Taste of the Suburbs - September 8 – 21 The Taste of the Suburbs is back. It's a foodie and discount diners delight! Enjoy two weeks of fine discount dining from September 8th - September 21st. Participating restaurants will offer special multi- course, price-fixed tasting menus featuring their signature dishes. Prices vary - be sure to check individual menus for pricing options.
*Reservations are strongly recommended and dining prices are available only for special Taste dinner menus. See participating restaurants below.  Menus subject to change.  http://www.ctnow.com/food-drink/taste-of-the-suburbs/ 

CT Maritime Festival - New London – Mystic - September 11 - 14:

The Connecticut Schooner Festival – New London – September 11 – 14 - Off Ocean Beach Park - www.schoonerfest.com

Lighted Boat Parade Along the Thames River – September 12 – 8:30pm http://schoonerfest.com/lighted-boat-parade/

The 2^nd Annual Great New London Chowder Challenge – September 13 – 11:00am – 3:00pm: www.schoonerfest.com/chowder-challenge/chowder-challenge-map/

Ledge Lighthouse Tour – New London - September 13 – 2:30pm

A 2 1/2-hour Ledge Lighthouse Tour which includes going inside the Lighthouse. The Project O boat leaves from New London's City Pier. The Ledge Lighthouse is located on a ledge in Long Island Sound. New London Maritime 1833 Robert Mills US Custom House & Museum 150 Bank St. New London. There are other lighthouse tours available.  http://nlmaritimesociety.org

The Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival will be a fun-filled time on the waterfront of this historic city whose fate has always been linked to the sea and some significant events in our country’s history. As with our previous festivals we will be highlighting our state’s maritime heritage, history and spirit of innovation. Looking out into the harbor you will see a variety of ships that include schooners, working fishing boats and the Thomas Jefferson, a 208-foot ship operated by NOAA which performs vital research and survey work. We expect other ships as well, and a number of other exciting activities including our 2nd annual Great New London Chowder Challenge featuring the best “chowda” from local restaurants.

The 98^th annual “BIG E” EASTERN STATES EXPOSITION – West Springfield, Massachusetts – September 12 – 24  The Big E is the fifth largest fair in North America. Daily (5:00pm) Mardi Gras Parades with eight custom-made floats specially designed and built by the Kern Companies of New Orleans: the Boeuf Gras (Fatted Calf); Island Party; Caribbean Carnival; Carnival in Rio; Carneval di Venice; Mardi Gras New Orleans; and our African-themed and Patriotic floats! Marching bands, Big E contingents, animals and more strut their stuff in The Big E Grande Parade.  Daily circus, entertainment, activities, food, amusement rides, home show, racing and much more will take place on 175 acres. The six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont) have permanent replicas of their state capitols located on site. The food served is outstanding as there are many food vendors present.  Bring your walking shoes and get there early!  http://www.thebige.com/fair/entertainment/

The 176^th Annual Four Town Fair – Somers Fairgrounds – Somers September 11 – 14 Another great state fair to go to, Experience a traditional agricultural fair and see: a frog jumping contest, scarecrow competition, corn eating contest, pie eating contest, the heaviest pumpkin along with horse shows, tractor pull contest,  rides, food and plenty of demonstrations. They will even have a parade. Some say this may be the oldest Fair in New England. www.fourtownfair.com

2^nd Annual Oktoberfest – Downtown New Britain – September 12 – 14 Free admission. The Oktoberfest celebrated its 203rd anniversary in 2013 in Munich, Germany. The Bavarian Oktoberfest has inspired similar festivals around the world. It traditionally starts in the third weekend in September and ends the first Sunday in October. This year the city of New Britain will celebrated its second annual Oktoberfest with: three stages of music, activity packed kids zone, beer hall with live entertainment, over 30 food vendors and a Ms. Oktoberfest beauty pageant. Over 35,000 people are expected to attend. It’s the beginning of a new local tradition. http://ctoktoberfest.com/

