🍺 Ok2berfest, Sports Card Expo & Dog Fair!

Hey Connecticut explorers! 👋

Ready to have some fun this week? We’ve rounded up some of the best local happenings—from festive beer fests and sports card shows to dog-friendly fun you won’t want to miss. Here’s what’s inside this week’s newsletter:

🎉 Lederhosen, live music, contests, and plenty of German-inspired fun in Stratford.
🃏 Stamford’s ultimate card and collectibles show with celebrity autographs and rare finds
🐶 A weekend of dogs, demos, food trucks, music, and activities for all ages at the Chester Fairgrounds
📗 This Month in CT History: Silas Markham Brooks and the Leap of a Canine Companion
📰 Local headlines you might’ve missed

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🍺 RAISE YOUR STEIN AT OK2BERFEST!

Join the 12th Annual German Beerfest in Stratford

Tikki Tokki, Tikki Tokki, Oy, Oy, Oy! Get your lederhosen and dirndl ready—Ok2berfest is back for its 12th year at Two Roads Brewing in Stratford. This festive weekend promises live music, mouth-watering food, and tons of competitions for all kinds of fun.

Test your strength in the traditional Stein-Holding Contest or take on the Bratwurst Eating Challenge, plus enjoy lumberjack contests, pretzel tossing, and more. With multiple stages hosting bands, dancers, and jug bands, there’s entertainment around every corner.

Additional activities include axe throwing, mini golf, lawn games, a local vendor market, and an Owl Shop Cigar Lounge. Admission tickets include festival entry and a commemorative stein, with VIP options for express lines and lounge access.

📍 Two Roads Brewing, 1700 Stratford Ave, Stratford, CT
📅 Saturday, Sept 13 (21+), Sunday, Sept 14 (All Ages) | 12–6:30 PM

Click here to learn more.

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🃏 SCORE BIG AT THE SPORTS CARD EXPO!

Explore Connecticut’s Biggest Card & Collectibles Show

The Northeast Sports Card Expo returns to Stamford’s Chelsea Piers Athletic Club with over 300 vendor tables packed with sports cards, Pokémon cards, collectibles, Funkos, toys, and memorabilia.

Fans can enjoy celebrity autograph signings, on-site grading, raffles, mascot appearances, and free commemorative posters for early attendees. It’s a family-friendly event, and kids under 12 get in free.

📍 Chelsea Piers Athletic Club, 1 Blachley Rd, Stamford, CT
📅 Saturday, Sept 13, 9:30 AM–6:00 PM | Sunday, Sept 14, 9:30 AM–4:00 PM

Click here to learn more.

🐾 TAIL-WAGGING FUN AT THE CHESTER DOG FAIR!

Bring Your Pup and Celebrate Dogs & Community

Bring your furry friends and join the fun at the Chester Fairgrounds! The Chester Dog Fair offers demonstrations, doggie olympics, food trucks, live music, vendor booths, and a beer & wine tent for adults.

All proceeds benefit Homeward Bound CT, supporting dog adoption, spay/neuter initiatives, and large-scale adoption events. Whether you’re there for the pups, the contests, or just a fun day outdoors, it’s a tail-wagging good time for everyone.

📍 Chester Fairgrounds, 11 Kirtland Terrace, Chester, CT
📅 Saturday & Sunday, 10 AM–3 PM | Admission: $5 per individual / $10 per family

Click here for all the details.

🎟️ Unlock a Year of Local Fun for Just $34.95

If you're looking for budget-friendly family fun, this might be the best deal of the year. The GetOutPass New England is your all-access pass to amusement parks, trampoline parks, mini golf, zoos, museums, and more—for just $34.95 (regularly $99.95).

That’s a full year of adventures for one low price.

With your pass, you can visit places like:

• Quassy Amusement & Waterpark

• Funz Trampoline Park (Hamden)

• The Cave CT for mini golf or laser tag

• Farmington Mini Golf & Ice Cream

• Buttonwood Park Zoo

• York’s Wild Kingdom

• Urban Air Waterbury

• Multiple Launch Trampoline Park locations

• City Climb Gym (New Haven)

• And many more!

There’s no catch—just unlock access through the GetOutPass mobile app and go! It’s a perfect way to explore hidden gems and beloved attractions throughout the region without paying full price every time.

Grab yours before it’s gone »

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🌊 SPLASH INTO FUN AT GREAT WOLF LODGE!

