Halloween’s creeping up; the season for witches, ghosts, and pumpkin spice everything. But here’s a little twist: Salem gets all the fame, but Connecticut was first to go full witch-hunt crazy. Nearly 50 years before Salem lit its bonfires, the Connecticut Colony was already putting supposed witches on trial and hanging them. The first? Alse Young, executed in 1647 right in Hartford. Over the next two decades, at least eleven people were executed under suspicion of witchcraft. Men and women accused of everything from “causing fits” to “consorting with the devil.” Towns like Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford turned into early theaters of paranoia long before Massachusetts made witch trials a household phrase.

What’s wild is that it didn’t take pitchfork mobs, this was official business. Ministers, judges, and governors signed off on it, often based on gossip, dreams, or “spectral evidence.” Neighbors testified about cows dying, children crying, and mysterious illnesses; the colonial version of Facebook panic. Eventually, reason caught up. By the late 1660s, leaders like Governor John Winthrop Jr. began demanding real proof, and the executions stopped. So this Halloween, as everyone’s talking about Salem, remember: Connecticut wrote the original witch-trial playbook and it’s a reminder that hysteria is always closer to home than we like to think.

That’s it for our Hartford County town name deep dive! Hope you picked up a few fun facts to impress at your next coffee chat.

Simsbury: Incorporated in 1670 as “Simmsbury,” the exact name origin is unclear; possibly from Symondsbury, England or from local leader Simon (“Sim”) Wolcott.

Southington: Split from Farmington in 1779; the name evolved from “South Farmington” to Southington, reflecting its location in the town’s southern section.

South Windsor: Set off from East Windsor in 1845 and named for being the southern portion of the old Windsor township.

Suffield: Originally called Southfield (pronounced “Suffield”), the name was adopted in 1674. It was noted its position as the southernmost Massachusetts River town before later joining Connecticut.

West Hartford: Long known as Hartford’s “West Division,” it took the name West Hartford in 1806 and incorporated as a town in 1854.

Wethersfield: Settled in the 1630s and named for Wethersfield, Essex, England (often spelled “Weathersfield” in early records).

Windsor: Renamed from Dorchester to Windsor in 1637, after Windsor, Berkshire, England, when it was incorporated alongside Hartford and Wethersfield.

Windsor Locks: The town’s name comes from the locks on the Enfield Falls (Windsor Locks) Canal, which enabled boats to bypass river rapids along the Connecticut River.

The Official Halloween Bar Crawl is back and bigger this year with two nights of costumed chaos, Friday & Saturday, 10/31 & 11/01 (4PM-12AM), starting at The Brownstone (114 Asylum St). You’ll check in, grab your wristband and free welcome shots, then hit 5+ downtown bars with drink specials, DJs, and a parade of costumes that swing from clever to questionable. This isn’t your buddy’s half-baked crawl -Crawl With Us runs the show, meaning professional hosts, contests, and prizes for the wildest crew. Grab your friends, pick a theme, and own the streets. Hartford’s about to throw one hell of a Halloween hangover. Make sure to hydrate!

🛍️ MINISO has officially landed in Manchester and it’s a big deal! The Chinese lifestyle brand just opened its first-ever Connecticut outlet store at The Shoppes at Buckland Hills.

Glastonbury | MLK Community Initiative Workshop | 6PM - Dive into tough topics like sizeism and bullying at the Glastonbury MLK Community Initiative event inside the Welles‑Turner Library (100 Welles St). This is a meaningful, youth-friendly civic conversation.

Hartford | MSU @ UConn Men’s Basketball Exhibition | 7:30PM $ - Watch the UConn Huskies take on the Michigan State Spartans in a high-octane pre-season matchup at the PeoplesBank Arena (1 Civic Center Plz). Get Passes

Milldale | Costumes & Cars - Horsepower & Hops Cruise Night | 6-9PM - Gearheads & ghouls unite for the spooky ride-and-rev car cruise at Kinsmen Brewing Co. (409 Canal St). Come in costume, bring your ride, and sip while you spectate.

East Hartford | Trunk or Treat 2025 | 4:30-6:30PM - Thornton Martial Arts & Fitness (701 Main St). Candy lanes, costumes, and decorated car trunks fill the lot for a safe Halloween hang. Family-friendly and totally free, show up in costume and snag some treats before dinner.

