CONNECTICUT — The air is cooler and the day is noticeably shorter — how many fairs, feasts, tractor pulls and mushroom walks can you and Connecticut squeeze into the penultimate weekend of summer?
The 76th Annual Terryville Lions Country Fair will be whirly-gigging all weekend, kicking off Friday, Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. and running through Sunday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. The full schedule of events, which include racing pigs, cattle shows, a demolition derby, live music, tractor pulls, a skillet tossing competition, BINGO and fireworks is online here.
The Windham County Agricultural Society will be holding its 17th Annual Brooklyn Fair Aug. 22-25 at the fairgrounds. Another celebration of farm life in the eastern part of the state, the goings-on add monster truck rides, lawn mower racing, a woodsmen show, balloon animals and a “cheesehead competition” to the mix. The full schedule can be found here.
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Expect still more tractor-pulling, some chainsaw carving, fiddle music, and a whole lot more carnival rides at the annual Chester Fair, Aug. 23–25. The full schedule of events at the Chester Fairgrounds can be found online here.
While you’re in Chester, consider cleansing your cultural palate with a performance by Hub New Music. This past week, the contemporary chamber music quartet has been the artists-in-residence at I-Park in East Haddam. This Saturday, they will be debuting new compositions at The Terris Theatre on Main Street in Chester on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are available here.
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The end-of-summer Summerfest in Clinton has become a bit of a big local tradition, and it’s easy to see why. The festivities begin at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, on the Town Hall grounds with live music, a “kids’ zone,” and food trucks. Then the action drifts over to Clinton Town Beach for a DJ, fireworks and more food trucks. Life is good.
Danbury is getting a little jump on the calendar, scheduling its 3rd Annual San Gennaro Festival this week. That’s just fine with us, and we’re pretty sure the saint is too busy da mangiare all the zeppole and chicken Parmesan to care. The good times in downtown Danbury at the CityCenter Green are already underway, and will stay in high gear through Sunday at 10 p.m.
The Southbury Women’s Club does an amazing job each year organizing the CT Arts & Eats event, and this year will be no different — despite the curveball hurled their way last weekend with that historic rainfall in southwestern Connecticut. Over 50 vendors are scheduled to display an eclectic mix of products ranging from fine art and ceramics to home wares and gourmet foods from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Southbury Town Hall Green on Saturday. There will be live music, food trucks, lawn games and kids’ activities as well. The organizers will also be collecting donations to help those affected by the flooding.
It’s all nice and dry in New Haven’s Edgewood Park, where The 2024 International Cultural Arts Fusion Festival will be in full swing on Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to – 5 p.m. Showcased will be food, dance, music and more food, all from around the world.
Look for less eating and more shooting in New Haven on Sunday, when the Pardee-Morris Househosts Revolutionary War reenactors, a fife-and-drum group and an 18th Century general store. It’s all part of the museum’s “Experience Revolutionary New Haven” Family Day fest, and even includes an appearance by a “nationally-renowned New Haven Etch A Sketch artist” (because why not?). Full schedule of events here.
For something a little off the beaten path, join mycologist Joe Lenoce of the Connecticut Valley Mycological Society in search of mushrooms at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford. The mushroom maven will be waxing deeply about the fungus among us in one of the most deliciously gothic stomping grounds in the state. Be sure to wear shoes appropriate for mushroom gathering, and bring along a basket or bag to carry them in. Tickets are online here.
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