Eastern CT News brings you source-linked local news from all 49 towns in New London, Windham and Tolland counties, plus major Connecticut stories. We aim to report fairly, without favoring a political party or viewpoint, and apply the same verification standards to every story. Explore Police & Fire, schools, business, sports, community events and election information — with free access and clear updates as stories develop.
Your browser asks permission. Coordinates are matched on your device; only your chosen town is remembered in this browser. Selecting a town saves it for the My town shortcut. Email alerts are a separate opt-in.
YOUR EASTERN CONNECTICUT WEEKEND
What’s happening this weekend?
Local festivals, activities and community events for Friday, October 23 through Sunday, October 25.
Bolton Recreation Department and Bolton Center School PTA host Halloween games, pumpkin painting, face painting and autumn treats. The exact organizer program explicitly announces a LOCATION CHANGE to 72 Brandy Street, superseding the 108 Notch Road address on its general page and older flyer. Public trick-or-treating is Friday, October 23, 5:30–7:30 p.m.; 4:30–5:30 p.m. is trunk setup. No rain date. Trunk registration closed October 16. Confirm any subsequent organizer changes before traveling.
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM · Bolton High School parking lot, 72 Brandy Street, Bolton, CT 06043
Organizer flyer · Ocean Honda Groton’s Trunk or Treat flyer lists October 23, 2026, 6–8 p.m., a free community event. Credit: Ocean Honda Groton · Original source ↗
Ocean Honda Groton’s public community trunk-or-treat features decorated vehicles, candy and family Halloween activities. Costumes are encouraged. The organizer advertises free candy but does not separately state admission cost or registration requirements; confirm any updates before attending.
Organizer flyer · Organizer flyer: Hocus Pocus, October 23 at 6:30 p.m. on Westfield lawn; costumes and canned-good donation requested. Credit: Westfield Church, United Church of Christ / Killingly Parks and Recreation · Original source ↗
Westfield Church and Killingly Parks and Recreation host a free outdoor screening of Hocus Pocus, starting around 6:30 p.m. Costumes are welcome. Bring chairs or blankets and a nonperishable food item to donate. The organizers say free treats will be provided and Amy’s Cakery will join the event. An end time, rain plan and registration requirement are not stated; check the original listing for weather updates.
6:30 PM · Westfield Church lawn, 210 Main Street, Danielson, CT 06239
Organizer flyer · Official Take Back Day promotional graphic for October24,2026,10a.m.–2p.m.; City of Groton’s collection site is295MeridianStreet. Credit: DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day promotional graphic, published by City of Groton Police; designer not identified · Original source ↗
Free, anonymous collection of unwanted medications during DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. No syringes, sharps or illicit drugs. The department asks that liquid products remain in original containers with tightly sealed caps. Confirm questions about materials with the organizers.
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM · City of Groton Police Department, 295 Meridian Street, Groton
Organizer flyer · Complete original 2026 Somers Scarecrow Festival flyer: October 24, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Four Town Fairgrounds. $3 suggested donation; Kid Zone fees are additional. Credit: Somers Annual Scarecrow Festival; designer not identified · Original source ↗
The annual festival features food trucks, live entertainment, a crafters alley, scarecrow and pumpkin contests, a children’s costume contest and raffles. The original 2026 flyer confirms October 24, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., and a $3 suggested entry donation; the organizer’s Facebook Page specifies children enter free. Kid Zone activities cost extra. Food and merchandise purchases are separate; contest entries are free. Follow the organizer for contest arrangements and weather updates.
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM · Four Town Fairgrounds, 56 Egypt Road, Somers, CT 06071
Organizer flyer · Original Valenti flyer for Trick or Jeep,October24,2026,11a.m.–2p.m.,72JerryBrowneRoad in Mystic. Credit: Valenti Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram; flyer designer not identified · Original source ↗
Public outdoor community event hosted by Valenti Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, rain or shine. Trick-or-treat Jeep to Jeep, games, prizes and raffles. Free pizza slices and balloon creations until 1 PM. Canned-food donations encouraged. Jeep participants register using the organizer website link in the Facebook event.
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM · Valenti Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 72 Jerry Browne Road, Mystic, CT 06355
Coventry Parks & Recreation invites families to dress in costume and trick-or-treat at participating Coventry Village businesses and decorated trunks. Bring a treat bag or bucket. The Town’s October 2026 bulletin confirms October 24, 1–3 p.m.; October 25, 1–3 p.m. is the rain date only. Parking is available at Booth & Dimock Memorial Library. The announcement does not state an admission price or require registration for ordinary visitors; check for weather updates.
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Coventry Village / Main Street; parking at Booth & Dimock Memorial Library, 1134 Main Street, Coventry, CT
Organizer flyer · Complete original Hebron Harvest Moon Festival flyer: October 24, 2026, 1:30–6:30 p.m., Main Street / Route 66. Rain date: October 25. Credit: The Town Center Project; designer not identified · Original source ↗
The Town Center Project hosts a Halloween festival along Main Street, with trick-or-treating, music, vendors, food trucks and a jack-o’-lantern display. Its original page confirms Saturday, October 24, 2026, 1:30–6:30 p.m., with October 25 as the rain date, not an additional festival day. The complete flyer advertises free fun. A free Ghoul Bus shuttle runs between RHAM and the town center. Check the organizer for weather decisions and activity details.
