Your spring social calendar starts here! Discover the Shoreline’s best events, music, markets, brunches, and seasonal fun.

IN THE THEATERS:

Yesterday and Today on 4/17/26 at Garde Arts Center, New London: Beatles fans, this is your show. This interactive performance puts the audience in charge as fan-chosen songs, personal stories, and unforgettable energy create a one-of-a-kind Beatles experience every night. $29+

Jesus Christ Superstar from 4/17/26 – 6/7/26 at The Goodspeed, East Haddam: A legendary musical returns with electrifying rock score, iconic songs, and a bold story of devotion and doubt that has captivated audiences for over 50 years. $35+

Nunsense from 4/23/26 – 5/17/26 at the Legacy Theatre, Branford: Habit-forming hilarity! This is anaward-winning musical comedy packed with wacky fun, outrageous laughs, and nonstop entertainment. A wildly funny night out you won’t want to miss. $36.75+

The Deer and the Antelope Play from 4/24/26 – 5/3/26 at Drama Works Theatre, Old Saybrook: Heartfelt, funny, and deeply human, this is a moving comedy about family, friendship, forgiveness, and finding joy through life’s unexpected turns. $27

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill from 5/7/26 – 5/21/26 at the Ivoryton Playhouse, Ivoryton: Step into 1959 and experience a Tony Award-winning play with Billie Holiday’s iconic songs, heartbreak, and soul, an unforgettable theatrical journey through one of jazz’s final legends. $25+

The Wedding Singer from 5/15/26 – 5/17/2026 at The Kate, Old Saybrook: Say yes to this feel-good night out! Featuring an all-abilities Shoreline cast in a joyful, high-energy musical packed with ’80s fun, big laughs, and heartwarming romance. Produced by Vista Life Innovations. $44

Todd Ellison & Friends on 5/31/26 at The Kate, Old Saybrook: Broadway comes home to Essex! Join Todd Ellison, Ross Lekites, Shannon Rugani, and special guests for a star-filled celebration of Broadway favorites benefiting Community Music School and Essex Veterans Memorial Hall. Produced by Community Music School. $106+

MUSEUM GALAS

Spring Soiree on 5/16/26 at the Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme: Welcome this long awaited season! The Lyme Art Association’s Spring Soirée features live jazz, delicious cuisine, artful auction prizes, and a joyful evening supporting one of the nation’s oldest arts organizations. $85

RiverFare 2026 on 5/28/26 at Connecticut River Museum, Essex: Raise a glass at RiverFare 2026. Savor delicious bites, cocktails, local tastings, live jazz, and auction excitement on the Connecticut River Museum lawn, all supporting exhibits, education, and preservation. $85+

Re/Framed Gala on 5/30/26 at Lyman Allyn Art Museum, New London: Celebrate art after dark! This spring gala transforms the Museum into a vibrant night of cocktails, small plates, music, and bidding, where history meets fresh creativity and contemporary inspiration. Tickets go on sale soon!

Annual Garden Luncheon on 6/12/26 at the Flo Gris, Old Lyme: Honor the season with at a Garden Luncheon featuring flowers, delicious food, fancy hats, and a special garden lecture, all supporting the stewardship of historic gardens and riverside grounds. Tickets go on sale soon.

ON THE FARMS

Spring Music Series at Stonington Vineyards in Stonington, every Saturday through 5/2. Unwind vineyard-style. Stonington Vineyards’ Spring Music Series features live music, scenic views, and your favorite wine in a cozy setting made for relaxing weekend vibes.

Guilford Farmers Market opens 5/14/26 at the Guilford Fairgrounds, Guilford. Peruse fresh, local produce, farm products, specialty foods, and a welcoming community atmosphere. Best of all, everything at their market is grown, produced, and crafted right here in Connecticut.

Little Red Barn opens 5/22/26 at Bishop’s Orchards, Guilford: Bishop’s Little Red Barn will soon be back for the season! Get ready for trivia on Thursdays, live music Fridays and Saturdays, plus food, drinks, and fun all season long.

