25+ things to do in CT this weekend – CT Insider
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Bob Marley Tribute Band featuring Ruben takes the stage during the Sixth Annual Westside Reggae Festival that took place on Sunday, July 23rd, 2017, at Ives Concert Park in Danbury, CT.
Trish Haldin
The New England Taco Festival, WestSide Reggae Festival and Waterbury Harry Potter Day 2022 are just some of the events taking place in Connecticut this weekend.
Here are some things to do this weekend:
New England Taco Fest
Guilford
Tacos at the ew England Taco Fest.
CT Specialty Events Co LLC / contributed
The New England Taco Festival brings over 30 food trucks, live musicians and wrestling to the Guilford Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday.
WestSide Reggae Festival
Danbury
Bob Marley Tribute Band featuring Ruben takes the stage during the Sixth Annual Westside Reggae Festival that took place on Sunday, July 23rd, 2017, at Ives Concert Park in Danbury, CT.
Trish Haldin
This festival celebrates Jamaican independence with reggae performers like Tarrus Riley, Maxi Priest, Baby Cham, Dean Fraser and The Black Soil Band. It kicks off Saturday at Ives Concert Park.
Luke Bryan
Hartford
Terry Wyatt – Getty Images
The singer, who is known for hits like “Crash My Party” and “Country Girl,” will be making a stop at the Xfinity Theatre on Saturday.
Smokey Robinson
Ledyard
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – AUGUST 23: Smokey Robinson performs on stage during Summer Night Concerts at PNE Amphitheatre on August 23, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images)
Andrew Chin/Getty Images
The award-winning co-founder of Motown Records will be performing hits like “Just To See Her” at Foxwoods on Saturday.
Stars Above Open Air Circus
Wilton
A scene from Hideaway Circus’ production of “Stars Above,” being performed at Barker Park in Troy from Aug. 19 to 21 and Lumberyard Center for Film and Performing Arts in Catskill Aug. 24 and 25.
Elsie Smith/Hideaway Circus
This traveling circus will bring musicians and performers to the Comstock Community Center all weekend.
Donavon Frankenreiter
Norfolk
Nic Coury/Special to the Chronicle
The surfer-turned-musician will be bringing his “philosophical lyrics and soulful delivery” to the Infinity Music Hall on Friday.
Rockzilla Tour with Papa Roach and Falling in Reverse
Bridgeport
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 09: American singer Jacoby Shaddix of the American band Papa Roach performs live during a concert at Verti Music Hall on March 9, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gina Wetzler/Redferns)
Gina Wetzler/Redferns
The rock band duo will be jamming out at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater on Sunday.
Thar Be Pirates!
Essex
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Facebook / Contributed photo/Contributed Photo
The Essex Steam Train and Riverboat will be taking explorers along the Connecticut River to see historic sites on Saturday.
The Colombian Heritage Comedy Tour
Bridgeport
Colombian comedians Pedro Gonzalez, Santi Espinosa, Alex Carabaño, Venessa Peruda and Oscar Collazos will bring the laughs to The Fairfield Comedy Club on Saturday.
Connecticut Tango Festival 13th Edition
Milford, Norwalk
The Connecticut Tango Festival will host Tango socials and workshops at the Milford Arts Council on Saturday and at Dance Dimensions on Sunday.
Parading Paws Dog Show
Old Lyme
This event gives guests a chance to have their pups compete in categories like “Best Smile,” “Biggest Paws” and “Longest Tail” on Saturday at Florence Griswold Museum.
Waterbury Harry Potter Day 2022
Waterbury
Downtown Waterbury will transform into the Harry Potter magical universe on Friday and Saturday and feature magicians, puzzles and a scavenger hunt.
Old Lyme Midsummer Festival
Old Lyme
emily olson
This festival features free concerts, artist showcases and sales across the town on Friday and Saturday.
More information about the festival here.
Treasures ‘n Junque in July
Orange
The Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church will be hosting a giant tag sale, where guests can find electronics, housewares, jewelry and collectibles all weekend.
Hodges Family Farm Vendor’s Fair
Waterbury
Hodges Family Farm
Google Maps
Hodges Family Farm aims to support local businesses by hosting a vendor fair on July 31, according to its website.
Vendors will be offering apparel, artwork, crafts and farm-fresh eggs, according to Hodges Family Farm’s event poster.
A ‘Sample’ of American History
Sharon
The Sharon Historical Society and Museum is displaying a collection of 55 early American samplers, which were sown by school-aged girls between the early 1700s and mid-1800s, until Oct. 15.
Find a way to cool down
FILE PHOTO: Children are doused in falling water at a Milford splash pad. Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-to-upper 80s Friday in Connecticut.
Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media
Connecticut offers a number of beaches, lakes and swimming holes that will help keep you cool during the first major heat wave of the summer. And if your brain is too over heated to think of any activities, we’ve gathered some ways to beat the heat in Connecticut..
‘The Sound of Music’
Danbury
The cast from “The Sound of Music” in Ridgefield.
Danbury’s Musicals at Richter
Danbury’s Musicals at Richter will celebrate its 38th Season Under the Stars with performances of the classic musical, “The Sound of Music,” which will run from July 22 until Aug. 6.
Free Summer Concert Series at Connecticut’s Old State House
Hartford
The Old State House in Hartford
Hearst Connecticut Media
Connecticut’s Old State House will host a free concert every Friday until Oct. 7. This week’s performance is by Inner Groove.
MOVE! With the Urban League of Greater Hartford
Hartford
This 4K is open to guests of all abilities and supports the Urban League’s goal of racial equity and economic empowerment. The run will take place at Keney Park on Saturday.
Gene Moore art exhibition
Danbury
A landscape by Gene Moore.
