🌹 Strum, Geek Out & Fall in Love in CT

September 11, 2025

Hi there! The weekend is right around the corner, and Connecticut is serving up plenty of ways to enjoy it. From music and fandom fun to Renaissance romance, here’s what’s on tap:

🎶 Strum along at the Nutmeg Ukulele Festival
🎮 Geek out at Fandom Fest
🌹 Step back in time at the Roses & Romance Weekend
đź“— This Month in CT History: Parachutist Snagged From The Sky
📰 Local headlines you might’ve missed

Meet the #1 gamified treadmill that makes workouts feel like play. The Victory Treadmill blends immersive gameplay with top-tier hardware, so every session feels fresh, fun, and effective. Explore scenic trails, conquer quests, or race friends — all while hitting your goals.

Shop now and get up to 32% Off + 1 Free Gift with Purchase during our Labor Day Sale, our best prices of the year. Plus, use code VICTORY50 for an extra $50 off at avironactive.com.

This is an advertisement. Looking to partner with Connecticut Lifestyles? Just reply to this email or click here to learn how we can promote your brand to thousands of interested locals!

🎶 STRUM, SING & CELEBRATE AT THE NUTMEG UKULELE FESTIVAL

A full day of workshops, performances, and island vibes in Simsbury

The 4th Annual Nutmeg Ukulele Festival is back this Saturday, and it’s bigger than ever! Hosted by the Kinetic Ukes, this all-day celebration features three engaging workshop sessions, an artist showcase, vendors, a silent auction, and even lunch included with admission.

This year’s lineup welcomes Uncle Zac, a renowned Baritone Ukulele instructor, alongside returning festival favorites Anne Ku, Armand Aromin, Jim Beloff, and Jim Lenn. With group warmups, plenty of strumming, and a welcoming community spirit, it’s the perfect way to spend a Saturday.

🎟️ Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. | Festival begins at 9:00 a.m.

This is not an advertisement.

A night of pulp art, live music, and fandom-inspired fun at NBMAA

If you’re a fan of comics, pulp heroes, or just love to geek out, Fandom Fest is your place this Saturday night. Inspired by the NBMAA’s legendary Robert Lesser Collection of Pulp Art, this event combines retro art with modern fandom culture.

Expect live music, an arcade gaming zone, themed cocktails, and an array of vendors selling comics, collectibles, and novelties. Plus, you’ll have full access to the museum galleries for a one-of-a-kind night out.

🕕 Saturday, September 13 | 6–10 p.m. | New Britain Museum of American Art

Celebrate Roses & Romance Weekend with courtship, contests, and fairy-tale magic

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire’s Roses & Romance Weekend is a whimsical celebration of love and connection. Couples can renew their vows in a fairy-tale ceremony, while singles can wear a complimentary “Single!” sticker from the Gypsy Rose booth to meet fellow adventurers.

Don’t miss the Fairest of Them All Contest, where the contestant with the most roses will be crowned and awarded prizes, including a gold-dipped rose. With festive shows, food, crafts, and plenty of merriment, it’s a weekend of romance like no other.

📍 Lebanon Fairgrounds | September 13–14 | Admission: $16 adults, $10 youth, kids under 6 FREE, pets welcome for $5

Starting in our 30s, some key cellular processes begin to slow down, making us feel tired and weak over time. This decline affects not just our physical strength and endurance, but significantly reduces our quality of life making everyday activities harder to enjoy.

Luckily, scientists have discovered a way to shape how we age. Mitopure®, by Timeline, targets the root cause of this cellular decline and is clinically proven to increase cellular energy, giving our bodies the energy they need to function optimally. The results? Double-digit increases in muscle strength without any change in exercise.

*500mg Mitopure® have been shown to (1) induce gene expression related to mitochondria function and metabolism and (2) increase the strength of the hamstring leg muscle in measures of knee extension and flexion after 4 months in overweight 40-65 year olds.

This is an advertisement. Looking to partner with Connecticut Lifestyles? Just reply to this email or click here to learn how we can promote your brand to thousands of interested locals!

Jousting knights, fire-eaters, artisan markets & turkey legs—your Renaissance adventure awaits!

