Visit Connecticut

Visit Connecticut Connecticut spans just 110 miles from east to west. And 70 miles from north to south.
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But across our diverse yet compact regions, you'll find everything you need to both unplug - and recharge! Your go-to source for information on traveling to and around Connecticut.

09/04/2026

🍂 Looking for outdoor things to do this September? We got you covered! ✨️

Check out this snippet from Episode 5 of "Only In Connecticut," CT’s official podcast! In this month's episode, our host Amanda Elgie covers hiking and biking around the state. We start off with easy and moderate hiking trails for friend & family, and then dicusses the do's and don'ts of biking on the many trails around CT. As usual, we'll talk to the experts who can point you toward exactly the right path for wherever you're at today! 🥾🚲

This month’s local experts joining the chat:

🚴 Gregg Ferraris | The Connecticut Cycling Advancement Program
🌲 Kristen Valenti | Kristen | Connecticut Hikes, New England Travel
🥾 Mosi Moses | CT Trails | Intl. Group Travel | Guided Hikes & Yoga
✍️ Cara MacDonald | Cara Mac Media | Connecticut Hiking & Photography

Tap the link in our bio to listen to the full episode now! 🎙

09/04/2026

☺️ Labor Day weekend is here, and we're soaking up every last bit of summer! From classic agricultural fairs and Greek food to corn mazes and cider donuts, here’s what’s happening around Connecticut:

🎡 Woodstock Fair (September 3–7) – Woodstock, CT

The Woodstock Fair celebrates its 165th year this Labor Day weekend! As Connecticut’s largest and second-oldest agricultural fair, it’s packed with livestock shows, a petting zoo, free stage shows, a midway, agricultural exhibits, strolling entertainers, and plenty of delicious fair food.

🇬🇷 Odyssey Greek Festival (September 4–7) – Orange, CT

Take a trip to Greece without leaving Connecticut at the 44th annual Odyssey Greek Festival! Enjoy live Greek music and dancing, cooking demonstrations, church sanctuary tours, kids’ activities, and plenty of authentic Greek dishes including gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita, moussaka, and baklava. New this year, relax in the festival’s Taverna with Greek wine or beer and live music!

🌽 Corn Maze & Cider Donut Festival (September 5–6) – Middlefield, CT

Kick off the unofficial start of fall at Lyman Orchards tomorrow and Sunday! Celebrate the opening of the 2026 corn maze, themed around 250 Years of the USA, while enjoying pick-your-own fruit, goat cuddling, wagon rides, square dancing, live music, and family activities. And of course, don’t miss the cider donuts—including a special cider donut sundae and even a cider donut hole co****le toss!

🐴 Goshen Fair (September 5–7) – Goshen, CT

Spend Labor Day weekend at the Goshen Fair, a celebration of Connecticut’s agricultural roots! Check out livestock judging, draft horse and oxen pulls, woodcutting and truck pulls, live entertainment, a midway, rides, exhibits, and classic fair food. You can also join in on quirky competitions like the frozen T-shirt contest, hay bale toss, apple fritter eating contest, and skillet throw!

How are you spending this long weekend? Let us know in the comments!

📍Videos taken in New Haven, CT

Cider donut season is here 🍎🍩From historic cider mills to local orchards and farm markets, there are plenty of places ar...
09/01/2026

Cider donut season is here 🍎🍩

From historic cider mills to local orchards and farm markets, there are plenty of places around Connecticut serving up this fall favorite. Let us know your favorite spot in the comments!

Save this guide for your fall adventures and tap the link in our bio for a guide to donuts across CT.

08/28/2026

🎉 School is back in session, but summer fun is still going strong in Connecticut! From historic agricultural fairs to jousting and hot air balloons, here’s what’s happening this weekend:

🎡 Brooklyn Fair (August 28–31) – Brooklyn, CT

Step back into history at the Brooklyn Fair, the oldest agricultural fair in the United States, dating all the way back to 1809! The four-day celebration is packed with live entertainment, rides, contests, tractor pulls, a circus, exhibits, classic fair food, and plenty more.

⚔️ Connecticut Renaissance Faire (August 29–October 25) – Lebanon, CT

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire kicks off its nine themed weekends tomorrow! With more than 200 vendors, 13 stages, and dozens of live shows every day, there’s plenty to explore. Watch full-contact jousting, comedy and stage combat, then browse artisan shops, visit the taverns, and discover games and characters throughout the grounds.

🎈 Plainville Fire Company Hot Air Balloon Festival (August 28–29) – Plainville, CT

Look to the skies tonight and tomorrow for the 39th annual Hot Air Balloon Festival at Norton Park! Watch vibrant balloons take flight, enjoy a fireworks display, amusement rides, live entertainment, food trucks, an arts and crafts fair, and a car show. The event also helps support the Plainville Fire Company’s fundraising efforts!

🎡 Terryville Lions Country Fair (August 28–30) – Terryville, CT

The Terryville Lions Country Fair is back this weekend! This longtime community tradition features rides, live entertainment, contests, exhibits, tractor pulls, classic fair food, and plenty of family fun. The fair is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Terryville Lions Club, helping support its work in the community.

What are you checking out this weekend? Let us know in the comments!

📍Video taken at Hammonasset Beach State Park

🍽️ Win the ultimate CT foodie experience! ✨️Think you know Connecticut’s food scene? Prove it and win big! We’re celebra...
08/27/2026

🍽️ Win the ultimate CT foodie experience! ✨️

Think you know Connecticut’s food scene? Prove it and win big! We’re celebrating the launch of the Connecticut TV-to-Table Trail on October 5, 2026, and we want you there.