2^nd Annual Fallfest Weekend – “Ocean Expo” - Misquamicut Beach – Rhode Island – September 12 – 14 – 12:00pm – 5:00pm  There will be  land, ocean and lake activities for all.  In addition, there will be Rockwell Amusement rides, non-stop music, wrestling matches, aerobatics, petting zoo,  classic car show, smoke on-the-water barbeque and other foods http://www.misquamicutfestival.org

Beyond the Gates – Cedar Hill Cemetery -  South End of Hartford – September 13 – 10:00am – 5:00pm Free. Join us in celebrating Cedar Hill’s 150th anniversary with a day filled with Victorian-themed activities including costumed dramatizations and musical performances. Be entertained by America’s first magician, moved by the songs of the Civil War, and inspired by Victorian fashions. Meet Cedar Hill residents take a horse and carriage ride and picnic on the grounds of the historic cemetery. Yung Wing, the first Chinese student, to obtain a degree from an American University (Yale) is buried here. According to cemetery officials, his grave site is the second most visited grave in this cemetery. Katherine Hepburn, a movie star, is the most visited grave.    www.cedarhillcemetery.org/

50^th Anniversary Week of Fascia’s Chocolates – Waterbury – September 13 – 14 If you love chocolate, this is the place to be this weekend. In 1964, John & Helen Fascia began making candy in their Waterbury, CT home to supplement John’s livelihood as a toolmaker. With three young daughters helping out, Fascia’s Chocolates became the family’s full time passion and the business had to move out of the house. Through each of the Waterbury locations the business outgrew, Fascia’s has continued to be a destination and tradition for our loyal customers. Fascia’s Chocolates continues to be family owned and operated by the originating members and continuing generation of the Fascia Family. We still make all products in-house and in small batches to ensure the highest quality and freshness possible.. Complimentary Mini tours of the chocolate factory are available, but you must make reservations on line, see web site for further details. Live music for Saturday Sept. 13th!
http://fasciaschocolates.com/index.php/about-us/50th-anniversary-celebration/live-music

The 23^rd Annual Coastweeks Regatta  - Mystic Seaport – Mystic – September 14 – 7:00am – 3:00pm (Racing begins at 8:30 a.m.) Signaling the start of the fall head racing season in New England, this annual coastweeks regatta offers a range of masters, open, collegiate, and junior categories and includes local and regional rowers in both racing and recreational shells., Singles, doubles, and fours will race the 2,000-meter course along the Mystic River, beginning north of the I-95 overpass and finishing at the Museum’s Lighthouse Point. Visitors are invited to watch the racing from the Museum’s North Lawn located behind Latitude 41° Restaurant. Guests of registered participants will receive the Museum’s group rate. Registered participants may visit Mystic Seaport for free; their guests may visit at the group rate (adult $19, youth $10.50). We encourage all entrants to register early and electronically at www.roninracing.com. If you don’t have Internet access, please contact Shannon McKenzie at 860.572.5341. www.mysticseaport.com

“Beatles Forever” – Celebrate the Beatles 50^th Anniversary – Atria Hamilton Heights – West Hartford – September 14 – 2:00pm – 4:00pm  The Atria Hamilton Heights Band Stand presents a Free Outdoor Concert celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the Beatles. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair to this event.  http://www.atriaseniorliving.com/library/Calendar/10727-Atria-Hamilton-Heights-calendar.pdf

15^th Annual Corn Maze – The Beatles -  Lyman Orchards – Middlefield August 30 – November 2 With more than two miles of twisting and winding pathways carved within four acres of towering cornstalks, a hundred decision points, and just one way out, getting lost in our 15th Annual Corn Maze will be a lot of fun, and it's all for a great cause! $1 of every admission is donated to the American Cancer Society. http://lymanorchards.com/events

“Fiber Twist & Bead Bash” - The Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market  - Nathan Hale Homestead - Coventry – September 14 - 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/