This weekend in Ledyard, CT

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.