Yankee ’s guide to top events this season …

Connecticut

25th Greater Hartford Festival Of Jazz

JULY 15–17

In 1992, after 25 years of running the popular Monday Night Jazz series at Bushnell Park, bassist Paul Brown gathered some talented friends together and launched the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, which this year celebrates its own 25th anniversary. Over the past quarter-century, the festival has grown into the largest free jazz event in New England, playing host to many of the biggest names in the genre, along with up-andcomers from the New England scene. Hartford. hartfordjazz.com

Maine

50th Bar Harbor Music Festival

JULY 3–31

You’re certain to hear something new at the Bar Harbor Music Festival, nationally recognized for its mission of providing essential performance opportunities for outstanding upand-coming talent. The outdoor concert at Acadia National Park on July 27 and the Festival Gala on July 31 are always special highlights. Bar Harbor. 207-288-5744; barharbormusicfestival.org

Massachusetts Lowell Folk Festival

JULY 29–31

For three years in the late 1980s, Lowell played host to the National Folk Festival. The success of those events inspired the 1990 creation of the Lowell Folk Festival, which has been bringing topnotch artists and performers to Dutton Street Dance Pavilion and Boarding House Park ever since. Lowell. 978-275-1764; lowellfolkfestival.org

New Hampshire New Hampshire Music Festival

JULY 5–AUGUST 4

This four-week summer music festival, now in its 64th year, honors the tradition of symphonic, choral, and chamber music while exploring new artistic paths. Founded in 1952 on Melody Island in Lake Winnipesaukee, the event has made its home at Plymouth State University for most of the past two decades. See the website for this year’s lineup. Plymouth/ Gilford. 603-238-9007; nhmf.org

VERMONT SUMMER FESTIVALON-THE-GREEN

JULY 10–16

Bring a blanket and claim some space on the grass for Vermont’s popular, free, family music event. More than 500 musicians, ranging from the very local to the internationally acclaimed, have taken the stage in the bucolic town center over the past 38 years. Saturday’s street-dance finale is a don’t-miss event. Middlebury. festivalonthegreen.org

To see more of our favorite fairs, festivals, shows, and other happenings around New England this season, visit: YankeeMagazine.com/Summer-Events

For more of the events you love around New England, see pp. 66–72.

Connecticut

THROUGH SEPT. 11: FALLS VILLAGE, Music Mountain 2016. The 87th installment of this festival features a season-long run of Saturday jazz and Sunday classical concerts, culminating with an “In Memoriam” performance by the Amernet String Quartet on the anniversary of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. 860-8247126; musicmountain.org

JULY 4: MYSTIC, Independence Day Celebration. An exciting day kicks off with morning boat races on the Mystic River and military exercises with the state’s Volunteer Infantry on the village green. The midday parade is followed by an elegant concert featuring the Mystic Silver Cornet Band. Enjoy an old-fashioned spelling bee for kids, lawn games, picnic, theatrical performances, games with costumed reenactors, and more. 860-572-0711; mysticseaport.org

JULY 7–9: UNIONVILLE, 122nd Tunxis Hose Carnival & Fireman’s Parade. A local tradition at Union School, and the volunteer firefighters’ biggest fundraiser. Ride the rides till you’re dizzy; indulge in fried dough and burgers; and take a chance on a raffle. Don’t miss the evening fireworks on Friday. tunxishose.com

JULY 7–10: NORTH STONINGTON, North Stonington Agricultural Fair. Providing familyoriented entertainment, good food, and fun at the fairgrounds on Wyassup Road. See tractor and oxen pulls; view beautiful arts and crafts; learn about farm life; and enjoy the midway rides. 860-535-3956; northstoningtonfair.org

JULY 15–17: GUILFORD, 59th Annual Craft Expo. A premier exhibition of handmade contemporary American crafts featuring decorative, functional, and traditional items of exquisite quality, all displayed amid the beauty of the scenic and historic town green. 203-4535947; guilfordartcenter.org/expo

JULY 16: EAST LYME, Celebrate East Lyme Street Festival. A mile of Niantic’s Main Street is closed to cars to make way for this celebration by the sea, featuring food, fun, vendors, live music, and a spectacular fireworks show by the bay. 860-536-4941; celebrateeastlyme.com

