Litchfield has many marquee annual events beloved by residents and visitors alike, and the most prominent are listed here. See our Events Calendar for daily and weekly events taking place in town.
Topsmead State Forest Cottage Tours
Free tours of Miss Edith Morton Chase’s historic Tudor style cottage at Topsmead State Forest are offered from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second and fourth weekends of each month from mid-June through mid-October.
The tours are led by CT DEEP docents and Friends of Topsmead State Forest and run every half-hour. Guests meet at the front door for the free 30-minute tours. See the Visit Litchfield CT post about the start of the 2026 season and watch for announcements on the Friends’ Facebook page.
In 1917, according to the Friends of Topsmead State Forest, Miss Chase received from her father approximately 16 acres on Jefferson Hill in Litchfield. Here she built a rustic cabin, which was replaced with a more substantial summer home in 1923. She hired noted architect Richard Henry Dana, Jr. to help her design and build the English Tudor style house which was completed in 1925. The exterior woodwork is of cypress, the downspouts are lead, the walls of brick and stucco, and the roof is slate. The interior woodwork is oak, as is most of the flooring. The foyer, hallway and dining room floors are of polished terra cotta tile. Most of the interior walls are of the same type of stucco as is found on the exterior. Fine craftsmanship, an eye for detail and understated wealth are evident throughout the house, which is tastefully and simply furnished with 17th and 18th century English country antiques. See the Friends’ website to learn more.
Concerts on the Green
Litchfield CT Park & Recreation, and the season begins June 24 with crowd favorite Wooden Horse, which honors the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and America.
No alcohol or cannabis is allowed on the Green. No frisbees or balls are allowed. No dogs are allowed on the Green and concert guests are advised to please leave them at home, not in the car. Use garbage bins or carry out your garbage. No climbing on trees or poles. No open flames.
Bantam Lake Ski Show
Dive into a thrilling summer tradition with the nation’s oldest continuously operating water ski club! The Bantam Lake Ski Club returns to Sandy Beach for its highly anticipated annual show, themed “Adventures of the Sea.”
Expect a high-energy, awe-inspiring spectacle reminiscent of classic Cypress Gardens performances. This family-friendly weekend showcase features spectacular multi-tier human pyramids, graceful ballet lines, high-flying jumps, barefooting, trick skiing, and fast-paced wakeboarding. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and sunscreen to enjoy a spectacular afternoon of lakeside action.
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Dates: Saturday, August 2nd & Sunday, August 3rd, 2026
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Time: Show starts at 2:00 PM both days (Arrive by 1:30 PM for parking and beach setup)
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Location: Sandy Beach, 407 East Shore Rd.
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Admission: $25 per carload
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Food: Refreshments, snacks, and food truck bites will be available for purchase on-site.
Goshen Fair
The Goshen Fair is held each Labor Day weekend. A classic country fair, it features animals, including draft horses, dairy cows, pigs, chickens, goats, ducks sheep, rabbits, llamas, horses, and beef cows—along with draught animal pulls, garden tractor pulls, tractor pulls, truck pulls, wood chopping, a petting zoo photography, vegetables, needlework, flowers, arts and crafts, and much more, There’s always rides, lots of great fair food, and entertainment for all ages. Other events take place at the fairgrounds throughout the year. Watch the website as the fair approaches for all the details.
Family Nature Day at White Memorial
Family Nature Day each September is a highlight of a calendar packed with great outdoor and nature-oriented activities at the White Memorial Conservation Center, the heart of the larger White Memorial Foundation with 4,000 acres of preserved land and 40 miles of trails. The 43rd annual Family Nature Day takes place Sept. 27. Details are here.
Plein Air Litchfield
Scarecrows in the Meadow
Oliver Wolcott Library Festival of Trees
It’s the most wonderful time of the year at Oliver Wolcott Library. Join the library November 29 from 5:00–8:30 for a magical evening full of celebration, all in support of the library.
- Full open bar.
- Lavish hors d’oeuvres.
- Wreaths and trees. A
- nd so much more.
All proceeds directly benefit library services, materials, and programs. 2025 tickets are here.
Holiday Stroll & Holiday Tree Lighting
Litchfield’s annual Holiday Stroll & Tree Lighting event will add a ‘Holiday Parade of Lights’ this year!
