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Mud, Music & Mimosas: Hartford, Let’s Get Dirty

Mud, Music & Mimosas: Hartford, Let’s Get Dirty

Land Trust hikes, brewery bashes, and the wildest wrestling show you’ll see this year

Todd DiGiovanni
June 17, 2025

How we doing Hartford County!? Today is June 17th , also National Eat Your Vegetables Day - a holiday that sounds like it came straight out of a Whole Foods board meeting, but honestly? Not the worst idea. It’s a little ridiculous, sure, but also kind of genius. If we’re going to buy into trends, at least this one ends with us feeling better and maybe living longer.

Know someone making Hartford County better, one quiet act at a time? Nominate your local legend by emailing [email protected] - we’ll give them the shoutout they deserve in next week’s Buzz.

In Today’s Hart Co Buzz:

Savage MudGirl Run
Manchester Land Conservation Trust
50+ Events

Let’s dive in!

-Todd DiGiovanni

BRIEF BITES

💸 Connecticut is pouring $18.8M (~$11M in Hartford County towns) into cleaning up 227 polluted acres statewide, green-lighting fixes for 23 blighted sites across 19 towns. Expect toxic eyesores to flip into prime real estate, unlocking new jobs, housing, and a surge of private investment. Learn more

✈️ Spirit Airlines just launched daily nonstop hops from Bradley straight to Detroit, Motown is now one carry-on away!

🐻 West Hartford leads the pack with a whopping 356 bear sightings so far in 2025 - over 150 more than any other Connecticut town.

HIVE CHARITY

Image: Manchester Land Conservation Trust

You ever wanted to walk through a living time capsule and not get charged admission? Welcome to the Manchester Land Conservation Trust. They’re the behind-the-scenes MVPs preserving over 450 acres of trails, woodlands, meadows, and even an old railroad line that makes you feel like you’ve wandered onto a Ken Burns documentary. No fees, no fuss - just wildflowers, stone walls, and history that hits harder than your 8th-grade social studies teacher.

From the Cheney rail trail to Risley Reservoir, these folks are out here protecting land while the rest of us are doom-scrolling. It's like nature’s version of a startup, quietly grinding, building value, and making you look good just for showing up. Want to volunteer, donate, or just touch grass and reset your brain? This is the move.

HART CO TRIVIA🤔

Which species—nicknamed “the Founding Fish”—now swims up the Farmington River each spring?

BUZZ BULLETIN

Got news, a gig, or a gem to shout from the rooftops?
Whether it’s a grand opening, killer event, hiring help, or just a cool thing your neighbors should see - The Buzz Bulletin is your megaphone to 1,000+ locals.

HCB Instagram: We’re 17 days into 30 Businesses in 30 Days - highlighting the local spots that keep Hartford County buzzing. From hidden gems to hometown staples, follow along on Instagram @hartcobuzz to discover your new favorite place (or 13).

NEW OPENINGS

🎤 SOLA Karaoke just opened at 168 Center St. in Southington’s Factory Square, serving up nine sound-proof suites for 4–25 guests plus a liquid-courage bar.

🌯 Guac N Roll just cranked the grills at 457 N. Main in Bristol - slinging birria, street tacos, and burritos where Pure Foods once stood, so loosen that belt and roll in.

BUZZWORTHY ACTIVITY🐝

This isn’t some polished, influencer-approved 5K. The MudGirl Run is what happens when cardio meets chaos - in the form of 17+ muddy, laugh-out-loud obstacles spread over 3 miles. It’s women-only, starts at 7:45AM sharp at Pratt & Whitney Stadium (615 Silver Ln), and is gloriously untimed. No finish line pressure, no leaderboard ego - just you, your crew, and a whole lot of dirt.

Expect walls to climb, pits to crawl through, and mud in places you didn’t know mud could go. Come for the workout, stay for the stories and the Instagram pics that need zero filters). Bring your friends, leave the excuses, and prepare to ruin a perfectly good pair of shoes.

BEE LINE EVENTS

TUESDAY (6/17)

Enfield | Bonsai Workshop | 6-8PM $ - Sip a craft brew while you turn a tiny tree into living art at Powder Hollow Brewery (504 Hazard Ave). Bonsai Bar’s pros walk you through potting, pruning, and styling your own mini-masterpiece - no green thumb required. Tix

South Windsor | Family Feud Trivia | 6:30-8:30PM - Bring your ‘survey says’ energy to Connecticut Valley Brewing (765 Sullivan Ave). Games, teams, prizes - and the brew’s flowing.

LIVE MUSIC

WEDNESDAY (6/18)

Berlin | Family Jammie Storytime | 6-6:30PM - Bring your favorite stuffy, slippers, and snuggles to Berlin-Peck Library (234 Kensington Rd) for bedtime stories and sleepy songs. Pajamas encouraged.

East Hartford | Summer Reading Kickoff Party | 5:30-7PM - Kick off the summer at Raymond Library (840 Main St) with a celebration featuring music, freebies, family fun, and sign-ups for the reading program.

Farmington | Drum Circle | 7-8:30PM $ - Gather for a community drum session with pro facilitators at Bridge Healing arts Center(304 Main St). Open to all - bring a drum or rattle; suggested $10 donation.

Hartford | Music Bingo | 7PM - At Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ (25 Front St) they swap bingo cards for song clips, play 4 rounds, grab a bite & prizes - totally free to join.

Southington | Bike Night | 6-9PM - Ride on down to The Cadillac Ranch (45 Jude Ln) - chat, chill, check out some bikes while you hit up the vendors and enjoy some live country music.

