Good morning Tolland County!
It’s Tuesday, March 31… National Crayon Day, so if you needed an excuse to color outside the lines a little today, this is it. Bonus points if you can still name your favorite Crayola color without googling it.
In Today’s Tolland County Buzz:
Final Four Mutt Madness
Hometown Maps
Opening Day
Buzz & Tell
ToCo Trivia
Mansfield Drive-in
25+ Local Events
Let’s dive in!
-Tyler DiGiovanni
We’re officially down to the Final Four, and if you caught that wild ending in UConn’s men’s game against Duke… yeah, you already know. Absolute insanity capped off with a buzzer beater to punch their ticket forward.
Huge shoutout to Pet Supplies Plus for backing Connecticut Buzz Mutt Madness and hooking up a $100 gift card for the winner and $50 for second place, plus they’re the go-to if your pet needs anything at all.
After rounds of chaos and some very determined dog parents, just four pups are left standing and battling for the crown.
PUT YOUR TOWN ON THE WALL
Our custom Connecticut town maps are officially live, and yeah… they’re a pretty slick way to rep your hometown without screaming it from the rooftops. You’ve got six colorways to pick from (terracotta, pastel, cyberpunk, contrast, midnight, forest), and you can even drop a house icon right on your exact spot to make it yours. Go 12x16 for $30 if you want something clean and low-key, or bump up to 18x24 for $35 if you want a piece that actually pops on the wall.
How to personalize it (takes 30 seconds):
Enter your town in the personalization box
Ordering more than one? List them separated by commas (Vernon, Hebron, Tolland)
Want the house icon? Add your full address after the town and we’ll pin it right on the map
BUZZWORTHY ACTIVITY🐝
Hartford’s back… and it’s a big one. The Yard Goats kick off Opening Day at Dunkin’ Park for their 10th season on Friday, April 3 at 7:10PM, and if you’ve ever been, you know it’s not just baseball, it’s fireworks, giveaways, theme nights, and a packed house that actually shows up, with tickets starting as low as $18, it’s a no-brainer night out.
From that first pitch buzz to the postgame chaos, this place has turned into one of the best atmospheres in minor league baseball, and Year 10 feels like a full-on celebration of everything that makes Hartford summers hit different.
DINNER CLUB
The next Connecticut Buzz Dinner Club is officially headed to Wethersfield on Thursday, April 16 at 6:30 PM, after you voted it in, with Farmington coming in second. You can now bring a plus one if you don’t feel like flying solo, and it’s just $16 to save your seat while we handle the matching, the booking, and the fun little mystery that makes this way better than your standard dinner reservation.
HOW IT WORKS:
✦ Take a quick quiz about your interests, food preferences, and the kinds of people you’d actually want to spend a couple hours with.
✦ We match you with five other Connecticut Buzz readers based on your answers, so you’re not just getting tossed at a random table with chaos.
✦ The morning of the dinner, you’ll get the location of your restaurant and find out where your group is headed.
✦ During dinner, everyone gets the secret afterparty location in case you want to keep the night going. Totally optional, of course. If you’re full, socially tapped out, or just dreaming about sweatpants, you can call it a win and head home.
We Only Work With a Few Local Partners
No clutter. No competing ads everywhere. Just clean, high-performing placements that get noticed. If you’ve been thinking about it… now’s the time.
BUZZ & TELL
🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Gemma, a 3-month-old Siberian Husky with striking blue-gray eyes and endless energy, already 15 lbs and on track to be a 50–60 lb adventure buddy who lives for zoomies, sniffaris, and making new dog friends.
🏡House of the week: A spot brings that classic “quiet neighborhood but still dialed in” feel, with 3 beds, 3 baths, and over 2,200 sq ft tucked on nearly an acre. Check it out!
🔍Sighting of the week: I stepped into my backyard and locked eyes with a red fox like we had unfinished business… then it just trotted off like I was the one interrupting it.
🔭Sky report: The Full Pink Moon hits on Wednesday, April 1 around 10 pm, so if you look up anytime around then, the moon is basically doing the most. After sunset, Venus will be the bright showoff low in the west and Jupiter sticks around for hours in the early evening, while Mercury reaches greatest western elongation on April 3 but stays frustratingly low near the pre-dawn horizon from the Northern Hemisphere, so that one’s for the real sky nerds.
FLIGHT BUZZ
From Hartford to Savannah, Georgia for 80 bucks* non-stop roundtrip, end of August for a week stay. See the deal!
From Boston to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for 202 bucks* 1-stop roundtrip, end of April for a week stay. See the deal!
*Prices at the time of writing subject to change
TOCO TRIVIA🤔
Why did Hebron's "Gay City" become a ghost town?
ROLLING SINCE 1954
Just 31.43% of people got it right last week, but yep, the Mansfield Drive-In opened in 1954, and opening night on April 16, 1954 featured Ma and Pa Kettle at Home and Ride Clear of Diablo. That alone is a great little time capsule, but the place is still pulling its weight today as a 40-acre complex with 3 screens, run by the same local family for more than 45 years, plus eastern Connecticut’s largest flea market on the side, which is a pretty ridiculous bonus for a drive-in.
BEE LINE EVENTS
FEATURED EVENT
Solo Agers Coffee Social
Are you over 60 and aging alone without children or family in your daily life?
