Ever wondered what Christmas lights look like in flip-flop weather? Swing by Hay Burr Inn Equine Rescue on Fri 7/19 or Fri 7/26, 7:30-9:30 PM, and find out. Their half-mile woodland trail is draped in twinkly holiday glow while rescued horses and donkeys are ready to mix and mingle with you - total Hallmark vibes, minus the snow. Lace up closed-toe shoes (the path’s rustic), leave Fido home, and trade the price of a latte for a donation that keeps the hay coming.

No tickets, no fuss - just show up, drop a few bucks in the jar, and let the lights and livestock do the rest. Ready to snag a little “Christmas in July” magic and bankroll a barn full of second-chance equines?
Mark your calendar, share this email, and we’ll see you under the stars.

I almost didn’t put this one in here because I wanted to keep it to myself, but one of the most important points of this newsletter is to help turn hidden gems into gems every knows about. Windsong Farm (54 Tull Lane, Pomfret) is ripe for the picking…blueberries that is. Along with those little blurple orbs of deliciousness, they also have garden produce, herbs, spices, teas, crafts, and more that you’ll have to find out about by taking a drive to see them (ok, I’ll give you one more, they also have local honey). Their hours are Tues-Fri 8:30am-1pm and Sat-Sun 9am-5pm.

And wouldn’t you know it? They’re having a blueberry festival this Saturday 7/19 from 10am-4pm. Enjoy some live music from Bay Swing, shop from local artisans, and enjoy some blueberry deliciousness!

I couldn’t in my right mind pick one of these over the other, so here are two fantastic events for those of us who like to contribute to great causes while getting a run in.

SATURDAY 7/19

Ashford | 7th Annual Silas Bunnell Memorial 5K | 8:15am $ - Support the June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation (231 Ashford Center Rd) and honor the memory of Silas Bunnell with a 5K run through the 1,200-acre camp. Register

Dayville | 7th Annual Run For Ryan | 7am - Head to Owen Bell Park (19 Town Farm Rd) for the 7th Annual Run For Ryan Memorial 5K. Run, walk, sprint, doesn’t matter as long as you’re moving! Proceeds from the race go into the Ryan French Memorial Scholarship Fund. Email [email protected] with any questions.

Ever want to collect three New England passport stamps in a single stride? Just north of Thompson’s back roads, a 3.9-foot granite obelisk—nine feet long if you count what’s buried—pins down the exact spot where Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island shake hands. The survey crews finally called truce here in 1883, chiseling “MASS 1883,” “R.I. 1883,” and the modest “CONN” into its sides, so you can toast three states at once without leaving the clearing.

Getting there is half the brag: park off East Thompson Road, amble the old Air Line rail bed for about 0.6 miles, then follow a blue-blazed spur to the summit bump—an easy two-mile out-and-back that doubles as your history lesson. Snap the obligatory tri-state selfie, swat a mosquito or two, and you’ll be back in civilization before your coffee cools.

Canterbury | Kids Camp | 12:30pm $ - Let the little ones have an afternoon of fun at The Riley Farm Rescue (13 Barstow Rd). More info

Willimantic | Animal Homes | 6pm - Bring your nature loving kids to this interactive presentation and the many homes of the animal kingdom at Willimantic Public Library (905 Main St). Meet live animals and do a build-your-own-animal-home craft.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Riverside Park - Brooklyn | Branded | 5pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Daphne Parker Powell | 8-11pm

Woodstock | Pizza Party | 7:30pm - Looking to make some cyclist friends and enjoy a slice at the same time? The QVMultisport Club of Windham County is having a little get together after their weekly gravel ride at Woodstock Trading Post (688 Rt 169). If this sounds like something you’d want to jump into, shoot them a message.

TRIVIA

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

Danielson | Wildlife Program | 10am - Killingly Public Library (25 Westcott Rd) is putting on an educational and engaging wildlife program about Goodwin Forest wildlife for kids 6-12. Sign-up

Pomfret | Photo Walk | 6-7:30pm $ - Take a stroll through the CT Audubon Center (56 Ring St) and snag some amazing nature shots. Tix

Willimantic | 3rd Thursday | 6-9pm - Enjoy live music, food trucks, vendors (there will be some children entrepreneurs this time!), bounce houses, and more at the 3rd Thursday Street Fest on Main St. Make sure to say hi if you see me there!

