Good morning, Tolland County Swarm! Today is Tuesday 6/24, and that means it’s National Take Back The Lunch Day! You deserve to take your entire lunch break, and if anyone has a problem with that, send them to me!
🚀 Hot take time:
I've been thinking to merge this newsletter into Quiet Corner Buzz because so many of you live close to Windham County towns. I want to hear from you…
Should I combine both Tolland County and Windham County into one newsletter?
In Today’s Tolland County Buzz:
A Summer’s Palette
Stafford SummerFest
30 Events
Let’s dive in!
-Tyler DiGiovanni
EMAIL BROUGHT TO YOU BY
ASHFORD AREA ARTS COUNCIL
🌸 Bored of doomscrolling? Swap your screen for a scene.
Summer’s Palette at Westford Hill Distillers is here, think rolling hills, wildflowers, local art, and that sweet scent of “Wait… is that lilac or gin?”
🎨 30+ local artists doing their thing
🍸 Cocktails straight from the still
🌮 Food trucks slinging your next obsession
🖌️ Kids’ art zone so you can sip while they splatter
🚫 No pets this time (sorry, Sparky)
Whether you’re here to admire, buy, or dab some paint of your own, it’s a full-sensory summer flex. Free to enter. Donations go to the Ashford Area Arts Council if you’re feeling generous.
Come for the views, stay for the vibe.
TO CO TRIVIA🤔
BUZZ BULLETIN
Got news, a gig, or a gem to shout from the rooftops?
Whether it’s a grand opening, killer event, hiring help, or just a cool thing your neighbors should see - The Buzz Bulletin is your megaphone to 2,000+ locals.
Whispering Brook Farm & Art Studio: This isn’t just a farm—it’s a place where goats get cuddled, paint gets splattered, and memories get made. Year-round events, classes, and custom programs for everyone—kids, adults, neurodiverse folks, school groups, Scouts, even yoga crews and corporate teams.
🎨 Personalized art classes (think plein air, nature art, studio vibes)
🌿 Nature walks that range from silent to symphonic
📚 Field trips with STEM + ALANS (Art, Lit, Animals, Nature, Science)
🐾 Animal care classes + hands-on fun
🎉 Parties, badges, milestone moments—they do it all
From “Bugs, Berries, Birds & Bogs” in summer to “Monster Months” in fall, this place brings the wild and the wonderful together like no one else. Check them out!
TCB Instagram: We’re heading into our last week of highlighting 1 local biz a day for 30 days, don’t miss our 30 for 30 local business series on Instagram! Follow us @tollandcountybuzz and DM your favorite spots - we just might feature them!
BUZZWORTHY ACTIVITY🐝
WEDNESDAY 6/25
Stafford Springs | Stafford SummerFest | 5pm
Stafford SummerFest is back at Stafford High School (145 Orcuttville Rd). Grab dinner at the bevy of food trucks, interact with local community groups, enjoy music from the Loveland Hill Band, and cap off the evening with a fireworks show!
BEE LINE EVENTS
TUESDAY (6/24)
Storrs | Bonsai | 6:30pm $ - There’s still time to sign up for a crash-course in the art of bonsai at Hops 44 (625 Middle Tpke) - and you leave with your own miniature tree! Sign Up
WEDNESDAY (6/25)
Andover | Bobcats For Kids | 2-3pm - Learn all about bobcats in CT at Andover Public Library (355 Rt 6) with CT DEEP Master Wildlife Conservationist (wow, what a title) Paul Colburn. Target age group is 11 and under. Call (860) 742-7428 for more info
Coventry | A Walk In Lavender | 6:30-7:45pm $ - Learn about the history, uses, and lore of this aromatic herb at Lavender Ridge Farm (44 Stage Rd). Register
Bolton | Summer XC Series | 6-7:30pm - Calling runners of all ages to Bolton Heritage Farm (266 Bolton Center Rd). There will be a 100m dash for preschoolers, 1 mile run for 13 and under, and 2 mile for all ages. Sign-up
Hebron | Floral Arrangement Workshop | 6-8pm $ - Want to have your flowers looking like a professional did them, instead of it looking like you put them in a vase blindfolded? The Flour Girl (14 Main St) is holding a workshop to help you out with that. Tix
Storrs | Literary Book Discussion | 5:30-8pm - Meet up with other readers interested in literature (mostly) and eat some great food at Hops 44 (625 Middle Tpke). Pre-register by calling (860) 487-4420.
Tolland | Books & Blooms | 2-7:30pm - Swap out some of your gently loved books (1-3 of them) and make a beautiful dried flower bookmark to class up your reading situation at Tolland Red and White (46 Tolland Grn). Email [email protected] to RSVP
LIVE MUSIC
⬢ Summer Concert Series - Bolton Green | Rock Solid Alibi | 6:30pm
THURSDAY (6/26)
Andover | Become a Nature Detective | 6-7pm - Meet wildlife biologist Julie Victoria at Andover Public Library (355 Rt 6) and learn how to find and identify things in the wild.
