🚗 Roadside Wonders, Haunted Hangars & Halloween Ballet

October 23, 2025

Good morning, Connecticut! ☀️ We’re getting closer and closer to the weekend! From quirky roadside stops and massive hangar parties to family-friendly Halloween shows, today’s lineup has something for everyone — whether you’re chasing adventure, craft brews, or cute costumes.

Here’s what’s inside:


🚗 Roadside attractions worth the drive
🎃 A Halloween brew fest inside airplane hangars
🩰 A not-so-spooky ballet for the whole family
📗 This Month in CT History: From Yankee Peddler to Railroad Tycoon
📰 Local headlines you might’ve missed

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Discover quirky landmarks, hidden gems, and must-see stops across the state

If you love road trips with a side of weird and wonderful, you’ll want to add these Connecticut roadside attractions to your travel list. From a 26-foot-tall Paul Bunyan waving an American flag to the giant Frog Bridge in Willimantic, the state is packed with landmarks that celebrate its history, creativity, and a little bit of oddball charm.

Explore legendary stops like “Dracula Drive” in Trumbull, where eerie tales of the Melon Heads still linger, and The Glass House in New Canaan, a marvel of modernist architecture. You’ll also find fun family favorites like the PEZ Visitor Center in Orange and Frog Rock in Eastford, where burgers, ice cream, and local lore meet.

These stops are perfect for spontaneous photo ops, weekend detours, and discovering the fascinating stories that make Connecticut one-of-a-kind.

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A spooky spin on your favorite craft beer night

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 25, 2025, because the New England Air Museum is transforming into a Halloween-themed beer fest like no other! Wander through massive aircraft hangars filled with 80+ historic planes while sipping local craft brews, enjoying live music, and digging into bites from Connecticut’s best food trucks.

It’s the perfect mix of hops and history — with proceeds supporting the museum’s aviation programs.

📍 New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks
🕕 7–10 PM

🩰 A NOT-SO-SPOOKY BALLET FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Family-friendly Halloween magic on stage!

If you’re looking for a Halloween event the kids will love, Eastern Connecticut Ballet’s “Ballet Spooktacular” is a treat for all ages. This 35-minute performance brings to life whimsical characters, clever costumes, and enchanting dances like “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and “Dancing Bones” — a glow-in-the-dark skeleton performance that delights, not frightens.

Expect plenty of giggles, gorgeous choreography, and a spirited atmosphere that captures the best of the season. Tickets tend to vanish fast, so grab yours before they disappear!

📍 The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Old Saybrook
🕐 Saturday, October 25 at 1:30 PM
🎟️ $16–$24

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TOP EVENTS TODAY YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEWS?

THIS MONTH IN CONNECTICUT HISTORY

From Yankee Peddler to Railroad Tycoon

Born in 1822 in Harwinton, Connecticut, Collis Potter Huntington grew up in a place aptly called Poverty Hollow — and spent his youth hustling as a traveling peddler to help his struggling family. That humble beginning sparked the drive that would make him one of America’s most powerful railroad magnates.

After opening a successful hardware business in New York with his brother, Huntington headed west during the Gold Rush, selling tools and supplies to miners — a venture that made him a fortune. His sharp business instincts and political savvy soon led him to co-found the Central Pacific Railroad, the western leg of the Transcontinental Railroad completed in 1869.

Huntington later helped establish the Southern Pacific Railroad, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, and even the Newport News Shipbuilding Company — all cornerstones of America’s industrial expansion. Despite his immense wealth and influence, he often credited his Connecticut roots for his success, once saying he was “glad to have been born poor” because it taught him how to persevere.

From a peddler’s cart in Poverty Hollow to shaping the nation’s railroads, Collis Huntington’s life remains one of Connecticut’s greatest rags-to-riches stories.

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HEADLINES AROUND THE STATE

Early Voting Begins Across Connecticut
Early voting for Connecticut’s 2025 general election is now open and runs through November 2. Residents can cast their ballots at designated locations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with extended hours on October 28 and 30. Governor Ned Lamont and Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas say the two-week voting window aims to make participation more convenient and boost turnout ahead of Election Day on November 4.

Fire Officials Brace for Tough Wildfire Season
After last year’s most destructive wildfire season in four decades, state foresters are warning of another challenging year ahead. Persistent dry conditions, falling leaves, and dead trees are fueling concerns that Connecticut could see more fires this fall. Officials are urging residents to stay vigilant and follow fire safety rules — noting that 90% of wildfires are human-caused and preventable.

Storm Knocks Out Power Across the State
A powerful overnight storm brought rain and gusty winds, leaving hundreds of Connecticut residents without power Monday morning. Eversource reported over 1,000 outages statewide, with the hardest-hit areas including Pomfret, Durham, and Putnam. Utility crews worked throughout the day to restore service, with numbers dropping significantly by evening.

Hartford HealthCare Buys Two Struggling Hospitals
Hartford HealthCare has finalized an $86 million deal to acquire Manchester Memorial and Rockville General Hospitals, ending months of uncertainty for both facilities. The sale, approved in bankruptcy court, transfers ownership from for-profit Prospect Medical Holdings to Hartford HealthCare under its subsidiary ECHN Holdings Inc. The purchase includes both hospitals and their affiliated properties, ensuring continued operation under new management.

Thanks!

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter! We hope it inspired you to get out, explore, and make the most of what Connecticut has to offer this week.

Enjoyed this issue? Share it with a friend and help them discover all the fun happening 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!