Events in Groton today

Expect a different workout each week while the purpose remains the same. The sessions are no cost and open to all men, with an emphasis on finishing stronger than when the workout began.

Guided walking tours delve into New London’s seafaring roots and dynamic past. Experienced local guides lead a route through historic lanes and by the water, sharing stories of whalers, patriots, and enterprising residents who helped shape the community. Whether you are new to the city or have lived here for years, the narration highlights surprising details, overlooked corners, and memorable moments that offer a fresh look at local history. Each tour reveals New London’s story piece by piece.

Dreamfield Speedway hosts the second annual Guardrail Nationals, a two-day season finale for the 1972oil Outlaw Predator Series. The event concludes with the third annual Outlaw 50 Finale, offering a $1,000 winner’s payout.

Participate in a three round casual Commander event featuring achievements that award Gilt Leaf Games Prize Tickets. Entry is $5.

Magic the Gathering fans can enjoy free Commander games at The Citadel Game Cellar. There is no entry or table fee. Players may arrive with friends or on their own and connect with the local community. Drinks are available for purchase, and nonalcoholic beverages may be brought in. Decks and bulk cards are offered for sale on site.

The entry fee is $10. Prizes scale with attendance and final rankings. Every participant receives at least two packs regardless of results, plus one current promo pack. The top finisher also earns an Origins Promo Pack, while supplies last.

Friday nights at Misfit Club erupt into a high-energy dance party where the lights fade, the bass surges, and the room crackles with energy. Arrive dressed to impress, boldly express, or ready to let loose... every vibe is welcome. The atmosphere is judgment free, the dance floor glitters with sweat and sparkle, and it is full-on Friday night chaos in the best way. A night for the Misfits family and the Mystic crowd that loves to move.

Stonington Soccer Club’s Junior Sharks offers a playful, age appropriate soccer experience at Taugwonk Field for children ages 3.5 to 8. Sessions focus on movement and foundational skills that build coordination, balance, confidence, teamwork, and a love for the game in a supportive setting. It welcomes newcomers and young players who already enjoy soccer, emphasizing growth, friendship, and fun. Registration is open for birth years 2019 through 2023 and stays open by age group until spots are filled. Last fall, more than 160 children from Stonington and nearby towns participated.

Set out on a guided stroll through Downtown New London to uncover hidden tales behind notable landmarks. Learn about the city’s maritime heritage, its Revolutionary War ties, and the local legends that give the area its character. Along the way, hear stories connected to Nathan Hale, the Garde Arts Center, St. James Episcopal Church, and playwright Eugene O’Neill. The tour concludes at a local bar with one last secret from New London’s colorful past.

BDE Run 2026 brings riders together at Mike’s Famous Harley-Davidson in New London for registration, followed by a group ride to Devil’s Hopyard Pavilion in East Haddam. The cost is $20 per person, with proceeds benefiting an Iraq War veteran and brother who is battling Stage 4 cancer, supporting his family during a difficult time. An after-party at the pavilion will include beer, raffles, and a 50/50 drawing. If attending the ride is not possible, donations can be made via Venmo at @AIVMC-CT. Contact a patch for additional details.

This intermediate clinic for women at Bluff Point State Park focuses on building mountain biking skills and confidence on the trail. It offers a supportive, fun, and educational setting for riders ages 14 and up. Participants should have the endurance for about three hours of social-pace riding. Bring your own mountain bike, as bikes are not provided. Admission is free.

TSC Acoustic is back at Waterford Farmers Market with a live set mixing acoustic rock, blues, country, pop, folk, reggae, and Irish pub tunes. Performed on guitar and ukulele, this all-ages show will go on in any weather.

Experience a day of Advanced Squad Leader, the pioneering tactical combat game introduced in 1985. Renowned for its flexibility and depth, it enables simulations of engagements across many theaters up to the battalion level. Players maneuver 10-man squads, five-man half-squads, individual leaders, and vehicles across more than 75 geomorphic boards or on detailed campaign maps. It is suitable for both seasoned veterans and those curious to learn. Tables are free to use and no reservation is required. For more information, contact carlhnogueira@gmail.com.

Stroll through Nemadji Cemetery on a living history walk where actors in period attire share the lives of those laid to rest there. Stories of perseverance, achievement, and defining moments highlight the people who helped shape the region. Children under 18 receive free admission. Please note there is no restroom on site, and water will be available for purchase.