Glastonbury | Intro to Pickleball Clinic | 9:30-10:30AM $ - Learn serves, scoring, and dinks from a pro without getting smoked by retirees who play like Nadal at Glastonbury Tennis Club (228 Oak St). Secure your spot

Manchester | Spooky Snacks (Gr. 1-5) | 3-3:45PM - Kids whip up Halloween treats that look gross but taste awesome at Manchester Public Library (586 Main St). Registration required (Call 860-645-0577 to sign up) - this one fills up fast.

Newington | Trick or Treat Stroll | 4-6PM - Newington Chamber of Commerce hosting in downtown Newington (Main St & Market Sq). Local shops hand out candy for a safe walkable Halloween loop. Free and photo-op central.

West Hartford | Horror Movie Trivia | 7PM - Head to WOB Bar & Kitchen (73 Isham Rd) to test your slasher IQ and win prizes for knowing which final girl actually made it to the credits. Free to play.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hartford - Arch St Tavern | Booyah Presents: Tarantino Halloween | 9PM $
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Abreu Latin Jazz: William Mendoza | 6PM

Berlin | Glow in the Dark Yoga | 6:45-8PM - Break out the glow sticks, slide into some stretchy pants, and strike your best warrior pose under black-light at Peaceful & Prenatal Yoga Studio (33 Webster Sq Rd). Tix

East Granby | October Cheesecake & Wine Pairing | 6-8PM $ - Wine pours meet cheesecake bites: caramel-apple meets Sauvignon Blanc, pumpkin-spice gets a semi-sweet white at Brignole Vineyards (103 Hartford Ave). Fall flavors, full glasses, zero pressure to be fancy. Get Tix

Hartford | Halloween Costume Party | 10PM $ - The Webster Underground (31 Webster St) is throwing down. 18+. Costumes required. DJs blasting hip-hop, house & top-40. This isn’t your neighbor’s basement Halloween party, it’s the city’s wildest. More Info & Passes

Manchester | Witches & Warlocks Party | 5PM-Close - Mulberry Street Pizza Manchester (981 Main St). Dinner, cocktails, costume contest - dress as your scariest warlock or wicked witch. Prizes, spirits, and more. Think broomsticks meet barstools.

South Windsor | Trunk or Treat | 6-7PM - Troop 682 and Troop 62 are teaming up at the Community Center at Charles N. Enes Building (150 Nevers Rd). Decorated car trunks, candy galore, safe sidewalks, and cheap thrills. One donation (non-perishable) per kid gets you in. Costumes strongly encouraged.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Glastonbury - Hops on The Hill | Dillon & Cooper | 6PM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Mike Childs Soul Jazz | 6PM
⬢ Simsbury - Talcott Mountain Collective | Folk Jam | 6PM

Glastonbury | Trunk or Treat & Parade to the Firehouse | 4:30-6PM - The Congregational Church in South Glastonbury (949 Main St) transforms its lot into a candy-coated parking lot party before marching down to the firehouse at six for the annual Halloween parade.

Hartford | Spooky Salsa Halloween Party | 7-11PM $ - Inside Parkville Market (1400 Park St), the Spooky Salsa Halloween Party mixes Latin beats, flashing lights, and costume contests for a night that’s equal parts spooky and spicy. Gain Entry

Hartford | The Official Halloween Bar Crawl (10/31 & 11/01) | 4PM-12AM $ - Downtown’s biggest bar bash starts at The Brownstone (114 Asylum St), where The Official Halloween Bar Crawl sends hundreds of costumed creatures bar-to-bar chasing drink specials and bragging rights. More Info & Passes

Manchester | Comic: Cipha Sounds (10/31 & 11/01) | Times Vary $ - Over at The Funny Bone Comedy Club (194 Buckland Hills Dr), Cipha Sounds is bringing his New York DJ-meets-comedian energy for two nights of fast laughs and faster comebacks. More Info & Tix

New Britain | Halloween Trick-or-Treat Safe Zone | 5-8PM - Downtown New Britain (Main St & Central St). The Safe Zone shuts down traffic so kids can sprint from candy stop to candy stop. Bright lights, full bags, and no cars keeps things sweet, simple, and safe for the kids.

