Good morning, Quiet Corner Swarm!
It's Tuesday, September 29th, National Coffee Day, which, if we're being honest, is just Tuesday with a marketing team. But look, spooky season is officially upon us, the mornings have that little bite to them now, and nobody is out-running a corn maze on decaf. So go get the large. You earned it just by existing in late September.
Lots going on this week in the Quiet Corner so let’s dive in!
-Tyler DiGiovanni
WALKTOBER IS IN OUR BACKYARD
If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to get outside, here’s a 60-page one. The Last Green Valley’s Walktober runs through November 8, with hikes, history walks, paddles and a few good oddballs across the Quiet Corner.
Start Saturday, October 3 with a walk through Old Furnace State Park in Danielson. On Sunday, explore an old cemetery in Plainfield or hike Nightingale Forest in Pomfret. Later, follow Willimantic’s hidden river (October 6), hear the tale of Chaplin’s ghost train (October 9), or explore Hop River Preserve in Columbia (October 10).
Want to go at your own pace? The guide also has self-guided walks around historic Windham Center. Pick one, grab a friend, and check the details before you head out.
YOUR FEEDBACK
I spend a lot of time hunting down the good stuff around here, but you’re the one opening this every Tuesday. Give us one click and tell us what would make Buzz more useful to you.
Help us make Buzz better. If we could put more time into one thing, what would be most valuable to you?
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
HELP US TELL MORE CT STORIES
Know your way around Instagram and always spot the Connecticut story everyone else missed? We’re looking for someone local to help find ideas and make Reels and posts for @connecticut_buzz. It’s flexible, part-time paid work with a small weekly commitment to start.
If that sounds like you, shoot me an email [email protected], with your town, and a couple of posts or videos you’ve made. We care more about your eye for a good story than a fancy résumé.
BUZZ GAMES🤔
Our first month of Buzz Games is coming down to the wire: LMDIWW (Hartford) leads with 1,037 points, followed by YIKES (Columbia) at 985 and KOR2026 (Farmington) at 962. Fresh BuzzEye and Buzzword puzzles just dropped, so jump in and play before September’s crown is decided.
FEATURED EVENT: BLOCKTOBERFEST
Sponsored by WRI
If you’re looking for an excuse to get outside this weekend, here it is. BlockToberFest takes over Riverside Drive in Willimantic on Saturday, October 3, from 1–5 PM. The event brought to you by Willimantic Renaissance Inc. is bringing local makers, small businesses, food, music, shopping, and fall activities. It’s free and family-friendly, so bring the kids, meet up with friends, or just come hungry and see what catches your eye. The Willimantic Downtown Neighborhood Association is putting it together. If Saturday gets rained out, they’ll do it all on Sunday, October 4.
THE BUZZ JOB BOARD
WHO’S HIRING IN THE QUIET CORNER? Local roles worth knowing about this week:
Warehouse Associate | Uline | Plainfield — Pick and pack orders to provide same-day shipping. View the opening & apply →
Custodian | Uline | Plainfield — Keep facilities clean and organized. View the opening & apply →
Assistant Building Official | Town of Mansfield | Mansfield — Help oversee building, housing, and code enforcement and support department operations.. View the opening & apply →
Volunteer | Hockanum Valley Community Council | Vernon — Help with administrative tasks for Dial-a-Ride or the food pantry. View openings & apply →
Hiring or Job Hunting? Email us
BUZZWORTHY ACTIVITY: HORIZON WINGS TURNS 25
If you’ve ever wanted to see an eagle up close, here’s your chance. Horizon Wings celebrates 25 years on Saturday, October 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 9 Sand Hill Road in Ashford. Tour aviaries housing 14 raptors, catch the falconry demo at 11:30, and bring the kids for crafts, reptiles, opossums and owl-pellet dissection. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for kids and seniors; under 3 free. Proceeds care for the birds. See the event flyer.
LOCAL BUSINESS? LET’S TALK.