Family-Friendly Hotel Stay with Water Park Access

Ready for a weekend of nonstop water adventures and cozy suite living? Great Wolf Lodge Connecticut is the ultimate getaway for families, featuring a massive indoor water park, themed suites, and activities for all ages. From slides and wave pools to nightly story times with costumed characters, there’s no shortage of excitement for the little ones—and adults can relax in comfort while keeping an eye on the fun.

Choose from a variety of suites, including the Family Suite, Wolf Den Suite, Kid Cabin Suite, or the spacious Great Wolf Geyser Suite, all equipped with daily water park wristbands for your group. Whether you stay for one night or two, this Groupon deal makes it easy to experience thrills, relaxation, and family memories all under one roof.

📍 201 Rainmaker Drive, Mashantucket, CT
💲 Deals starting at $148 per night (with daily water park wristbands included!)
🛏️ Options for groups of 4–8, with suites designed for family comfort

Don’t wait—click here to grab this Great Wolf Lodge Groupon deal and start planning your splashy getaway!

TOP EVENTS TODAY YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

• Paint and Plastic: Ancient American Explorations of Form and Surface at Yale Art Gallery (New Haven) - Join a curator to explore ancient American ceramics and their artistic strategies.

• Van Trip: Celebrate the Centennial: Watertown Treasures at Mattatuck Museum (Waterbury) - Enjoy a guided tour of Seward Johnson sculptures and visit The Watertown History Museum.

• Senior Mornings at Mattatuck Museum (Waterbury) - Experience the museum in a quiet environment designed for seniors every Wednesday.

• Connecticut Sun vs. Atlanta Dream at Mohegan Sun Arena (Uncasville) - Catch the excitement as the Connecticut Sun take on the Atlanta Dream.

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GET READY!

THIS MONTH IN CONNECTICUT HISTORY

The Daredevil Balloonist of Connecticut

Connecticut has long been home to adventurous spirits, and few were as bold as Silas Markham Brooks, the state’s first documented hot air balloonist. Born in Plymouth in 1824, Brooks began his career in a clock-making factory before joining P. T. Barnum, where he crafted props and mechanical wonders for traveling shows. Inspired by the spectacle of entertainment, he soon set out on his own, creating a museum of curiosities and hiring performers — including balloonists — to dazzle audiences.

In a move that would cement his legacy, Brooks took to the skies above the Connecticut River in Middletown in 1863. Crowds watched as he rose a mile into the air, hovered for 40 minutes, and in a shocking yet safe stunt, dropped a small dog attached to a parachute, much to the amusement of spectators. True to his showman nature, he also scattered promotional leaflets from above before descending.

Brooks’ ballooning adventures didn’t end there; he went on to log over 180 ascensions across the United States, earning fame as “Professor Silas Brooks, the Great American Aeronaut.” Today, one of his 1870s balloon baskets can be viewed at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, a tangible piece of Connecticut’s soaring history — though the fate of his parachuting pup remains a mystery.

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HEADLINES AROUND THE STATE

☕ COFFEE TRAILER GOES FULL CAFÉ IN STRATFORD
Laura and Zach Miko, the couple behind the popular Drowsy Whaler Coffee trailer, have opened their first brick-and-mortar café at Short Beach in Stratford. The café offers all the trailer favorites, plus bakery treats, and has quickly become a buzzing community spot. Plans for reopening the trailer on weekends and future expansion are also in the works.

🍗 CHICK-FIL-A PROPOSAL BLOCKED IN MILFORD
A new Chick-fil-A location won’t be coming to Milford anytime soon. The Planning and Zoning Board rejected the proposal by a 6-to-1 vote, citing concerns about traffic, pedestrian safety, and parking at the Milford Crossing plaza. Nearby Connecticut locations remain available for fans craving chicken sandwiches and waffle fries.

🍬 SWEET SPOT REOPENS IN ESSEX
The Marshmallow Factory has relocated to 1 N. Main St. in Essex, serving up unique flavors like tiramisu, salted caramel, and toasted coconut. All products are gluten- and corn-free, and the shop is open Wednesday through Saturday. Fans can enjoy classic marshmallows, chocolate-covered treats, and marshmallow fluff in their renovated space.

🚦 WEST HARTFORD PLANS 15 NEW TRAFFIC CAMERAS
West Hartford has identified 15 locations for automated traffic cameras to improve road safety. Once approved by local and state authorities, the cameras could be installed by mid-2026, enforcing speed and red-light laws with fines for first and repeat offenses. The initiative is funded in part by a federal grant.

Thanks!

Thanks for joining us in today’s newsletter! We hope it inspired you to get out, explore, and make the most of all the great experiences Connecticut has to offer this week.

Enjoyed today’s email? Share it with a friend and help them discover the best things to see and do across 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!