Looking for things to do in Fairfield County this week and next, summer plans are waiting close to home. Outdoor concerts, family performances and evenings in the park make it easy to gather with friends or try something new. Hands on workshops and creative programs offer a closer look at local history, art and the natural world. There are also plenty of reasons to step outside, from a guided paddle to music by the water. Whether the mood calls for a lively show or a slower afternoon, what is happening nearby offers a welcome change of pace. These local events are a reminder that some of the best summer moments can happen right where we live.
Across Fairfield County
1. Family Movie Night, Goat
Friday, August 14, 2026
Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center, Greenwich
Families can spread out on the lawn for an outdoor screening of Goat. Music and lawn games begin the evening before the movie, with light refreshments available.
2. Musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Curtain Call, Stamford
Roald Dahl’s story comes to the stage in Curtain Call’s summer youth theatre production. Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners enter Willy Wonka’s mysterious factory, where chocolate waterfalls, Oompa Loompas and the great glass elevator bring the familiar adventure to life. The score includes The Candy Man, I’ve Got a Golden Ticket and Pure Imagination.
3. Concert, Darien Summer Nights with The Spadtastics
Friday, August 7, 2026
Tilley Pond Park, Darien
The Spadtastics bring their high energy mix of dance favorites to the park for an outdoor summer concert. Families and friends can spread out with chairs and blankets while the band plays and Darien Butcher Shop fires up the grills.
4. Workshop, Block Printmaking with Evelyn Harvey
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Rowayton Arts Center, Rowayton
Artist and instructor Evelyn Harvey introduces participants to block printmaking, from developing a strong design to carving a linoleum block with a variety of tools. The workshop includes all materials, and participants can leave with a finished print or a small set of handmade cards.
5. Canoe Paddle, Saugatuck River Wildlife
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Earthplace, Westport
A guided paddle follows the Saugatuck River in search of osprey, egrets, turtles and other wildlife. The outing offers families and friends a closer look at the river from the water.
Greenwich Magazine
1. Exhibition, Alexander D’Agostino, Where We Are
Saturday, June 13 through Friday, September 4, 2026
Greenwich Botanical Center, Cos Cob
Local photographer Alexander D’Agostino turns his attention to ordinary streets, landscapes and passing moments in this exhibition of quietly observed images. His photographs explore how light, color and human connection shape the way places are experienced and remembered.
2. Family Program, Candles and Lanterns
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Greenwich Historical Society, Cos Cob
Families can make and decorate beeswax candles, then create a punched tin lantern or clay candle holder to take home. Tours of the Bush Holley House connect the hands on project to daily life before electricity and other modern conveniences
3. Concert, Marc Berger and Ride
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, Greenwich
Marc Berger and Ride bring American roots music to the park for an outdoor summer concert. The performance is part of the town concert series, which brings live music to gathering spaces across Greenwich.
4. Family Movie Night, Goat
Friday, August 14, 2026
Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center, Greenwich
Families can spread out on the lawn for an outdoor screening of Goat. Music and lawn games begin the evening before the movie, with light refreshments available.
5. Science Program, Build a Dinosaur
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Bruce Museum, Greenwich
Children and families can step into the role of paleontologists by arranging and reconstructing dinosaur skeletons with simple art materials. The drop in activity connects hands on making with the Six Extinctions exhibition at the museum.
Stamford Magazine
1. Musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Curtain Call, Stamford
Roald Dahl’s story comes to the stage in Curtain Call’s summer youth theatre production. Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners enter Willy Wonka’s mysterious factory, where chocolate waterfalls, Oompa Loompas and the great glass elevator bring the familiar adventure to life. The score includes The Candy Man, I’ve Got a Golden Ticket and Pure Imagination.
2. Family Show, Circus Splendiferous
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Mill River Park, Stamford
The Splendiferous Show brings a fast paced outdoor circus performance to the park. The 45 minute production combines juggling, clowning and aerial feats in a format designed for audiences of all ages.
3. Outdoor Sound Bath with Lisa Cooper
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Main Street Garden, Stamford
Sound healer Lisa Cooper leads an outdoor meditation using layered sound and vibration to encourage deep relaxation. Participants can settle in with a yoga mat or blanket while listening in the garden, and no prior meditation experience is needed.
4. Trivia Night in Veterans Park
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Veterans Memorial Park, Stamford
Teams can test their knowledge across pop culture, sports, history and other familiar topics. Best Trivia Ever leads the questions, with prizes for the top teams and space for participants to bring their own food and drinks.
5. Concert, Diana Ross in Motion
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Stamford Palace Theatre, Stamford
Diana Ross brings her Diana in Motion tour to Stamford for a live concert. The performance draws from a career spanning Motown, pop and soul, including her work with The Supremes and her decades as a solo artist.
New Canaan, Darien and Rowayton Magazine
1. Concert, Darien Summer Nights with The Spadtastics
Friday, August 7, 2026
Tilley Pond Park, Darien
The Spadtastics bring their high energy mix of dance favorites to the park for an outdoor summer concert. Families and friends can spread out with chairs and blankets while the band plays and Darien Butcher Shop fires up the grills.
2. Family Movie Matinee, GOAT
Friday, August 7, 2026
Darien Library, Darien
A small goat with big dreams gets a chance to join the pros and compete in roarball, a fast moving sport dominated by powerful animals. The animated adventure is rated PG and designed for children ages 5 and older with a caregiver.
3. Guided Walk, Summer Stroll at Grace Farms
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Grace Farms, New Canaan
A guided walk through the landscape highlights the plant and animal life that emerges during the height of summer. Participants will explore the connections among the surrounding ecosystems while taking a closer look at seasonal changes across the property.
4. Workshop, Block Printmaking with Evelyn Harvey
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Rowayton Arts Center, Rowayton
Artist and instructor Evelyn Harvey introduces participants to block printmaking, from developing a strong design to carving a linoleum block with a variety of tools. The workshop includes all materials, and participants can leave with a finished print or a small set of handmade cards.
5. Concert, Billy and the Showmen
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Calf Pasture Beach, Norwalk
Billy and the Showmen bring classic rhythm and blues to the beach for an outdoor summer concert. The Connecticut band draws from soul favorites and a long history of live performance across the region.
Westport, Weston and Wilton Magazine
1. Workshop, Pickling Like It Is 1776
Friday, August 7, 2026
Westport Museum for History and Culture, Westport
Participants learn how quick refrigerator pickles are made with vinegar, sugar, salt and favorite flavorings. The workshop explores the history and science of preserving food, and everyone takes home a jar with a custom label.
2. Musical, School of Rock Young Actors Edition
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Fairfield Theatre Company, Fairfield
Young performers take on the story of Dewey Finn, a struggling musician who poses as a substitute teacher and turns his students into a rock band. Based on the 2003 film, the musical celebrates the confidence and connection that can grow through making music together.
3. Concert, Joanie Leeds for Families
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Levitt Pavilion, Westport
Grammy winning musician Joanie Leeds brings her lively family music to the outdoor stage. Her songs blend humor, storytelling and thoughtful themes, with recent work inspired by banned picture books and her relationship with her 100 year old grandmother.
4. Concert, Red Barn Live at Ambler Farm
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Ambler Farm, Wilton
The farm hosts an outdoor evening of live music with food vendors and room to spread out on the field. Blankets and lawn chairs are part of the relaxed setup, with the Red Barn and surrounding farmland as the backdrop.
5. Canoe Paddle, Saugatuck River Wildlife
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Earthplace, Westport
A guided paddle follows the Saugatuck River in search of osprey, egrets, turtles and other wildlife. The outing offers families and friends a closer look at the river from the water.