Arranging Peonies Workshop on 5/26/26 at Best Buds Flower Farm, Lyme: Peony lovers, this one’s for you. Join Joanie in the flower field for blooms, harvesting tips, vase arranging, complimentary wine or seltzer, and a sweet homemade treat. $75

Pictured Above: Sunset Pond in Essex during Daffodil Days, 3/21 – 4/21: Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate springtime and see the 45,000+ daffodils planted from Ivoryton to Centerbrook to Essex! Plus specials and discounts.

MUSIC TO YOUR EARS

Musical Masterworks Season 35 Finale on 4/25/26 and 4/26/26 at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme: Hear rising star Julia Schilz, 2025 Klein Competition winner, join an all-star ensemble for Still, Price, and Dvořák in a thrilling Musical Masterworks program of brilliance and beauty. $45

Eastern CT Symphony Orchestra Sounds of America on 4/25/26 at Garde Arts Center, New London: Mark the ECSO season finale with a stirring all-American program featuring West Side Story favorites, choral masterworks, and Copland’s majestic Symphony No. 3. A powerful, uplifting musical send-off. $66+

SECCO Americana 250 on 5/17/26 at East Lyme High School, East Lyme: Save the date for an uplifting community concert celebrating American favorites, from Copland and Gershwin to Chicago, Apollo 13, and patriotic classics, performed by the Southeastern Connecticut Community Orchestra’s talented volunteer musicians.

Connecticut Early Music Festival 2026 at various venues, Weekends June 6-21. Choose from six classical music performances or attend them all with a full or mini-subscription.  Concerts include works of Bach, Pergolesi, Vivaldi, Baroque masterworks and many more. $20+

Mystic Chamber Music “And the Cello Makes 5” on 6/13/26 with Mystic Chamber Music Series at Noank Baptist Church, Noank. Experience chamber music’s next generation as the acclaimed Terra String Quartet brings youthful brilliance, joined by MCMS Artistic Director Tom for Glazunov’s radiant Cello Quintet season finale showstopper. $28.52

CELEBRATE MOM – Mother’s Day, May 10, 2026

Duck River Garden Club Annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale from 5/8/26 – 5/9/16 at Lyme Art Association in Old Lyme: Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with blooms and baskets. Shop the Duck River Garden Club Plant Sale for annuals, herbs, pollinator plants, hanging baskets, and garden treasures, all supporting local community programs.

Relax with Mom at Stonington Vineyards in Stonington: Treat Mom to an afternoon at the vineyard! Wine, live music, delicious food, and boutique shopping at the beautiful vineyards set the stage for a relaxed Mother’s Day outing the whole family will love.

Mindfulness Event: Forest Bathing Along the Artists’ Trail  at the Flo Gris, Old Lyme: Give Mom something truly refreshing, a unique Forest Bathing experience along the Museum’s Artists’ Trail, including an uplifting, guided walk designed to awaken the senses and inspire calm. Rain or shine. And don’t forget that Café Flo will open on May 5^th. $45

Stone Acres Farm Mother’s Day Brunch in Stonington: Enoy this special holiday while taking in Stone Acres gardens and historic spaces. Brunch details and reservations coming soon.

Old Lyme Inn Mother’s Day Brunch in Old Lyme: Their chef has created a beautiful prix fixe menu with classic dishes and spring favorites.  Pianist Steve Donovan will be playing light jazz in their foyer to add to the festivities. $38+

Saybrook Point Inn Mother’s Day Brunch in Old Saybrook: Help Mom relax with a beautiful coastal brunch! Seasonal flavors, classic favorites, and marina views at Saybrook Point provide the perfect setting to relax, reconnect, and make lasting Mother’s Day memories together. $119.95

SPECIAL EVENTS & GALAS

Girls’ Night Out in Madison with The E List, 5/6, check in from 5-6:30pm. Circle May 6th on your calendar, rally your friends, and get ready for a joyful evening filled with exclusive discounts, drinks, and dinner. As always, it’s free to participate.

