrying ghost stories. \nAbout Thames River Heritage Park\nThe Haunted Harbor Tour is part of the seasonal programming offered by Thames River Heritage Park\, which connects historic and cultural sites on both sides of the Thames. \nUnlike a traditional park contained within a single boundary\, the Heritage Park stretches across New London and Groton. More than 30 historic and cultural locations are represented\, including Fort Trumbull\, Fort Griswold Battlefield\, the Hempsted Houses\, Avery-Copp House\, the Garde Arts Center\, Ledge Lighthouse and the Submarine Force Museum and USS Nautilus. \nThe river ties them together. \nDuring summer weekends\, the park operates its Hop On\, Hop Off Harbor Cruise between waterfront stops in New London and Groton\, along with specialty narrated history tours and evening cruises. \nBring Snacks and Drinks\nThe Haunted Harbor Tour is open to all ages\, and guests are welcome to bring a cooler with beverages and snacks. \nThere is one practical detail worth knowing before boarding: the former Navy launches do not have restrooms. \nThe vessels also aren’t ADA compliant. Passengers must be able to walk up and down four stairs and board the boat independently with only minimal assistance from the crew. \nWeather\nThe Haunted Harbor Tour is weather dependent. \nConditions on the Thames can affect or cancel scheduled cruises\, particularly when thunderstorms or other unsafe weather moves through the area. \nThames River Heritage Park posts the current operating status of its boats on its website and also communicates weather-related changes to ticket holders. \nCheck the status before heading to Groton if the forecast looks questionable. \nEvent Details\nDate\nSaturday\, August 15\, 2026 \nTime\n4:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. \nDuration\nApproximately 75 minutes \nDeparture Location\nThames River Landing \nLocation\nThames Street\nGroton\, CT \nPresented By\nThames River Heritage Park \nGuides\nTwo authors of Ghosts of Groton Bank \nAge Restrictions\nNone. Guests of all ages are welcome. \nFood & Drinks\nGuests may bring a cooler with their own beverages and snacks. \nRestrooms\nThere is no restroom aboard the boat. \nAccessibility\nThe former Navy launches are not ADA compliant. Passengers must be able to navigate four stairs and board and disembark independently with minimal assistance. \nWeather\nWeather dependent. Check the Thames River Heritage Park website or social media before departure for current operating information. \nQuestions\n(860) 333-6706 \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \nFor ticket purchases\, click on the Ticketing link below. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/haunted-harbor-tour-on-the-thames-river/
LOCATION:Thames River Landing Park\, 301 Thames Street\, Groton\, 06340\, United States
CATEGORIES:Thames River Landing Park
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Haunted-Harbor-Tour-on-the-Thames-River-Saturday-August-15-445pm-6pm.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260815T193000
DTSTAMP:20260813T142204Z
CREATED:20260813T142204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260813T142204Z
UID:10007177-1786813200-1786822200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Sail with the Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel in New London
DESCRIPTION:Sail with the Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel in New London August 14–16 when the Tall Ship of Delaware arrives at New London City Pier for five public sailing trips on Long Island Sound. Rather than simply touring the ship at the dock\, passengers spend 2½ hours underway aboard a full-scale recreation of the 17th-century vessel that carried the first Swedish settlers to the Delaware Valley. \nThis is also a hands-on tall ship experience. Guests can help the crew raise sails and haul lines\, listen to stories about the ship and maritime life\, or find a place on deck and simply enjoy the trip. The exact sailing experience changes with the wind and conditions\, which is rather the point when you’re aboard a ship powered by canvas instead of following a sightseeing route on a motor vessel. \nFive sails are scheduled across three days\, including morning and afternoon trips Friday\, morning and late-afternoon trips Saturday\, and a final Sunday morning sail. Current booking information shows fares ranging from $40 for youth ages 12 and younger to $75 for adults\, with advance reservations recommended. (Kalmar Nyckel Booking) \nThe Ship That Helped Found New Sweden\nThe original Kalmar Nyckel played a remarkable role in early American history. \nIn 1637\, the ship left Europe as the flagship of an expedition led by Peter Minuit to establish a Swedish colony in North America. After crossing the