Northeast Travel: Enjoy These CT Summer Events
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Every summer, the best golfers in the world come to Cromwell's TPC River Highlands to compete in the Travelers Championship. Bubba Watson, Brandt Snedeker, Hunter Mahan, Patrick Reed and defending champion Ken Duke are just five of the 156 players scheduled to take part in this year's tournament June 16-22.
(860) 502-6800, travelerschampionship.com
New Haven Open at Yale
The ladies return to the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale as the WTA tour holds court August 15-23 for the New Haven Open at Yale. Last year's highlights included Simona Halep giving Caroline Wozniacki her only defeat in six appearances at the open and also besting 2012 champion Petra Kvitova.
(203) 776-7331, newhavenopen.com
For 15 days, the theaters and open spaces of New Haven will be commandeered as part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. More than 80 percent of the performances, lectures and conversations taking place from June 14-28 are free. Program highlights include The Events, a new play by David Greig, and a free performance on the green by Dianne Reeves with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra.
(888) 278-4332, artidea.org
Litchfield Jazz Fest
The 19th annual Litchfield Jazz Festival will fill the Goshen Fairgrounds with music from August 8-10 in an event that has become renowned both in the Litchfield Hills and beyond. Historic appearances include Sonny Rollins, Diana Krall and Ray Charles. This year, fans can enjoy Carmen Staaf, Anthony Strong and the Jimmy Greene Quartet, among others.
(860) 361-6285, litchfieldjazzfest.com
Riverfest
The City of Hartford invites you to help celebrate Independence Day by attending the family-friendly Riverfest on July 12. Live music, amusement rides, kids' activities and food will culminate with an Americana-themed fireworks display by Atlas PyroVision.
(860) 713-3131, riverfront.org
Gathering of the Vibes
The "best beach party on the planet" celebrates 10 years at Bridgeport's Seaside Park July 31-August 3. Music, food and drink will be in abundance at this laid-back outdoor festival. This year's lineup includes John Fogerty, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Ziggy Marley and many more.
(203) 908-3030, gatheringofthevibes.com
Sunken Garden Poetry Festival
Come and experience remarkable performances of live music and poetry in an exquisite natural setting, the Sunken Garden on the grounds of the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington. The Sunken Garden Poetry Festival, a renowned event since 1992, takes place for five days throughout the summer: June 11 and 25, July 9 and 23, and August 6.
(860) 677-4787, hillstead.org
Norwalk & Milford Oyster Fests
Oysters are the star at these two outdoor food-centric festivals. Enjoy crafts, entertainment and a whole lot of oyster shucking and slurping at the 40th annual Milford Oyster Festival on August 16, and do it again at the Norwalk Oyster Festival September 5-7.
Milford: (203) 878-5363, milfordoysterfestival.org
Norwalk: (203) 838-9444, seaport.org
Family-friendly entertainment will fill downtown New London on July 11-13 as part of Sailfest. Bring the kids for amusement rides and musical performances in genres ranging from rock to Celtic, then check out hundreds of street vendors and the fourth-largest fireworks display in the Northeast.
(860) 444-1879, sailfestnl.org
Summer Music at Harkness
Enjoy live music in Harkness Memorial State Park with their five-week concert series, "Summer Nights at Harkness," presented by Bring Our Music Back. Now in its fourth year, the series transforms the state park into a destination for the performing arts. Performances take place on July 17, 24 and 31 and August 7 and 14.
(860) 691-3065, bringourmusicback.org
Norfolk Chamber Music Fest
World-class choral music will once again delight discerning listeners every Friday and Saturday from June 14 to August 9 as part of the Norfolk Chamber Music Fest—a tradition begun in the 1890s by Ellen Battell. The event, sponsored by the Yale School of Music, will feature the classic works of Leonard Bernstein, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven.
(860) 542-3000, norfolkmusic.org
(This article was originally published on a different platform. Some formatting changes may have occurred.)
This article appeared in the May 2014 issue of Connecticut Magazine
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