1:30 PM – 6:30 PM · Main Street / Route 66, Hebron town center, Hebron, CT
Organizer flyer · Original organizer promotional graphic for Downtown Boo Bash, October 24, 2026, 3–5 p.m. Credit: Mansfield Downtown Partnership / Downtown Storrs and Mansfield Parks & Recreation; designer not identified · Original source ↗
The organizer announces the 2026 Downtown Boo Bash for 3–5 p.m. Its signature-events page identifies the downtown trick-or-treat as free and open to the public, with children accompanied by an adult. Additional 2026 details are still forthcoming; the photos and thank-you lists on the event page are from an earlier edition.
Organizer flyer · Original organizer poster: Killingly’s 4th annual Spooktacular Lights & Sights, Saturday October 24, Main Street 4–6 p.m., light parade 6:15 p.m.; rain date October 25. Credit: Killingly Parks and Recreation; designer not identified · Original source ↗
Killingly Parks and Recreation and the Killingly Business Association present Main Street trick-or-treating and a Davis Park block party from 4–6 p.m., followed by the light parade at 6:15 p.m. The announcement lists music, face painting, a bonfire, food vendors and a community drumming circle. Parade participants must preregister; registration proceeds benefit Friends of Assisi Food Pantry. The event does not state a spectator admission price or parade end time. Main Street is scheduled to close around 3:45 p.m. and reopen after the parade. Rain date is October 25; follow the original organizer listing for weather changes and participant registration.
4:00 PM · Main Street and Davis Park, 250 Main Street, Danielson, CT; light parade starts at the former Killingly High School on Westfield Avenue
Costumed families can visit local businesses and organizations for treats, while supplies last, during the pedestrian-only event on Main Street. The scheduled rain date is October 25, 4–6 p.m.; it has not replaced the October 24 date. Registration through the organizer page is required for participating businesses/groups by October 20, not stated for ordinary visitors. Main Street parking restrictions begin at 2 p.m., with road closures 4–6 p.m. Public admission price is not stated.
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM · Main Street, Stafford Springs — pedestrian event between the downtown roundabout and Route 140, Stafford, CT
Organizer flyer · Original Eastern Concert Band promotional graphic for its America 250 concert on October24,2026. Credit: Eastern Connecticut State University Music Department; designer not identified · Original source ↗
Eastern Connecticut State University’s Concert Band joins America 250 celebrations with music by American composers. The university’s exact original event page confirms Saturday, October 24, 2026, 7:30–9 p.m. EDT, at the Fine Arts Instructional Center, 306 High Street. The Connecticut Office of Tourism identifies the public concert as free. Check the organizer for updates.
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM · Fine Arts Instructional Center Concert Hall, Eastern Connecticut State University, 306 High Street, Willimantic, CT 06226
The final Coventry Farmers’ Market of the 2026 outdoor season has the theme Restock Your Pantry. The organizer confirms its Sunday series and October 25 theme; the Town’s October 2026 bulletin confirms 10 a.m.–1 p.m., 2299 South Street, and that this is the season’s last market. This record is for October 25 only, not future November outdoor markets. Shop locally grown and made products; check the organizer for updates.
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM · Nathan Hale Homestead, 2299 South Street, Coventry, CT
Sonny’s Place hosts its second annual free Trunk or Treat on October 25, 2026, noon–4 p.m. Families can come in costume and collect treats from decorated vehicles. Anyone wishing to provide a trunk can use the organizer’s signup link. This free event is separate from Sonny’s paid Trick-or-Treat Trail and Haunted Mini Golf. Check the organizer for weather and participation updates.
Organizer flyer · Original organizer flyer for Mystic’s Halloween Parade & Trunk or Treat onOctober25,2026,1–3p.m. Credit: Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce and Mystic Fire Department; designer not identified · Original source ↗
Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce and Mystic Fire Department host a public family Halloween parade at 1 PM, followed by trunk-or-treat, crafts, mummy wrapping and snacks at the firehouse until 3 PM. Costumes welcome. Optional non-perishable food donations benefit United Way of Southeastern Connecticut. Route crosses the Groton–Stonington town boundary. Confirm organizer updates before attending.
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Starts outside Friar Tuck’s on Water Street, Mystic (Groton); crosses Mystic Drawbridge to Mystic Firehouse, 34 Broadway Avenue (Stonington)
Organizer flyer · Original organizer flyer: Monster Truck or Treat, Sunday October 25, 2–5 p.m., Connecticut Golf Land. Credit: Truck Toyz Unlimited / Connecticut Golf Land · Original source ↗
Connecticut Golf Land hosts an all-ages Halloween vehicle display and trunk-or-treat with Truck Toyz Unlimited and Off Road Fabrication. The organizer lists monster trucks, lifted trucks, Jeeps, cars, candy and costumes, and welcomes participants who decorate vehicles and hand out treats. Admission price and participant-registration requirements are not stated in the original public event; confirm details with the hosts before attending.