Atlantic\, the expedition entered the Delaware River in March 1638 and established Fort Christina\, in what is now Wilmington\, Delaware. \nThat settlement became the beginning of New Sweden and the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley. (Sea History Association) \nKalmar Nyckel wasn’t finished after that first crossing. The ship ultimately completed four round-trip Atlantic voyages between Sweden and North America\, more documented crossings than any other colonial ship of the period. \nThe original vessel later returned to naval and merchant service before being sunk during a battle with English forces in 1652. \nSailing Aboard a 17th-Century Ship\nThe Kalmar Nyckel visiting New London isn’t the original ship\, but neither is it a conventional modern tour boat dressed to look old. \nThe full-scale recreation was built by the nonprofit Kalmar Nyckel Foundation in Wilmington\, Delaware\, just downstream from the site where the original ship landed in 1638. It was launched in 1997 and commissioned the following year. \nThe ship is operated with the help of a large volunteer crew trained in traditional seamanship. That working-ship approach carries over to the public sails. \nPassengers who want to participate can lend a hand as the crew handles lines and raises sail. You don’t have to\, though. Helping sail the ship is optional\, and watching the crew work from the deck is part of the experience in itself. \nFor children who’ve only seen this kind of ship in a movie or museum\, seeing the rigging put to work can make 17th-century maritime history considerably more tangible. \nFive Chances to Sail from New London\nThe New London visit includes five separate public sails. \nFriday\, August 14\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.\n3:00–5:30 p.m. \nSaturday\, August 15\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.\n5:00–7:30 p.m. \nSunday\, August 16\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. \nEach trip lasts approximately 2½ hours and departs from New London City Pier. The Saturday evening departure offers a particularly different experience\, leaving at 5 p.m. for an early-evening sail on Long Island Sound. \nThe ship’s current booking schedule lists all five New London departures. \nA Hands-On History Lesson for Kids\nFamilies don’t need any sailing experience to participate. \nKids can see how a large wooden sailing vessel actually operates and watch crew members work with the maze of ropes\, sails and rigging overhead. Those who want to get involved can help haul lines alongside the crew. \nThere’s also a larger story behind what they’re doing. Ships like Kalmar Nyckel crossed an Atlantic without engines\, GPS\, weather radar or instant communication with shore. Wind\, navigation and the ability of a crew to work together determined whether a voyage succeeded. \nThe modern Kalmar Nyckel Foundation uses the ship as a floating classroom and educational platform\, reaching tens of thousands of people through sails\, school programs and other activities each year. (Do More 24 Delaware) \nSailing from New London City Pier\nAll five trips depart from New London Waterfront Park and the City Pier area in downtown New London. \nCity Pier sits directly on the downtown waterfront near Union Station\, making the departure point unusually convenient for a tall ship sail. Restaurants and downtown New London are within walking distance\, so the trip can easily become part of a longer afternoon or evening in the city. \nPassengers should leave enough time to park and reach the pier before boarding rather than arriving at the scheduled departure time. \nTickets\nAdult admission is $75\, while tickets for youth ages 12 and younger are $40. \nAdvance reservations are recommended\, particularly because each sailing has limited capacity. Some of the ship’s other August 2026 public sails have already sold out. \nEvent Details\nDates: Friday\, August 14–Sunday\, August 16\, 2026 \nFriday Sailings: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 3:00–5:30 p.m. \nSaturday Sailings: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 5:00–7:30 p.m. \nSunday Sailing: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. \nDuration: Approximately 2½ hours \nShip: Kalmar Nyckel\, the Tall Ship of Delaware \nLocation: New London City Pier \nCity: New London\, CT \nAdult Admission: $75 \nYouth Admission: $40 for ages 12 and younger \nExperience: Public sailing excursion on Long Island Sound with opportunities to help raise sails and haul lines. \nReservations: Advance reservations are recommended. \nQuestions: (302) 429-7447 \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \nFor ticket purchases\, click on the Ticketing link below. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/sail-with-the-tall-ship-kalmar-nyckel-in-new-london/2026-08-15/2/
