2025 Celebrate Stratford Events
Celebrate Stratford is a unique collections of events drawing our community together throughout the year. From the Shakespeare Market, to the Latin Music Festival, to Blues on the Beach, there is something for everyone. Scroll down for more information on 2025 Celebrate Stratford events.
We look forward to seeing you around Town!
Shakespeare Market
January – March: 1st
Sunday Monthly
April – December:
1st and 3rd Sundays Monthly
The Shakespeare Market held on the first and third Sundays of the month from 10 am - 2 pm the grounds of the Shakespeare property are turned into an artisan market featuring food trucks, artists, community partners, and more!
Take a short walk and find Mac's Harbor, the original landing location of Stratford's first European settlers in 1639, Bond's Dock and Fishing Pier - the historical site of Stratford's Oyster houses and famed boxing camp during the first half of the 20th century. Stratford's Historic District, located on Academy Hill, is a short walk and contains homes from 17th, 18th, 19th, (and 20th) century homes.
Restaurant Week
March 1 - March 8
Join us for Stratford Restaurant Week, March 1, 2025 - March 8, 2025 as local restaurants will offer an assortment of crave-worthy discounts and deals for you to choose from.
Sponsored by:
Main Street Festival
June 7st
Main Street Festival
STRATFORD, CT - Rain or shine, the Stratford Main Street Festival is back! Join us on Saturday, June 7th, from 10am to 4pm, on Main Street from Stratford Center to Stratford Avenue. Many thanks to The Milford Bank and the Rotary Club of Stratford for presenting the festival as a community service.
The Main Street Festival is an annual town-wide event celebrating the many organizations, programs, and services the Town of Stratford has to offer, bringing together over 150 local vendors, including entertainment, food trucks, booths, and artists. The event also provides an opportunity for Stratford’s diverse organizations to educate the public about their functions and support fundraising efforts. Vendor booths and trucks will line Main Street, allowing residents to stroll through Stratford Center, embracing the beauty of the town. A DJ and various entertainers will be performing throughout the day.
Please anticipate street closures on Main Street from Church Street to Stratford Avenue.
Sponsored By:
Summer Concert Series
June 7th-August 3rd
(Rain date following Thursday)
2025
Summer Concert Series
The Stratford Department of Recreation is excited to announce that the 2024 Summer Sunset Concert Series will kick-off on Tuesday, June 17th. The concerts are performed at the Paradise Green Gazebo on Tuesdays through August 26. In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be held the following Thursday. All concerts begin at 7:00pm.
Those attending the Summer Concerts Series are welcome to park in the back of the Stratford Baptist Church at 131 Huntington Rd. The church asks that attendees keep off the grass at the church. We thank the Stratford Baptist Church for providing this accommodation.
Sponsored By:
Stratford Fireworks
Tuesday July 2nd
(Rain date Friday July 7th)
Stratford Fireworks
Mayor Laura R. Hoydick announced today that Stratford’s Annual Independence Day Fireworks display will be held Wednesday, July 2nd, at Short Beach. The display will begin at sundown, approximately 9:00 p.m. The rain date will be Monday, July 7, 2025.
Parking will be available at Short Beach Park. After 4pm, you must have a Stratford resident sticker to enter Short Beach Park. If you are a Stratford resident and do not have a current Stratford resident parking sticker, there is still time. Please visit https://www.stratfordct.gov/recreation. Overflow parking will be available at the Army Engine lot, just north of the Atlantic Aviation hangers.
TRAFFIC FLOW FOR THE FIREWORKS EVENT
- All traffic exiting the Army Engine lot will be directed North on Main St.
- Vehicles exiting Short Beach will be directed to use both lanes of Dorne Dr. to exit the parking lot. NO TRAFFIC WILL GO NORTH onto Stratford Rd/Main St.
- The north or right lane (blue arrow) will be directed to up to Stratford Rd then left onto Stratford Road, then right on to Prospect Dr, then left on Oak Bluff and finally turn right on Lordship Blvd.
- The South or left lane (red arrow) will be directed to turn left on Short Beach Rd. Right on Lighthouse Avenue. Right on Prospect Dr, left on Stratford Rd. Straight on Lordship Blvd in the EASTBOUND lane of Lordship Blvd.
- Residents will be allowed to enter Lordship until the start of the Fireworks. At the end of the event, Lordship Blvd will be closed to eastbound traffic from Access Rd to Oak Bluff Ave until traffic flow returns to normal.
Sponsored By:
Blues on the Beach
July 19th
Blues on the Beach
ANNUAL “BLUES ON THE BEACH” CELEBRATION SET FOR
SAT. JULY 19th
12pm - 9pm
Short Beach
STRATFORD - Stratford is set for the return of its annual "Blues on the Beach" summer music festival, which has become an increasingly popular summer ritual for the coastal town. The event will take place at Short Beach on Saturday, July 19, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Blues is part of the Stratford Celebrate Festivals and is run by volunteer Erin McLaughlin.
Sponsored By:
Click Here for more information
Latin Music Festival
September 14
(Rain Date September 21)
Latin Music Festival
The Town of Stratford and the Stratford Hispanic Heritage Committee are proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month at the 19th annual Latin Music Festival, sponsored by the Stratford Economic & Community Development Commission. The popular event is scheduled for Sunday, September 14, 2025 from 12pm to 6pm, with a rain date of September 21, 2025. The event will take place on Paradise Green. The celebration continues on September 16th at 9am with the Hispanic Heritage flag raising ceremony on the steps of Town Hall, 2725 Main Street.
More information can be found at
facebook.com/StratfordHispanicHeritage
Great Pumpkin Festival
October 18, 2025
(Rain Date October 19)
The Great Pumpkin Festival
The Town of Stratford and the Boothe Park Commission are happy to announce the 2025 Great Pumpkin Festival. Sponsored by Comcast, the event is scheduled for Saturday, October 18th from 12pm to 4pm. In the event of inclement weather, the event will take place on Sunday, October 19th from 12pm to 4pm. The popular festival will take place on Stratford’s historic Boothe Memorial Park at 5800 Main Street.
Attendees can look forward to circus acts, face painting, a costume parade and contest, a pumpkin carving contest, an inflatable corn maze and more. The many historic and unique buildings on the Boothe Park property will be open to the public. A variety of civic organizations, together with the Boothe Park Commission, will be offering fall-themed treats. Cash and Venmo are accepted methods of payment.
Sponsor By:
Holiday Tree Lighting
November 28th, 2025
Holiday Tree Lighting
Join us on Wednesday November 28 at 5:30pm on the steps of Town Hall as we ring in the holidays with our annual Holiday Tree Lighting!
Holiday Menorah Lighting
December 16, 2025
Holiday Menorah Lighting
The 2025 Menorah Lighting will take place on December 16.