Why We Love It

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Mark Your Calendar for these Annual Celebrations in 2024

January 1, 2024

Another year in our rearview mirror, another year ahead. Each month, neighbors and visitors visit downtown New Haven for foodie events, community gatherings, and small business shopping. While we don’t yet know exactly what 2024 will hold for us, we’ve got a few things on the books. Read on and mark your calendar for the return of the Elm City’s most popular annual events. 2024 CELEBRATIONS CALENDAR FEBRUARY Yale-China Association’s Lunar Fest MARCH Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade JUNE Freddy Fixer Parade St. Andrew’s Society Italian Festa Caribbean Heritage Festival AUGUST Ecuadorian Civic Parade Puerto Rican Festival SEPTEMBER... View Article

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New Haven Chalk Art Festival [2023]

September 28, 2023

On October 21, local artists will convene in Downtown for the annual New Haven Chalk Art Festival. Taking place from 12-4 PM at The Shops at Yale, the day will be one marked by live music, impressive art, and family-friendly entertainment. Across the Chapel and Broadway districts, more than 75 of New England’s most talented artists will come together to create elaborate and stunning chalk art designs, all of which will be voted on by attendees to select the best of the best, crowning a first, second, and third place winner as well as a best amateur.  After strolling and... View Article

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New Haven Pride 2023

August 30, 2023

Drum roll, please. New Haven Pride will return to the Elm City on September 23! The annual block party will take place on Orange and Crown Streets from 12 – 6pm and feature small businesses, community members, and an all LGBTQ+ roster of performing talent. Organized by the The New Haven Pride Center – one of Connecticut’s leading LGBTQ+ non profits and the only organization focused on LGBTQ+ representation in the arts – the local-loved annual event creates a space to empower Greater New Haven LGBTQIA+ individuals to thrive and uplift each other.

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The Merry Wives of Windsor [Elm Shakespeare Company -2023]

July 27, 2023

Thanks to the Elm Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare in the Park returns to New Haven this month. Completely free to visitors, the company will perform The Merry Wives of Windsor in Edgerton Park from August 17 to September 3. Pack a picnic and head to the park early to mingle with your fellow theater-goers. Performances begin at 7:30 PM – shall we seeth thee th’re?

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Lighthouse Point Park

July 1, 2023

Hit the beach at Lighthouse Point Park, known across New England for its stretches of warm sand and cool ocean water, splash pads and shaded pavilions, beloved bird sanctuary, and functioning vintage carousel, one of the only left in existence. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, the park is a gem of natural beauty and a meeting ground for the community of New Haven, welcoming lifelong residents and summer tourists alike. The park is open from 7 AM to sunset, and features on-duty lifeguards all summer long, restrooms, and free parking for New Haven registered vehicles.... View Article

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St. Andrew’s Society: Italian Festa

May 31, 2023

New Haven is a city steeped in rich history, as  The New York Times highlighted earlier this year. Our history is a patchwork fabric of cultures and identities, coming together to form one collective haven. Established in 1900 by the St. Andrew’s Society, this Wooster Square neighborhood’s annual event is among the oldest celebrations in New England. The open-air festa honors the neighborhood’s Italian roots and celebrates cultural diversity. This time-honored event has grown to attract thousands of people from around the region, and this year’s Italian Festa will feature live music, food, dance, and more. updated May 28, 2025

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QRiverfest

May 31, 2023

New Haven is a city steeped in rich history, as  The New York Times highlighted earlier this year. Our history is a patchwork fabric of cultures and identities, coming together to form one collective haven. Established in 2015 by the Chatham Square Neighborhood Association, Fair Haven neighborhood, this event celebrates the historic Fair Haven waterfront and diverse community.  The festival features local vendors and creatives, live music, performers, food, tours, and more each year.

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Freddy Fixer Festival & Parade

May 31, 2023

New Haven is a city steeped in rich history, as  The New York Times highlighted earlier this year. Our history is a patchwork fabric of cultures and identities, coming together to form one collective haven. Established in 1962 by Dixwell neighborhood organizers, the parade honors the community’s shared goal of neighborhood beautification. Freddy Fixer is nationally recognized as the oldest Black American parade in the northeast. In 2023, the parade resumed after a three-year hiatus, with a celebration spanning over three days featuring a kick-off meet and greet, neighborhood festival , and official parade.

Walk New Haven Tours

April 27, 2023

When The New York Times recently featured New Haven as a top destination for 2023, one of the gems in that crown was our city’s walkability. Between our distinct neighborhoods and sprawling historic Green, the sidewalks of our city tell many stories. This month, spend an afternoon with Walk New Haven, who lead cultural heritage tours across the Green and back. Although certain buildings and facades of our city’s history no longer stand, their stories remain. Walk New Haven offers self-guided walking, biking, and driving tours which unravel the stories of the pre-1970 experiences, contributions and hardships faced in New... View Article

Rock to Rock Earth Day Ride 2023

March 30, 2023

From East Rock to West Rock bike riders celebrate the city’s bikeability for the 15th Annual Rock to Rock Earth Day Ride  on Saturday, April 29th. This impactful event supports local environmental organizations and brings neighbors and visitors together to bike through New Haven’s most beautiful green spaces, from our city’s two highest summits. Not an expert biker? This event has a bike route for everyone. Choose from the metric century (60 miles), 40 mile, 20-mile, 12 mile, East Rock base-to-summit ride, two mile family rides, or hike around the base of East Rock. Choose your own adventure and save the earth.