Earth Day Cruise on 4/18/26 with RiverQuest at CT River Museum, Essex, 3-4:30pm: Get out on the water this Earth Day! Join RiverQuest for a special cruise featuring naturalist Joe Attwater and discover local wildlife, conservation, and the beauty of the estuary in spring. $20+

Connecticut Spring Boat Show from 4/24/26 – 4/26/26 at Safe Harbor Essex Island, Essex: Essex sets the stage for the Connecticut Spring Boat Show. Boats, exhibitors, and live entertainment along the river, all supporting Sails Up 4 Cancer. One ticket covers all three days. $26

Bookworm Bash on 4/25/26 at Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in Old Lyme: Murder, mystery, and martinis. Don’t miss the Bookworm Bash, Clues & Cocktails, featuring a live DJ, dancing, interactive mystery, and signature drinks. Dress up, follow the clues, and support the library. $50+

Spring Festival at the Wadsworth Mansion, on 4/26/26 in Middletown: A free family-friendly afternoon featuring live music, food trucks, a raptor demonstration, nature exploration and more.

First Friday on 5/1/26 in Downtown Chester, 5-8pm: Start your May with a family-friendly celebration featuring new art exhibitions, seasonal menus, ice cream flavors, live music, shopping and more.

Oysters at the Point on 5/3/26 at Saybrook Point Resort and Marina, Old Saybrook: Enjoy an afternoon of oysters, wines, champagnes, ales, cocktails, local artisans, water views and live music on the terrace with Jamie’s Junk Show. Savor the freshness of oysters sourced from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Long Island, and Block Island. $119.95

Hammonasset Plant Sale on 5/7/26 – 5/31/26 in Madison. Select from premium hanging baskets, perennials, and flats of bedding plants and veggies. Proceeds support FOH projects at the Meigs Point Nature Center. Sale location is .3 miles east of the main entrance to Hammonasset Beach State Park on Route 1.

Chester Historic Homes Tour by Chester Historical Society on 5/9/26 in Chester: Curious to peek inside seven of Chester’s historic homes? They are within walking distance of designated free parking lots and Chester Village. Enjoy exploring, dining and shopping on Mother’s Day weekend. Buy advance discounted tickets now for our Homes Tour! $35+

New Haven Night Market on 5/15/26 in Downtown New Haven.  Don’t miss the New Haven Night Market.  Shop art and goods, grab food and drinks, and have a fun, family-friendly night out. Free to attend, and leashed pets are welcome too.

Is it Real or is it Fake Gala on 5/16/26 at Hillstead Museum, Farmington, 5:30pm: Step into a glamorous night of artful illusion! Cocktails, dinner, and spirited bidding make this an unforgettable gala where masterpieces reappear, authenticity is in question, and elegance meets intrigue. $600

Guilford House Tour by Guilford Keeping Society on 5/30/26 at Various locations in Guilford: Step inside Guilford’s charm. The beloved Guilford House Tour returns with a self-guided stroll through stunning and historic homes near the Green. Discover architecture, history, and beautiful spaces you rarely get to see. $40

Luxury on the Move 5/31 at Nautilus Architects, Old Lyme, 1-4:00pm: An afternoon where design, art, and horsepower collide. An opportunity for luxury and exotic car owners to showcase their vehicles along the Connecticut shoreline. Live music, food truck, free admission and family friendly!

Tour de Lyme on 5/31/26 at Grassy Hill Preserve, Lyme, Join the Lyme Land Trust for a scenic cycling event in Lyme, Connecticut, offering various road bike options with color-coded routes. Choose from routes like the Challenge, Classic, Valley 35, Valley 26, or Family ride. Start times vary. $50+

Pieper Olson Foundation Gala on 6/5/26 at Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, Old Saybrook: Spend an inspiring evening of hope and healing supporting families and their pets. Fine dining, auctions, and heartfelt purpose come together for a meaningful evening. $225+

Bella Notte on 6/6/26 at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Old Lyme: Save the date for a spectacular fundraiser featuring dining, auctions, and high-energy dancing to Sugar. Support High Hopes Therapeutic Riding and help create a future filled with hope and impact. Tickets and more details coming soon.

Strawberry Festival on 6/13/26 – 6/14/26 at Olde Mistick Village: Who’s ready for all things strawberries? From fresh strawberries, to jams, pies and more you’ll find all things late spring and early summer here in New England.