Image Credit: Town of Glastonbury; Town of Old Saybrook
Is there anything that says “Connecticut summer” than outdoor concerts on the town green? Growing up, I looked forward to dancing along to the music with my friends all year.
As a parent, I now realize just how kid friendly they are – all you have to do is pack a picnic, and kids can dance and sing (and eat!) to their hearts content. It’s the perfect place for them to enjoy music and just being kids!
Summer 2024 brings many more concerts, which is VERY exciting for this Mom! Many of them are free!
Wondering where to find concerts near you? We’ve rounded up a whole bunch! As always- don’t forget to check back for more options all summer long. We’ll keep updating the list as we learn more!
Middlesex and New London Counties:
- Wednesdays in July: Music at the Mansion at Wadsworth Mansion: Each Wednesday in July sit back on the Mansion’s back lawn and enjoy live entertainment. Free!
- 7/1; 7/8; 7/15: Mystic Summer Concert series: The Noank-Mystic Community Band will host the 26th annual Summer Sounds concert series in Mystic River Park at 7PM. Admission is free. Bring lawn chairs/blankets and enjoy the music in this beautiful park next to the Mystic Drawbridge!
- Thursdays 6/20-8/15: Summer Soundwaves Concert Series at Esker Point Beach: These concerts feature a local community music group each week. Admission is free for all concerts; bring lawn chairs/blankets. Picnics are welcome! No alcohol or pets please. Parking is available for $5.00 per motorcycle or $10.00 per car as supply lasts. Food trucks will be onsite.
- TBD: Portland Summer Concert Series: This free small town summer concert series takes place at Riverfront Park along the Connecticut river.
- Various Wednesdays, June 26-August: Cromwell Summer Concert Series: Pack a picnic, grab a lawn chair, and enjoy the show!
- TBD: Colchester Summer Concert Series: Join the Colchester community and enjoy a wonderful “Concert in Park.” Bring your chair, blanket and a friend!
- 6 Weeks on Wednesdays and Fridays July 7-August 13: Rock the Docks Summer Concert series Norwich: Our series dates are every Friday Night Acoustics (starting July 7) from 6:-00 pm -8:00 pm at Norwichtown Green and every Wednesday Night at Howard Brown Park from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm (starting July 12) for 6 Weeks! Enjoy this free family friendly event!
- Various Wednesdays and Fridays, June 19- August 21: Old Saybrook Summer Concert Series: This Summer we will have live music on the Town Green on Wednesdays night starting at 6:30pm and then on 5 Friday nights starting at 7:00pm. Bring a blanket and some chairs, pack a picnic and enjoy a great night of live music.
- Alternating Tuesdays/Wednesdays June 21- August 18: Essex Summer Concert Series: Essex Park and Rec is excited to bring back it’s Summer Concert Series this summer to our Main Street Park and Ivortyon Village Green. Grab your friends and come on down to enjoy the many bands we have to offer. We hope to see you all there!
- July 5, 11, 18, 26: Summer Concert Series at the Florence Griswold Museum: Pack a picnic, bring your friends, and come out to the Museum for a little mid-week music! Enjoy food, friends, tunes, and a beautiful summer sunset over the Lieutenant River – and it’s all free to you, as a gift to our friends and neighbors.
- Fridays in July- August: Summer Music Series at Stonington Vineyards, Stonington Meet your friends on a Friday night to enjoy live music. Tickets are $10.
- Pretty much every day all summer: Ocean Beach Park Concerts
Hartford County:
- July 10, 17, 24; September 4: Glastonbury Riverfront Music Series: This year, four free concerts (co-presented by The Town of Glastonbury & The CT River Valley Chamber of Commerce) are scheduled. The concert will be held at the Welles Street Riverfront Park on the lawn behind the Riverfront Community Center in Glastonbury, CT from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm! Free parking and shuttle service will be available at 180 & 200 Glastonbury Boulevard, which is adjacent to Somerset Square.
- Thursdays June 10- Aug 8 Sounds of Summer at East Hartford’s Great River Park: Enjoy live music with a beautiful view at Sounds of Summer, a family-friendly concert series presented by Mayor Michael Walsh and the Town of East Hartford. Pack a picnic dinner and bring the whole family.
