Strawberries, Fireworks, Food Trucks: CT Party Season Is In Full Swing

CONNECTICUT — Strawberries, fireworks, food trucks, Greek pastries, and dogs in sunglasses — Connecticut is throwing the ultimate summer weekend party.

It is the weekend for Connecticut strawberry lovers, with two festivals celebrating their favorite fruit. The one in at Coe Memorial Park in Torrington on Saturday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., boasts "Connecticut’s BEST Strawberry Shortcake." You'll also find strawberry lemonade, strawberry pie, and just about every other variation on strawberry treats, along with a giant walking strawberry, and craft vendors and artisans from all around Connecticut and beyond. Admission to the Torrington Strawberry Festival is free, rain date is Sunday, June 1.

It better not rain any day this weekend, as the New London County Strawberry Festival looks to fill the North Stonington Agricultural Fairgrounds both Saturday and Sunday. It's "Eastern Connecticut's Premier Strawberry Festival," where you will find over 15 food trucks and 80 vendors and a staggering variety of strawberry-infused foods and strawberry-themed products and treats. Admission is free, Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The town of Derby is having a big three-day blowout this weekend in celebration of its 350th anniversary of being named a township in 1675. Expect fireworks, live music, a time capsule opening, lots of flags, food trucks, kids activities, pub crawls, a formal gala, and just about everything in between. May 30 to June 1, Ground Zero is the Derby Green.

Wethersfield has never needed an anniversary or Independence Day celebration to set off fireworks, and that's just what they will be doing at Cove Park Saturday night just after dark. Naturally, there will be live music, a DJ, activities for kids, food vendors and plenty more — summer nights are Big in Wethersfield.

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Food trucks are big all year long in Connecticut, but come summer they even get their own festivals. Food Trucks on the River 2025 will run Friday (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and Saturday (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.) at Veteran's Memorial Park in Shelton. Over 30 trucks are expected, along with a mobile bar, live music, an artisan fair, flash tattoos, and crazy stuff like miniature golf. Admission is free.

Organizers in Stratford are calling the first-ever Paws & Pints the "ultimate dog day out," and it certainly seems to have all the right ingredients. It's co-hosted by Two Roads Brewing Company and Dog Friendly Finds CT, and the event is all about celebrating your your best four-legged friends with "an afternoon of fun, shopping, music, and cold brews." The brewery grounds will be crawling with dog-centric vendors, as well as dogs. Noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Play your cards right, and maybe you can fill your weekend with dog days. Latham Park in Downtown Stamford will be the setting Saturday for Bark in the Park, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to vendors, look for demos, free microchipping, contests, therapy dog evaluations, a photo booth, "splash zone, treat bar, and an adoption area. The event is free, but be sure to bring a donation that will be distributed to the participating rescue groups.

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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Bridgeport takes that "Greek" bit very, very seriously, and lets you know about it each year with a three-day Greek Festival & Fair. The authentic Greek food and pastries are incredible, as are the live music, dancers, and vendor fair. Admission is free, and the festival rolls rain or shine, Friday and Saturday noon to 10 p.m., Sunday noon to 9 p.m.