Events
While any time is a good time to visit Inn at Stonington, there are numerous events, festivals and holidays during the year that you may want to specifically schedule your trip around!
Our list below will help you find events in Stonington and our surrounding area to compliment your stay with us at The Inn at Stonington. Please scroll to the bottom of this page to see ongoing events calendar of events throughout the year.
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
Mystic Restaurant Week
https://www.mysticchamber.org/events/restaurant-week
Enjoy pre-fix menus at discounted prices at some of Mystic’s finest restaurants. Noah’s in our Borough participates as well!
Mystic Irish 5K
http://www.groton-ct.gov/depts/parksrec/mysticirish5k.asp
The runners in this 5K start in downtown Mystic and travel along scenic River Road and the banks of the Mystic River, ending again in downtown Mystic. This is a festive run to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, so be sure to wear your green! The winners have a special spot in the following weeks Mystic Irish Parade.
Mystic Irish Parade
http://mysticirishparade.org/
This will be the 16th Annual Mystic Irish Parade. Each year, a sliver of Ireland is brought to the small town of Mystic, Connecticut and friends & family from near and far celebrate together in support of the Mystic Irish Parade Foundation!
Kicking off at 1:00 pm, the parade, extending from the Mystic Seaport Museum to the Mystic Art Association, brings 2,200 local community members together while they march alongside creatively designed floats and dance to the Celtic music echoing throughout the village while over 32,000 supporters cheer and celebrate the day!
APRIL
Stay tuned!
MAY
Mystic Half Marathon & 10K
https://www.hartfordmarathon.com/mystic-half-marathon-10k/
Beautiful course through all parts of Mystic! Starts at Olde Mistick Village and ends in front of Mystic Aquarium.
JUNE
Taste of Mystic
Olde Mistick Village
https://www.tasteofmystic.com/
Bring your appetite to the Annual Taste of Mystic at Olde Mistick Village. Over 20 local restaurants, each offering a unique and delicious taste of their specialty. Don’t miss free live performances by the area’s best bands and musicians!
Sea Music Festival
Mystic Seaport
https://www.mysticseaport.org/event/sea-music-festival/
The annual Sea Music Festival is one of the world’s premier sea music events. Fans of traditional sea music gather each year to hear national and international performers, along with the Museum’s chantey staff, perform music from the golden Age of Sail through the best of contemporary composition. The roster includes music from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Canada, along with singers from across the United States. The weekend’s festivities include daytime and evening concerts, special performances for children, instructional workshops, and a unique opportunity to witness sea music at work aboard the Museum’s historic vessels.
Mystic River Jam Festival
Mystic Shipyard
http://mysticriverjam.com/
The River Jam Festival, held at Mystic Shipyard, is a two-day music festival showcasing music from rock to reggae, blues to punk.
Wooden Boat Show
Mystic Seaport
https://www.mysticseaport.org/event/the-woodenboat-show/
See more than 100 traditional and classic wooden boats of every type at the Annual Wooden Boat Show. The festival, which is hosted in partnership with Wooden Boat Publications, celebrates the design and craftsmanship of wooden craft.
JULY
Mondays throughout July & August
Blue Mondays
Mystic River Park
Free blue’s concerts in the Mystic River Park made possible by generous donations from local businesses and supporting school music programs. Bring a blanket, and a picnic.
Tuesdays throughout July & August
Tuesday Summer Sound waves Concert Series
Mystic River Park
On Tuesday nights, the Noank-Mystic Community Band hosts the Summer Sounds concert series. This is the twenty-first year for Summer Sounds, and these free concerts always draw a big – and dancing – crowd. The music begins at 7 pm in Mystic River Park by the drawbridge. Admission is free.
New London Sailfest Downtown New London http://sailfest.org/about-sailfest/
Sailfest is Southeastern Connecticut’s premiere summertime event, complete with a major fireworks display, amusement rides, free entertainment, ships, and over 200 vendors lining the streets. There will be plenty to see, buy, and eat, so make sure to come hungry and ready to try new food.
Mystic River Shark fest Swim Latitude 41 Restaurant at Mystic Seaport https://raceroster.com/events/2019/18581/2019-mystic-sharkfest-swim
The Mystic Sharkfest is a 1500 meter swim from the dock behind Latitude 41 Restaurant at Mystic Seaport, down the Mystic River, under the famous Bascule drawbridge to finish at the boat launch ramp at the north end of Seaport Marine. This swim will give you the perfect excuse to visit a classic New England seaport on Long Island Sound. The swim course will take you past the fully restored whaling ship, Charles Morgan and around the Mystic Harbor lighthouse and down river through the picturesque village.
AUGUST
Mystic Outdoor Arts Festival Mystic River Yacht Club https://www.mysticchamber.org/events/mystic-outdoor-art-festival
The Mystic Outdoor Art Festival serves an audience of discriminating art enthusiasts, as well as weekend visitors and residents from surrounding communities including Groton, New London, Waterford, and southern Rhode Island. The festival showcases over 230 artists from around the United States, with more than two miles of arts and crafts including oils, watercolors, photographs, pastels, sculpture, woodwork, comics, acrylics, and more. The Mystic Outdoor Art Festival is free of charge, and features activities and artwork for all ages to enjoy, including a Children’s Art Park.
