The story of this week has a beginning, a middle and an end—and somehow all of them involve parades.
Monday, May 26 - Memorial Day
Holiday parades step off in Bethany, Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, North Branford, West Haven and Woodbridge.
Tuesday, May 27
A celebration starting at the Boathouse at Canal Dock, née the Canal Dock Boathouse, marks the addition of nearby Long Wharf Pier to the National Register of Historic Places. “Come learn more about the story of this important maritime structure with a talk by historian Bruce Clouette at 5:30pm, followed by a reception with ice cream on the pier at 6:30pm.”
At 7, the Shubert’s new cabaret space hosts a Broadway-themed trivia night, offering prizes for winners as well as “food specials and half-off drinks all night long.”
Wednesday, May 28
The two-day 2025 Yale Innovation Summit starts at 8 a.m. and “features 40+ inspiring panels and keynotes with speakers from across the globe, highlighting the breadth and depth of innovation shaping our future. Spanning six dynamic tracks—arts, biotech, civic, climate, health, and technology—the event showcases thought-provoking discussions, engaging sessions, and pitch competitions where founders share bold ideas and compete for funding and recognition.”
Thursday, May 29
Crossing Paths, a show of prints, sculptures and paintings by Oi Fortin, Miggy, Liz Pagano and Don Wunderlee, gets a 5 p.m. artists’ reception in Fairhaven Furniture’s River Street Gallery.
Also at 5, an opening reception for the Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance’s spring show features new art by 50 artists working in “painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed-media, photography, sculpture, ceramics, turned wood, textiles, jewelry, and more.”
Also at 5, a three-night carnival begins at Old Bethany Airport. Put on by the Bethany Athletic Association, there’ll be food, a Friday firemen’s parade, Saturday fireworks and, presumably, rides and games all carnival long.
Friday, May 30
Two shows and three tribute acts conjure a pretty good cross-section of ’90s rock. At 6 p.m. at New England Brewing in Woodbridge, prolific local guitarist and vocalist Tim Palmieri gathers some of his musical friends for a performance of Weezer’s Blue Album and beyond. At 8:30 at Toad’s Place, tribute bands Evil Empire and Drown take on the catalogues of Rage Against the Machine and Smashing Pumpkins, respectively.
Saturday, May 31
A “townwide” tag sale from 9 to 3 in Guilford spans at least 15 homes.
From 11 to 3, the Westville Arts Market, “a monthly curated event that features 20 local artisans, vintage dealers and other small business owners” plus “a live DJ, lawn games and an interactive art project,” pops up for the first time this summer on Westville’s Central Patio.
Nearby, from 2 to 4, the Mitchell Branch Library hosts a map-making workshop led by the CT Map Society.
At 3 at SCSU’s Lyman Center, “get ready for the ultimate video game music experience as the New Haven Symphony Orchestra teams up with the genre-blending, high-energy band DiscoCactus! This one-of-a-kind concert brings your favorite gaming soundtracks to life with a live orchestra and a powerhouse VGM band, delivering an electrifying mix of classical, rock, funk, and jazz.”
Sunday, June 1
From 10 to 3 at the Annex YMA Club, the next New Haven Comic & Collectible Spectacular promises “over 55 tables brimming with treasures and cool finds.”
Published details relevant to spectators are thin, but it looks like this year’s Elm City Freddy Fixer Parade runs from 1:30 to 3:30—and going by last year’s, it’ll be coming down Dixwell Avenue between Bassett and Foote Streets, featuring a procession of marching bands, dance teams, local businesses and community organizations.
Shows of photographs by Hank Paper and Marjorie Gillette Wolfe as well as paintings by Chris Ferguson get a joint opening reception from 2 to 5 at Kehler Liddell Gallery.
Also starting at 2, the Pardee-Morris House opens its summer programming with a presentation by owl rehabilitator and educator Gwen Rice, who’s set to “discuss the eight species of owls found in Connecticut and advise visitors on how to protect them. She’ll bring along two live ‘owl ambassadors’ for an up-close view.”
Written and photographed by Dan Mims. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations, prices and other details before attending events.