LOCATION:New London City Pier\, 1 Waterfront Park\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:New London City Pier
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Sail-with-the-Tall-Ship-Kalmar-Nyckel-in-New-London-Friday-Sun-August-14-16.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260816T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260816T123000
DTSTAMP:20260813T142204Z
CREATED:20260813T142204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260813T142204Z
UID:10007178-1786874400-1786883400@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Sail with the Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel in New London
DESCRIPTION:Sail with the Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel in New London August 14–16 when the Tall Ship of Delaware arrives at New London City Pier for five public sailing trips on Long Island Sound. Rather than simply touring the ship at the dock\, passengers spend 2½ hours underway aboard a full-scale recreation of the 17th-century vessel that carried the first Swedish settlers to the Delaware Valley. \nThis is also a hands-on tall ship experience. Guests can help the crew raise sails and haul lines\, listen to stories about the ship and maritime life\, or find a place on deck and simply enjoy the trip. The exact sailing experience changes with the wind and conditions\, which is rather the point when you’re aboard a ship powered by canvas instead of following a sightseeing route on a motor vessel. \nFive sails are scheduled across three days\, including morning and afternoon trips Friday\, morning and late-afternoon trips Saturday\, and a final Sunday morning sail. Current booking information shows fares ranging from $40 for youth ages 12 and younger to $75 for adults\, with advance reservations recommended. (Kalmar Nyckel Booking) \nThe Ship That Helped Found New Sweden\nThe original Kalmar Nyckel played a remarkable role in early American history. \nIn 1637\, the ship left Europe as the flagship of an expedition led by Peter Minuit to establish a Swedish colony in North America. After crossing the Atlantic\, the expedition entered the Delaware River in March 1638 and established Fort Christina\, in what is now Wilmington\, Delaware. \nThat settlement became the beginning of New Sweden and the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley. (Sea History Association) \nKalmar Nyckel wasn’t finished after that first crossing. The ship ultimately completed four round-trip Atlantic voyages between Sweden and North America\, more documented crossings than any other colonial ship of the period. \nThe original vessel later returned to naval and merchant service before being sunk during a battle with English forces in 1652. \nSailing Aboard a 17th-Century Ship\nThe Kalmar Nyckel visiting New London isn’t the original ship\, but neither is it a conventional modern tour boat dressed to look old. \nThe full-scale recreation was built by the nonprofit Kalmar Nyckel Foundation in Wilmington\, Delaware\, just downstream from the site where the original ship landed in 1638. It was launched in 1997 and commissioned the following year. \nThe ship is operated with the help of a large volunteer crew trained in traditional seamanship. That working-ship approach carries over to the public sails. \nPassengers who want to participate can lend a hand as the crew handles lines and raises sail. You don’t have to\, though. Helping sail the ship is optional\, and watching the crew work from the deck is part of the experience in itself. \nFor children who’ve only seen this kind of ship in a movie or museum\, seeing the rigging put to work can make 17th-century maritime history considerably more tangible. \nFive Chances to Sail from New London\nThe New London visit includes five separate public sails. \nFriday\, August 14\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.\n3:00–5:30 p.m. \nSaturday\, August 15\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.\n5:00–7:30 p.m. \nSunday\, August 16\n10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. \nEach trip lasts approximately 2½ hours and departs from New London City Pier. The Saturday evening departure offers a particularly different experience\, leaving at 5 p.m. for an early-evening sail on Long Island Sound. \nThe ship’s current booking schedule lists all five New London departures. \nA Hands-On History Lesson for Kids\nFamilies don’t need any sailing experience to participate. \nKids can see how a large wooden sailing vessel actually operates and watch crew members work with the maze of ropes\, sails and rigging overhead. Those who want to get involved can help haul lines alongside the crew. \nThere’s also a larger story behind what