Free events in Shelton, CT

Mr. Donald's Farm sets up at the Tony Inzero Farmers Markets with an array of homemade sweet treats and farm staples. Expect fresh eggs, house-baked pies and muffins, jams, granola, and other goodies, with the selection changing since everything is made fresh. Alongside their offerings, the market features locally grown produce, additional baked items, handmade crafts, and more. Preorders for sweet treats are available. The farm can also be found at West Haven Beach.

Vanderhale Acüstic brings a stripped-down celebration of rock favorites from 1990 to 2010 to The Corner Tavern, featuring acoustic renditions of songs by Alice in Chains, Linkin Park, Creed, Breaking Benjamin, System of a Down, Jimmy Eat World, Nickelback, Aerosmith, and more. Admission is free.

At Wasson Field, the Downtown Milford Farmers Market brings together Connecticut growers and makers for a seasonal open air marketplace. Shop just-picked produce alongside locally sourced meats, dairy, and oven-warm baked goods, with many farms using organic and sustainable practices. More than 30 vendors add to the experience with flowers, artisan goods, sustainable clothing, baby accessories, home decor, pet products, and art. Food trucks serve breakfast and brunch items, coffee and matcha, ice cream, gluten free treats, smoothies, BBQ, and other seasonal favorites. Live performances by local musicians set a welcoming soundtrack while visitors explore. Special activities include pet adoptions, cooking demonstrations, and presentations from agriculture experts. Family programming features a Children’s Market and the Piglets Club, where kids enjoy hands-on learning, storytime, farm animal visits, face painting, and $1 tokens to pick out fruits and vegetables directly from participating farmers. Access is a priority, and participating farmers accept SNAP, WIC, and senior vouchers. The Downtown Milford Business Association partners with The Giggling Pig of Milford on the Piglets Club initiative, celebrating fresh food, community, and learning throughout the season.

Attendees can enjoy music as part of the experience, creating a pleasant atmosphere for the occasion.

Celebrate recovery and community at a free, family-friendly picnic in Seaside Park. Hosted by the FRE Recovery Community Center and Recovery Network of Programs, Inc., this 3rd annual gathering features food, music, giveaways, guest speakers, activities, and access to helpful community resources. Community partners and resource providers are invited to participate and connect with individuals and families seeking support related to recovery, mental health, reentry, housing, employment, wellness, and community connection. This event is drug and alcohol free. Registration for additional community partners is open. For more information, contact Mark Grasso at 475-223-0333 or mark.grasso@crj.org.

Sunday Markets on the New Haven Green brings a lively open-air marketplace to the Upper New Haven Green. Browse offerings from more than 20 cottage food makers and artist vendors. Try hands-on art activities with local groups, take part in exercise classes, and unwind with lawn and board games. Visitors can also connect with information about downtown and citywide programs. Settle into the Green with a free picnic blanket from the community blanket library and enjoy the setting. The series is supported by partners the New Haven Green and New HavenED.

The Naugatuck History Museum offers a free America 250 program in its ongoing series about the stories that shaped the nation, focusing on the practice of medicine in the Revolutionary era. Led by Dr. Ray Sullivan, this interactive presentation explores eighteenth century care during the American Revolution. Participants can examine genuine instruments, period medicinals, and plant based remedies while learning how they were used, the obstacles faced by military and civilian practitioners, and how these methods influenced the early development of American medicine. Through tangible examples and clear, accessible explanation, the program illuminates the day to day work of wartime surgeons and physicians and the perseverance of those they treated. It brings attention to a rarely discussed side of Revolutionary life that is closely tied to survival and community care.

Participate in a cardio and strength workout led by Virginia at Black Rock Senior Center. It is free to join for individuals who are 55 and older. For more information, call 203-576-7258.

Movies in the Plaza brings free Wednesday evening film screenings to downtown New Haven’s Pitkin Plaza from May through October. Settle in with a lawn chair or picnic blanket, grab takeout from a nearby spot, and enjoy a mix of blockbuster hits, nostalgic throwbacks, cult favorites, and family selections. Admission is free, with registration required at the check-in table upon entry. Complimentary light snacks are provided. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets, and a limited amount of bistro and lawn seating is available. Screenings are weather dependent, with updates shared on the event website and Facebook event page. Viewer discretion is advised, so please look into each film’s themes and content before attending with children.