This weekend in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT

The Downtown Milford Farmers Market wraps up its season at Wasson Field with a lively sendoff. Fill your basket with peak-of-season fruits and vegetables, locally raised meats and dairy, and fresh-from-the-oven baked goods from Connecticut farmers. It is the final chance to stock up on farm-to-table ingredients for the week or a cozy family meal before the market pauses. A bustling lineup of more than 30 vendors brings flowers, sustainable clothing, baby accessories, home decor, pet products, art, and a wide array of artisanal foods. Food trucks add to the experience with breakfast and brunch options, coffee and matcha, ice cream, gluten-free treats, smoothies, barbecue, and other seasonal favorites. Local performers provide a welcoming soundtrack as you explore. Special activities include pet adoptions, cooking demonstrations, and demonstrations from agriculture experts. Families can enjoy the Children’s Market and the Piglets Club with hands-on learning, storytime, farm animal visits, face painting, and opportunities for enrolled kids to earn $1 tokens to pick out their own fruits and vegetables. Participating farmers accept SNAP, WIC, and senior vouchers. The Downtown Milford Business Association, in partnership with The Giggling Pig of Milford, supports the Piglets Club to inspire the next generation through connections to fresh food, agriculture, and community. Celebrate the harvest and the close of the season at Wasson Field.

Take part in a single-day 9-ball doubles tournament at Towne Billiards with an alternate-shot format and a modified single-elimination bracket. Teams must keep a combined handicap of 10 or less, and each player needs at least 20 recorded 9-ball scores in their APA history from the two years leading up to the entry deadline. The entry fee is $100 per team, and pre-registration is required due to limited space. The winning duo earns the opportunity to represent the Greater New Haven APA in Spring 2027.

A relaxed breakfast gathering with JCSNE at Mozzicato’s in Wallingford. Attendees share what they are working on, exchange tips, and seek guidance in a friendly, conversational setting.

Advancing Care in Liver Cancer is a patient and community symposium focused on surveillance, team-based approaches, and emerging treatments. As part of the CURE Educated Patient® Liver Cancer Summit, the program features talks from physicians at Smilow Cancer Hospital, live Q&A, conversations with patient panelists, and time to network with others. Attendance is free.

Zion Lutheran Church hosts an annual festival celebrating scarecrows, designed for all ages with free admission and on site parking. Browse more than thirty artisan vendors for handmade goods, cast a ballot for a favorite scarecrow, and enjoy live music. Take a hayride, try children’s games, get faces painted, bounce in an inflatable, and create a scarecrow of your own. Treat yourself at the baked goods table with apple fritters served warm, then grab lunch with options like hamburgers, hot dogs, soup, and pizza. Activity and meal costs apply, and proceeds support Fostering Family Hope, an organization that provides foster families with essential supplies and emotional support.

The 7th Annual Kulturally LIT Fest celebrates the enduring impact, brilliance, and transformative power of Black women across generations. Guided by the theme And Still We Rise, it uplifts voices, stories, and creative legacies that continue to influence culture, community, and collective imagination. The festival gathers authors, artists, thinkers, and community members for a full day of panels, engaging conversations, interactive workshops, and curated vendors. Each experience highlights Black women not only within history, but as shapers of the future. The atmosphere is intentional and deeply communal, with storytelling serving as a place for connection, reflection, and joy.

Kuhn’s 2nd Annual Fall Festival & Paddle Sport Event brings a full day of autumn fun to the North Colony location on Silver Lake in Meriden. This family-friendly gathering features paddle races open to all types of watercraft, live music, a variety of food trucks, and a marketplace of local crafters and community groups. Seasonal activities are planned for all ages, creating a welcoming lakeside atmosphere. The event also shines a light on Kuhn’s mission to support adults with developmental disabilities, mental health needs, and addiction challenges as they work toward success in the community. Whether you come for the on-the-water competition, to explore local vendors, to enjoy the music, or to relax by the lake, there is something for everyone.

Test your deck in Flesh and Blood’s Classic Constructed format at an Armory tournament offering extra prizes. The event features three rounds and a $10 entry fee.

