Events in West Haven today

At Picasso Parties, this themed art week invites artists to craft magical projects inspired by Disney favorites and characters from Harry Potter. Space is limited, so early sign-up is recommended. The fee is $160 for the week.

Hagaman Memorial Library is launching an adult Summer Reading Games and raffle next month under the 2026 Plant a Seed and Read theme. Whether the plan is to soak up sunshine or stay cool indoors, the season is set aside for readers to dive into books and celebrate stories together. Plant a Seed and Read centers on the idea that reading cultivates growth just as care helps a small seed become a thriving plant. With steady curiosity and attention, books can nurture imagination, confidence, and knowledge over time. The theme ties nature to literacy while underscoring personal growth, community connections, and lifelong learning. It invites people of all ages to discover new ideas and to value the act of nurturing the world around them, with every book offering a chance to grow and bloom. Starting next month, participants who return finished books to Main Circulation can complete a Rate Your Read and hand it to the desk staff. Each one counts as a raffle entry for prizes offered throughout the season.

At Michelina’s Apizza & Ristorantè, this hands-on Detroit style pizza workshop begins with a lively dough-tossing lesson and a brief look at the style’s history. Participants learn to make dough and sauce with all ingredients sourced from one place, making it simple to repeat at home. The instructor demonstrates how to portion and round the dough, stretch it by hand instead of using a rolling pin, assemble and launch the pizza, bake it, slice it, and enjoy the results. The experience lasts about three and a half hours, with roughly two and a half hours of instruction followed by about an hour of pizza making. Italian music plays throughout, and Foxon Park soda is included for this in-person class. The cost is $133 per student. For questions, email frank@newhavenpizzaschool.com.

Test your luck with music bingo at The Sly Fox Tavern in North Haven. It takes place every Monday during happy hour and welcomes all players, no music trivia needed. This is a cash game with a prize pool that grows as more people play. Bingo cards are $2 each or six for $10 per round, and payment for bingo is cash only.

Designed for young learners and their families, this Storytime Tuesdays program at the Shore Line Trolley Museum blends early literacy, imagination, and transportation history. Children enjoy a themed read-aloud followed by a ride aboard a vintage trolley along the historic Branford Electric Railway. Sessions run about an hour, begin promptly, and are planned to wrap up before lunch and afternoon naps. The experience includes a live story reading, a scenic trolley ride, a light snack and drink, and a take-home copy of the featured book for each child. Admission is $10 per child and adults attend free. Capacity is limited to maintain a comfortable, engaging experience for families.

The Shore Line Trolley Museum offers a trolley ride tailored for individuals and families who benefit from a quieter, lower-stimulation setting. This specially scheduled trip keeps attendance small, lowers background noise, and aims to reduce waiting so the experience remains calm and predictable from the Visitor Center through the entire ride. An advance reservation is required, and caregivers attend for free. Families are encouraged to review visitor information ahead of time to prepare with confidence.

Even as the riding season winds down, Bike Night keeps going at Cycle Gear in Orange. Expect relaxed hangout vibes with food, soft drinks, and a giveaway. Please be considerate of the plaza neighbors throughout the event. All motorcycles and all riders are welcome.

Explore the Shore Line Trolley Museum and travel back into the era of electric rail. One admission covers a full day with unlimited trolley rides and access to the historic campus, and tickets can be purchased at the door. Ride aboard authentic antique cars from places like New Haven, New Orleans, Brooklyn, and Johnstown, Pennsylvania, with the specific vehicles in use changing based on the day and weather. As an active museum, restoration and preservation work can often be seen throughout the property. The line itself is part of the country’s longest-running suburban street railway. In honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the museum is spotlighting innovation and ingenuity, sharing how electric railways transformed cities and connected communities, with special programs during the season and select days offering free or reduced admission. General admission is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors 62 and older, $10 for children, and children under 2 are admitted free. Some special events may have different pricing.

Common Ground hosts a weekly farm stand on campus featuring locally grown produce picked straight from the fields. Shoppers can take home just-harvested vegetables with bright, refreshing flavor that make everyday cooking easier and tastier. Every purchase supports local farmers and brings farm to table ingredients to the kitchen.

Take in summer sunsets while participants learn and play mahjong on the patio at Bear's Smokehouse BBQ in New Haven. Admission is $15, and it is open to beginners and seasoned players alike. The venue offers a Happy Hour.

Movies in the Plaza returns with free outdoor screenings in downtown New Haven’s Pitkin Plaza, presenting films from May through October. Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets, as limited bistro and lawn seating is available, and enjoy a lineup that mixes blockbusters, throwback favorites, cult picks, and family-friendly titles. Admission is free, with registration required at the check-in table upon entry, and complimentary light snacks are available. Screenings are weather dependent, with updates shared on the event website and Facebook event page on the day of the show. Viewer discretion is advised, and adults should review each film’s themes before attending with underage guests.

Mr. Donald's Farm sets up at the Tony Inzero Farmers Markets with a rotating assortment of homemade sweets and other goods. Look for eggs from the farm, pies, muffins, fruit spreads, granola, and other baked goodies, all made fresh so the lineup changes regularly. The market also features seasonal produce, additional baked items, handcrafted goods, and more. Advance orders for sweet treats are available.

CWPN’s Harvest Gathering returns to Camp Cedarcrest for its 22nd year with the theme Song of the Stones. Inspired by the way stones carry memory and mark the way forward, this gathering centers on endurance, wisdom, and the quiet power found in stillness, creating space for a sense of grounding and ancient magic. Like stones arranged in a circle, attendees come together to build something larger than themselves, shaping a community rooted in connection, resilience, and shared intention. The experience focuses on listening, learning, and celebration, with participants adding their voices to a tradition that has grown over more than two decades. Workshop proposals and merchant applications are welcome.

Explore a market featuring farmers, food trucks, live entertainment, and crafters. The vendor lineup changes each week, with the most current list available on the market’s website.

BurgerRumba brings Latin rhythm and bold taste to Mosaico Cuisine in North Haven. Caribbean-inspired burgers take center stage, and every burger order includes a side of crispy, seasoned Turbo Fries. Purchase any two Mosaico Burgers and receive a complimentary order of Venezuelan wings glazed with a sweet and savory papelón sugar cane sauce. The experience is focused on dine-in, and the wing promotion is valid for dine-in only. Handmade sauces and a 4.8-star level of service round out the night.

Jon Batiste performs live in New Haven, Connecticut, giving fans an opportunity to hear his music in person.

Summer @ The Well is a seasonal social series at The Well, a pub on the lower level of Yale Schwarzman Center, that brings live music alongside opportunities to connect. This edition spotlights the Jeff Brock Trio. Jeff Brock, a Yale professor and accomplished jazz musician, performs with his trio for the final Summer @ The Well before the new academic year begins. He serves as Dean of the School of Engineering & Applied Science and holds the William S. Massey Professorship of Mathematics, as well as a professorship in Statistics & Data Science.

Westville Music Bowl hosts a live concert featuring Jon Batiste, presented by Premier Concerts, Manic Presents, and Bowery Presents. All ages are welcome. Batiste is an eight-time Grammy winner and an Academy Award and Emmy Award winning singer, songwriter, composer, and pianist known for a genre-blending approach that champions inclusivity and cultural exploration. His latest studio album, Big Money, draws on American traditions spanning gospel, soul, blues, folk, and rock and roll. With collaborators including No I.D., Randy Newman, and Andra Day, it earned three nominations at the 2026 Grammy Awards and won Best Americana Album. He supported the release with a national headlining run that stopped at more than 30 venues and saw frequent sellouts. Before that, he launched a solo piano series with Beethoven Blues, reimagining iconic Beethoven works through an expansive lens. The album held the top spot on Billboard’s Classical Albums chart for nine weeks and delivered his biggest sales week to date. In 2023 he released World Music Radio, a globe-spanning collection featuring Jon Bellion, Lana Del Rey, and Lil Wayne, which received five Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year. That same year, Matthew Heineman’s Netflix documentary American Symphony, created in partnership with Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground, followed Batiste through a period marked by nine Grammy nominations and five wins for his album We Are while he faced his wife’s cancer recurrence. He co-wrote the film’s original song It Never Went Away, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song and won the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media. Earlier releases in 2020 brought Grammy nominations for Chronology of a Dream: Live at the Village Vanguard and Meditations with Cory Wong. His film work includes contributing the score for Jason Reitman’s 2024 film Saturday Night, depicting the hectic lead-up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live in 1975, and composing and performing music for Disney and Pixar’s Soul, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Score alongside Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Soul also garnered a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, an NAACP Image Award, and a Critics’ Choice Award. From 2015 to 2022, Batiste served as bandleader and musical director on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Get to know the Beinecke Library through a guided introduction that highlights its mission and history, its architecture, its collections, and the services it provides. A library staff member or a student guide leads each tour, which runs about 45 minutes. Reservations are not needed. For additional visitor details, please see the library’s website. The ground floor and mezzanine exhibition spaces welcome the public every day of the week at no charge. The site also lists current hours and exhibitions and offers ways to explore the library online.