SEPTEMBER
Date: To be announced
Mystic Eats- A Riverside Food Festival Cottrell Street, Downtown Mystic http://www.mysticeats.com/
Mystic’s food event of the year. Come and sample delicious menu selections from over 20 of Mystic’s premier eateries. Enjoy fantastic food, beer & wine in the Seaport Marine shed, live music and family entertainment all weekend, and gorgeous Mystic River views!
Mystic Garlic Olde Mistick Village https://mysticrivermarina.com/event/11th-annual-garlic-festival/
An award-winning food festival dedicated to all things garlic. To celebrate the abundant fall harvest, farmers from around the region will present an amazing variety of garlic for sale in addition to fresh produce. Throughout the day and evening, dozens of local restaurants and food service establishments will be serving, for purchase, delicious garlic-related foods as well as non-garlic favorites. A host of merchants, artisans, authors and artists will line the pathways of Olde Mistick Village displaying their foods, crafts, gifts, and talents. Along with these vendors, you will find Olde Mistick Village merchants offering garlic-related activities or products at their stores.
TBA Wild Mushroom Festival Denison Nature Center https://dpnc.org/calendar/wild-mushroom-festival-3/
OCTOBER
Date: To be announced
Mystic Pirate Invasion Mystic River Park https://thisismystic.com/event/mystic-pirate-invasion-2019/]
Hear ye, hear ye! Let it be known that from Oct 4th – Oct 6th there will be an imminent threat of pirates in our fair port of Mystic, CT! Join fellow pirate lovers in Downtown Mystic for a weekend of pirate-themed family fun!
Chowder Days Mystic Seaport https://www.mysticseaport.org/event/chowder-days/
With cool fall days comes the desire to indulge in a hot bowl of chowder and what better place to do so than Mystic Seaport Museum? Coastal Gourmet’s Chowder Days menu is sure to satisfy all appetites and features a variety of chowders and bisques, along with clam fritters and other fall favorites. Enjoy seasonal desserts.
Inn at Stonington Halloween!
One of our favorite nights here at the inn! Help us hand out candy to the hundreds of children trick or treating in the borough. We welcome everyone to dress up and join in on the fun. Also, don’t worry… we always order enough candy for our guests at the inn too.
NOVEMBER
Santa Arrives by Tugboat & Tree Lighting
Mystic River Park
Santa Claus arrives in Mystic! Spectators flood Mystic River Park to watch Santa arrive at 2 pm on a 60’ tug boat, the John Paul, to open his ears to the wishes of children waiting anxiously in line to see him. At 6:20 pm decorated vessels parade down the Mystic River and return to the Mystic River Park, where spectators and judges gather. Boats are judged on creativity and team spirit, and prizes are offered for Most Charismatic Crew, Innovative Vessel, Best Dressed Vessel, and Miss Mystic Vessel of Grandeur.
The Christmas tree in Mystic River Park will be lit at 6 pm. Keep your eyes out for Saxophone Santa, too!
DECEMBER
Downtown Holiday Stroll & Luminaria
Downtown Mystic
Don’t miss the Downtown Mystic Holiday Stroll & Luminaria on Tuesday, December 3rd from 6-9pm.
Enjoy the festive sounds of local choirs and specials in the shoppes. Come visit Santa and his North Pole friends while getting your presents wrapped at the Mystic Museum of Art. And be on the lookout for local pirate troupe; Free Men of the Sea will be strolling around performing sea shanties as well. To add to the ambiance, the streets and Mystic River Park will be lined with hundreds of beautiful luminaria to light your way through town. Wandering entertainment including: Saxophone Santa, Ledyard High School Carolers, Noank-Mystic Community Band, Union Baptist Bell Choir, Freemen of the Sea, Mystic River Chorale, Pine Point School Choir & more.
Stonington Borough Holiday Stroll Water Street, Stonington Borough
Every year, the SVIA decorates a tree in Wadawanuck Square and lights it (with generous help from the nearby Stonington Free Library) at a community-wide ceremony that includes singing carols, sipping mulled cider, and the countdown to the lighting of the tree. Following immediately afterwards is the annual Christmas Stroll through the Borough, when local merchants keep their shops open late and welcome visitors with hors d’oeuvres and eggnog and other goodies.
The Stonington Village Christmas Carol Sing, Tree Lighting & Merchant Stroll is held in front of the library in Wadawanuck Square the first Friday in December at 5:30 PM.
Weekends throughout November & December
Lantern Light Tours: Finding Your Place
Mystic Seaport Museum
More information to come as it becomes available.
Each performance of Lantern Light Tours is an approximately 90-minute tour.
Click on the direct links to see activities at some of our favorite venues