Join us for a casual Coffee Social in Tolland on Wednesday, April 8, at 2:30 PM. Meet other local Solo Ager peers in a safe and welcoming environment. SoloAgersConnect.com is a unique website created just for Solo Agers to find information, resources, trusted service providers, events, and community.
Join us for coffee and conversation! RSVP HERE
Want your event featured in front of thousands of locals? Get in touch!
TUESDAY (3/31)
Storrs | Lenard Chamber Music Series: Ulysses Quartet | 7:30-9:30 PM | ($) - Award-winning Ulysses Quartet brings serious chemistry and emotional firepower to Jorgensen (2132 Hillside Road, Unit 3104). Enjoy
WEDNESDAY (4/1)
Storrs | Human Rights Film+ Series: My Sweet Land | 4:00-6:00 PM - Documentary screening with a post-film talk from director Sareen Hairabedian at the Dodd Center.
Somers | Full Moon Manifesting Workshop | 6:30 PM | ($) - Set intentions and manifest your goals under April's full moon (24 Battle St, Suite 2B). Find Balance
Tolland | Full Moon Sound Healing and Reiki | 6:30 PM | ($) - Relax with crystal bowls and energy healing at Resonance Healing Arts (60 Hartford Tpke). Find Balance
THURSDAY (4/2)
Vernon | April Open Studio - Slow Stitch Demo | 2 PM - Watch meditative hand-stitching techniques at this free studio session (709 Hartford Tpke). Get Stitching
Vernon | Jeopardy! Movie Edition | 6 PM - Test your film knowledge in this interactive trivia game at Rockville Public Library.
Vernon | Trivia Night at Spare Time Vernon | 7 PM - Grab your team and compete for prizes at this weekly pub trivia (350 Talcottville Rd).
FRIDAY (4/3)
Somers | Emotion Band Live at Joanna’s | 6:30 PM - High-energy mix of classic and modern hits takes over Joanna’s Main Hall (145 Main St) for a night of live music, good food, and easy Friday night vibes.
Storrs | B*tch Eat Dog by Mel Carter | 7:00 PM (also 4/4) - A sharp, adult puppet sketch show mixing satire, feminism, and chaos at the Ballard Institute. Fun
Vernon Rockville | TheLeftovers Live | 9 PM - Classic rock covers return to Rocking Horse Bar & Grill (57 Hartford Tpke).
SATURDAY (4/4)
Bolton | Egg Hunt | 12 PM - Town of Bolton hosts its annual community Easter egg hunt for kids of all ages at the Bolton Fire Department.
Coventry | 17th Annual Easter Egg Hunt | 10 AM - Long-running tradition with egg hunts, games, and springtime fun (90 Tolland Tpke).
Hebron | The Flour Girl Easter Egg Hunt | 10 AM | ($) - Sweet treats and egg hunting at this charming bakery event (14 Main St). Join the Fun
Hebron | Easter Bake Sale | 10 AM - Stock up on homemade goodies and sweet treats for Easter weekend (99 Marjorie Circle).
Mansfield Center | Canine Easter Egg Hunt | 10 AM - Bring your pup to sniff out dog-friendly eggs at Mansfield Hollow State Park.
Mansfield Center | Easter Egg Hunt | 1 PM - Family egg hunt with springtime activities for the little ones (29 Puddin Ln).
Somers | Smokehouse Band Live at Joanna’s | 6:30 PM - High-energy night of 90s and 2000s country hits takes over Joanna’s Main Hall (145 Main St)
Stafford | Women's Community Wellness Walk | 9:30 AM - Connect with other women on a refreshing morning walk through Hyde Park (Witt School parking lot).
Stafford | Ryan Hood Live | 7:30 PM - Acoustic vibes and good brews at Off The Rails Brewing Co. (86 Main St).
Stafford | Whiskey Blvd Live | 8 PM - High-energy country rock takes over Four Seasons (51 Old Springfield Rd)
Stafford Springs | CT Social Babes Meetup | 8 AM - Morning coffee and networking with local women at LuAnn's (42 Main St). Fun
Tolland | Oracle-Inspired Vision Board Workshop | 10 AM | ($) - Create a visual roadmap for your dreams using oracle card guidance at Resonance Healing Arts (60 Hartford Tpke). Get Crafty
Vernon | Elemental Art Exhibition Opening | 2 PM - Celebrate the opening of "Earth, Water, Air, Fire" with local artists (709 Hartford Tpke).
Vernon Rockville | Aquanett Live | 8:30 PM | ($) - 80s rock tribute band brings the big hair and power ballads to Rocking Horse Bar & Grill (57 Hartford Tpke).
Willington | Hilltop Easter Egg Hunt | 2 PM - Family-friendly egg hunt with restaurant dining at Hilltop Restaurant (39 Adamec Rd).
SUNDAY (4/5)
Bolton | Easter Brunch Extravaganza | 10:30 AM - Celebrate Easter with a festive brunch spread at Villa Louisa (60 Villa Louisa Rd).
Coventry | Easter Brunch 2026 | 10 AM - Enjoy a holiday brunch with family at this lakeside gathering spot (50 Lake St). Dig In
Stafford Springs | Bunny Burn | 8 AM | ($) - Burn off those Easter calories early with this themed group fitness workout (8 Middle River Dr).
MONDAY (4/6)
🦗🦗🦗
That’s it for this week’s Tolland County Buzz. If you got something out of it, please share it with someone who loves maps!
See ya next week,
Tyler