- Tuesdays in July: THE KEENEY KOOLERS CONCERT SERIES in Old Wethersfield: The Keeney Koolers Concert Series are hosted by the Wethersfield Historical Society on three consecutive Tuesdays in July. Performances take place at 6:30 pm on the front lawn of the Keeney Memorial Cultural Center (200 Main Street). Bring a blanket or lawn chairs, a picnic supper, and your dancing shoes. In the event of inclement weather, concerts will move indoors to the ballroom on the second floor of the Keeney Center. Join us before the concerts for even more fun for the little ones. From 5:30pm to 6:30pm Wethersfield Historical Society will be hosting select children’s crafts. Crafts can either be completed on-site or kits can be taken home in a prepared bag.
- Thursdays, July-August: Windsor Summer Concert Series: Come out for Summer Concerts on the Windsor Town Green on Thursday evenings from 6:30 – 8:30 PM from July 6 through August 24, 2023. Rain dates are always the following Tuesday. Organized by First Town Downtown.
- Thursdays, June 27- Aug 15: South Windsor Concert Series: Enjoy outdoor concerts every Thursday. All concerts will once again be held in Evergreen Walk Park (at the Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk) and NO pre-registration is required! All concerts are from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM each Thursday, with a rain date of the following Tuesday.
- July 19-July 21: Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz: Jazz Festival in Bushnell Park, featuring both music and food.
Fairfield and Litchfield Counties:
- Tuesdays June 25- Aug 27L : Trumbull Summer Concert Series: The Town of Trumbull’s Summer Concert Series is presented by the Mallett Trust. Concerts occur Tuesday from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM during the summer at the Town Hall Green and Gazebo. Free entry.
- Tuesdays, June 25 through Sept. 3 Stratford Summer Concert Series: The concerts are performed at the Paradise Green Gazebo on Tuesdays through Aug. 29.
- Various Days June 27-Aug 18: Summer Jam Concert Series: The Claris Construction Inc. Summer Jam Concert Series offers 7 weeks of toe-tapping children’s entertainment. A program of Newtown Parks and Recreation.
- Various Dates all throughout the Summer: Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts, Westport: The Levitt Pavilion produces one of the largest and longest-running free outdoor festivals in the nation! Over the course of more than four decades, our Summer Season featuring our signature “50 Free Nights under the Stars” has entertained over 1.5 Million guests
- Various Dates throughout the Summer: Greenwich Summer Concert Series:A wide range of fun family entertainment all summer long.
- Various Dates all Summer: City of Torrington
Tolland and Windham County:
- Sundays June-October: Coventry Farmers Market: Live music at the Coventry Farmers Market.
- Thursdays in June and July: Storrs: Summer Concerts on the Square take place every Thursday in June and July from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Free and open to everyone!
- Third Thursdays all summer: Willimantic: Willimantic Street Fest and Third Thursdays : Stop by to enjoy this monthly music festival for families of all ages!
- Thursday evenings in August: Vernon Summer Concert Series: The 2024 Summer Concert schedule will consist FREE outdoor concerts – with free parking (Thursday evenings). The concerts will take place at Henry Park on Frank McCoy Field starting at 6:30pm.
New Haven County
Many Concerts Listed on Visit New Haven:
- 5/24-6/28 Fridays, 6 p.m. Fridays After Five 2024, Milford
- Fridays in July: Hamden Summer Concert Series: Fridays in July: 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th at Town Center Park. Music Starts at 7:30.
- 5/28-9/3 Tuesdays, 7 p.m. North Haven Music Under the Stars Concerts
- 6/2, 7/7, 8/4, and 9/1 (first Sunday of each month), 9:30-11 a.m. Acoustic Sunday Mornings (West Haven)
- 6/6, 6/22, 7/11, 8/1, 8/15, and 8/29 5-10 p.m. Twilight Concert Series at Meriden Green
- 6/21, 6/28, 7/19, 8/9, & 8/17 7-9 p.m. West Haven Summer Concert Series (8/17 performances begin at 5 p.m.)
- 6/27-8/29 (no performance 7/4) Thursday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Branford Jazz on the Green
- 7/2-7/30 Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m. Woodbridge Summer Concert Series
- 7/4-8/3 Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. East Haven Summer Beach Concert Series
- 7/7-8/25 Sundays, 6-8 p.m. Madison Summer Concert Series
- 7/12-26 Fridays, 7-9 p.m. Hamden Summer Concert Series
- 7/28-9/1 Sundays, 4-7 p.m. Annual Walnut Beach Association Free Summer Concert Series
- 7/28-8/25 Fridays, 6:30-8 p.m. Concerts on the Guilford Green
- Various Dates: Link: Seymour Summer Concert Series:
