Family events in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT

Registration for the 2026 basketball season is available during multiple sessions at Wendell Cross Gym. For complete details and answers to common questions, please consult the event flyer.

A family-friendly touch-a-truck event at a dealership offers a hands-on look at a variety of vehicles. Children and adults can explore motorcycles, police cruisers, and other vehicles up close.

A Halloween-themed celebration for dogs and their people takes place at Indian Rock Nature Preserve. Expect AKC Family Dog activities such as an AKC Fit Dog Walk and an AKC Fetch Dog Test. There will be a costume parade and contest with prizes in categories like spookiest, funniest, cutest, and best owner and dog duo, along with additional categories. A hide and treat scavenger hunt invites participants to solve clues while pups uncover rewards. The fun continues with a trick for treats contest for a chance to win. A Bone Bar will offer canine treats, including pumpkin pup cups. More activities and games are planned.

Marking the 50th anniversary of Annie’s launch at the Goodspeed Opera House, the Palace presents an UPstaged conversation with William “Bill” Berloni paired with a dog adoption event. Berloni’s career began when, while volunteering at Goodspeed, he was invited to join Actors’ Equity if he could find and train a dog for Annie. He adopted the first Sandy and prepared the canine star for the show’s original run, which went on to become a hit on Broadway and around the world. The program highlights this origin story and the trailblazing work that followed. Before the talk, a dog adoption event will take place in the loading dock with Brass City Rescue Society. Guests can meet adoptable dogs, speak with the rescue team, and learn about fostering and volunteering. Every dog deserves a loving home, and this gathering offers ways to support rescue efforts.

The Carousel Museum in Bristol, CT presents a celebration of Italian American street music and heritage. Tony Gangi appears with the historic Marino Persechini Barrel Piano, a hand-cranked instrument purchased in 1899. After settling in the Boston area, Marino Persechini earned his living performing with it on city streets from 1900 until his retirement in 1974. Following an extensive restoration, the barrel piano is playing again. As owner of Great American Street Organ and the instrument’s current caretaker, Gangi shares the history of Italian American organ grinders and offers a live performance. Visitors can see the instrument up close, and there may be a chance to turn the crank. Suitable for all ages, this program complements a museum devoted to carousel artistry by spotlighting Italian immigrant creativity and craftsmanship, and it is presented as part of the museum’s celebration of Italian American Heritage Month.