Father’s Day is creeping up, which means it’s time to pretend Dad is “impossible to shop for” before buying him something he might actually use. We rounded up a few Hartford County picks with a little more personality than the emergency gas station card.

HOW IT WORKS:

✦︎ You take a quick quiz about your interests, food preferences, and the kind of people you’d actually enjoy sharing a table with.

✦︎ We match you with five other Connecticut Buzz readers based on your answers.

✦︎ The day before dinner, you’ll get the restaurant reveal so you know exactly where your group is meeting.

✦︎ During dinner, we’ll text everyone the secret after-dinner spot if you want to keep the night going. Totally optional. If the pasta wins, no judgment. Go home and become one with your couch.

Think you can solve Buzzword Vol. 2? Give our Connecticut Buzz twist on Wordle a shot, then reply to this email and tell us what other little games, quizzes, or local challenges you’d want to see us bring to life next.

Father’s Day night, but make it cooler: Lantern Lounge is bringing global grooves, curated cocktails, bites, desserts, and good-people energy to Pine Loft (1474 Berlin Tpke, Berlin) on Sunday, June 21 from 6–9 PM. Music comes from Wide Awakes OG, admission is $15 in advance, and because we like you, they’re giving HartCo Buzz readers $5 OFF with code HartCoBuzz at checkout.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Lyka, a goofy, adventure-ready Siberian Husky who’s looking for a fenced-in yard, a forever family, and someone willing to be outsmarted by a very pretty dog.

🏡House of the week: This fully renovated 4-bed, 5-bath tucked on 2.7 secluded acres is basically a private retreat hiding in plain sight. We’re talking 4,313 sq ft, four fireplaces, a pool, pool house, generator, and the dangerous kind of “let’s just look at the photos real quick” energy. Check it out!

🌳Park of the week: Northwest Park in Windsor is one of those sneaky-good Hartford County gems with 473 acres, 12 miles of trails, farm animals, gardens, and just enough nature-center energy to make you feel productive. Come for a walk, stay because you accidentally found the Tobacco Museum, a picnic spot, and the rare public park that somehow works for kids, dogs, bird nerds, and people who simply need to touch grass. Learn more.

🔭Sky report: Look west after sunset June 16–18 for a skinny crescent moon near Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury. The solstice itself won’t look like an eclipse, but June 21 gives us the longest day of the year, plus a first-quarter Moon that’s perfect for easy backyard moon-gazing.

More than most people realize! Lenders price in tiers, so even nudging from a 690 to a 700, or 740 to 760+, can unlock noticeably better pricing. The gap between a 620 and 760+ score can mean roughly 1% to 1.5% higher rate, plus pricier mortgage insurance. That often adds $150 or more monthly, or tens of thousands over 30 years. Curious where you land? Reach out to me, and let's map your best path. Get in touch!

Over 80% of you nailed last week’s trivia: Lake Compounce is the oldest continuously running amusement park in America, first opening way back in 1846. The origin story is peak Connecticut weird: a Bristol scientist named Samuel Botsford reportedly drew a crowd to the lake for public electricity experiments, and the “well, people showed up” era of summer fun basically began. Today, the park is rolling toward its 180th season, with old-school gems like the 1911 carousel and Wildcat sitting alongside Boulder Dash, the mountain-hugging wooden coaster that’s been voted one of the best in the world. Check out this brief video about the history of Lake Compounce.

Hartford | Yoga In Our City at Elizabeth Park | 5:30 PM - Stretch it out in one of Hartford’s prettiest spots with a free, all-levels Yoga In Our City class at Elizabeth Park.

Collinsville | Herb Talks & Tea with Herbalists Alexa and Jocelyn | 6 PM | ($) - Learn about herbs with tea tastings from local herbalists at The Space (30 Depot Street). Check It Out

Enfield | Wildflower Butterfly Paint Party | 6 PM - Paint a wildflower and butterfly canvas at Tipsy Paint Brush (610 Enfield Street). Get Crafty

Hartford | 39th CT LGBTQ Film Festival | 6:30 PM | ($) - LGBTQ film festival with award-winning shorts at Cinestudio. Join the Fun

South Windsor | Pottery Painting | 6 PM | ($) - Paint pottery while enjoying craft beer at CT Valley Brewing (765 Sullivan Ave). Make It

Southington | Concert: Blondie & Beyond | 7 PM - New wave and 80s hits—no cover charge at Southington Town Green.

Berlin | Make and Take: Wire-Wrapped Sea Glass Pendants | 5:30 PM - Create a wire-wrapped sea glass pendant to take home at Berlin-Peck Memorial Library (234 Kensington Rd). Create Away

Bloomfield | Bloomfield Summer Concert Series | 7 PM - Free outdoor concert on the green at Bloomfield Town Green (800 Bloomfield Ave).