This month’s hike carries special meaning as participants honor the life of Rocky Hancock at Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, celebrating the friendship, laughter, and community he shared. Hosted by Kevin Merriman, the outing gathers friends and supporters to remember Rocky on trails known for colorful foliage, wooded paths, rocky ridges, and wide views. Meet at the main entrance parking area, to the right of the wooden building with bathrooms. Arriving a little early is encouraged since the park is especially popular during peak leaf season. Kevin will lead a social group pace with time to enjoy the scenery and connect with others. Expect typical New England terrain with rocks, roots, hills, and uneven ground, so sturdy sneakers or hiking shoes are recommended. Dogs on leash are welcome on the trails. This route was a favorite of Rocky’s. While past storms once reduced its appeal, recent visits have shown it to be a great option again with gravel sections, making it a fitting setting for remembrance and camaraderie. After the hike, those interested can continue the conversation over lunch and drinks at Eli’s on Whitney. Parking at the state park is free for Connecticut-registered vehicles. The atmosphere is welcoming to LGBTQ+ individuals, allies, longtime participants, and first-time hikers.

Family Day in New Haven offers food, arcade games, and activities for all ages. Children must attend with a parent or legal guardian. Barcade will donate a portion of Family Day token sales to Gamers Outreach, a charity that provides video game based recreation to children in hospitals with support from the gaming community.

Author and New York sports media personality Dominic Konareski celebrates the release of Pinstripes In West Haven at the West Haven Veterans Museum & Learning Center. Attendees can meet the author, get books signed, and purchase a paperback copy of Pinstripes In West Haven. One of the largest collections of West Haven Yankees memorabilia will be on display throughout the event. For questions or media inquiries, please contact Dominic Konareski.

Seeing Sounds World arrives at The Boathouse at Canal Dock in New Haven, bringing an immersive blend of arts, music, technology, and culture. Explore interactive experiences, enjoy live performances, take in visual art, and engage with the community in a setting that highlights creativity and innovation. The gathering brings together artists, designers, musicians, engineers, makers, creative technologists, educators, local businesses, and the public. It is created for dreamers and creators, as well as anyone with a passion for discovery and imagination. Lineups will be announced. Early bird tickets are available, and early purchasers receive early entry along with an exclusive Seeing Sounds gift.

Explore the Beinecke Library through a guided introduction that highlights its mission, history, architecture, collections, and services. Tours are led by a library staff member or student guide and run about 45 minutes. No reservations are required. For visitor guidelines and other details, consult the library’s website. The ground floor and mezzanine exhibition areas remain free and open to the public every day, and the website provides information on hours, exhibitions, and ways to explore the library online.

Phantasm Gaming hosts weekly local YuGiOh tournaments where duelists can compete in a friendly setting. Prizing scales with attendance, and participants receive booster packs with entry and as prize support. The entry fee is $10. The venue also supports a wide range of tabletop play, including trading card games, roleplaying games, wargaming, and board games, offering space for both competitive and casual communities.

Settle in for friendly matches of Riftbound, the League of Legends card game. The event features three rounds with a $10 entry fee, and participants can look forward to promos, packs, and store credit. Sessions take place twice each week.

Vitamin String Quartet teams up with vocal trio Girl Named Tom for a genre-blending concert at the Shubert Theatre. Fresh from an appearance in Season 4 of Netflix’s Bridgerton, the quartet showcases its signature take on pop and rock anthems, reshaped into virtuosic string performances. Girl Named Tom contributes radiant harmonies and soulful songwriting, the artistry that earned them the 2021 victory on The Voice. Together they offer imaginative renditions of timeless favorites alongside contemporary songs, with striking performances and memorable onstage collaborations.

A winery setting hosts an evening of live music as powerhouse vocalist Faye Green teams up with guitarist Mychael A. Ross. Faye brings a commanding voice and engaging stagecraft shaped by years of performances across Connecticut and New York City, including the Apollo Theater. Her 1980s group, Faye and the Funky Allstars, became a local fixture by blending jazz, blues, and funk, and she was recognized three years in a row as Best Jazz/Blues Singer by New Haven’s music journal The Advocate. She has opened for nationally known acts and collaborated with jazz artists such as bassist Mark Egan and the late Jaco Pastorius. Mychael A. Ross contributes smooth, expressive guitar rooted in blues and jazz, and he also performs with Le' Mixx, an eight-piece band with more than 30 years of collective experience among its members. Together they offer a dynamic pairing that highlights soulful grooves, jazz influences, and crowd-connecting energy.