The Teen Services Department at Hagaman Library hosts a weekly Summer Teen Lounge in the DeMayo Room for youths ages 12 to 18. Held on Fridays throughout the summer, each gathering offers something different, from board games and crafts to manga and movies. Teens can stop in, connect with friends, try new activities, and enjoy a free, welcoming hangout.

Immerse yourself in authentic blues in North Haven with Rocky Lawrence, a seasoned guitarist and singer whose performances honor the legacy of Robert Johnson. Recognized for stepping onstage in a matching suit, a Dobbs hat, and two-tone shoes with a well-worn Gibson Robert Johnson model, he plays and sings with unwavering conviction. His musical path began on trumpet at nine, then turned to guitar at eleven under the spell of Jimi Hendrix, which led him to Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and Son House. He often points out that Johnson drew from artists like Son House and Lonnie Johnson, a lineage that resonates in every note. Enjoy soulful storytelling through classic blues, complemented by boutique wines and hard ciders from Apple Theory Cidery.

A lively scene awaits with friendly faces and serious competition, all wrapped in sunny summer vibes from start to finish. Whether you are out to compete for cash or simply looking for a carefree day on the sand, this gathering brings New Haven together to play.

Mr. Donald's Farm brings homemade sweet treats to the Tony Inzero Farmers Markets along the West Haven beach boardwalk. Shoppers can find farm-fresh eggs and a changing mix of pies, muffins, jams, granola and other baked goods, all made fresh so selections vary. The market also features homegrown fruits and vegetables, baked goods and handmade crafts.

Gardeners at any level are invited to connect with UConn Extension experts for practical guidance. Meet with Kim, a Master Gardener Intern, and Giulia, a Certified Master Gardener, for troubleshooting, tips, and conversation about your plants. Attendees may bring cuttings or photos to help with identification and care questions. The event also includes a plant and seed swap where you can share what you have or simply take something new. Contributing items is optional and taking plants or seeds does not require bringing any. Information about online classes and the Master Gardener certification program will be available.

Family Day in New Haven features tasty food, arcade games, and family friendly fun. All children need to be with a parent or legal guardian. Barcade will donate a portion of 2026 Family Day token sales to Gamers Outreach, a charity that brings recreation to children in hospitals through video games and the gaming community.

The Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center presents a feast day celebration honoring its namesake, featuring activities and food available throughout the event. Highlights include the McGivney Gallery and an author talk with Emily Tennant, author of Father McGivney and the Knights of Columbus.

A paddling excursion explores the Farm River, passing through the Tidegate with sights that include Johnson's Quarry, Kelsey's Island, the gut, and Granite Bay. At Johnson's Beach, Ben Kelsey will present a talk on 8,000 years of indigenous use of the Farm River and will share items collected from the waterway. Return transportation by truck is available.

Enjoy live music at the Sandpiper.

Classic rock takes center stage at Z's Corner Cafe in a performance dedicated to the memory of Daniel Morgan Lynch. Ann Marie Minopoli, Anthony Appese, Peter Lucibelli, and Ken Kraynak lead the lineup, and a few special guests may make an appearance.