Bristol | Plant Bingo – The Garden Games at Pinehurst | 6 PM | ($) - Win plants at this garden-themed bingo night at Pinehurst Garden Center (50 Pinehurst Road). Join In

Hartford | RiverZumba | 6 PM - Free outdoor Zumba fitness class on the riverfront plaza at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza (300 Columbus Boulevard).

Manchester | 5th Annual taste of the Park Dinner Series: The Oriental Garden | 5:30 PM - Outdoor dinner series featuring Asian cuisine at Wickham Park (1329 Middle Tpke W). Check It Out

Milldale | BOOT SCOOTIN' BREW| 6 PM | ($) - Line dancing lessons at the brewery at Kinsmen Brewing (409 Canal St). Be There

Newington | Cruising Newington Classic Car Show | 5-8 PM | ($) - Classic car show at Market Square.

Newington | Kathy Thompson - Summer Concert | 6:30 PM - Free summer concert in the park at Mill Pond Park (119 Garfield St).

West Hartford | Rigometrics with Lee Ross | 8 PM | ($) - Live electronic music at New Park Brewing. Join In

Wethersfield | Tarot and the Summer Solstice | 6 PM | ($) - Tarot readings celebrating the summer solstice at The Blackbird House (147 Main Street). Check It Out

Bristol | Smash and Create Bottle Art Epoxy Workshop | 6 PM | ($) - Smash bottles and create epoxy art at The Bristol Bazaar 67 Race Street). Make It

Broad Brook | BOSTYX - The Ultimate Tribute to Boston & Styx | 8 PM | ($) - Ultimate tribute to Boston and Styx rock classics at Broad Brook Opera House (4 Depot St). Catch the Show

Burlington | The Ebbas | 8 PM - Live music at the tavern at Greenhouse Tavern & Cafe (511 Spielman Hwy).

East Granby | Liive acoustic rock with Shawn Layne | 6 PM - Live acoustic rock at the golf club grill at The Grill at Copper Hill (20 Copper Hill Rd).

East Hartford | Tasting Event and Live Music | 5 PM - Join the fun at this community event at Carmine's Bar Grill & Stage (389 Main St).

Granby | Decker Bandits Trio | 7 PM - Live trio performance at Cambridge House Brew Pub (357 Salmon Brook St).

Hartford | An Evening with Jon Stewart | 7 PM | ($) - Comedy legend Jon Stewart live at The Bushnell (166 Capitol Ave). Check It Out

Hartford | Bob Marley Tribute Show with Roots Rock Reality | 8 PM | ($) - Bob Marley tribute show celebrating Juneteenth at Arch Street Tavern (85 Arch St). Rock Out

Manchester | Manchester Food Truck Festival 2026 | Times vary - Food trucks galore at the mall at Buckland Hills Mall (245 Buckland Hills Dr). Dig In (runs throughout the weekend)

Marlborough | EMINENT DOMAIN - One Last Set | 7 PM - Band's farewell performance at the farm at THE FARM AT CARTER HILL (86 East Hampton Rd).

Milldale | POLISH NIGHT | 8 PM | ($) - Join the fun at this community event at Kinsmen Brewing (409 Canal St). Join In

New Britain | Art Happy Hour | 5:30 PM | ($) - Sip and explore art at the museum at New Britain Museum of American Art (56 Lexington St). Check It Out

Rocky Hill | The Acoustic Getaway. Happy Hour | 5:30 PM - Happy hour with live acoustic music at Arch 2 Sports Bar (632 Cromwell Ave).

South Windsor | Feedback | 6 PM - Join the fun at this live music event at CT Valley Brewing (765 Sullivan Ave).

Bloomfield | Audacity | 6 PM - Rock band Audacity plays the brewery taproom at Dudleytown Brewing Company (83 Old Windsor Rd).

Bristol | Father's Day Cookout | 11 AM - 3 PM - Classic cookout celebration for dads at American Legion Post 2 (488 Farmington Avenue).

Bristol | Broken Jewelry Art Workshop | 5 PM | ($) - Turn broken jewelry into beautiful mosaic art at Smash and Create Art Studio (67 Race Street). Create

Burlington | Pure Cars & Food trucks | 10 AM - 2 PM | ($) - Car show with food trucks at the park at River Glenn Park (175 Canton Rd.).

Canton | Hike at Mary Conklin Sanctuary | 11:30 AM - Guided nature hike through the sanctuary at Mary Conklin Sanctuary (144 Indian Hill Road). Join In

East Granby | Connecticut Tunes & Tales of the Revolution | 12 PM | ($) - Musical storytelling about Connecticut's Revolutionary War history at East Granby Public Library (24 Center St). Check It Out

Farmington | Observance of Juneteenth with FriendzWorldMusic – From the Porch | 6 PM | ($) - Juneteenth observance with live world music at Hill-Stead Museum (35 Mountain Rd). Listen Up

Farmington | A Community Art Exhibition from the Live Art Walk | 11 AM - Community art exhibition from the Live Art Walk at Barney Library (71 Main St).