The festive and fun-filled afternoon on Sunday, Dec. 7 (from 3 to 5 p.m.) will feature the classic elements families love:
🎅 and Mrs. Claus will be hearing the wishes of children on the “nice” list outside the front entrance of The Abner hotel beginning at 3 p.m.
❆ A marshmallow booth will be located in front of the information booth on the Green.
The Boy Scouts will be serving hot cocoa at Union Savings Bank.
🎼 There will be live holiday music & a cookie table outside the Belden House & Mews.
🎄 More things are still being planned, possibly including a holiday ornament station .
Then, about 4:15, children and others who want to walk in the ‘Holiday Parade of Lights’ head down to Wolcott and Meadow streets to join all the vehicles decorated with holiday lights – including fire trucks from the Litchfield fire companies, the Litchfield Volunteer Ambulance, residents’ vehicles, and even bikes. This glittering procession with escort Santa and Mrs. Claus back to the Green for the official holiday tree lighting at approximately 5 p.m.
(Vehicles participating in the ‘Holiday Parade of Lights’ will initially gather at Litchfield Public Works at 4 p.m. to begin lining up for the parade. Anyone interested in or participating in should contact Park and Recreation Director Michael Lyn Cappello at (860) 567-7569 to reserve a spot.)
Watch the Park & Rec Facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/litchfieldctparkandrec
Possum Queen
This strange but magnificent tradition started in 1989 by raising about $2,000 for a Litchfield family needing help with medical bills through New Year’s Day event in which guests dress up in crazy costumes and bid on auction items that include a can of “possum stew.” It’s a riff on the popularity of possum as a dinner staple in the old show “The Beverly Hillbillies.” However that sounds, the Possum Queen Foundation raised more than $100,000 in 2018, $150,000 in 2019, and $130,000 in January 2020 alone to help individuals and families in dire straits. See the website to learn more. While the event was begun and is based in Litchfield, in recent years it has been held out of town.
Litchfield Restaurant Week
Thanks to everyone who helped make our 2026 Litchfield Restaurant Week a great success!
In 2026, we had a record 29 restaurants that offered special 3-course menus. Participants ranged from gourmet shops, coffee shops and delis to fine dining havens — and 2027 marks the fifth anniversary of Litchfield Restaurant Week, so get ready for some delicious surprises. Check back in February 2027 as we begin to roll out Restaurant Week information.
Laurel Ridge Daffodils
Every spring, the magnificent fields of daffodils at Laurel Ridge draw hundreds, even thousands, of admirers. This beloved display, created and presented for public enjoyment by the Morosani family, is located along Wigwam Road, off Route 254. Please tread lightly and park carefully. The display tends to reach its peak in late April or early May. See our blog post on the 2023 display and follow the Visit Litchfield CT Facebook page for updates on the status of the display. Click here to view on Google Maps.
Litchfield Hills Road Race
Established in 1977, the Litchfield Hills Road Race is a great Litchfield tradition that attracts elite runners from around the world. It’s held the second Sunday in June, and in years not affected by extenuating circumstances, it includes children’s races and other festivities that make race weekend an exciting time for visitors and spectators to be in Litchfield. See the LHRR website for more information.
Litchfield Wellness Festival
This Saturday, June 27, the Litchfield Wellness Festival will transform Litchfield Community Field into a vibrant hub of health, happiness, and community connection.
Whether you’re looking to try a new fitness class, discover local health and beauty experts, or just enjoy a beautiful day outside with the family, the Litchfield Wellness Festival has something for everyone. Admission and parking are completely free!
Fourth of July Events & Fireworks
Litchfield has a terrific Independence Day fireworks display at the Litchfield public schools complex, while other Fourth of July celebrations also focus on the town’s rich Revolutionary War-era history. This year’s fireworks festival is June 26. Parking passes are available on the Litchfield Park & Recreation website.
On Independence Day weekend, the Litchfield Historical Society offers a Heroes of the Revolution Walking Tour, as well as the popular July 4th Pet Parade in the Tapping Reeve Meadow on the afternoon of Independence Day.
Meanwhile, the First Litchfield Artillery fires its cannon 13 times at the All Wars Memorial in Bantam on Independence Day to pay tribute to the original 13 colonies, and the Mary Floyd Tallmadge Chapter DAR begins the Independence Day celebration with tributes at the burial sites of Gov. Oliver Wolcott Sr. and Col. Benjamin Tallmadge in East Cemetery.