🥐 LuAnn’s Bakery hits 42 Main St, Stafford Springs today with espresso, pastries, and first-100 swag pins!

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Calypso is a 4-month Aussie-Shep mix with radar ears, grass-rolling energy, and brains to burn. Crate-trained, spayed, microchipped, and likely to level off around 50 lbs—snag this playful prodigy while she’s still “puppy priced.”

🏡House of the week: Riley Mountain stunner is a 3-acre contemporary that flaunts a stocked pond, indoor heated pool, sauna, and a 20-car circular drive. Four beds, four baths, new roof + solar means year-round stay-cation vibes. Check it out!

🥾Trail of the week: Soapstone Mountain Loop in Shenipsit State Forest (399 Gulf Rd, Somers) serves 2.3 miles of shady switchbacks capped by a steel fire-tower with Berkshires-to-Hartford views—dog-friendly, fee-free, and selfie-ready in 40 minutes. Pack bug spray, climb the grated stairs, and earn bragging rights before your trail mix is gone.

🔭Sky report: Perseid ramp-up is on—look NE after midnight Aug 11-12 for up to 100 meteors/hr, and even though the moon sits at 84 % waning-gibbous it ducks below the horizon by ~3 a.m. for darker skies. Saturn glows gold in the SE by 10 p.m., while Venus cuddles above bright Jupiter in the pre-dawn east for a two-planet cameo.

FRIDAY 8/8

Stafford Springs | Arts on Main | 4-8pm - Every second Friday, Stafford’s small business owners celebrate the community by showcasing local artists, live music from 6-8pm at Haymarket Square (this month’s band is Dead Dawgs). Walk around and check out all the vendors, activities, and fun that Main St has going on. Seriously, you should go check it out!

Andover | Xen’s Critters | 6pm - Meet some cute & cuddly creatures at Andover Public Library (355 Rt 6), presented by Xen’s Critters.

Somers | Cruise Night | 4:30-7:30pm - Joanna’s (145 Main St) is holding their weekly car show. Enjoy some cool cars, music, door prizes, and surprises.

Somers | National Night Out | 5-7:30pm - The Town of Somers is holding their annual night out event at Field Road Park (96 Field Rd). Local businesses and organizations partner with Somers’ first responders for a night of free fun for families.

Willington | Sound Healing | 6:30-7:30pm $ - Willington Public Library (7 Ruby Rd) is offering a calming sound healing session, there is a $10 suggested donation.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Concerts on the Square - Storrs | Funky Dawgz | 6:30-8
⬢ Square Peg - Vernon | Kt Lay | 6:30-8:30pm

Andover | Puppet Show | 10:30am - The Lionheart Puppet Co. presents “The Little Red Hen” at the Andover Public Library (355 Rt 6). It’s geared towards children 3-7. Sign up by calling (860) 742-7428

Coventry | Wood Flower Bar | 6-7:30pm $ - Wood & Word Blooms (21 Bread & Milk St) is holding a wood flower bar, to help you make an arrangement that will last indefinitely (we have something from them hanging in our kitchen). Bring some friends and get creative. Tix

Somers | Paint Your Gnome | 6:30-8:30pm $ - Paint an adorable little gnome at An Angel’s Window (24 Battle St). Bring your own wine or enjoy some complimentary tea. Call (860) 327-2494 to reserve your spot.

Storrs | Sound Healing on the Beach | 6pm $ - Participate in a sound healing experience at Bicentennial Pond (264 Clover Mill Rd). Sign Up

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Bolton Green - Bolton | Ali Kat Acoustic | 6:30pm
⬢ River Road Athletic Complex - Willington | Shaded Soul | 6:30-8:30pm

TRIVIA

Bond 124 - Somers | 7-8:30pm

Bolton | Bingo & Bites | 6-8pm $ - Bolton Congregational Church (228 Bolton Center Rd) is hosting a bingo night with small bites being served. $2/card, cash only. RSVP

Ellington | Mid-Summer Bike Night | 5-9pm - Old School Harley-Davidson (398 Somers Rd) is holding a bike night with food from Backroads Smokin BBQ, live music, vendors, raffles, and more.

Somers | 5K Running Series | 5:30-7pm - Let all trails lead to wine at Worthington Vineyards (359 Mountain Rd) with their free 5K running series. Stick around after, for a glass of vino to celebrate your fitness. Sign Up

Willington | Poet-Tea | 6:30-7:30pm - Willington Public Library (7 Ruby Rd) is inviting you to enjoy some poetry (bring your own, or just listen), and indulge in some tea and light refreshments while you’re there. Eating in a library? That feels like breaking the rules somehow.

Willington | Video Game Night | 5:30-7:30pm - Bring your video-game-loving kids to Willington Public Library (7 Ruby Rd) for an evening of Mario Kart - you might even be able to convince them to take a book out to read while you’re there.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Henry Park - Vernon | Nightshift | 6-8pm
⬢ The Gazebo - Somers | Afterglow | 6pm
⬢ Joanna’s - Somers | Replay | 6pm

TRIVIA

Rocking Horse - Vernon | 7-9pm

Mansfield | Lake Pulling Party | 9am-12pm - Help clean up Upper Eagleville Lake from the invasive water chestnut. The Willimantic River Alliance is asking experienced paddlers to give a hand at Mansfield’s River Park launch site (Plains Rd). Contact Eric Thomas with any questions at [email protected] or (860) 930-7515.

