🍁 Mansfield’s Big Festival + Arboretum Strolls + Harvest Fun

September 24, 2025

Good morning, Connecticut friends! 🌞

We’re halfway through the first week of fall, and we’re starting to feel that buzz of fall festivals the area is famous for!

Today’s email is packed with lots of cool things to do this week plus some key headlines from around the state. Here’s what’s inside:

🌿 Explore the stunning Connecticut College Arboretum
🎶 Celebrate community at the 22nd Annual Mansfield Festival
🍂 Kick off fall at the New London Harvest Festival
📗 This Month in CT History: The Last Whaling Voyage from Connecticut
📰 Local headlines you might’ve missed

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A Hidden Gem of New London’s Great Outdoors

The Connecticut College Arboretum may be one of the state’s best-kept secrets — a sprawling 750-acre sanctuary filled with gardens, trails, and natural beauty that’s free and open to the public year-round.

Founded in 1931, this “living museum” is home to hundreds of native plant species, including towering conifers, vibrant wildflowers, and fragrant azaleas. Visitors can stroll winding trails through meadows, woodlands, and a serene pond — or step across campus into the Caroline Black Garden for a picturesque retreat featuring ornamental trees and shrubs from around the world.

With seasonal tours, educational programs, and digital guides available, the Arboretum is more than just a pretty place — it’s a destination where nature, history, and science meet. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful walk, a fall foliage adventure, or just a quiet spot to recharge, this green oasis offers something for everyone.

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Live Music, Food, and Community Spirit in Downtown Storrs

Mark your calendars! On Saturday, September 27 (2–8 PM), Downtown Storrs comes alive with the 22nd Annual Celebrate Mansfield Festival.

This free event brings together local businesses, UConn programs, nonprofits, food vendors, and performers for a day packed with fun. From live music to student showcases and family entertainment, it’s Mansfield’s biggest community gathering of the year.

📍 Downtown Storrs, 2 Dog Lane, Mansfield CT
🎟️ Free Admission

🍁 FALL FUN AT THE NEW LONDON HARVEST FESTIVAL

Music, Food, and History at the Old Town Mill

Celebrate the season with the 2025 New London Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 27 (11 AM–3 PM). Held at the historic Old Town Mill, this free event combines local history with family fun.

Enjoy live music, kids’ activities, a petting zoo, local vendors, harvest-themed games, and guided tours of the mill itself. It’s the perfect way to kick off fall while experiencing one of New London’s most treasured landmarks.

📍 Old Town Mill, 8 Mill Street, New London CT
🎟️ Free Admission

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Save Up to 62% on Connecticut’s Biggest Halloween Event

Halloween comes alive at Lake Compounce with their signature Phantom Fall Fest — and this year, you can score tickets at a frighteningly good discount.

By day, families can enjoy all the classic Lake Compounce rides, kiddie land attractions, festive food, and seasonal activities in a fall-themed atmosphere. But once the clock strikes 6 p.m., the Phantom takes over — and the screams begin. Brave four haunted houses, creepy scare zones, chilling rides in the dark, and a park-wide atmosphere filled with thrills at every turn.

Running Fridays–Sundays through October 26, 2025, the event offers the perfect mix of family fun and spine-tingling scares. And with Groupon tickets starting at just $24.99 (regularly $65.99), you won’t find a better deal to celebrate spooky season in Connecticut.

📍 Lake Compounce, 186 Enterprise Drive, Bristol, CT
📅 Select Fridays–Sundays | Through October 26, 2025
🎟️ From $24.99 (Save up to 62%)

TOP EVENTS TODAY YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

  • Sensory Friendly Day (September) (Hartford) - Experience engaging events designed for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders at Connecticut Science Center.

  • Gallery+ Poetry Writing (New Haven) - Join a poetry-writing workshop inspired by works of art in the collection.

  • Senior Mornings (Waterbury) - Enjoy the Museum’s collection and special exhibitions in a quiet environment.

  • DALE ELLIOTT JR. (Bridgeport) - Jamaican-born comedian, Dale Elliott Jr., comes for his spring tour filled with humor and insights.

  • Gazillion Bubble Show (Ridgefield) - Prepare to be amazed by the world-famous Gazillion Bubble Show, combining art and science!

  • Chicka Chicka Boom Boom – The Musical (Ridgefield) - Enjoy the beloved children’s story as it springs to life on stage!

DID YOU KNOW?

THIS MONTH IN CONNECTICUT HISTORY

The Last Whaling Voyage from Connecticut

In the 1800s, New London was one of the busiest whaling ports in the world, second only to Nantucket and New Bedford.

Whale oil fueled lamps, powered machines, and greased the wheels of the Industrial Revolution, while whale bones shaped the fashions of the day. At its peak in 1850, New London shipped over a million dollars’ worth of whale products in a single year.

But the tide soon turned. Overhunting made whales scarce, and cheaper alternatives like kerosene, electricity, and steel replaced whale oil and bone. By the early 1900s, Connecticut’s whaling fleet had dwindled to just a few vessels.

On September 24, 1908, Captain James Buddington set sail aboard the schooner Margaret from New London. Neither he nor his crew knew they were writing the final chapter of Connecticut’s whaling era.

When the Margaret returned seven months later, it marked the end of 124 years of whaling history in the state.

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HEADLINES AROUND THE STATE

🌳 Madison to Hold Public Hearing on Tree Removal
Town officials have scheduled a hearing for Oct. 1 at 11 a.m. to discuss the removal of a tree at 119 Neck Road. The meeting will take place in Room D at the Madison Town Campus.

🍕 Sally’s Apizza Nearing Norwalk Debut
The iconic New Haven pizzeria says its long-awaited SoNo Collection location is still “on track” to open in 2025. The restaurant promises a flagship-level design that fans will find worth the wait.

🔥 Mighty Quinn’s BBQ Closes in Norwalk
Less than a year after opening, Mighty Quinn’s has shut the doors on its only Connecticut location. The chain says it will shift its focus to expansion in other markets.

🍸 Hamden’s Wildcat Restaurant Shuts Down
The Wildcat, a popular Hamden spot for cocktails and eclectic New American fare, has closed due to “unforeseen circumstances.” Owners say the closure will last for the foreseeable future.

Thanks!

Thanks for joining us today! We hope you found some inspiration to get out, explore, and make the most of Connecticut this week. If you enjoyed this newsletter, share it with a friend and help them uncover all the great things 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!