With summer in full swing, the days of relaxing in the warm sunshine are finally here. Now is the season for open-air concerts, tasty summer treats, fresh fruits, stargazing and spending time outdoors with family and friends. No matter which part of this great region you call home, you are never far from outdoor entertainment and fun family activities.
So many people love the refreshing flavor of a cold scoop of ice cream on a hot summer day that Connecticut residents have a festival to honor this classic sweet treat along with another New England favorite, the blueberry. This festival, fittingly dubbed the Ice Cream, Blueberry and Bluegrass Bash, is scheduled for July 23, 2011 in Thompson, Connecticut. Enjoy free ice cream, fresh blueberries, hayrides and great music in celebration of National Ice Cream Month. Contact information and directions to Fort Hill Farms can be found at www.forthillfarms.com.
For some grown-up fun, the Connecticut Wine Festival is definitely worth a call to the babysitter. If you would like to bring your whole family along, however, people under 21 will be admitted. The festival, which hosts 14 wineries, takes place in Goshen, Connecticut the weekend of July 30 and 31, 2011. Wine tasting and a commemorative tote and wine glass are included in the price of a single-day ticket, which can be purchased in advance at a discount at www.ctwine.com/index.php?wine_festival.
Outdoor concerts are a popular pastime in New England during the warmer months, and visiting Cape Cod is always a favorite summer excursion. You can make the most of your time off by enjoying both of these activities simultaneously at the 26th annual TD Bank Pops by the Sea concert in Hyannis on August 7, 2011. Not only is this Cape Cod’s largest cultural event of the year with over 15,000 guests, but it has also been recognized as one of North America’s top 100 events by the American Bus Association. More information about the concert can be found at www.artsfoundation.org/pops-by-the-sea.
Another popular outdoor musical event is the
Evenings Under the Stars concert series at the South Shore Conservatory in Hingham, Massachusetts. Patrons enjoy concerts varying from Broadway hits to bluegrass in an open-air amphitheater. Check the schedule at
www.sscmusic.org/evenings_under_the_stars.html to find the shows that best suit your musical preferences.
Music is not the only outdoor family entertainment to enjoy this summer. Get your family and friends together for a screening under the night sky. If you head to Pickering Square in Bangor, Maine on a Friday night, you can enjoy one of the film screenings that are a part of the River City Cinema’s Outdoor Film Festival. A schedule of movies can be found at www.rivercitycinema.com/schedule.html.
In Newport, Rhode Island, you can expand your sporting horizons at the 20th anniversary of the Newport International Polo Series. Although there are many matches that make up this season, a few special dates to take note of are the Asado Lamb Roast on July 16, 2011to celebrate the USA vs. Ireland game; the International Polo Charity Ball on August 5, 2011; the Lobster bake on August 6, 2011,following the USA vs. Chile game and the Jerk Grill on August 20, 2011 after the USA vs. Jamaica game. To learn more about these events, head to www.newportinternationalpolo.com.
Tickle your senses this summer with the sights, sounds and flavors of the season.
