December 16-carol sing 3pm, bring a canned good and get complimentary admission. Sing with the brass quartet backup.

5pm, come early and enjoy over 50 lit floats and numerous bands and dance groups. This is the largest and longest parade in southeastern CT. Bring a chair and hot chocolate and park along the curb. If you have never seen this parade it is a MUST see once in your life at least!

Museum plus holiday fantasy trees, Miss Florence’s Palette tree, Glass sculptures and more November 17-January 6-even Mondays, excluding holidays. Join them for Holiday Tea as well www.florenceGriswoldMuseum.org.

At precisely 2pm Santa arrvies in Mystic on the Kingston II tugboat. He will arrive at the dock at the Mystic Rivre Park. There will be Christmas carols and Santa will listen to children to see what they are wishing.

November 23-24 11:30am-3pm. Olde Mistick Village see Santa and get pictures. If you can’t make that partake in Holiday Carnival on December 1 and the Festival of Lights on December 7 with the Mystic Aquarium -5,000 luminaries are placed around the village and the aquarium for an evening of delight and color! Local bands at the Aquariuem 5:30-8:30pm and admission is can goods….for a great evening.

Two night minimum stay on Saturday night as it is the “most active” weekend of the year in this area. Harvest Moon Festival (5-8pm) Friday October 5 Mystic River Park. Groton Fall Festival Saturday October 6(10am-4pm), crafts demonstrations and great musical groups 9-Teen, classic car show and skateboard park competition. Octoberfest at the Beach Friday October 5 (6-9pm) Beer-30 microbrew companties, chowder and music www.newlondonrotary.org. Jonathan Edwards Winery 6th annual Harvest Festival Saturday October 6 and Sunday October 7 (noon-6pm) www.jedwardswinery.com for tickets. Just to name a SMALL sampling of what is happening this weekend.

Early fall at the Seaport-By Land and BY Sea=Village is full of classic vehicles as they go about the daily business of the 1920’s cars, trucks and motorcycles and a Parade of vehicles the event runs 9am-3pm on this Sunday.

Due to the driest August on record, we have some yellow starting on the tips of the trees. Great time to come for watching the apple cider presses at work Clydes Cider Mill with the oldest steam powered cider mill in US 1881. Open 7 days a week 9am-6pm.

Come to Scott’s Yankee Farmer-East Lyme for picking your own apples and home of the Apple Cinnamon Donuts on weekends…..yum! www.scottsyankeefarmer.net .

Lots to do and beat the crowds of Columbus Day weekend with rooms available the next two weekends.

ALSO THIS WEEKEND NEW LONDON DOWNTOWN HISTORIC WATERFRONT DISTRICT HAS AUTHORS DISCUSSING THEIR WORKS, SIGNING OF BOOKS, ARTISTS DISPLAYING THEIR PAINTINGS AND ART AND MUSIC ALL WEEKEND LONG ON THE WATERFRONT FOR MORE DETAILS WWW.NEWLONDONMAINSTREET.ORG OR CALL 860-444-2489 FOR DETAILS.

Do not let the weeekend after Labor Day fool you! It is one of the most happening weekends of the year here! Taste of Mystic (Friday night thru Sunday) Over 30 local restaurants line Cottrell Street in Historic Downtown Mystic. Tasty treats from each with tickets you buy at the entrance of the street. This year a Oyster shucking contest will be part of the activties and live performances by bands all weekend. A book signing and karate demostration as well, but the smells and tastes of the restaurants as you dine your way down the street is the best!