Summer’s clock is ticking - so grab a cone and make it count. I’ll be taste-testing a few Windham County hot spots this week - purely for research, of course. Hit your favorite local scoop shop with the kids, your better half, or that frenemy who “doesn’t do dairy” (they’ll cave).

We-Li-Kit Ice Cream | 728 Hampton Rd, Pomfret Center, CT 06259 | Farmstead scoops, fresh waffle cones, and pure Quiet Corner vibes. Go classic, then go back for the seasonal pick.

Riverview Ice Cream & Mini Golf | 147 Kennedy Dr, Putnam, CT 06260 | Homemade ice cream + an 18-hole mini golf detour. Bribe the kids with sprinkles, then play for bragging rights.

Deary Bros. Mike’s Stand | 12 Intervale St, Putnam, CT 06260 | Old-school stand since 1937—burgers, seafood baskets, and heaping sundaes. Summer tastes like this place.

Fort Hill Farms – The Creamery | 260 Quaddick Rd, Thompson, CT 06277 | Scoop, wander lavender, snap the corn-maze selfie. Pastoral snack stop unlocked.

Woodstock Creamery at Valleyside Farm | 210 Child Hill Rd, Woodstock, CT 06281 | Working dairy farm with seriously fresh dairy treats. Quick farm stop that turns into an afternoon.

Main St Gelato | 372 Riverside Dr, North Grosvenordale (Thompson), CT 06255 | Small-batch gelato and premium ice cream—fun flavors, clean finish. Date-night scoop spot.

Buck’s Soft Serve | 88 Kenyonville Rd, Woodstock Valley, CT 06282 | 50+ hand-blended soft-serve flavors and the famous Nor’Easter. Bring napkins and ambition.

Ra Ra’s Ice Cream Shop | 580 Hartford Pike, Dayville (Killingly), CT 06241 | Hard and soft-serve with creative sundaes—park, play, then cone. Simple summer win.

Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm – Farm Fresh Ice Cream | 227 Ekonk Hill Rd, Moosup, CT 06354 | Hilltop farm, homemade waffle cones, rotating flavors. Grab a scoop, meet the animals, exhale.

Our Kids Farm | 357 Barstow Rd, Canterbury, CT 06331 | Local goat-farm charm with an ice-cream window on event days. Waffle-cone energy, kid-approved.

Think we missed a must-lick spot? Hit reply to let me know, we’re compiling the master list and spinning up a dedicated page on the site.

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8/28 - 9/1| The Woodstock Fair Returns | Hours Vary

The largest agricultural fair in Connecticut makes its triumphant return this week for its 164th time (holy crap!), starting on Thursday 8/28 at the Woodstock Fairgrounds (281 CT-169). If you want a full rundown of what’s going on at the fair, you can check out their website. Enjoy a bloomin onion for me!

A nod to last week’s word scramble: Quinebaug River Valley = big green lungs of CT. It anchors The Last Green Valley, a national heritage corridor spanning ~1,100 sq mi across 35 towns, with about 84% of that still forests and farms. “Green by day, dark by night” isn’t just a slogan—the skies here really stay dark in the Boston-to-D.C. corridor.

The river itself runs about 69 miles from Holland/East Brimfield Lake in Massachusetts, sliding through eastern Connecticut before joining the Shetucket near Lisbon/Preston on its way to the Thames. The name “Quinebaug” comes from an Algonquian phrase for “long pond.” Old mills, small falls, classic New England.

It’s built for paddlers, too. Several segments are designated National Recreation Trails, offering ~45 miles of water trail (not all contiguous thanks to historic dams). Flood control is serious here: after the 1955 floods, the U.S. Army Corps added projects like West Thompson Dam - about 2,550 ft long and 70 ft high—to keep towns downstream safe.

Putnam | Board & Brush | 6-8pm $ - It’s not too late to RSVP for this evening of crafts (and most likely drinking - BYOB) at Smoke and Mirrors (171 Providence St). $55 Tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Pete Vendettuoli | 7-10pm

Danielson | The Crowded Table | 12:30-2:30pm - The ladies of The Crowded Table (you can check them out on Facebook) are holding a gathering at The Wholistic Collective (136 Main St). If you’re a woman looking to connect with other women in meaningful ways, it’s worth checking out.

Dayville | Pints & Pours | 6pm $ - Grab a spot at Black Pond Brews (1001 Hartford Pike) to learn how to make scented soy candles of your own. Tix

Putnam | Book Club | 5pm - While it’s probably too late to participate in this month’s book club at Wolperdinger Bookends (112 Main St), I can at least help bring attention to the fact that they have one. In case you’re interested, this month’s book is Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab - a book about toxic lesbian vampires. Do with that what you will.