Take our quick CT foodie quiz for your chance to win an exclusive invite for you + a guest to taste incredible dishes from CT restaurants featured on national food TV. Plus, you’ll get to rub shoulders with TV celebrity chef and host Scott Conant as local chefs cook off for a charity contribution!

⭐ The grand prize: One lucky winner will score the ultimate experience to join Chef Scott Conant as an official co-judge and crown the winning dish!

How to enter:

1. Swipe through the post above for all the details.

2. Take our foodie quiz via the link in our bio to submit your entry.

3. Contest ends on September 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST. Be sure to submit your entries before then. Limit one entry per person. Winners will be selected by September 22, 2026.

08/25/2026

Country fair season is officially here in Connecticut! 🎡🍂🍎

From late August through October, Connecticut’s agricultural fairs are bringing on the fair food, rides, live entertainment, animals, and local traditions.

Save this guide to plan your fall fair season, and head to the link in our bio for dates, details and everything you need to know about each fair!

08/21/2026

☀️ The final weekends of August are here, so make the most of summer with fairs, festivals, live music, local food, and plenty of family fun around Connecticut! Here’s what’s happening this weekend:

🎡 Bridgewater Fair (August 21–23) – Bridgewater, CT

The 73rd annual Bridgewater Fair opens tonight! Enjoy a classic Connecticut fair weekend filled with rides, contests, tractor pulls, animal showcases, exhibits, live entertainment, and plenty of fair food. Don’t miss the opening-night parade featuring volunteer fire companies from Connecticut and New York. Best of all, the fair helps support the Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Department.

🍑 Peach Jam (August 22) – Guilford, CT

Celebrate peak peach season tomorrow at Bishop’s Orchards! Enjoy live music, local food trucks, pick-your-own peaches, and family-friendly activities like the Mega Slide, Bounce Pads, Pedal Karts, and more. It’s a sweet way to spend a summer Saturday—and the event happens rain or shine!

🎡 All-American Summer Celebration (August 21–22) – Bristol, CT

This is the final weekend to celebrate America’s 250th birthday at Lake Compounce! Tonight and tomorrow, watch 300 colorful drones light up the sky above the park, creating one-of-a-kind designs inspired by classic rides, fan-favorite characters, and the park’s historic past.

🎨 CT Arts & Eats (August 22) – Southbury, CT

Shop local and savor the last days of summer tomorrow in Southbury! Browse handmade creations from more than 50 Connecticut artisans, grab a bite from local food vendors and food trucks, enjoy live music, and check out family-friendly activities. Admission and parking are free!

What are you checking out this weekend? Let us know in the comments!

📍Video taken at Lavender Pond Farm, CT

08/18/2026

🎡 One month until The Big E!

New England’s biggest fair returns on Friday, September 18th bringing 17 days of food, entertainment, rides, shopping and plenty of Connecticut pride to West Springfield, Massachusetts.

Stop by the Connecticut Building on the Avenue of States to discover local businesses, makers, local cuisine, and more from across the state. From Connecticut-made products and favorite local eats to exhibits celebrating what makes our state special, it’s a little taste of Connecticut right in the middle of The Big E.

📅 September 18–October 4, 2026
📍 Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA

08/14/2026

☀️ Can you believe we're halfway through August? This weekend is packed with ways to celebrate Connecticut’s diverse cultures, music, food, and summer traditions! From dragon boat racing to oysters and live music, here’s what’s happening:

🐉 Riverfront Dragon Boat & Asian Festival (August 15) – Hartford, CT

Celebrate Asian and Pacific Island cultures tomorrow at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza! Watch more than 70 teams compete in exciting dragon boat races, then enjoy traditional music and dance, martial arts demonstrations, hands-on art activities, and delicious food throughout the festival.

🦪 Oyster Festival (August 14–15) – Milford, CT

Celebrate more than 50 years of Milford’s Oyster Festival tradition tonight and tomorrow! Enjoy locally sourced oysters from Milford’s own shellfish companies, plus plenty of other food, beer and wine. Multiple live musical acts and entertainment will keep the festivities going both nights.

🎸 Black Bear Americana Music Festival (August 14–16) – Harwinton, CT

Spend the weekend surrounded by the sounds of Americana with more than 50 bands performing across four stages! Discover new favorites ranging from blues and folk to bluegrass and rock, while enjoying food trucks, family-friendly activities, and on-site camping under the open sky.

🪶 Mohegan Wigwam Festival (August 15–16) – Uncasville, CT

Experience Native American culture, heritage, and community at this free, family-friendly celebration hosted by the Mohegan Tribe. Enjoy traditional dancing, crafts, foods, and dance competitions featuring Native Americans from across the country.

What are you checking out this weekend? Let us know in the comments!

📍Video taken at Lavender Pond Farm, CT

08/12/2026

Happy National Vinyl Record Day, Connecticut! 🎶💿

We celebrated with a trip to Merle’s Record Rack in Orange, one of Connecticut’s oldest record stores, dating back to 1962!

Dig through new and vintage vinyl, CDs, posters, T-shirts, collectibles, and tons of nostalgic finds for music lovers. 🎸 They also sell and repair vintage audio equipment, offer disc transfers, host live music events, and even have a 25-cent machine that gives you handwritten song lyrics!

Be sure to add this nostalgic spot to your Connecticut bucket list and check out more fun things to do at the link in our bio!💙

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450 Columbus Boulevard , Suite 5
Hartford, CT
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