Looking for a weekend escape that feels straight out of a storybook? Just a short trip into Carver, MA, King Richard’s Faire transforms 200 acres of woodlands into an enchanted realm filled with costumed performers, thrilling jousting tournaments, live music, comedy acts, and magical surprises around every corner.

Fuel your adventure with hearty feasts like giant turkey legs, chowder, and mead, then wander through a bustling artisan marketplace packed with handcrafted treasures. Try your hand at axe-throwing, games of skill, or simply soak in the lively atmosphere across eight performance stages.

Thanks to this exclusive Groupon deal, you can snag single-day passes for 1, 2, or 4 people — all at up to 18% off. Whether it’s a day trip with friends, a whimsical date, or a family outing, it’s the perfect way to cap off summer with a dose of fantasy and fun.

✨ Don’t miss your chance to step into the magic — grab the Groupon deal here before it disappears!

TOP EVENTS TODAY YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

GET READY FOR AN EPIC PIZZA PARTY!

THIS MONTH IN CONNECTICUT HISTORY

Parachutist Snagged From The Sky

In the mid-1960s, the Vietnam War and the space race were pushing the limits of technology — and safety. On September 13, 1966, Charles “Chuck” Alexander, a 27-year-old test parachutist for the Pioneer Parachute Company of Manchester, Connecticut, made history in a way few could imagine: he became the first person ever captured out of the sky by a moving aircraft.

The demonstration, held before more than 100 military officials and reporters at Sussex County Airport in Delaware, was designed to test a potential rescue method for downed fighter pilots — and even for astronauts returning in Gemini or Apollo capsules. Alexander leapt from a Cessna at 8,500 feet, drifting earthward at nearly 1,100 feet per minute, before a C-122 transport aircraft roared past at 120 miles an hour and hooked his parachute in midair.

It was a dramatic — and successful — showcase of Connecticut innovation, proving that Pioneer Parachute’s daring concept could turn science fiction into real-world rescue technology.

Shoppers are going nuts over these low cost hearing aids that are virtually invisible. Discover how these affordable hearing aids are changing the lives of people everyday.

This is an advertisement. Looking to partner with Connecticut Lifestyles? Just reply to this email or click here to learn how we can promote your brand to thousands of interested locals!

HEADLINES AROUND THE STATE

🍎 State Expands Support for CT Foodshare
Connecticut will significantly boost its funding for CT Foodshare, jumping from under $1 million annually to $3 million in 2026 and $6 million in 2027. The funds — restricted to purchasing food only — will help the nonprofit’s 600 partner pantries serve families across all 169 towns. A new pizza-themed license plate will also raise money to fight hunger.

đź’° Report: Nearly Half of CT Families Struggling
A new United Way report finds that 40% of Connecticut households earn less than the state’s “survival budget,” leaving many families unable to make ends meet despite being employed. Advocates are calling for permanent tax relief and expanded support services to address the growing hardship spreading from cities into suburban and rural towns.

🔥 Weekend Fire Damages Two Seymour Restaurants
Firefighters battled a Sunday morning blaze that heavily damaged Hot Grill & Pizza in Seymour and caused smoke damage to neighboring Seymour Garden. No injuries were reported, but both restaurants remain closed pending repairs. The fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause.

🎰 Connecticut Among Top Lottery Spenders
With lottery fever running high amid a $1.7 billion Powerball jackpot, a new analysis shows Connecticut ranks 6th in the nation for per-capita lottery spending at $469 per year. While no local tickets hit the jackpot, five Nutmeg State players won $50,000 prizes.

🍕 #CTByThePie Contest Celebrates Pizza Trail Launch
Gov. Ned Lamont announced a social media giveaway to promote the October 1 launch of the Connecticut Pizza Trail. Participants who reshare the official post can win seats on a two-day bus tour of iconic pizzerias across the state, putting Connecticut’s world-famous pizza culture in the spotlight.

Thanks!

Thanks for joining us for today’s newsletter! We hope it sparked some inspiration to get out, explore, and make the most of what Connecticut has to offer this week.

Enjoyed this email? Share it with a friend and let them in on the best things happening around the state!

P.S. Looking to partner with Connecticut Lifestyles? Just reply to this email or click here to learn how we can promote your brand to thousands of interested locals!