Willimantic | Latin Dance Classes | 6pm $ - If you want to learn some popular dance styles, here is your chance for a six-week course at The River Room (50 Riverside Dr). You’ll be doing the salsa in no time! Sign Up

Willimantic | Tavern Night | 5pm $ - Hear all the hot gossip about Henry VIII, when you hear from his ex-wives at the very popular (and fun) Tavern Night with the Windham Historical Society (627 Main St). Enjoy food and drink of the time as well. Tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Plainfield Lions Park - Plainfield | Wooden Horse | 6pm

TRIVIA

Stomping Ground - Putnam | 7pm
Putnam Lions - Putnam | 7pm
Bear Hands Brewing - Putnam | 6pm
Mill Town Grill - Thompson | 6:30pm
Hank’s - Brooklyn | 6:30pm

Ashford | Car Cruise | 5-8pm - The Ashford Volunteer Fire Dept (46 Westford Rd) is holding its monthly car night. Food & music, 50/50 raffle, touch-a-truck, and the popular Kona Ice truck will be there. Weather permitting

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Straight Up Jazz Series | 5:30-7:30pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Simon Silvia | 8-11pm
⬢ Music Lady Cafe - Central Village | Karaoke | 7:30pm

TRIVIA

Trolley Pub - Willimantic | 7:30pm
Midway Restaurant - Ashford | 7pm

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ East Killingly VFW - Dayville | Red, White, And Booze | 6pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | The Berger Boys | 8-11pm

TRIVIA

Taylor Brooke - Woodstock | 6:30pm

Eastford | Laborween Weekend | 1pm - This one is for all you Peppertree Campground (146 Chaplin Rd) folk. The campground is holding site to site tick or treating, Bingo, a chili cook-off, ceramics and more.

Plainfield | Volunteering | 9am-12pm - Know someone looking for community service hours, or just want to give back? Hay Burr Inn Equine Rescue (169 Black Hill Rd) is looking for help! Sign up

Pomfret | DIY Resin Seashell Picture Frame | 11am-1pm $ - The Pomfret Senior Center (207 Mashamoquet Rd) is holding a step-by-step workshop on creating a uniquely you picture frame using seashells and resin. Register

Scotland | Hillyland’s Homegrown Festival | 12-6pm - Grab a glass of wine and shop from local vendors at The Vineyard at Hillyland (75 Murphy Hill Rd). Live music, food trucks, and most importantly, Hillyland’s famous slushies. Rain date of 8/31

Thompson | American Legion Flea Market | 8am-4pm - Check out some treasures you didn’t know you needed (my wife will disagree with me wholeheartedly on that) at a flea market at the American Legion (17 Thompson Hill Rd). Raffle baskets, 50/50 raffle, a bounce house, face painting, and of course, food & drink available for purchase.

Willimantic | Bokani Dyer | 8pm $ - Expand your musical horizons with an evening with The Bokani Dyer Group at The River Room (50 Riverside Dr). This South African phenom melds jazz and African traditions, giving a truly unique musical experience. Tix

Willimantic | Farmers Market | 8am-12pm - Gardens are in full bloom, and that means tons of produce at the Willimantic Farmers Market (28 Bridge St).

Willimantic | Railroad Day | 10am-3pm $ - Bring the train-lover in your life to the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum (55 Bridge St) to take a tour of the locomotives, buildings, and railcars. A ride on a train is included with admission. Kids under 8 get in free.

Woodstock | Charcuterie Bar | 12-5pm $ - Build-your-own-charcuterie-platter is back at Taylor Brooke Winery (818 Rte 171). Make the perfect plate to enjoy with your wine.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hank’s - Brooklyn | Austin Neal | 7:30-9:30pm
⬢ Triple Raven Brewing - Thompson | Fox and the Dragon | 3-6pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | The New Limits | 8-11pm
⬢ Taylor Brooke - Woodstock | Tex & Yo | 2-5pm
⬢ Broken Crust - Putnam | Becky Prior | 5:30-7:30pm

Pomfret | Sunflowers For Kids | 10am-2pm $ - Pick some of the beautiful sunflowers at Lapsley Orchard (403 Orchard Hill Rd) and help support the amazing United Services Children and Family Programs. Get beautiful flowers and help people in need. Sounds like a win-win to me.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Black Dog - Putnam | Drunken Uncles | 4-7pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | The Attractor | 1-4pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Open Mic | 7-11:30pm
⬢ Taylor Brooke - Woodstock | Sister Funk Trio | 2-5pm

Woodstock | Pick-Your-Own Sunflowers | 11am-4pm $ - Celebrate Labor Day with some manual labor! Pick your perfect bouquet of sunflowers at Westview Farm (209 Prospect St). Bring your scissors, but leave the pets at home.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Music Lady Cafe - Central Village | Brandt Taylor | 5:30pm