Hartford | Bridging Freedom: A Juneteenth Celebration | 11 AM - Juneteenth celebration at the riverfront at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza.

Hartford | GRiZ Tribute Night | 9 PM | ($) - Electronic music tribute to GRiZ at Arch Street Tavern (85 Arch St). Tune In

Hartford | Parkville Pride Party | 7-10  PM - Pride celebration at the market at Parkville Market (1400 Park St).

New Britain | The Northeast Volks 4th annual auto show | 9 AM - 3 PM - Volkswagen and classic car show at Stanley Quarter Park (370 Linwood St).

North Granby | Juneteenth Celebration w. Sazzy Brass | 12-5  PM - Juneteenth celebration with brass band at Lost Acres Vineyard (80 Lost Acres Rd).

Plainville | Center Stage Jazz | 6 PM - Live jazz at the craft brewery at Relic Brewing Co (95 Whiting St).

Simsbury | Yacht Rock Tribute Night | 6:30 PM - Jam band vibes with special guest Beau Sasser from Kung Fu at Talcott Mountain Collective.

Simsbury | The Juneteenth fireworks show featuring Mr TRLP | 7:30 PM - Juneteenth celebration with fireworks at The Performing Arts Center at Simsbury Meadows (22 Iron Horse Blvd).

South Glastonbury | Squirrel - A Dog Bistro pup up | 1-5  PM - Dog-friendly pop-up with treats and brews at Hops on the Hill (275 Dug Road).

Suffield | Glow Pickleball & Karaoke | 8 -10 PM - Nighttime glow pickleball plus karaoke at Suffield Sports Complex (15 Kenny Roberts Memorial Drive).

Windsor Locks | LIVE MUSIC-Open Mic Night | 6 PM - Open mic night at the brewery at Luppoleto Brewing Co. (20 Main St).

East Windsor | Rick K of The Storytellers | 1 PM - Sunday music series with Rick K at Elizabeth's Bar and Restaurant (11 Main St).

New Britain | FATHER'S DAY SOIREE! | 4-7 PM | ($) - Father's Day dance party celebration at The Garage Dance Studio & Coffee Lounge (1385 East St).

Plainville | Father’s Day Pottery Painting | 12 PM | ($) - Dad paints free at this Father's Day pottery event at The Pottery Piazza (17 Farmington Ave). Get Crafty

Rocky Hill | Father's Day Breakfast | 8-11 AM | ($) - Father's Day all you can eat breakfast buffet at Rocky Hill Fire Dept Station 1 (739 Old Main St).

South Glastonbury | Pig Yoga | 11 AM | ($) - Yoga with adorable pigs at the farm brewery at Hops on the Hill (275 Dug Road).

Windsor | Summer Intention Wreath | 11:30 AM - Create a wreath to set summer intentions at Grow Wild CT (570 Hayden Station Rd). Join In

Windsor | Father's Day in the Field: A Wild Edibles Walk | 1:30 PM | ($) - Foraging walk identifying edible plants at Northwest Park (145 Lang Rd.). Check It Out

East Hartford | Post Malone Presents: The BIG ASS Stadium Tour Part 2 | 7 PM | ($) - Post Malone's massive stadium tour comes to Hartford at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Be There

6/18

West Simsbury | Last Day of School Funfest | 1 PM - End-of-school celebration with games and fun at Simsbury Farms Rink (100 Old Farms Rd). Celebrate

6/20

Hartford | Connecticut Ballet presents FAMILY MATINEE AT THE BALLET | 2 PM | ($) - Family-friendly ballet performance at The Bushnell (166 Capitol Ave). Join In

Manchester | The Manchester Lions Foundation’s 17th Annual Duck Race | 2 PM | ($) - Annual rubber duck race fundraiser at Charter Oak Park (50 Charter Oak Street). Check It Out

Manchester | Father's Day Weekend Family BBQ!!! | 3 PM | ($) - Father's Day BBQ feast for the whole family at The Hidden Kitchen CT (642 Hilliard Street). Be There

West Simsbury | Touch-a-Truck at Simsbury Farms | 8-11  AM - Kids can climb on trucks, tractors, and more at Simsbury Farms (100 Old Farms Rd).

6/21

Farmington | Dads, Donuts, Tractors, Trucks and Hot Dogs! | 10 AM - 3 PM - Father's Day fun with farm vehicles and treats at The Farm Truck at Hein Farm (303 Meadow Rd).