LIVE MUSIC

THURSDAY (6/19)

Bristol | Acoustic Open Mic | 6:30-9PM - Bring your voice, your guitar to The New Cambridge Project (139 Center St) for an acoustic open mic. BYO talent. Free to watch, free to slay. PA system ready.

Bristol | Summer Solstice Sound Bath | 6:30PM $ - Chill out under the longest day’s sunset at Garden at Pinehurst Farm (50 Pinehurst Rd). Gongs, bowls, guided relaxation - bring a mat. Register

Canton | Tequila Tasting | 5:30-7PM $ - Sample four organic Casa Noble tequilas with light snacks at The Gold Bar inside At The Rooftop (220 Albany Tpke). Book Here

LIVE MUSIC

FRIDAY (6/20)

Bristol | 2025 Bristol Scavenger Hunt (6/20-6/21) | 4PM - Bristol Historical Society (101 Bellevue Ave) invites you to explore Bristol on foot with a weekend-long scavenger hunt through the Federal Hill Historic District. Clues, riddles, local haunts - it’s like Google Maps had a baby with Jeopardy. More Info

Hartford | MWA Wrestling | 8-11PM $ - The Webster Theater (31 Webster St) - Midgets With Attitude. That’s the name, and yes, it’s wrestling. Loud, ridiculous, and a little unhinged - in the best way. Passes

Hartford | Pratt Street Night Market | 5-8PM - Pratt Street shuts down for food, drinks, local makers, and a pop-up party feel. If summer had a smell, it’d be grilled something from here. You can thank Hartford Prints! (57 Pratt St).

Manchester | Stand-up Comic: Jared Freid | 7PM & 9:45PM $ - Funny Bone Comedy Club (194 Buckland Hills Dr) - The Netflix guy. The “dating is wild” guy. Two sets, same jokes, double the laughs. Pair it with a strong drink and someone who gets your humor. Tix

LIVE MUSIC

SATURDAY (6/21)

Berlin | Coles Road Brewing 5th Anniversary Party | 12-8PM - Coles Road Brewing (817 Farmington Ave) celebrates 5 years of craft beer: live music from Deadicated (3-6PM), Grateful Dead–inspired DJ set (6-8PM), food truck, local vendors, and special anniversary brews on tap.

East Hartford | MudGirl 5K | 7:45AM $ - Pratt & Whitney Stadium (615 Silver Ln) hosts a women-only mud run with 17+ obstacles spread over a 3-mile course. Not timed, just pure mud, laughter, and #PINKARMY vibes. More Info & Tix

East Hartford | Tai Chi in the Park | 10:30-11:30AM - Start your Saturday centered at Great River Park (301 E. River Dr) with Riverfront Recapture. Master Malee Khow will teach you the easy to learn and gentle movements. Serenity, open air, zero cost and all levels welcome.

Milldale | 8-Year Anniversary Summer Solstice Fest | 4-9PM - Kinsman Brewing (401 Canal St) Celebrates the longest day of the year with local brews, live music, artisan stalls, and solstice energy.

West Hartford | Pride Festival | 10:30AM-6PM - West Hartford Town Hall Green (50 S. Main St) is holding a Pride rally and full-day festival celebrating inclusion. Live entertainment, 100+ vendors, food trucks, family fun.

Windsor | Taste of the Caribbean Arts & Culture Gala | 6-9PM $ - Taste of the Caribbean Arts & Culture CT (25 Central St) brings you a Caribbean-themed gala with art, music, food, and a celebration of culture and community. Tix

LIVE MUSIC

SUNDAY (6/22)

Enfield | Author Reading - Sassy the Green Tree Boa | 11:30am-12:30PM - Riverside Reptiles Education Center (132 South Rd) brings you local author Nancy Hopkins who will read her whimsical tale about a charming boa. A guaranteed crowd‑pleaser for families and animal lovers. Free Registration

Hartford | Speed Dating for 40s (“40s & Fascinating”) | 7-9PM - Ditch the apps and meet real people IRL. Sips & Sparks comes to Sunberry Restaurant & Bar (65 Pratt St). Quick intros, low pressure, potential chemistry. Secure a spot

Manchester | Pints for Pitties | 1-4PM - Urban Lodge Brewing Co. (47 Purnell Pl) over here earning karma points with their annual fundraiser supporting pit bull rescues. Good beer, good cause, no attitude.

Milldale | Boozy Brunch & R-Rated Trivia | 12-2PM $ - This ain’t your grandma’s brunch. It's Rated R Trivia - Boozy Brunch Edition, and it’s coming in hot at Kinsman Brewing (409 Canal St). Early bird tix = front row chaos: giveaways, roasts, savage cocktails, and a brunch menu from Sauced. Come thirsty, come loud, and buckle the F’ up - this one gets wild. Passes

Windsor | Yoga & Mimosas | 9-10AM - Stretch, sip, and socialize. Light yoga flow followed by mimosas to easy into your Sunday at Beer Garden at Bart’s (55 Palisado Ave) - and maybe spark some post-savasana convo. Entry

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Glastonbury - Hops on the Hill | Steve Walason | 2-5PM
⬢ Newington - The Flying Monkey | Stoltz & Co Blues | 5:30-8PM

MONDAY (6/23)

Farmington | Camp Courant Opening Day | 8:30AM - Camp Courant (96 Batterson Park Rd, Farmington) - Hartford’s legendary free summer camp flips the switch on summer, welcoming over 700 kids with breakfast, live music, and a welcome ceremony. Don’t just sip your coffee - be there when the buzz hits and the bus rolls in. More Info

That’s a wrap for this week’s Hart Co Buzz. If you enjoyed Hart Co Buzz then please share with friends and family who will also benefit from staying in the loop with local happenings. See you next week!