The week doesn’t start on a Thursday, but its jam-packed back half does, creating an extra long Labor Day weekend that makes it hard work to choose.
Thursday, August 28
At 6 p.m., New England Brewing Co. in Woodbridge presents Books & Brews, a book swap inviting you to “bring your favorite books to exchange for new reads from fellow book lovers. Discover stories and share favorites over local brews and a slice from Zuppardi’s Apizza Truck! Leftover books will be donated to support the Woodbridge Town Library.”
At 7, Witch Bitch Thrift hosts a performance of The City That Slept, a puppet show “explor[ing] what happens when Sleep visits New York City using shadow, lantern, and large-scale marionettes to visualize dreams woven through the city.”
Also at 7, Toad’s Place hosts a 50-year anniversary performance by New Haven-based swing band Eight to the Bar. The show is set to feature performers from both the current and the original 1975 lineups.
Also at 7, at Elm City Social, local indie media company Max Vision Films holds a “rooftop movie trailer and book release event” for its “detective mystery thriller” project Ding Dong Ditch.
Also also at 7, the Madison Beach Hotel presents the final beachside concert of its 2025 Grassy Strip Music Series. Holding down the stage are Connecticut-rooted Jake Kulak and the Modern Vandals, who kind of have a Strokes-meet-Arctic Monkeys sound going but with clearer pop aspirations.
Friday, August 29
Starting at noon and lasting four days, Orange’s St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church holds its annual Odyssey festival. A flyer sums things up: “Greek food! Greek music! Greek dancing!”
From 4 to 7 p.m. on two consecutive Fridays and Saturdays, the Rose Vineyards & Winery’s sixth annual Wine Corn Maze challenges attendees to find wine stations hidden within the North Branford winery’s maze and, hopefully, delights them with what they find.
Starting at 6 and lasting until what sounds like it’ll be a reasonable bedtime, a 30+ Party at Toad’s Place promises a dance floor powered by “the biggest hits from the ’80s, ’90s, 2000s, and today,” plus “lip sync battles, throwback vibes, themed drinks (yes, including mocktails), and surprises for anyone who still loves a night out—just a little earlier.”
At 8, an unusually layered bill at Three Sheets features “Norwegian power pop star” Vibeke Saugestad (pictured above) backed by at least one member of the venerable ‘super rock’ band The Fleshtones; Cenzo, a garage ska band “fronted by international trombone sensation Vinny Nobile, of Bim Skala Bim and Pilfers fame,” and backed by members of Spring Heeled Jack and Pencilgrass; and Discount Fireworks, offering “cerebral rock” that “will blow up in your face.”
Think this Friday can’t get any more eclectic? Think again, Cafe Nine says, with The Bordello Macabre, a 9 p.m. variety show whose “ringmaster of debauchery” is set to preside over “sonic depravity,” “bombastic burlesque,” “gravity-defying shibari” and a DJ aiming to “pound[] your soul with beats from the underworld.”
Saturday, August 30
A traveling Saturday begins at 10 a.m. in Middlefield with Lyman Orchards getting a jump on fall. A two-day family-friendly Cider Donut Festival and seasonal corn maze grand opening offers food and refreshments, yard games, face painting, live music and even a “cider donut corn hole toss.”
From 12:30 p.m. to 9 in Milford’s AJJ Memorial Skate Park, an all-ages music festival spearheaded by headliner Scooped Up features 10 bands along with vendors including food trucks.
From 2 to 10, Two Roads Brewing in Stratford promises “a full day of live music, craft beer, food trucks, and the return of Emo Night CT” during the fourth annual Lonely Roads Fest. In addition to the customary emo edge, “this year we’re taking things to Mount Olympus with a Greek mythology–themed twist. Think gods, mortals, monsters, and a whole lot of eyeliner.”
Sunday, August 31
Starting bright and early at 8 a.m., the 18th annual North Haven Police Labor Day Weekend Car Show squeezes a little more summer out of the season. Along with classic cars, expect food, ice cream, a 50/50 raffle and prizes for the winning autophiles.
From noon to 4 at East Rock Brewing, local animal rescue A Chance for Love “celebrat[es] nine years of improving the lives of CT’s homeless cats!” The docket includes 10 vendors, raffle prizes and music curated by DJ Suspirium.
Starting at 6, a dungeon synth night at Never Ending Books is apparently the first local show of its kind “in years.” Here’s an explainer of the genre, and, better yet, here are links to genre examples courtesy of the acts set to appear: Ozeregroth, Unsheathed Glory and The Herbalists.
Written by Dan Mims. Image, featuring Vibeke Saugestad, photographed by Miriam Ketting. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations, prices and other details before attending events.