Local music fills the Eli Whitney Barn as The Bargain returns for a second appearance in the October in the Barn series. The trio features Frank Critelli on vocals, Muddy Rivers on guitar with harmony vocals, and Shandy Lawson on mandolin. Their performance spans guitar-driven acoustic pop and soaring ballads, shaped by influences that stretch from The Band to Metallica to Goethe and highlighted by layered harmonies and mandolin. A suggested donation of $10 per person will be collected at the door, with all proceeds supporting the mission of the Eli Whitney Museum & Workshop. Free parking is available at the Eli Whitney Museum & Workshop. After parking, cross Whitney Avenue and take the first right down the gravel path to reach the historic barn.

Premier Concerts and Manic Presents present a live music night at Space Ballroom featuring performances by Life in Your Way, With Honor, Ghost Trader, and Outer Gloom. The event is open to all ages and brings these bands together on one stage. Tickets are available.

An intimate night in the cellar at Small Batch Cellars pairs Tannersville with Model Decoy for a showcase of storytelling and genre-bending energy. Tannersville brings finely wrought Americana that focuses on everyday people and fleeting moments, delivered with singable melodies, textured arrangements, and harmonies with an instantly lived-in feel. Rooted in the Catskills since the early 1970s, the band first took shape at The Pinecone, an eight bedroom farmhouse on Route 23A at the base of Hunter Mountain during a vibrant musical period, and went on to open shows for the J. Geils Band and the Edgar Winter Group. They continue to write and record, and their fifth independent studio album, The Little Eureka Cafe, carries forward their character-centered songs and careful craft. This set features Scott Williams on vocals and rhythm guitar, Tim DeHuff on guitar, Rich Louie on bass, and Mike LaRocco on drums, with Tina Pagnini and Laura Pagnini on backing vocals. Model Decoy is the duo of Doron Monk Flake and Ari Sadowitz, rooted in rock with a generous streak of R&B that nods to the soul of Stevie Wonder and the grit of Soundgarden. Flake’s lyrics tip their hat to heroes and stories from comics and beyond, and the debut EP spins narratives about Thor, Hulk, Fantastic 4, Scott Pilgrim, Kill Bill, and the cult TV series Community. The project grew out of their earlier band The Smyrk, building on pop culture pieces like Dial V For Venom and The Ballad of Fletcher Reede, then digging deeper with The End of Jason Todd and Farewell to Arm, about Batman’s lesser known Robin and the horror comedy Evil Dead. Bruce Campbell praised their work on Twitter.

Rupert Wates brings his acoustic, melodic art folk to Cantean, weaving in touches of jazz, vaudeville, and cabaret for a memorable performance in a cozy listening room. Food is available before the show. Early arrival is recommended to secure a spot, and tickets are available.

The Great American Soulbook makes a second consecutive appearance at Parson's/Veteran's Auditorium in Milford, CT, featuring classic songs from the Motown catalog. Ticket prices begin at $45.

Secure document shredding takes place in the Temple Beth Sholom parking lot with an on-site truck provided by Affordable Solutions, LLC. Volunteers remove boxed paper from vehicles and place it directly into the truck so materials are destroyed immediately. Pricing is $15 per small copy box and $20 per large banker box. Additional services include hard drive destruction and computer recycling for $20 each, CRT computer monitors for $20 each, and a hard drive only option for $10. Prepare materials by placing paper documents in a sturdy box that can be easily lifted, and check the contents to ensure only what needs to be shredded is included. Only paper is accepted, and items in trash bags or paper bags will not be taken. Do not bring trash, non-paper items, CDs, or X-rays. After shredding, the paper is transported to a recycling facility where it is baled and turned into new paper. For questions, email fundraising@tbshamden.com.

