66^th Annual Barnum Festival – Bridgeport – June 14 – 29 The Barnum Festival was founded in 1948 as a way to build community spirit as well as to honor Bridgeport’s most famous resident, Phineas Taylor Barnum – world-renowned showman, businessman and community leader. P.T. Barnum was above all an entertainer; he celebrated hoaxes and founded the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The festival focuses on many of Barnum’s imaginative concepts such as:  the Jenny Lind Concert, Champions on Parade, a Children’s Wing Ding Parade, the Great Barnum Street Parade, and concludes with a spectacular fireworks display at Seaside Park. http://barnumfestival.com/about/  

The International Festival of Arts &  Ideas – New Haven – June 14 – 28 This year, this festival will be exploring Transformation & Tradition, gathering together artists and thinkers who have drawn from the past in order to imagine the future in ways that are startling, bold, and exciting. This is a 15-day extravaganza of performing arts, lectures, and conversations that takes over theaters and open spaces in New Haven, Connecticut each June. More than 80% of Festival events are completely free!    www.artidea.org/calendar

Paintings of Hong Kong Street Markets – New Haven – Yale-China Association – 442 Temple Street – June 16-20  - 2:00pm - 5:00pm  Yale-China's new exhibit features paintings by nationally recognized illustrator and New Haven resident Michael Sloan. Michael depicts sixteen portraits, scenes of street markets, and social crossroads within the Hong Kong metropolis.  www.yalechina.org

13^th Annual Willimantic 3^rd Thursday Street Festival – Downtown Willimantic – June 19 – 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Every third Thursday from May to September, thousands of people from far and wide stroll along Main Street, Willimantic amid a background of musical, theatrical, visual, gastronomic, and olfactory delights. Seven stages simultaneously host a wide variety of music and entertainment while over 100 vendors showcase a variety of handcrafted goods and services. Willimantic’s diversity really shines through in the delicious authentic international cuisine. Enjoy locally produced artwork, beer, music, and soda. Street performers and free children’s activities abound! Free Parking.   Free Admission. http://www.willimanticstreetfest.com/

Free “Movies After Dark”– Pope Park – Hartford – June 20 -  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 is “Rio”.

15^th Annual Black-eyed & Bluesfest – Bushnell Park – Hartford – June 20 – 5:00pm – 11:00pm   Free blues music concert held at Bushnell park. Bring a blanket or lounge chair to enjoy some blues music under the stars. http://blackeyedsallys.com/ 

Butterfly Hunt – Cedar Hill Cemetery – Hartford – June 21 – 10:00am – 11:30am. Hunt for butterflies with Roy Zartarian and the Connecticut Butterfly Association. Cedar Hill supports a significant butterfly population, with nearly 20 species spotted here, including the illusive Hackberry Emperor. Connecticut Butterfly Association volunteers will help find and net butterflies for viewing. Appropriate hiking shoes, long pants and bug repellent are recommended. Free www.cedarhillcemetery.org

The Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market  - Nathan Hale Homestead -Coventry – June 22 - 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/