LIVE MUSIC
⬢ Summer Concerts on the Square - Storrs | Barney Cortez | 6:30-8pm
⬢ Somers Gazebo - Somers | The Wonder Yearz | 6-8pm
⬢ Bond 124 - Somersville | Raya | 7:30-10:30pm
TRIVIA
Rocking Horse - Vernon | 7-9pm
Cassidy Hill - Coventry | 6:30pm
FRIDAY (6/27)
Bolton | Crow Party Trinket Trade | 5-7pm - Get your crow on, by dressing in all black and bringing silver trinkets to trade to Charhause Cookie (299 Boston Tpke). Sign Up
Coventry | Quiztory | 6:30pm $ - Flex your trivia muscles in a historic location with a decades edition Quiztory at the Nathan Hale Homestead (2299 South St). Dress in your favorite decade clothing for a chance to win a prize. Register
Hebron | Banjo Lesson | 6-7:30pm $ - Learn how to play some beginner-friendly tunes on a provided banjo at The Flour Girl (14 Main St). Tix
Rockville | Tai Chi at the Library | 10-11am - Feel the flow at Rockville Public Library (52 Union St). Register
Stafford Springs | Setback Night | 6-8:30pm $ - Test yourself against other Setback-lovers, or learn how to play this amazingly fun game at Stafford Cidery (68 Main St).
Storrs | Gelato Sampling | 10:30am-12:30pm - Normally I wouldn’t put something like this on here, but…free gelato. Try out Cold Fusion Gelato at Price Chopper (1220 Storrs Rd).
Willington | Summer Music Doc Series | 6:30pm - If you love music and history, you need to get to Willington Public Library (7 Ruby Rd). Arthur Rovozzo will be showing music documentaries and adding details and fun facts you may not have known. This week’s doc is The 1970’s Rock Concert Festivals.
LIVE MUSIC
⬢ Blackledge CC - Hebron | Chris Marolda | 6:30-9:30pm
⬢ Cassidy Hill - Coventry | The Rocking Heads | 6-8pm
SATURDAY (6/28)
Andover | Read To a Therapy Dog | 11am - What better way for your little one to practice reading, than with a therapy dog to encourage them at Andover Public Library (355 Rt 6).
Coventry | Fireworks | 7-9pm - Head to Patriot’s Park (124 Lake St) to grab a seat for a fireworks display, and enjoy music from Nightshift while waiting for the big booms! Rain date is 6/29
Ellington | Kids Soccer Clinic | 9-11:30am - Ellington Baptist Church (264 Pinney St) is holding a free soccer clinic for children ages 4-8. Register
Ellington | Farmers Market | 9am-12pm - The Ellington Farmers Market (72 Maple St) is having a Creative Craft-themed market this weekend. Check out some extremely talented guest vendors and enjoy live music by Second Helping.
Ellington | Oakridge Farm Day | 10am-2pm - Check out a free event at Oakridge Dairy (76 Jobs Hill Rd) which will have cows to meet, free moo brews, food trucks and tractors to check out, and more!
Hebron | Lions Fireworks and Tractor Pulls | 4pm - Join the Hebron Lions at the Hebron Fairgrounds (347 Gilead St) for a free fireworks show and new-for-this-year tractor pulls! Gates open at 4pm, and the first fireworks go off at 9:25pm
Stafford Springs | Car & Truck Show | 10am - Check out some amazing cars and trucks at Witt Farm (Stafford St), listen to some tunes, and maybe open up that wallet and donate toward the Stafford Fire Dept.
Stafford Springs | 2nd Annual Magick Mushroom Market | 10am-4pm - If you think mushrooms are really fun guys (get it?), then you need to head to Let’s Get Wired (64 Main St) for a specialty market with mushroom-themed items as well as some actual delicious mushies.
Storrs | Farmers Market | 3-5pm - Grab some fresh produce, meats, and more at the Storrs Farmers Market (4 S Eagleville Rd).
Tolland | Intro to Astrology | 2-5pm $ - Unlock the secrets of the stars with a class at Resonance Healing Arts (60 Hartford Tpke). Tix
Willington | Naturopathic Health Seminar | 1-4pm $ - Miracle Meadows (40 Seckar Rd) will walk you through natural ways to fix health problems. Sign-up
LIVE MUSIC
⬢ Four Seasons By The Lake - Stafford Springs | The Brat Pack | 7pm $
⬢ Italian Villa Restaurant - Somers | Soapstone | 7pm
⬢ Joanna’s - Somers | Rowe County Band | 6:30-9:30pm
SUNDAY (6/29)
Columbia | Car Show | 11am-2pm ($) - The Main Moose (94 Rt 6 E) is having a car show ($10 if you want to enter your vehicle), live DJ, 50/50 raffle and more.
Coventry | Farmers Market | 10am-1pm - The theme of this week’s Coventry Farmers Market (2299 South St) is Charcuterie 101. Come get your fill of delicious meats and cheeses.
Tolland | Cleats & Community Event | 1-5pm - Check out a skills showcase, grab some food at food trucks, and donate your old sports cleats (any sport, but they should be in decent shape) at Tolland High School (1 Eagle Hill Dr).
Vernon | Touch-a-Truck | 10am-2pm - Come see tractors, fire trucks, old pickups, and a bunch of other vehicles at Strong Family Farm (274 West St). Crafts for kids throughout the day!
LIVE MUSIC
⬢ Mill Pond Country Store - Stafford Springs | Zach Anderson | 2-4pm
⬢ Worthington Vineyard - Somers | PARTY of 2 | 2-5pm
MONDAY (6/30)
Stafford | Baseball Summer Camp | 9am $ - Help your young athlete be the best they can be with a Little League camp at Kealy Fields (1 Bosco Fowler Way). Be forewarned, the deadline to register is 6/24 (today, if you’re reading this on time). Call (860) 623-1027 with any questions.
SCRAMBLE ANSWER: WILBUR CROSS
That’s it for this week’s Tolland County Buzz. If you got something out of it, please share it with someone looking for fireworks!