At the Clarion Inn in North Haven, the New England Comic & Toy Convention fills the space with comics, toys, and collectibles from across fandoms. Browse vendors offering vintage and modern toys, comic books, collectible card games, video games, Pokemon items, plush, anime, and manga. Special guests include Larry Hama, known for Marvel’s G.I. Joe titles such as A Real American Hero and Special Missions and for work on Wolverine, with additional credits on Conan, Avengers, Batman, and Spider-Man. Ron Rudat, a key designer behind 1980s G.I. Joe and the WWF Hasbro lines, will be on hand. Dick Terhune, the voice of Prowl and Maccadam in Transformers Cyberverse and Patchwerk in Hearthstone, with roles across World of Warcraft, Vampire: The Masquerade, and Diablo, will appear as well. Matt C. Ryan, creator of Brenda Steelhammer, art director at Bad Elf, and head of Free Lunch Studios, is also featured. Admission options include an early entry ticket for $20 and a general admission option for $5. Children 10 and under are admitted free.

Experience a playful yoga session alongside puppies at Baseline Regenerative in Wallingford. Tickets are $35 per person, and a portion of proceeds supports Dog Star Rescue. This class is expected to sell out, so buying in advance is recommended. Those interested in adoption can view available dogs through Dog Star Rescue.

Now in its third year, this jazz and gospel brunch brings the community together at ConnCAT’s new headquarters, First Haven in Dixwell, for a spirited afternoon centered on music and excellence. The William Fluker All-Star Jazz Band sets the tone with live jazz and gospel. The occasion also includes tributes to Lucy Gelman, Karen DuBois-Walton, and Pastor Kevin Hardy. Admission is $50 and covers an unlimited buffet, live performances, and a raffle entry. Ticket availability is limited.

Phantasm Gaming hosts weekly Dragonball Fusion World TCG tournaments. Entry is $10, and registration is available through the Bandai TCG+ app. The store also supports trading card games, RPGs, wargaming, and board games, and it buys cards.

This relaxed networking gathering at Gouveia Vineyards brings together holistic practitioners and wellness entrepreneurs for conversation, collaboration, and community. The event is organized by Tribe TLC, a network of more than 200 professionals dedicated to educational and experiential offerings that support body, mind, and spirit. Attendees can meet like-minded peers, exchange ideas, and learn about members who provide private sessions, products, workshops, classes, and events across Connecticut, Westchester County, New York, and beyond.

Start your Magic: The Gathering journey with a hands-on learn-to-play session at Phantasm Gaming. The event offers a step-by-step introduction to core rules and simple deck building, with time to play using Welcome Decks and other demo materials. It is designed for newcomers and also encourages experienced players to bring friends to share the experience. Entry is free, and the host is a Wizards Play Network store.

Enjoy a One Piece Trading Card Game tournament focused on community and friendly competition. Hosted by Phantasm Gaming, an official Bandai store, the event welcomes both casual and competitive play. Attendees can bring friends or meet new players. Entry is $10.

Phantasm Gaming hosts Magic: The Gathering Commander tournaments with no entry fee, offering a friendly setting to play with friends or meet new opponents. As a WPN store and a hub for trading card games, RPGs, wargaming, and board games, it welcomes both casual and competitive Commander players. The shop also buys cards.

Phantasm Gaming hosts a YuGiOh tournament centered on the Genesys format with a $10 entry. Decks are built using a point system and this event is set to a 100 point cap. Genesys removes Link and Pendulum Monsters while allowing all other cards. Duels use the original field layout with no Extra Monster Zones or Pendulum Zones. The standard Forbidden and Limited list does not apply, and the usual limit of up to three copies of any card still stands. Deck points are counted across the Main, Extra, and Side Decks and must stay within the cap. Designed to be quick to learn and straightforward to enter, the format suits both experienced Duelists and newcomers.

Phantasm Gaming hosts a weekly local tournament for Gundam TCG that lets players refine their decks, compete with friends, and meet new opponents. Entry is $10, and registration is available through the Bandai TCG+ app. The venue supports tabletop players of all kinds, from competitive to casual.

Direct from Jamaica, Plié for the Arts' AMALGAMATION lights up the Shubert Theatre stage with a high-energy blend of dance and music. The Plié Collective and the ASHE Company join forces in a single production that channels passion, precision, and standout talent. Bold visuals, vibrant rhythms, and collaborative artistry power a celebration of excellence as two premier Jamaican ensembles perform together.