The best events in Connecticut, by season and month

The best events in Connecticut, by season and month

TL;DR:

Connecticut has strong annual festivals in every season.
Summer brings free music, art shows, and waterfront fireworks.
Fall shines with big fairs and food events across the state.
Winter features indoor markets and drive-through light shows.
Use our month-by-month picks and checklist to plan faster.

Connecticut packs a lot into a small state. You can plan a full trip around a single festival, or string together several events across a weekend. This guide highlights the best recurring events, when they happen, and why they are worth the travel. Dates shift a little each year, so always check official sites before you go.

How to use this guide

Pick your season.
Scan the month for top events.
Book rooms early for big weekends.
Check transit and parking notes on each event site.

You will also find a quick planning checklist at the end.

Winter highlights (December to February)

Sun Wine & Food Fest, Uncasville

Mohegan Sun hosts one of New England’s largest food weekends, with tastings, chef demos, and rare pours. It runs across four days in late January at the casino resort. The 2026 edition ran from January 22 to January 25. This is an easy anchor for a winter foodie getaway because hotels, dining, and the venue sit on one campus.

Glow Hartford, Hartford

If you want a warm indoor lights experience, Glow Hartford fills the Connecticut Convention Center with interactive light gardens, a small market, and kid-friendly rides. It typically runs from late November through late December, perfect for a pre-holiday visit to the capital.

Fantasy of Lights, New Haven

This classic drive-through at Lighthouse Point Park runs nightly from late November through December 31. It is operated by Goodwill of Southern New England and is an easy add to a New Haven pizza night. Expect 60 plus displays and set times each evening.

Spring starters (March to May)

Spring in Connecticut is lighter on marquee events than summer and fall, but it is a good time for museums, theater, and small town festivals. Use the state tourism calendar to spot pop-up happenings and weekend shows.

Summer showstoppers (June to August)

International Festival of Arts & Ideas, New Haven

Each June, New Haven hosts a city-wide arts festival with concerts, talks, theater, and site-specific shows. Many events are free on the New Haven Green. Plan a day that pairs a matinee, a talk, and dinner on Chapel Street.

Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, Hartford

Free and outdoors in Bushnell Park, this festival fills a July weekend with international acts and large local crowds. If you like lawn seating and city views, this is your pick. Pack chairs and arrive early for evening headliners.

Mystic Outdoor Art Festival, Mystic

One of the oldest art shows of its kind in the Northeast, this juried festival takes over downtown Mystic for a weekend in August. Artists line the streets, galleries stay busy, and restaurants fill up. Book rooms early in Mystic or nearby Stonington.

Note on New London’s waterfront weekend

New London’s traditional Sailfest weekend has changed in recent years due to budget limits, with the city testing replacement formats and different fireworks plans. Check the current year’s city or downtown association update before you lock plans.

Fall favorites (September to November)

Durham Fair, Durham

Connecticut’s largest agricultural fair lands the last full weekend in September. Think main-stage music, livestock shows, a big midway, and classic fair food. This is a statewide draw, so expect traffic around the fairgrounds and plan parking early.

Eversource Hartford Marathon, Hartford

The marathon, half, and 5K fill downtown Hartford in early to mid October, with finishes under the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch. Book city rooms well ahead if you want to walk to the start. Spectators should review road closures before driving in.

Connecticut Garlic & Harvest Festival, Bethlehem

A beloved October weekend for food lovers at the Bethlehem Fairgrounds. Expect cooking demos, lectures on growing garlic, live music, and plenty of vendors. It usually lands in mid October.

Month-by-month quick picks

Month	Event ideas	Where
January	Sun Wine & Food Fest, indoor museums and casinos	Uncasville, statewide
February	Theater runs, brewery events, winter hikes	Statewide
March	Maple weekends, St. Patrick’s parades	Statewide
April	Cherry blossoms, college concerts, opening days at gardens	Wooster Square, multiple
May	Riverfront events, small town fairs begin	Hartford, shoreline
June	Arts & Ideas Festival, beach season opens	New Haven, shoreline
July	Hartford Jazz Festival, town fireworks, boat shows	Hartford, coastal towns
August	Mystic Outdoor Art Festival, vineyard concerts	Mystic, Litchfield Hills
September	Durham Fair, harvest festivals	Durham, statewide
October	Hartford Marathon, Garlic & Harvest Fest, foliage drives	Hartford, Bethlehem, Litchfield Hills
November	Glow Hartford opens, winery holiday markets	Hartford, statewide
December	Fantasy of Lights, town greens and markets	New Haven, statewide

Planning tips for out-of-state visitors

Book early. Rooms near big events sell out months ahead.
Use the state events calendars. CTvisit and city sites keep rolling lists, handy for smaller finds.
Mind parking. Many events list satellite lots or shuttles.
Add food stops. New Haven pizza and shoreline seafood are easy wins. The state’s new Pizza Trail map is a fun way to plan a tasting route.
Check the weather. Summer is humid. Fall evenings get cool. Winter events offer indoor or drive-through options.

Why it matters

Connecticut’s events are compact and easy to string together. You can pair a beach morning with a free concert at night, or run the marathon and hit a harvest fair the next day. This guide helps you choose the right weekend, avoid crowds, and get more from a short trip.