Take It To Go: CT Events August 23 – 25

TGIF! Another week down and line-of-sight to a weekend jam-packed with events. Without further ado, let’s get at it!

It’s HERE, It’s HERE!
New London Pride

Ocean Beach Park, 98 Neptune Ave., New London
Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24 (Check schedule for specific times)

It’s New London Pride Weekend! Woohoo!

Get out and celebrate Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Ballroom with Aquaria, Asia, and Violet from “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

Guests (ages 21+) are invited to lip sync along with their favorite divas of drag and stay for the after party at Novelle, Mohegan’s newest hotspot, with celebrity DJ, Samantha Ronson. The show begins at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster or the Mohegan Sun Box Office. Pride at the Beach kicks off Saturday at Ocean Beach Park with an awesome ‘80s Jazzercise Party (like, sooo totally bitchin’) at noon. The rest of the afternoon features an array of great music (Sister Funk, Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus) and other events lasting through 7:00 p.m.

An after party follows dockside.

There’s also fun food and drink specials and the Boardwalk Creamery will be giving away free rainbow sprinkles on ice cream all day long.

Guests can get their hair and nails done at the Diva Center and are invited to put on wigs and costumes, too. For a complete list of events, times and all the other stuff you need to know, visit www.newlondonpride.com.

Full Of Hot Air
35^th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (Times vary, check the website)
Norton Park, 197 South Washington St., Plainville

Up, up, and away, my beautiful balloon (guess the band, no Googling that’s cheating) it’s the 35^th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival in Plainville.

This three-day event draws a bazillion people and for good reason, there’s music, craft and food vendors, food, fireworks, and, oh yeah, a bunch of hot-air balloons launching into the sky making for nifty eye candy.

Obviously, it’s weather-dependent and there’s no rain date, so check the Facebook page or Twitter for updates if you’re unsure.

A few things to know before you go: The event is free, but food, drink, and craft vendors aren’t. Parking is not allowed at Norton Park. Off-site parking is available at Robertson Airport (Johnson Ave.) and GE (Woodford Ave.) and there’s bus service available to and from parking areas to the festival. Also, leave your drones and pets at home (service animals are okay).

Fireworks are held Friday at 9:15 p.m. In the event of inclement weather they’ll be postponed to Saturday.

(The band is Fifth Dimension. You’re welcome.)

For more information visit http://plainvillefireco.com/hot-air-balloon-festival. For updates visit the Facebook page or Twitter.

War On The River
Sunset Screenings: Avengers: Infinity War
Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, 300 Columbus Blvd., Hartford
Friday, August 23, 8:00 p.m.

With the fate of earth and all existence hanging in the balance (not unlike the 2020 election), the Avengers face their latest super-villain challenge: Thanos, an evil warlord titan on a mission to collect all of the powerful Infinity Stones and rule the universe (again, familiar). The Avengers must be willing to sacrifice everything and go gluten-free in order to stop him.

Okay, maybe not the gluten-free thing.

Anyway, find out who wins Friday night at the sunset screening of the film at Riverfront Plaza. Bring a blanket, chair, whatever you need to get through a movie.

Admission is free. For more information: http://www.riverfront.org/events/sunsetscreenings.

A Rose By Any Other Name
61^st Annual Dahlia Show

Pond House, Elizabeth Park, 1561 Asylum Ave., West Hartford
Saturday, August 24, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Belonging to the Daisy family (who knew), Dahlias grow wild in Mexico and Guatemala, but you can see them in all their glory at Elizabeth Park this Saturday during the Annual Dahlia Show hosted by the Connecticut Dahlia Society.

Exhibitors from all of New England, New York, and New Jersey participate and the CT Dahlia Society has two display gardens for visitors to enjoy.

The event is open to the public and admission is free. Bring your camera for heaven’s sake.

For more information: www.ctdahlia.org

Into The Great Wide Open
Wadsworth Mansion Open Air Market & Festival

Wadsworth Mansion, 421 Wadsworth St., Middletown
Sunday, August 25, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The expansive grounds of the historic Wadsworth Mansion will host dozens of local vendors gathered to sell products either grown or made in Connecticut.

A variety of wares will be available including food, jewelry, pottery, clothes, books, pet products, baskets, and crafts.

Guests are invited to come for the day to shop, dine, and listen to music performed by the Middletown Symphonic Band (10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and the Michael Cleary Band (1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.).

There will also be carriage rides, face-painting, and docent-led historical tours throughout the day.

Parking is available at Wilbert Snow School, Mercy High School, and Vinal High School with the most convenient being Mercy High School.  A shuttle will run between Snow School and the Mansion, with a second shuttle running between Vinal and Mercy.

Mansion parking is reserved for handicap and families with strollers only.

For more information: http://www.wadsworthmansion.com/public-events/open-air-market/.

Ongoing Events & Social Meetings
Cosmic Golf
Mohegan Sun Golf Club, 7 Dows Ln., Baltic
Fridays in August, 7:00 p.m. to Midnight

Play a few rounds of golf while attempting to spot the Big Dipper at the Mohegan Sun Golf Club Friday nights in August.

Sure, golf isn’t exactly night sport, but that’s the point.

Players of all ages can swing on the lighted driving range or just play a few rounds of mini golf using glow-in-the-dark golf balls. Casual food and beverages are available for purchase and equipment is provided. You’re also welcome to bring your own.

Tickets are $10 per adult and can be purchased at the golf course. Kids 13 and younger are free.

For more information: https://mohegansungolfclub.com/cosmic-golf/

+obias & +isms in Art
The Great Room Gallery, New Haven Pride Center, 84 Orange St, New Haven
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., through August 30.

In +obias & +isms in Art, convening partners #BlackLivesMatter New Haven, Nasty Women Connecticut, and the New Haven Pride Center collaborate to present a multi-artist exhibition that explores the +obias and +isms that affect people of colour, women, and the LGBTQQIP2sAA community.

For more information: http://www.newhavenpridecenter.org/programming/exhibitions/obias-isms-in-art/

Coming Soon!
Hartford Pridefest 2019, Saturday, September 14, www.hartfordpride.org
PRIDE New Haven, September 16-22, www.newhavenpridecenter.org