Still Rivers Edition / contributed
Gene Moore will be hosting his first art solo exhibition, featuring his paintings at The Gallery at Still River Editions starting Saturday and ending on Sept. 30.
Saturday Sunset Cruises
Norwalk
The Maritime Aquarium is currently offering Saturday Sunset Cruises.
Maritime Aquarium / Contributed photo
The Maritime Aquarium offers a 90-minute ride on its hybrid-electric research boat to give guests a chance to see ocean wildlife on Saturdays until July 30.
Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival
West Hartford
Capital Classics Theatre Company is celebrating 30 years of outdoor Shakespeare performances. This year, they return to the University of Saint Joseph for a production of “Much Ado About Nothing.”
Contributed photo / Nicole Battistone
Capital Classics will be performing Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” every Thursday through Sunday at the Autorino Center for the Arts at the University of Saint Joseph until July 31.
Polo Matches at the Farmington Polo Club
Farmington
Farmington Polo Club
Google Maps
The Farmington Polo Club is holding its summer games every Saturday.
Take a hike
All across CT
Triathlete Laura Becker trains on the trails at Case Mountain in Manchester.
Arnold Gold
Many parks and trails across the state are open, giving Nutmeggers over 2,000 miles to explore.
Check out our guide to the state’s picturesque landscapes here.
Farmer’s Market in Stamford
Stamford
Photos from the opening day of the Stamford Downtown Farmers Market in Stamford, Conn. Wednesday, July 1, 2020. Held every Wednesday on West Park Place, the market features a variety of vendors including Amelia’s Florist & Farm Market, Beldotti Bakery, Blue the Baker, Country Farm, Mill Pond Essentials, and Waterview Farm
Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media
Veterans Memorial Park will be hosting a farmer’s market every Saturday until Oct. 29.
Take the kids to a family-friendly activity
All across CT
Visitors to the Maritime Aquarium including Georgia Smith, 4, watch the seals frolic in their new enclosure.
Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media
The Nutmeg State has many kid-friendly activities for summer, including those at amusement parks, nature centers and libraries.
Check out our guide on family-friendly activities throughout the state.
Attend a free exercise class in CT
All across CT
Maladies Vargas, of Bridgeport, takes part in a free yoga class at McLevy Green in Bridgeport, Conn., on Tuesday, July 24, 2018.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
Several gyms, libraries and community centers across the Nutmeg State regularly offer guests a free yoga session, Zumba class or self-defense class.
Enjoy one of CT’s free thing to do
All across CT
The Elizabeth Park Conservancy in Hartford, Conn. July 2021
Lisa Nichols
The Nutmeg State has plenty of free activities for residents and visitors alike to take advantage of, like attending a concerts or scouting out a swimming or hiking destination.
More information about some free things to do in Connecticut.
‘Flutter Zone’
Norwalk
Norwalk’s Maritime Aquarium will open a new butterfly exhibit on May 28. The “Flutter Zone,” is a walk-through exhibit in a floral habitat on the aquarium’s riverfront courtyard.
Adriana Morga/ Hearst Connecticut Media
The Maritime Aquarium will be hosting a habitat filled with colorful butterflies that guests can walk through. The “Flutter Zone” will be available until Sept. 5.
‘David Hartt: A Colored Garden’
New Canaan
The Glass House in New Canaan was designed by Philip Johnson, one of “The Harvard Five.”
Robert Gregson / Contributed
The Glass House is featuring a new exhibition of paintings and videos that explore life at the turn of the century. The exhibit will be on display until Nov. 15.
‘Submarines, Battlefields, and Betrayers. Military Stories on the Thames.’
New London
Gov. Ned Lamont in early August 2021 at the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, Conn, a short distance up the Thames River from the Electric Boat subsidiary of General Dynamics has been hiring hundreds of people this year.
Susan Haigh / Associated Press
The Thames River Heritage Park Foundation is inviting guests to come to the river and hear about some military history that happened on the river until Sept. 10
‘Speed: Hydroplane Racing on the Connecticut River, 1900-1940’
Essex
Aerial view of the Connecticut River and Essex Harbor. The Connecticut River Museum in Essex will hold an event on its waterfront lawn on Saturday
Al Braden / Hearst Connecicut Media file photo
This exhibit covers the era of racing on the Connecticut River by showcasing photographs, trophies and vintage outboard racing motors. It’s on display at the Connecticut River Museum until Oct. 9.
Open Arts Studio for Families
New Cannan
This is a rendering of the Alyson Shotz sculpture, which will be one of the many changes at Grace Farms in New Canaan when it reopens in September. Photo contributed July 2021
Contributed by Grace Farms Foundation, photo by Niv Rozenberg / Hearst Connecticut Media
Grace Farms is letting visitors experiment with new materials and art-making techniques every Saturday until Nov 30.
Visit Lake Compounce amusement park
Bristol
Lake Compounce, the theme park in Bristol, is going all-cashless starting in the 2022 season.
TinaMarie Craven / Hearst Connecticut Media
Lake Compounce amusement park is open for its 2022 season. The park also recently became cashless.
Glow in the Park at The Adventure Park
Bridgeport, Mansfield
Livia Clark, 7, of Mendham, NJ, rides a zip line during her first ever ropes course with her family during opening day at The Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport, Conn., on Friday, April 1, 2022.
Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media
The Adventure Parks in Storrs and the Discovery Museum will be filled with colorful lights until Aug. 27 that illuminate the path for guests as they zipline through the trees.
Enjoy outdoor dining across the state
Outdoor dining at the Hopkins Inn
Lidia Ryan
Summer’s warm weather makes it the perfect time to grab a bite to eat outside.
More information about the best locations to eat outdoors, according to Connecticut Magazine.