they’re doing. Ships like Kalmar Nyckel crossed an Atlantic without engines\, GPS\, weather radar or instant communication with shore. Wind\, navigation and the ability of a crew to work together determined whether a voyage succeeded. \nThe modern Kalmar Nyckel Foundation uses the ship as a floating classroom and educational platform\, reaching tens of thousands of people through sails\, school programs and other activities each year. (Do More 24 Delaware) \nSailing from New London City Pier\nAll five trips depart from New London Waterfront Park and the City Pier area in downtown New London. \nCity Pier sits directly on the downtown waterfront near Union Station\, making the departure point unusually convenient for a tall ship sail. Restaurants and downtown New London are within walking distance\, so the trip can easily become part of a longer afternoon or evening in the city. \nPassengers should leave enough time to park and reach the pier before boarding rather than arriving at the scheduled departure time. \nTickets\nAdult admission is $75\, while tickets for youth ages 12 and younger are $40. \nAdvance reservations are recommended\, particularly because each sailing has limited capacity. Some of the ship’s other August 2026 public sails have already sold out. \nEvent Details\nDates: Friday\, August 14–Sunday\, August 16\, 2026 \nFriday Sailings: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 3:00–5:30 p.m. \nSaturday Sailings: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 5:00–7:30 p.m. \nSunday Sailing: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. \nDuration: Approximately 2½ hours \nShip: Kalmar Nyckel\, the Tall Ship of Delaware \nLocation: New London City Pier \nCity: New London\, CT \nAdult Admission: $75 \nYouth Admission: $40 for ages 12 and younger \nExperience: Public sailing excursion on Long Island Sound with opportunities to help raise sails and haul lines. \nReservations: Advance reservations are recommended. \nQuestions: (302) 429-7447 \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \nFor ticket purchases\, click on the Ticketing link below. \n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/sail-with-the-tall-ship-kalmar-nyckel-in-new-london/2026-08-16/
LOCATION:New London City Pier\, 1 Waterfront Park\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:New London City Pier
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Sail-with-the-Tall-Ship-Kalmar-Nyckel-in-New-London-Friday-Sun-August-14-16.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260816T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260816T160000
DTSTAMP:20260811T212659Z
CREATED:20260811T212602Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T212659Z
UID:10007150-1786878000-1786896000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Pirate Days at Hempsted Houses
DESCRIPTION:Pirate Days at Hempsted Houses turns one of New London’s oldest historic sites into a pirate encampment for two days of hands-on family activities on Saturday and Sunday\, August 15–16. Children can build and race their own ships\, try pirate-themed crafts\, walk the plank\, explore the encampment\, and hear stories about the real pirates who once sailed the waters around New England. \nThere’s history beneath the eye patches and pirate games. The program introduces families to figures such as Captain William Kidd\, who visited Connecticut in 1690 and became part of the state’s treasure lore. Connecticut stories have long claimed Kidd may have hidden treasure along the coast near what is now Milford. Pirate Days uses those stories as an entry point into the maritime world children often encounter through books and movies\, but connects it to places surprisingly close to home. (Connecticut Landmarks) \nThe setting adds another layer. The Hempsted Houses include a home dating to 1678\, making the property one of the best surviving places to explore what everyday life was actually like in colonial New London. Admission to Pirate Days is free\, although donations are encouraged to support the preservation of the historic property and future educational programs. \nStep Into a Pirate Encampment\nFor the weekend\, the grounds become a place for kids to do more than simply hear about history. \nYoung visitors can explore the pirate encampment and take part in activities including ship building and racing\, crafts\, and the essential test facing every aspiring pirate: walking the plank. \nPast editions of Pirate Days have expanded the encampment with period games\, children’s toys\, maritime storytelling\, treasure hunts\, and demonstrations of historic food and drink preparation. Connecticut Landmarks reported that more than 80 people attended the returning program in 2025. \nThe activities make Pirate Days particularly