JULY 29–30: NEW MILFORD, 49th New Milford Village Fair Days. Free fun awaits on the spectacular village green. Enjoy nearly 200 vendor and community booths offering crafts, antiques, a variety of food items, live entertainment, bingo, kids’ activities, and more. 860-354-6080; newmilford-chamber.com

JULY 30–31: OLD SAYBROOK, Annual Arts & Crafts Festival. For more than half a century, this spe- cial event has been a summer mainstay, with more than 145 artists and crafters putting their wares on display. oldsaybrookchamber.com

AUG. 12–14: LEBANON, Lebanon Country Fair. Now in its 57th year, this true community event returns to the fairgrounds. Don’t miss the music, the competitions, and the kids’ events, plus fine food offerings, all sponsored by the local Lions Club. 860-6426012; lebanoncountryfair.org

AUG. 13–14: MYSTIC, Outdoor Art Festival. The largest show of its kind in New England, this event features 250 fine artists exhibiting oils, watercolors, photography, pastels, sculptures, and acrylics, plus another 60 or so crafters offering creative works for sale. With good food, kids’ activities, and more. 860-572-9578; mysticchamber.org

AUG. 20: MILFORD, Milford Oyster Festival. Celebrate the town’s legacy with a wide variety of oysters to sample, plus a shucking contest, while bands take the stage at Fowler Park. This year’s headliner is Blue Oyster Cult. Artisans, kids’ rides and games, food, and much more round out the family fun. 203878-5363; milfordoysterfestival.com

AUG. 25–28: BROOKLYN, Brooklyn Fair. The food, the animals, the midway, the entertainment, the arts and crafts, the contests (including a skillet toss!)—it’s all here at the area’s oldest agricultural festival. 860-7790012; brooklynfair.org

Maine

JULY 3: BLUE HILL, 26th Annual Blue Hill Pops Concert. Sponsored by the Bagaduce Lending Library and held at George Stevens Academy gym, this year’s show is headlined by fiddler Andy Stein, who has portrayed the “Powdermilk Biscuit” fiddler on A Prairie Home Companion for more than 20 years. 207-374-5454; bagaducemusic.org

JULY 8–10: LISBON, Moxie Festival. Join in for three days of “wicked cool” Moxie fun, as this most unusual soft drink is celebrated in its home state. Plenty to drink, of course, along with a concert in the park, a car show, a recipe contest, a parade, a 5K race, an ATV charity ride, and more. 207-353-3000 x122; moxiefestival.com

JULY 8–17: WATERVILLE, 19th Maine International Film Festival. Representing the best of both American independent and world cinema, this 10-day festival showcases nearly 100 films, spotlighting some of New England’s most exciting and innovative moviemakers, many of whom will be on hand. 207-861-8138; miff.org

JULY 15–17: BELFAST, 10th Maine Celtic Celebration. Scottish bagpipes, Highland games, a Celtic-breeds dog show, road race, the wacky “Cheese Rolling Championship” competition, and more await at these familyoriented festivities on the waterfront. 207338-2692; mainecelticcelebration.com

JULY 16–SEPT. 5: PORT CLYDE, Barbara Ernst Prey: In Search of America. Prey’s paintings are featured in collections around the world, including those of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the White House. This exhibition at Barbara Prey Projects explores memory, art history, and the influence of Color Field painters on her work. 207-372-8087; barbarapreyprojects.com

JULY 29–30: RANGELEY, Logging Festival & Parade. Enjoy an authentic Maine bean-hole dinner, music, logging exhibits and logging horse demonstration, equipment displays, woodsmen competitions, crafts, chainsawcarving demos, and more at the Maine Forestry Museum Fairgrounds, plus a parade on Main Street. 207-864-3939; rlrlm.org

JULY 29–AUG. 7: BANGOR, Bangor State Fair. The fairgrounds play host to one of the state’s oldest and largest events, featuring 4-H competitions (including a dog show, a sheep show, and horse judging), a midway, crafts, commercial exhibits, a flower show, and more. bangorstatefair.com

JULY 30: SKOWHEGAN, Artisan Bread Fair. Visit the Skowhegan State Fairgrounds and sample delicious breads, pastries, and Maine-made foods, including pizza from