So much fun to have this summer! Grab your calendars and take notes (or print this page). Click the heading link to get details.

Hygienic Art Park in New London has a lively line-up of music and events including Cedric Mayfield, Max Creek, plus Latin jazz, American roots, and Salsa (plus dancing lessons!). See the schedule here. 

Excited to hear that the Westville Music Bowl, a new outdoor theater,  in New Haven is. open and scheduling bands. Currently Tedeschi Trucks on the calendar. See more here. 

Chester’s First Fridays, Shop, Stroll and Dine: Openings, live music, and drinks throughout town every first Friday of the month.

Al Fresco Thursdays in Essex Village, Essex, Every Thursday from 7/22 – 9/30, Eat, shop, stroll and socialize in historic Essex Village.

Thursdays on the Dock: Live music with a water view on the dock in Essex.

Summer Concerts on the Green in Madison on Sundays from 6 – 8pm starting July 11th.

Old Saybrook Summer Concert Series on Wednesdays at the Town Green, and Fridays at Harvey’s Beach. Don’t miss The Meadows Brothers, US Coast Guard Band, Dan Stevens and more.

Stonington Vineyards presents their Summer Concert Series, a seasonal tradition of music, food, and wine every Friday evening from 6-9PM in July & August.

Eat in the Street, Bank Street New London, first Wednesday of every month through September.  Celebrating the Summer with Pirates, Bank Street will be closed to traffic, restaurant specials, fireworks, and roaming pirates!

Make Music Old Lyme, Stroll the town and enjoy live bands including Braiden Sunshine on the evening of June 21st..

Guilford Art Center presents a Summer Artisan Pop-Up Series: Featuring fine craft artists in an array of media, including ceramics, jewelry, wood, leather, glass, fiber and more!  Pop-up shows will be held on the Guilford Art Center campus on June 19, July 10 and 24 and August 7. Saturdays from 10:00am-4:00pm. Admission is free and open to the community.

Madison Lyric Stage presents the Tony Award-winning play, Boys in the Band under the tent at the Deacon John Graves House from July 22nd through August 1st.

Conquer the Current, Essex, 7/31, A paddleboard regatta finishing by the Connecticut River Museum in Essex Village.

Mystic Outdoor Art Festival, Mystic, 8/14 & 8/15, Showcasing over 200 artists, this annual festival is a juried, competitive art show. 

Milford Oyster Fest, Milford, 8/21, Over 30,000 oysters all harvested in Milford waters!

The Wooden Boat Show at the Mystic Seaport, Mystic, 8/20 – 8/22, The largest gathering of wooden boats and enthusiasts in New England converge at Mystic Seaport Museum.

Wadsworth Mansion Open Air Market, August 29th: a celebration of local food, music and craft on the grounds of the historic mansion. Also live music every Wednesday evening in July.

Live concerts are back at The Kate! Socially distanced tickets are available for master guitarists GE Smith & Jim Weider, Loudon Wainwright III, Rory Block and more. I cannot wait for Love, Loss and What I Wore from 7/15 through 7/18 presented by Saybrook Stage.

Chestnut Hill Concerts are back at The Kate this August, a series of four concerts of Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert and more,
with many of your favorite performers.

McCooks Point Summer Beach Concerts in Niantic on Wednesday and Fridays, July 7th through August 27th.

Stone Acres Farm (the folks behind Oyster Club and Engine Room) in Stonington is popping-up a farm-to-table restaurant from July 15h through August 26th. Enjoy a four course dinner under the stars Tuesdays through Saturdays from June 15th through August 26th b. Reserve before this one sells out!

White Gate Farms, a favorite farm stand of ours, has planned Saturday picnics featuring live music, raw bar and local food vendors from 3 – 7pm.

Goodspeed by the River: The summer-long series offers musical events under a big tent alongside the iconic Goodspeed Opera House. From rousing classic rock concerts to song-filled evenings with Broadway performers to concert presentations of exciting new musicals, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Westbrook Marketplace, Westbrook, Opening 6/12 through the rest of the month. Browse this outdoor market featuring local crafters and artisans. 

Summer Arts Festival, Essex, 6/19 & 6/20,  A festival elebrating local painters, sculptors, photographers, fabric artists, glass and wood artisans, jewelry designers and crafters and more!

River Jam Festival is BACK! Showcasing music from rock to reggae, blues to country on 6/25 & 6/26 in Mystic Shipyard! 

Floatchella, Mystic, a paddle-crafts only rally on the Mystic River featuring Bands and a DJ on a floating stage! 

Connecticut Gardens Day at the Flo Gris, Old Lyme, 6/27, Enjoy the Museum’s grounds in full bloom on this special state-wide celebration of historic gardens.

Ivoryton Playhouse returns! And we’re so happy to hear it. The summer season opens with Murder For Two, a blend of murder, music and mayhem on July 8th, and Having Our Say, The Delaney Sisters First Hundred Years on August 12th. Socially distanced seating so get your tickets now. More shows to be announced. Cover photo above: Erica and Executive/Artistic Director: Jacqui Hubbard

Niantic Arts & Crafts Show, Niantic, 7/3 – 7/4, Presenting New England’s finest artists and crafters displaying their creations of juried fine arts and crafts including paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, woodworking and paper products, all on the East Lyme Town Hall grounds.

Essex Auto Club Show, Essex, 7/4, The 12th annual Essex Car Show! Featuring both contemporary and classic models. 

Jonathan Edwards Winery Concert, North Stonington, 7/15, Concert lineup at the Winery include Donavon Frankenreiter, Trevor Hall,, a lobster bake with Sugar, and G. Love. These tickets go fast! 

Leif Nilsson Spring Street Studio & Gallery Presents Concert in the Garden, 7/17 from 7 – 9 pm. Listen to Parker’s Tangent in an outdoor bistro style amphitheatre. $20 donation. BYOB and picnic – Rain or shine!

Clinton Summerfest & Fireworks 2021, 8/28 (8/29). A beer garden, lots of food, kids’ activities, fireworks and so much more.

You may also like our round-up of Farmers’ Markets on the Shoreline.