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Davis Park - Danielson | 60’s Explosion | 6-8pm
⬢ Stomping Ground- Putnam | Straight Up Jazz Series | 5:30-7:30pm

TRIVIA

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

Dayville | Paint Night Fundraiser | 6pm $ - Create a beautiful summer wave masterpiece and help raise money for the Community Resource Fair at TEEG while sipping some suds at Black Pond Brewing (1001 Hartford Pike). Sign-up

Putnam | Taylor Swift Party | 7pm - Bear Hands Brewing Company (75 Main St) is shutting down their speakeasy lounge for a T-Swift fest until closing. Dress in your favorite era (tell a Swiftie, they’ll get it) and rock out until they kick you out.

Willimantic | Auditions | 7-9:30pm - The Windham Theater Guild (779 Main St) is holding auditions for Dial M for Murder, which will debut in Sept. You can check out character breakdowns here.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hillyland Vineyard - Scotland | Tino & Malone | 6-8pm
⬢ Hank’s - Brooklyn | Hold My Beer | 6:30pm
⬢ Black Dog - Putnam | Bruce Jacques | 8pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Oneal Armstrong | 8-11pm

TRIVIA

Taylor Brooke - Woodstock | 6:30pm

Dayville | Xmas in July | 11am-3pm - 4G’s Restaurant (305 Hartford Pike) is holding a craft & vendor fair. There will also be basket drawings if you want to try your luck. Email Gail at [email protected] if you have questions.

Dayville | Comedy Show | 8pm $ - Have a couple pints and hopefully a lot more laughs at a comedy show being held at Black Pond Brews (1001 Hartford Pike). Tix

Moosup | Ice Cream Hike | 6:30pm - Take a beautiful 1.6 mile hike at Pharisee Rock Trailhead (94 Cedar Swamp Rd) and enjoy some ice cream while enjoying a scenic panorama. Register

Putnam | Book Signing | 11am - Meet author David Decker and grab a copy of his book Kyra of the North at Wolperdinger Bookeneds (112 Main St).

Putnam | Star Trek Viewing Party | 7pm - Calling all local trekkies or trekkers (don’t know which is the right one, so going with both)! Chubby Dog Coffee (164 Main St) is holding a viewing party for the first episode of season 3 of Strange New Worlds. They are asking people to RSVP if they plan on coming.

Sterling | Wild Berry Picking | 9am $ - Forage wild berries (there will be someone guiding you) and hike with wild mustangs at Wild Ride (130 Old Cranston Rd). Tix

Woodstock | Cavaliers of Southern NE Picnic | 11am-3pm - This one if for Cavalier lovers and their pets. Cavaliers of Southern New England is having their ninth summer picnic at Roseland Park (205 Roseland Park Rd). Lunch is provided, pleases bring a side-dish or dessert to share.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Black Pond Brews - Dayville | Erick Ripperson/Seasmus McMullan | 3pm
⬢ Barn in Chaplin - Chaplin | Larney, Adam, Burnham, D-Errico | 7:30pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Orb Melon | 8-11pm
⬢ Taylor Brooke - Woodstock | Tony Garcia | 2-5pm

Danielson | Ice Cream Social | 2-4pm - Get out and socialize face to face, like the olden days, at Davis Park (250 Main St). Tasty treats, a bounce house, bubbles, and more.

Putnam | QV Multisport 100 | 7am - The QVMultisport Club of Windham County is doing one of their most traditional 100 mile rides throughout Windham County. You can check out the route here.

Thompson | Concert For the Church | 3pm $ - Help support Thompson Congregational Church and enjoy music by Atwater-Donnelly under the tent at Fort Hill Farms (260 Quaddick Rd).

Thompson | Ladies Drift Clinic | 10am-5pm $ - Thompson Motor Speedway (205 E Thompson Rd) is holding an all-ladies drift clinic for beginners. Contact DK Ladies League for more info.

Thompson | Cancer Awareness Motorcycle Run | 9am-6pm - The Defenders of Charity are hosting a motorcycle run at the American Legion #67 (17 Thompson Hill Rd). Registration starts at 9am, followed by a ride, then food, raffles and music back at the Legion.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | The Attractor | 1-4pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Open Mic | 7-11:30pm
⬢ Taylor Brooke - Woodstock | Sean Magwire | 2-5pm
⬢ 4G’s Restaurant - Dayville | Bryan Titus | 2-5pm

Eastford | Sports Camp | 8:30am-12:15pm $ - Kids ages 4-12 are encouraged to sign up for a sports camp at Eastford Elementary School (12 Westford Rd) that goes from Mon-Fri. Sign-up

Willimantic | Cruise Night | 5-7:30pm - Check out some vintage vehicles at the Lenny Incandella Memorial Cruise Night at the Willimantic Elks (198 Pleasant St)

LIVE MUSIC

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