We’re opening a few partnership spots for businesses that want to reach engaged locals in the Quiet Corner. If you think your business or know one that would be a good fit for Buzz readers, get in touch with what you do and where you’re based. We’d love to hear from you.
BUZZ & TELL
🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Tortellini, a chatty, snuggly 3-month-old shepherd/husky mix looking for an active family to call her own.
🏡House of the week: This lakeside Colonial packs post-and-beam charm, a fieldstone fireplace, and lake views into 1,034 sq ft. With 2 beds, 1 bath, a private dock, and a waterfront deck, it’s a pretty good excuse to buy another kayak. Check it out!
🔭Sky report: Last week’s Harvest Moon shrinks to a half-moon by Saturday, leaving the early evenings darker. Saturn gets the spotlight Sunday, October 4, shining all night as it reaches its brightest stretch of the year. Up before sunrise Monday? Look for the crescent Moon beside Mars, with Jupiter nearby.
BEE LINE EVENTS
TUESDAY (9/29)
Brooklyn | Cousins Maine Lobster Pop-Up | 11 AM - The lobster roll truck parks at Hart's Greenhouse for lunch. Crack!
Putnam | Lexi Weege | 7 PM - Singer-songwriter night at The Stomping Ground. Listen!
Storrs | Witch's Broom Workshop | 6 PM $ - Craft your own besom at Hops 44, just in time for spooky season. Sweep
WEDNESDAY (9/30)
Killingly | The Beatles: A Multimedia Journey | 5:30 PM - Liverpool's unofficial CT ambassador shares rare Fab Four visuals and recordings at Killingly Public Library. Twist!
Storrs | Pottery Paint Night | 6 PM $ - Firestone Pottery pops up at Hops 44 for paint-and-sip. Paint!
Thompson | TRG Cruise Night | 4 PM - Classic cars and hot rods roll in on Brandy Hill Road. Cruise!
Willimantic | Bundling, Brides & Babies | 5:30 PM - 18th-century courtship and wedding customs, uncensored, at the Jillson House Museum. Learn!
THURSDAY (10/1)
Bolton | DIY Sprayed Book Edge Workshop | 5 PM $ - Give your favorite paperback custom painted edges. Create!
Coventry | Trivia Night | 6:30 PM - Team trivia with a glass of wine at Cassidy Hill Vineyard. Play!
Dayville | Destination Trivia | Evening - Weekly brainteasers over house brews at Black Pond Brews. Play!
Putnam | Straight Up Jazz | 5:30 PM - Thursday night jazz at The Stomping Ground. Swing!
FRIDAY (10/2)
Ashford | Crooke's Night Pick | 6:30 PM - After-dark picking at Crooke Orchards. Pick!
Coventry | Nightmare on Main | 7 PM $ - Volunteer-run haunted history tours leave every 20 minutes ($18 cash). Shiver!
Hebron | The Syndicate | 8:45 PM - A Friday night band at the Green Leaf. Rock!
Pomfret | Revolutionary Pomfret Kickoff & Tavern Concert | 5:30 PM - Beef stew, cornbread and ale with the reenactors at Vanilla Bean Café, then 18th-century tavern tunes at 7. Huzzah!
Somers | Brookfield Rhythm | 6:30 PM - A live dance band in the main hall at Joanna's. Dance!
Stafford | Beginner Argentine Tango Lesson | 8 PM - Learn the basics on Main Street in Stafford Springs. Tango!
Vernon | Aquanett | 8:30 PM - The '80s hair-metal tribute takes the Rocking Horse stage. Tease!
Willimantic | Flamingo Big Band | 7 PM - A Friday night show on Valley Street. Listen!
Willimantic | Lou Frink Folk Art Reception | 6 PM - Opening night for Windham's self-taught "primitive" painter at the Jillson House Museum. Browse!
Woodstock | Magic of Motown | 7:30 PM $ - A Motown tribute night at the Loos Center. Groove!