Newington | Trunk or Treat | 6-8PM - Trunk or Treat fills Market Square Parking Lot (139 Market Sq) with decorated cars, costumed locals, and photo ops galore - all treat, zero trick.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Broad Brook - Opera House | Beyond Purple | 8PM $
⬢ East Granby - Almost Famous Brewing | Savage Brothers Band | 7-10PM $
⬢ Enfield - The Yarde Tavern | Out The Boxx | 8PM
⬢ Hartford - Arch St Tavern | Bellas Bartodk | 9PM-12AM $
⬢ Hartford - The Bushnell | Mania (ABBA Tribute) | 7:30PM $
⬢ Hartford - Webster Theater | Will Wood | 8PM $
⬢ Manchester - Audacity British Style Pub | Lone Fax | 8PM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Timmy Maia Jazz | 7PM
⬢ Rocky Hill - Arch 2 Sports Bar | Sabotage (Black Sabbath Tribute) | 8-11PM
⬢ Simsbury - Talcott Mountain Collective | The 860 | 7PM
⬢ South Windsor - CT Valley Brewing Co | Trailer Trash | 7PM

Glastonbury | Fall Vendors Day | 11AM-4PM - Fall Vendors Day takes over Hops on the Hill Brewery (275 Dug Rd) with artisans, food trucks, cozy chaos and beer in your hand while you “start holiday shopping” and actually just buy stuff for yourself.

Hartford | 46th Annual Home Show (11/1 & 11/2) | 10AM-6PM $ - The 46th Annual Home Show at CT Convention Center (100 Columbus Blvd) - drops hundreds of remodel, landscaping, and upgrade vendors under one roof so you can plan a “small project” that somehow becomes a full kitchen gut.

Hartford | Legacy Little Black Dress Night | 6PM $ - Legacy Little Black Dress Night at Infinity Music Hall (32 Front St) is part party, part fundraiser: live music, cocktails, and everyone looking sharp in black while celebrating people doing real work in the community. Tix

Hartford | Warren Miller’s Sno-Ciety | 4PM $ - Ski season starts at The Bushnell (166 Capitol Ave) with Warren Miller’s Sno-Ciety is big-mountain film hype, giveaways, pro-level snow worship, and the annual reminder that you told yourself you’d ski more this year. Info & Access

South Windsor | Trick-or-Treat Event | 11AM-2PM $ - Foster Family Farm (90 Foster St) lets kids do costumes + candy + Mazes + hayrides in daylight, on a farm, with zero sketchy porch steps. Peak fall kid content.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Broad Brook - Opera House | Garden Grove (Sublime Tribute) | 8PM $
⬢ Collinsville - Bridge St. Live | Room Full of Blues | 8PM $
⬢ East Granby - Almost Famous Brewing | Carl Ricci & 706 Union Ave | 7-10PM
⬢ Glastonbury - Hops on The Hill | Kevin Giarnella | 2-5PM
⬢ Hartford - Arch St Tavern | GRYME: Nu-Metal vs. Butt Rock Halloween | 9PM $
⬢ Hartford - The Webster | Anpanmania’s Kpop Halloween Fest | 12PM
⬢ Manchester - The Main Pub | Shout sings Hall & Oats, Huey Lewis & The News | 9PM $
⬢ New Britain - Elmer’s Place | Home by Ten | 10PM
⬢ Simsbury - Talcott Mountain Collective | Rob Glassman Band | 7PM
⬢ Southington - The Salty Dog Tavern | Bad Mannerz | 8PM

Hartford | HSO: A Violin Portrait | 2PM $ - The Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s A Violin Portrait drops chamber music right in the galleries at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art (624 Main St): Elgar, Mozart, Bolcom, plus a pre-concert gallery talk on the portrait that inspired it. This is classy Sunday energy, museum + live strings in the same room. Tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Glastonbury - Hops on The Hill | Ali Kat | 2PM
⬢ Granby - Lost Acres Vineyard | Mama Train | 2PM
⬢ Hartford - The Webster | The Wrecks: Inside Outside Tour | 7PM $
⬢ Milldale - Kinsman Brewing Co | Chris Mardola | 2-5PM
⬢ Southington - Longview Cider House | Velvet | 12-2PM
⬢ Windsor Locks - Luppoleto Brewing | Shay Kiddy | 3PM

Suffield | Botanical Succulent Pumpkin Workshop | 6:30PM $ - Karenoughcrafts & Boutique (11 High St Suite 104) walks you step-by-step through building a “live” pumpkin centerpiece: real gourd, moss, and fresh succulent cuttings you arrange yourself, then take home like you’re suddenly a fall décor influencer. Seats are paid/limited, and they send you home knowing how to keep it alive (and re-pot it) instead of watching it die on your counter in 3 days. Secure a spot

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hartford - Parkville Market | Celtic Sounds | 6:30-8:30PM
⬢ Simsbury - The Grange | Nikki Mira | 7-8:30PM