JUNE:

Connecticut Sea Music Festival
Where: Essex, CT
Dive into a celebration of maritime heritage and music at the Connecticut Sea Music Festival in picturesque Essex, Connecticut. Set against the scenic backdrop of the Connecticut River, this annual event brings together seafarers, musicians, and music enthusiasts from around the globe. Immerse yourself in a weekend filled with lively sea shanties, traditional maritime songs, and captivating performances by acclaimed artists. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a landlubber with a love for the sea, the Connecticut Sea Music Festival offers an unforgettable experience, where the spirit of the ocean comes alive through music.

Ledyard Farmer’s Market
Where: 740 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard, Connecticut
Every Wednesday from 4PM-7PM, the market features Connecticut grown organic fruits and vegetables, baked goods, and crafts. Best of all, every week, there is a selection of food trucks and music, making this a festive and inexpensive option for dinner just 4 miles from Abbey’s Lantern Hill Inn.

Harvard-Yale Boat Race
Where: Thames River, Gales Ferry, Connecticut
The Harvard-Yale Regatta is the oldest college-level athletic contest in the country. It has taken place every year since 1859 and is a rowing competition between the men’s teams of Harvard and Yale. The annual race takes place a few miles from the inn on the Thames River. Those not affiliated with Yale or Harvard can view the race from Erickson Park in Gales Ferry. Sweet Hill Farm hosts a Regatta Day Festival before the race.

Mystic River Jam
Where: Mystic Shipyard, Mystic, Connecticut
An annual Music Festival at Mystic Shipyard in June, showcasing music from rock to reggae, blues to country. Tickets are available online.

JULY:

Summer Soundwaves at Esker Point Beach
Where: Esker Point Beach, Groton, Connecticut
Pack your beach chairs and picnic baskets and dive into the rhythm of summer every Thursday night at Esker Point Beach in Groton, CT. Against a backdrop of sun-kissed sands and sparkling waters, a different band performs crowd favorites each week, from chart-topping hits to toe-tapping classics. You’ll feel the sand between your toes as you groove to the music. Concerts are 6 PM – 8 PM, weather permitting.

Sunflowers for Wishes
Where: Buttonwood Farm, Preston, Connecticut
Every year, this dairy farm and the hugely popular ice cream stand they operate plant 14 acres of sunflowers to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This is an amazing opportunity to take beautiful photos or purchase bundles of sunflowers to support a great cause! The sunflowers are usually ready in late July, with peak bloom lasting two weeks.

Antique and Classic Boat Rendezvous and Parade
Where: Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, Connecticut
This annual maritime event draws the region’s most distinguished vessels to grace Mystic Seaport’s waterfront. This prestigious gathering showcases approximately 50 meticulously preserved antique boats, ranging from elegant cruisers to majestic sailboats and sleek runabouts. Chris Craft, Herreshoff, Sparkman and Stephens, Concordia are just some of the builders whose designs are on show throughout the weekend. On Sunday, the classic boats form a jubilant parade as they depart down the Mystic River. Boats are announced one by one as they pass through the Mystic drawbridge. Whether you enjoy these beauties at Mystic Seaport or during the parade, this is a great event to experience by kayak or paddleboard.

Ledyard Farmer’s Market
Where: 740 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard, Connecticut
Every Wednesday from 4PM-7PM, the market features Connecticut grown organic fruits and vegetables, baked goods, and crafts. Best of all, every week there are a selection of food trucks and music, making this a festive and inexpensive option for dinner just 4 miles from Abbey’s Lantern Hill Inn.

AUGUST:

River Glow
Where: Pawcatuck River, downtown Westerly, Rhode Island
On Saturday, August 3rd, the Pawcatuck River will shine brightly during the River Glow event from 7 to 10 PM as enchanting floating bonfires light up the river. Downtown Westerly-Pawcatuck pulsates with captivating performance art and sensational entertainment, promising an evening of pure delight.

Charlestown Seafood Festival
Where: Ninigret Park, Charlestown, Rhode Island
Enjoy one of the biggest seafood festivals in the country. Savor the freshest seafood while enjoying live music and entertainment all day long. The first weekend in August. There is a fireworks show on Saturday evening.

Mystic Outdoor Art Festival
Where: downtown Mystic, Connecticut
The oldest of its kind in the Northeast region, the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival showcases the work of over 200 artisans for sale during this 2-day event. A variety of mediums are represented including painting, sculpture, woodcarving, metalwork, jewelry, pottery, glasswork, and more. The festival is free of charge.

WoodenBoat Show
Where: Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, Connecticut
WoodenBoat Magazine’s annual celebration of wooden boat building and craft is held at the Mystic Seaport Museum. The 3-day WoodenBoat Show brings together wooden boat builders, owners, and craftspeople to not only celebrate the beauty of these lovely craft but teach new skills through demonstrations and workshops and provide everything you need to outfit your wooden boat. Wooden boats of every type will be on display, including cruising yachts, launches, runabouts, fishing boats, performance powerboats, daysailers, dinghies, rowboats, canoes, performance shells, multi-hulls, and racing boats.

Schemitzen Festival of Green Corn and Dance
Where: Mashantucket Pequot Museum, Mashantucket Tribal Reservation
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe welcomes you to their annual 2-day powow featuring traditional Native American dancing, drumming, and music as they celebrate the harvest and their ancestors. The festival takes place on the Mashantucket Pequot reservation. There is a 17th-century eastern woodland village exhibit where demonstrators will show traditional cultural practices.

Ledyard Farmer’s Market
Where: 740 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard, Connecticut
Every Wednesday from 4PM-7PM, the market features Connecticut grown organic fruits and vegetables, baked goods, and crafts. Best of all, every week there are a selection of food trucks and music, making this a festive and inexpensive option for dinner just 4 miles from Abbey’s Lantern Hill Inn.