Stafford Springs | Celebrating Life | 6pm - Middle River Gallery (58 Main St) is celebrating the life and work of Laura Kinlock, with donations going to KidSafe CT.

Stafford Springs | Medium/Intuitive Reader | 3-7pm - Naomi from Hellna’s Pathwork is going to be doing readings at Let’s Get Wired (64 Main St). You can register by calling (860) 371-9325, or visiting their website.

Vernon | Tolland County 4-H Fair | 8am - This youth-run agricultural fair (24 Hyde Ave) is running from 8/8 through 8/10 at 3pm. You can find a schedule of events here.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Cassidy Hill - Coventry | The Frets | 6-8pm
⬢ Rocking Horse - Vernon | Don’t Tell Lisa | 8pm
⬢ Sonny’s Place - Somers | Trailer Trash | 8pm
⬢ Four Seasons By the Lake - Stafford | Free Range Humans | 7-11pm

TRIVIA

Bolton | Hop River Trail Ride | 10:30am - The CT EBike Owners group is holding a group ride from Bolton Park (Morancey Rd) to Willimantic, for a lunch at WilliBrew, and then a ride back. Rain date is 8/10.

Coventry | Through Time and Telescope | 12pm - Booth & Dimock Memorial Library (1134 Main St) is taking you on a trip to the cosmos with the Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford. You’ll even get a chance to observe the sun through specially filtered telescopes.

Ellington | Connect With The Fairy Realm | 10am-12:30pm $ - Kathi from Voices of Enlightenment (19 Pinney St) is teaching you how to connect with the fae. If you’re interested, contact Kathi at (413) 885-0038.

Ellington | Huge Sale | 10am-4pm - Ellington Fine Consignments (12 Main St) is offering a 75% discount on everything in the store!

Ellington | Peach Festival Farmers Market | 9am-12pm - Celebrate peachy goodness at the Ellington Farmers Market (72 Maple St). Peaches in every form you can think of, live music, and delicious food from No Coast Taqueria.

Stafford | Jeffrey Earnhardt Racing Experience | 10am $ - Get your Ricky Bobby on, and drive something that goes fast at Stafford Motor Speedway (55 West St). More deets

Storrs | Farmers Market | 3-5pm - Get your local produce, meats, and more, at the Storrs Farmers Market (4 S Eagleville Rd).

Tolland | Great Big Tag Sale | 9am-3pm - Normally, I wouldn’t put in a single tag sale, but this one is taking place in The Quarry Campground (704 Shenipsit Lake Rd). If you’ve ever wanted to check out the property, now you can, and see what treasures you can find. An Italian ice & gelato truck, live music, and a bounce house.

Willington | Board Game Day | 12-2pm - Get the kids out of the house and away from screens at Willington Public Library (7 Ruby Rd), with this afternoon of board game shenanigans. Show them you’re not to be messed with when it comes to Trouble.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Tolland County 4-H Fair - Vernon | Wastin Bullets | 4-7pm
⬢ Joanna’s - Someres | Country Steel | 6:30-9:30pm
⬢ Sonny’s Place - Somers | Project 267 | 8-11pm

Bolton | Paddleboard Yoga/Sound Healing | 4-6pm $ - This BYOG (Bring Your Own Gear) event takes a relaxing yoga flow onto the water at Lower Bolton Lake (1025 Boston Tpke), followed by a sound bath. More deets

Coventry | Farmers Market | 10am-1pm - Celebrate National Farmers Week at the Coventry Farmers Market (2299 South St). It’s worth the drive! Just get there early, parking can be a bear.

Mansfield | Grist Mill Tours | 1-5pm - If you haven’t checked out the tours of the Gurleyville Grist Mill (Stone Rd) hosted by Joshua’s Trust, what are you waiting for? Get a little local history in your life!

Tolland | Fenton River Vet 10th Anniversary | 12-4pm - Fenton River Vet (9 Fieldstone Commons) is celebrating 10 years of pet care with an open house. Face painting, Henna, music, food/drinks, games and more.

Vernon | Plein Air Day | 10am-2pm - Get inspired by the beautiful property of Strong Family Farm (274 West St) with a free Plein Air day organized by Arts Center East. Bring your own supplies - paints, pencils, fingerpaints, whatever your preferred medium is. RSVP by 8/5!

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Joanna’s - Somers | Small Town Stereo | 6-9pm
⬢ Sonny’s Place - Somers | Shovelhead | 3-6pm
⬢ Mill Pond Country Store - Stafford Springs | Tequila Jim | 2-4pm

Storrs | Teen Musical Theater Workshop | 5pm $ - The Consonare Choral Community is holding a musical theater workshop aimed at kids 11-17, starting 8/11 and ending on 8/15 from 5-9pm each day. More info and register here