37^th Annual Manchester Bicentennial Band Shell Concerts – United States Coast Guard Band – Manchester High School Auditorium West Middle Turnpike – Manchester - June 25 -7:00pm  The US Coast Guard Band will open the Band Shell Concert series. Donations are accepted. http://www.manchesterbandshell.com/schedule.asp

Barnum Festival –Barnum Sails the Sound– Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Ferry Dock - June 26 – 4:15 pm – (picnic) – 6:30pm - (boat sails) Join us for a spectacular evening as Barnum Sails the Sound! Enjoy a delicious picnic dinner on the dock, then come onboard and dance the night away to the “What Up Funk Band.” Bring your dancing shoes! Grab your family and friends and we’ll see you onboard! Ticket $45. http://barnumfestival.com/about/

Barnum Festival – Fireworks and Pops Concert – Bridgeport -  Seaside Park June 27 – 7:30pm Free…. The Greater Bridgeport Symphony Pops concert will start the at 7:30pm followed by Fireworks at Dusk. http://barnumfestival.com/about/

Free “Movies After Dark”– Riverside Park – Hartford – June 27 - Sundown The summertime series of free Friday-night movies outdoors in Hartford parks begins on June 20 and runs through August 22. Crowds can start gathering at 6:30pm and the movies start at sundown. This week’s movie “Jaws”.

Barnum Festival –Champions on Parade – Bridgeport -  Kennedy Stadium June 28 – Gates open at 4:30pm If you are a Drum Corp fan or lover of all things musical you will not want to miss this show! A combination of professionally competing and exhibiting drum corps will entertain you for hours! Competing corps include: Connecticut Hurricanes, Fusion Core, Hawthorne Caballeros, Skyliners, Bushwackers. Our exhibiting corps includes: Westchester Brassmen, Saints Brigade, Connecticut Alumni, and our own Park City Pride. Admission is $10.  http://barnumfestival.com/about/

The 48^th Annual Connecticut Irish Festival – North Haven Fairgrounds – June 28 – noon – 11:00pm  -  June - 29 noon – 7:00pm . One of the main highlights of the Festival is the New Haven Feis (pronounced Fesh) which is held on the Sunday of the CT Irish Festival.  The Feis consists of Irish dance, Irish music, Irish language, and Irish soda bread competitions.  This is an old fashion outdoor Feis where the dancers compete on stages under opened tents. The Irish dancers will compete in light jig, reel and slip jig dance competitions wearing their soft shoes (called Gillies) as well as in hard shoe competitions dancing a treble jig, hornpipe and/or traditional set. Competitors come from all over Connecticut as well as NY, NJ, MA, MD, RI, PA, NH, VT, ME, and VA.  http://ctirishfestival.com

Ratha Yatra – Festival of India – Bushnell Park – Hartford – June 28 –Noon - 5:00pm (Rain date June 29) A Ratha-Yatra or Roth Jatra or Chariot Festival is a Hindu festival that involves transporting deities on a chariot (called a ratha or roth). The festival originated in Puri in the State of Orissa. The rath(chariot) is carrying Lord Jaggannath and due to its massive size & weight and sometimes seemingly unstoppable nature, has led to the English word juggernaut to refer to an unstoppable force.^[1] The festival refers to the annual journey of the divinity in the form of idols to their aunt's (ମାଉସୀ) house. "Aunt" here refers to the feminine creative aspect of divinity. The chariot parade begins at noon, Indian dance, yoga, free vegetarian food, and a magic show are some of the events that will take place. rhttp://iskconct.org/2014_Ratha_Yatra.html

The Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market  - Nathan Hale Homestead -Coventry – June 29 - 11:00am – 2:00pm   It is like a country fair every Sunday… the old-fashioned kind, with farmers, produce, freshly baked pies, sparkling jars of preserves and pickles, handmade goods, and fiddlers.  New England Travel Magazine calls ours “Connecticut’s preeminent farmers’ market.”  http://coventryfarmersmarket.com/events/

The 69^th Annual July in the Sky Fireworks – Vernon –Veterans War Memorial Tower in Henry Park – July 1 (rain date is July 2) There are two main viewing sites, Henry Park and downtown Rockville. The gates will open at 6:00pm. The display will be launched at approximately 9:40pm. At Henry Park’s Fun Zone, there will be a food court, entertainment, giant inflatable toys, face painting and glow toys. In downtown Rockville, there will be the Push, Pedal, Pull Patriotic Parade, food court, entertainment and glow toys. http://www.vernon-ct.gov/specialevents

29^th Annual  WILI  Boom Box Parade -  Willimantic – July 4 – 11:00am  The WILI “BOOM” Box parade is the largest parade of its kind in the world. In 1986, no marching band could be found for Windham’s Memorial Day parade. Five weeks later,  the “Boom Box Parade” concept was born as AM radio station played marching band music on the air, while thousands marched and watched, loudly playing their radios (boom boxes).  Anyone can march or enter a float in “Connecticut’s Unique People’s Parade.” The only requirement is to wear some red, white and blue, and bring radio tuned to WILI (1400-AM). There is no “official” theme for the parade. Information: 860-456-1111 http://www.wili-am.com/parade.htm

31^st Annual James “Dutch” Fogarty 4^th of July Celebration – Manchester Community College Bicentennial Bandshell – Manchester – July 5^th (rain Date is July 6^th) Festivities are scheduled to begin 4 p.m., with bands scheduled to play from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and other events scheduled from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.  The fireworks are set for 9:30 p.m. Tickets for the annual Chicken BBQ can be purchased the day of the event for $8. For more information, please call  860-647-3084 www.ci.manchester.ct.us

Take some time off from your studies and enjoy all the festivities!