🍂 Fall Festivals, Greek Feasts & State Park Adventures Await

September 18, 2025

Happy Thursday! 🍂 Whether you’re craving an outdoor adventure, planning a fall festival weekend, or just looking for something fun (and free!) to do, we’ve got you covered. From Connecticut’s most beautiful state parks to pumpkins and gyros, here’s what’s happening:

🌳 Discover the Best State Parks in Connecticut (and tips for your visit)
🎃 Plan a fall day at the Seymour Pumpkin Festival
🍴 Indulge in food, culture, and fun at the Holy Trinity Greek Festival
📗 This Month in CT History: Young Martin Luther King, Jr. Finds New Perspective
📰 Local headlines you might’ve missed

Tired of scrubbing your toilet? Splash Foam Cleaner is the fast, hands-free way to keep your toilet fresh and spotless.

Clean toilet rings, stains, and more without forceful scrubbing. Just pour, let it foam, and flush. No scrubbing. No mess. It removes stains, eliminates odors, and leaves your bathroom smelling clean.

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!

Where natural beauty meets endless adventure

Connecticut may be small, but it’s packed with natural treasures — 110 state parks and 32 state forests, to be exact. With so many to choose from, we’ve narrowed it down to the very best parks worth your visit.

From the sandy shoreline of Hammonasset Beach to the rocky tide pools of Rocky Neck, the historic charm of Gillette Castle, and the legends of Devil’s Hopyard, there’s a park for every type of explorer. Many parks now even offer all-terrain wheelchairs, making them more accessible than ever.

Whether you’re into hiking, camping, fishing, or simply enjoying a picnic with a view, this guide has you covered. We’ve included top activities, packing tips, and the best times to go so you can plan the perfect trip.

This is not an advertisement.

Fall fun, family traditions, and community spirit

Mark your calendars — the Seymour Pumpkin Festival is back on Sunday, September 21st, 2025 at French Memorial Park! Since 1965, this beloved festival has brought the community together for a day filled with crafts, food, and entertainment.

Expect over 150 local crafters, artisans, and food trucks, plus live music, a petting zoo, and plenty of family-friendly activities. Native Wings will also return with handmade dreamcatchers, smudge sticks, and arrowhead necklaces.

Best of all? Admission and parking are completely free, with shuttle service available from Skokorat School.

📍 French Memorial Park, 62 Spruce Street, Seymour CT
🕙 Sunday, Sept. 21, 10 AM – 5 PM

Authentic food, live music, and community celebration

From today through Saturday, the Holy Trinity Greek Festival returns to Norwich with three days of authentic food, music, and community fun.

Enjoy homemade Greek dishes, fresh pastries, wine, and beer — and don’t miss the always-popular gyro tent! With free admission and extended hours, it’s the perfect place to gather with friends and family for a taste of Greece right here in Connecticut.

📍 Holy Trinity Norwich, 247 Washington St., Norwich CT
🕚 Thu.–Sat., Sept. 18–20, 11 AM – 9 PM

Veterinarians nationwide reported that corporate managers pushed clinics to focus on profit, with vets often paid based on revenue. This encouraged them to see more pets, order more tests, and upsell services, creating a growing burden for uninsured pet owners. Pet insurance could help you offset some of these rising costs, with some providing up to 90% reimbursement.

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!

Don’t miss this legendary tribute band — tickets now up to 39% off!

Get ready for an unforgettable night of music that defined a generation! The Best of The Eagles are taking the stage at Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford on September 19 at 7:30 p.m. Known as the most authentic Eagles tribute band in the U.S., they’ll bring classics like Hotel California, Take It Easy, and Desperado to life with spot-on vocals and powerful live energy.

With this exclusive Groupon deal, tickets start at just $25 each (regularly $41.25) — that’s 39% off! 🎟 More than 30 fans have already grabbed their seats, and with the deal expiring soon, now’s the time to lock in your spot.

📍 Toyota Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford
🕕 Doors open at 6 p.m. | 🎵 Show starts at 7:30 p.m.

TOP EVENTS TODAY YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

HAVE YOU BEEN HERE YET?

THIS MONTH IN CONNECTICUT HISTORY

A Young Martin Luther King, Jr. Finds New Perspective in Simsbury

In the summer of 1944, a 15-year-old Martin Luther King, Jr. left his home in Georgia to work in Connecticut’s shade tobacco fields. Along with other Morehouse College students, King labored long, sweltering days tending the crops in Simsbury to help pay for his education.

What stood out most to the future civil rights leader was not the work itself, but the society around him. In towns like Simsbury, Bloomfield, and Hartford, he experienced freedoms unknown to him in the segregated South. He could sit where he wanted on buses, watch movies without restriction, and dine in restaurants without being forced to the back.

The journey back home left a deep impression on King. Years later, he recalled the painful return to segregation after glimpsing life in a place where laws did not enforce racial barriers. That formative summer helped shape his understanding of justice, equality, and the possibility of change — lessons that would guide his leadership in the years to come.

What if a single test could unlock everything you need to know about your health? With TruDiagnostic, it can. From identifying your biological age to tracking key markers like inflammation, vitamins, and metabolic health, their reports are fully customized to you.

You’ll receive actionable steps based on your results, giving you the clarity and confidence to make impactful changes.

One finger prick of blood, one life-changing report.

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

🍰 Beloved New Haven Bakery Closing After 40 Years
Chestnut Fine Foods & Confections, known for its oat bread and chocolate mousse cake, is closing Sept. 15 as owners Fred and Patty Walker retire. The pink State Street staple will soon become a Korean café serving kimchi and bento boxes.

🛒 New Supermarket Coming to Danbury
Key Food, a community-based grocery chain, will open at the former Rite Aid on Germantown Road. The store is expected to create more than 30 jobs and bring fresh produce, deli selections, and bakery goods to local shoppers.

🌾 Historic Cheshire Farm to Reopen
Old Bishop Farm, dating back to the 1700s, has found new owners who plan to keep it as a working farm. The property — known for pick-your-own fruit, homemade ice cream, and a country store — is set to reopen soon.

🎳 Duckpin Bowling Alley to Become Housing in Milford
Plans have been approved to demolish the former Devon Duckpin Bowling Lanes and replace it with six townhouses, including two affordable units. The project is part of efforts to ease Connecticut’s tight housing supply.

Thanks!

Thanks for joining us today! We hope this newsletter sparked some inspiration to get out, explore, and soak up all the great things happening across Connecticut this week.

If you enjoyed it, share it with a friend — and let them in on the best events and experiences around the state too!

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!