SATURDAY (10/3)
Brooklyn | When Radical Feminists Descended Upon Brooklyn | 2 PM - The 1871 story of the first female Unitarian minister, told in the 1771 Meeting House. Listen!
Coventry | Nightmare on Main | 7 PM $ - Night two of the history-based haunt. Shiver!
Danielson | The Unbegotten Book Launch | 3:30–5:30 PM – Meet local author Sarah P. Blanchard at Pourings & Passages.
Danielson | Small Town Music Fest 2026 | 11 AM - A day of local bands on Main Street. Rock!
Dayville | Killingly FFA Corn Maze | 10 AM - Get lost in the FFA's maze at Killingly Intermediate School. Wander!
Ellington | America 250 Celebration | 1–6 PM – Head to the Town Green for food trucks, local music, history displays and a scavenger hunt for the kids. The big Main Street parade steps off at 2 PM. Festive
Ellington | Apple Festival | 9 AM - An apple-themed day at the Ellington Farmers Market. Crunch!
Hampton | Lantern-Making Workshop | 1 PM - Craft a lantern at the Forest House. Glow!
Moosup | Fall Arts & Crafts Vendor Fair | 9 AM - Local makers plus Union Street Bakehouse treats at Moosup Rotary Park. Shop!
Pomfret | Revolutionary Pomfret Reenactment | 10 AM-5 PM - Musters, battle reenactments, cannon demos, folk music and live sheep at Rec Park. Charge!
Putnam | Still Young | 8 PM - A live band at The Stomping Ground. Rock!
Somers | Union Jack | 6:30 PM - British Invasion rock takes over Joanna's main hall. Invade!
Sterling | Paranormal Evening with Andy Andrews | 6 PM - An evening of ghost stories and paranormal investigation. Boo!
Thompson | Dylan Leszek | 6 PM - Acoustic classic rock at Raceway Restaurant. Strum!
Tolland | Harvest Festival & Scarecrow Contest | 12-4 PM - The annual fall fest on the Green, with an America 250 theme this year. Go!
Vernon | Civil War Living History Day | 9 AM-3 PM - Reenactors set up camp in Rockville with the New England Civil War Museum. March!
Woodstock | Sean Magwire | 2 PM - A John Lennon Songwriting Contest–winning folk singer at Taylor Brooke Brewery. Listen!
SUNDAY (10/4)
Ashford | Harvest Festival at the Ashford Farmers Market | 10 AM - Market day with a harvest twist. Harvest!
Ashford | TLGV Family Fun Day | 11 AM-3 PM - Free camp games, food trucks and nature fun at Church Farm. Play!
Mansfield | Mansfield Hollow Dam Tour | 11 AM - An Army Corps ranger takes you inside the dam. Descend!
Pomfret | Lapsley Orchard Hayrides | 12-4 PM - Free horse-drawn hayrides through the orchard. Ride!
Pomfret | Revolutionary Pomfret Reenactment | 10 AM-4 PM - Cannon fire, Irish music from Turas and fiddle tunes, closing with a 4 PM wreath-laying parade led by the Kentish Guards. Charge!
Stafford | Mosaic Pumpkin Workshop | 2 PM $ - Build a mosaic pumpkin to take home. Create!
Tolland | Tolland Green Market | 10 AM - Sunday market on the Green. Shop!
Woodstock | Fox and the Dragon | 2 PM - A husband-and-wife duo with haunting harmonies at Taylor Brooke Brewery. Listen!
Woodstock | Fall into Books | 12–5 PM – Browse books with Sarah at Taylor Brooke Winery (818 Route 171), hear about The Unbegotten. Enjoy
MONDAY (10/5)
Windham | Self-Guided Historic Tour Maps | Anytime - Explore Windham Center’s old homes, cemeteries, landmarks, and Revolutionary War routes with free self-guided tour maps. Grab them here
That’s it for this week’s Quiet Corner Buzz. If you got something out of it, please share it with someone who loves the outdoors.
See ya next week,
Tyler