Celebrate the season’s close at Eastern Point Beach with the first City of Groton End of Summer Bonfire at the Beach. Entry is free. Enjoy live music by The Hoolios, food from the Taqueria Cinco truck, drinks from Travelin' Tom's Coffee Truck, beach games, and a crackling bonfire. Pack chairs for comfortable seating and plan for a family friendly night on the sand. This event is weather dependent.

Dr. G and the Believers return to Lighthouse Inn in New London with a blues dance party made for dancing. The evening features high energy blues, cold drinks, and food available from the venue.

Explore New London’s layered past through a tour that centers Black history and the people who shaped the seaport over centuries. Once the homeland of Indigenous communities, the city later drew seafarers from around the world, bringing together Native Americans, European settlers, enslaved Africans, West Indians, and free Black residents. The narrative spans hard truths and powerful milestones, from an early law that denied Black residents the right to own property and a countywide share of enslaved people that ranked among the highest in the colonies, to the arrival of the Amistad captives whose long, eventually successful pursuit of freedom began here. The story also reflects on the execution of a Pequot girl counted among the youngest in the nation, the life of the first Black woman to seek admission to Prudence Crandall’s Canterbury school who once lived in the city, and the growth of a local abolitionist movement. Maritime history comes into focus as well, noting that men of color made up about a tenth of every whaling crew while New London’s prosperity rose. This experience shares lesser known accounts that connect places and events to the lives at their center.

The 19th Annual Garlic Festival at Olde Mystic Village showcases a lineup that includes Rich Badowski Blues Band, Brandt Taylor, Dennis Cotton, Max Samson, and Jeff Bousfield.

This tailgate-style event features burgers, hot dogs, and music, creating an easygoing atmosphere centered on food and fun.

At Mystic Museum of Art, Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways invites visitors to explore how textiles from southeastern Connecticut have developed and what they signify culturally. Drawing on the area’s legacy of velvet production, the exhibition follows regional textile traditions from precolonial origins to the present, showing how craft, industry, and design have shaped changing ideas of luxury. Created in collaboration with Historic Stonington, the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, Mystic Seaport Museum, and the CT Region of Studio Art Quilt Associates, the presentation brings together historic and contemporary beadwork, embroidery, quilts, velvet, and fashion, assembled from loans and the museum’s own holdings. Themes of labor, immigration, identity, and innovation frame the story of luxury, and designers with Connecticut connections are highlighted, including Xarea Lockhart, Toriana Sauro, Christian Siriano, and Peter Som. Related public programs and workshops accompany the show. Admission is $12 for general visitors and $10 for New London County residents, seniors, and students. Entry is free for members, guests 17 and under, and active-duty and veteran military.

Craft & Chat is a fiber arts club that meets on the third Monday of the month. Participants bring whatever project they are working on, whether knitting, crocheting, felting, lace making, spinning, weaving, or even nålbinding. It offers time to sit, talk, and work through unfinished projects together, one fiber at a time.

Magic: The Gathering Commander games at The Citadel Game Cellar are free to play, with no entry or table fees. Attend with friends or come on your own to meet other players in the community. Drinks are available for purchase, or bring your own non-alcoholic beverages. Decks and bulk cards are also available for purchase.

This postpartum parent group at Backus Hospital brings parents of newborns and young children together to connect. It supports families throughout the first two years of life. Babies and partners are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Open to everyone, this grab-and-go lunch directs all proceeds to programs at Easterseals Veterans Rally Point. Pick up a meal to go and support these programs with your purchase.

The event offers One Piece Constructed play. The entry fee is $10, and prizes are determined by attendance.

At The Hounds Terrace, a special cocktail benefiting DOGS will be offered, accompanied by light bites from Dogwatch and a cash bar. Event details, FAQs, and tickets are available.

This event has a $10 entry fee, with prize support that scales with attendance. Prizes are awarded in Gilt Leaf Games Prize Tickets.

Free Magic: The Gathering Commander games take place at The Citadel Game Cellar in a friendly, community-focused setting. There are no entry or table fees to participate. Players can come with friends or attend solo and meet other Commander enthusiasts. Beverages are available for purchase, and you may bring your own nonalcoholic drinks. Decks and bulk cards are also offered for sale.

Wednesday Open Fencing is planned, and will take place as long as the weather cooperates and the schedule allows.