approachable for younger children. Instead of asking them to stand still while someone explains colonial maritime history\, the program gives them something to build\, race\, discover\, and try for themselves. \nReal Pirates and Connecticut’s Coast\nPiracy wasn’t confined to the Caribbean. \nNew England’s ports and coastal waters were connected to the Atlantic trading world\, and stories of pirates became part of Connecticut folklore. One of the most famous involves Captain William Kidd\, the Scottish privateer who was eventually convicted of piracy and executed in London in 1701. \nKidd was in Connecticut in 1690\, and stories later developed that he had buried treasure near Milford. Pirate Days explores stories such as these while introducing children to the difference between the pirates of popular culture and the people who actually sailed these waters centuries ago. \nA Historic Setting Dating to 1678\nThe Hempsted Houses are an attraction in their own right. \nThe Joshua Hempsted House\, built in 1678 with a later addition\, is one of New England’s oldest and best-documented surviving homes. Joshua Hempsted was born there and kept an extensive diary from 1711 until his death in 1758. His writings provide historians with an unusually detailed record of work\, family\, commerce\, and everyday life in colonial New London. \nBeside it stands the stone Nathaniel Hempsted House\, built in 1759 by Acadian exiles for Joshua’s grandson Nathaniel. Remarkably\, both houses survived the burning of New London by Benedict Arnold’s forces in 1781. \nThat means children attending Pirate Days aren’t experiencing colonial history against a reproduction backdrop. They’re playing and learning on grounds where people were living during the period being explored. \nThe Hempsted Houses Tell a Bigger Story\nThe history preserved here also extends well beyond the Hempsted family. \nJoshua Hempsted’s diary documents the life and labor of Adam Jackson\, a man of African descent whom Hempsted enslaved for more than three decades. Jackson lived and worked on the property\, including in a small attic garret that remains part of the site’s interpretation today. \nConnecticut Landmarks uses the property to examine colonial life alongside the history of Northern slavery\, resistance\, abolition\, and the lives of the people who lived and worked there. \nIt’s an unusual combination for a family outing: Pirate Days gives younger visitors an accessible\, playful doorway into the past\, while the historic site surrounding them holds much deeper stories for families interested in exploring further. \nGood for Families\nPirate Days is designed as a hands-on family program rather than a traditional house tour. \nElementary-age children are likely to get the most from the ship building\, races\, crafts\, pirate games\, and storytelling\, while younger children can participate with help from an adult. \nFamilies should plan enough time to explore rather than arriving just before closing. The program runs for five hours each day\, so visitors can move through the activities at their own pace. \nAdmission and Registration\nPirate Days is free. \nAdvance registration is suggested but not required\, and walk-up visitors are welcome on both days. \nDonations are encouraged and help Connecticut Landmarks fund restoration work and programming at the Hempsted Houses. \nBecause Saturday and Sunday have separate registrations\, choose the day you plan to attend: \nRegister for Pirate Days on Saturday\, August 15 \nRegister for Pirate Days on Sunday\, August 16 \nEvent Details\nDates\nSaturday\, August 15\, 2026\nSunday\, August 16\, 2026 \nTime\n11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. both days \nLocation\nHempsted Houses \nAddress\n11 Hempstead Street\nNew London\, CT \nAdmission\nFree \nRegistration\nAdvance registration is suggested. Walk-ups are welcome. \nRecommended Ages\nBest suited to families with preschool and elementary-age children\, although all ages may attend. \nActivities\nPirate encampment\, ship making and racing\, crafts\, walking the plank\, and stories about real pirates and Connecticut’s maritime past. \nImportant Notes\nDonations support restoration and educational programming at the Hempsted Houses. Questions about the program can be directed to the Hempsted Houses staff. \nMore Information\nFor more information\, visit the event website using the Event Website link below. \nFor ticket purchases\, use the Saturday or Sunday registration links above. \n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/pirate-days-at-hempsted-houses/2026-08-16/
LOCATION:Hempsted Houses\, 11 Hempstead St\, New London\, CT\, 06320\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hempsted Houses
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