Arts & Entertainment
Nehantic Heritage Day Celebration Coming to East Lyme on October 11, 2025
The Nehantic Native Nation and the East Lyme Historical Society collaborate with their annual celebration Nehantic Heritage Day.
This year’s Nehantic Heritage Day, held Saturday, October 11, 2025, at McCook Park in Niantic, will honor the enduring legacy of the Nehantic people, with a special focus on their service during the American Revolution. The event takes place during the weekend of Indigenous Peoples Day and continues the tradition of bringing community and history together along the Nehantic shoreline.
The celebration begins at 11:00 a.m. with an opening ceremony overlooking Wigwam Rock, featuring a ceremonial fire and remarks honoring Nehantic men who served during the Revolutionary War. Nearly thirty Nehantic soldiers are known to have fought for American independence — including several who served aboard the Oliver Cromwell, a Connecticut ship built and manned from nearby Essex, Lyme, and Saybrook.
“Their story represents courage, endurance, and dedication to this land — the same land that still bears their name,” said Nehantic Tribal Council Chairman David Brule. “It’s an honor to remember their service and bring their history into the light.”
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Following the ceremony, visitors can enjoy hands-on cultural and family activities, including pottery making and a Nehantic animal-name scavenger hunt near the pavilion.
At 1:00 p.m., David Brule will present “King Philip’s War In Your Backyard,” followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with Brule and Dr. John Pfeiffer, Nehantic Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, exploring the Nehantic experience from the 17th-century conflicts through the American Revolution and beyond.
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Nehantic Heritage Day is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for seating and enjoy the beautiful coastal setting of McCook Park, overlooking Wigwam Rock — where the Nehantics once lit fires to call their people together.
The event is presented in collaboration with the Nehantic Native Nation, with support from the East Lyme Historical Society, the Town of East Lyme, and the Niantic Community Church.
For more information about the Nehantic Native Nation, visit https://nehanticnation.com.
