Connecticut Democracy Center

09/04/2026

🎤🏛️Connecticut’s 2026 Kid Governor Tessa Hallinan and members of her Cabinet will visit libraries in North Haven, Ridgefield, Bridgeport, South Windsor and East Hartford in September, as part of the annual Kid Governor’s Library Circuit.

Come hear them talk about their community service platforms, their term in office, and how fifth graders can participate in the Kid Governor® program this year. The events are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.Check the schedule here http://ct-dc.org/qr.asp?q=CTKGLibraryTour2026

09/02/2026

📣 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲!

Please note an update to our September events! 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 26 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝘁 10:45 𝗔𝗠 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 at Connecticut’s Old State House.

Join us for a family-friendly ceremony commemorating the historic meeting of Generals George Washington and Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau, featuring the First Company Governor’s Foot Guard.

🇺🇸🇫🇷 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 26
⏰ 10:45 𝗔𝗠
📍 Connecticut’s Old State House

We look forward to seeing you there!

09/01/2026

Happy September! Check out the upcoming events at Connecticut's Old State House!

🍂 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝘁’𝘀 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲!

There’s plenty happening this month in the heart of Hartford — from fresh local finds and live music to history and civic engagement.

🥕 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 — Tuesdays & Fridays, 10 AM–2 PM
🎶 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 — Fridays, 12–1 PM
🗳️ 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆 — September 15
🇺🇸 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝗗𝗮𝘆 — September 26 at 9 AM on the Green

And don’t forget to stop inside! Connecticut’s Old State House is open 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆–𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 12–5 𝗣𝗠.

Save this post so you don’t miss what’s happening this September, and we hope to see you at the Old State House!

09/01/2026

🍂 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝘁’𝘀 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲!

There’s plenty happening this month in the heart of Hartford — from fresh local finds and live music to history and civic engagement.

🥕 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 — Tuesdays & Fridays, 10 AM–2 PM
🎶 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 — Fridays, 12–1 PM
🗳️ 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆 — September 15
🇺🇸 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝗗𝗮𝘆 — September 26 at 9 AM on the Green

And don’t forget to stop inside! Connecticut’s Old State House is open 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆–𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 12–5 𝗣𝗠.

Save this post so you don’t miss what’s happening this September, and we hope to see you at the Old State House!

08/20/2026

🎵🎹🎤Join us downtown Hartford for the next Summer Concert featuring The Michael Carabello Quintet

📍Connecticut's Old State House
🗓️Friday, August 21
🕑12 Noon

The Michael Carabello Quintet is a collective of musicians with deep roots in black American music (jazz) and the musical culture of Hartford. The band is inspired by artists such as Jackie McLean’s Dynasty Band, Herbie Hancock’s Head Hunters, Marc Cary’s Focus Trio, Ahmad Jamal Trio, and Wayne Shorter’s Weather Report. This band draws musical knowledge from the masters of the of Bebop, Hardbop, and Postbop and modernizes it with musical styles and technology of today. The group, led by Michael Carabello of Hartford on keyboards, recently performed at the Hartford Jazz Festival. His fellow musicians include Jonathon Barber on drums, Matt Dwonszyk on Bass, Tony Davis on guitar, and Jordan Young on alto saxophone.

While jamming out, pick up some fresh Connecticut-grown produce, baked goods, and handcrafted items at our open-air market. SNAP and WIC benefits are accepted and will be doubled.

Thank you to our friends from the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Evelyn Preston Memorial Fund for their generous funding of the Summer Concert Series.

08/17/2026

Last chance to reserve your seat to join Sharon Gillette of National History Day® for "History is More Than Words: Making Historical Arguments with Photographs"

🗓️Thursday, August 20
📍Connecticut's Old State House
👉800 Main Street, Hartford
🕙9:00 am to 4:00 pm
📢Lunch and materials provided at NO COST!

Reserve your seat here https://bit.ly/LOCPhotos

This hands-on workshop will show you how historical images can be powerful research tools for critical thinking. Incorporating photographs in historical research provides an accessible, high-impact entry point for all students — including English Language Learners (ELL) and those with reading challenges. Learn more about utilizing photo collections from the Library of Congress and how to guide students to construct historical arguments using visual data.

BENEFITS:
💵Earn a stipend by completing a post-workshop lesson plan or activity.
🎖️Selected educator activities will be published and shared statewide as model curriculum pieces for teachers across Connecticut!

This workshop is sponsored in part by the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Eastern Region Program, coordinated by Waynesburg University.

08/13/2026

🎵🎸🎤Stop by Connecticut's Old State House at noon on Friday, 8/14 for some sweet tunes with Professors of Sweet Sweet Music, the three-time Best of Hartford winners and co-creators of the Hartbeat Music Festival. Known for their energetic yet soulful version of indie rock, the band has been nominated by The New England Music Awards as Best Musical ACT in CT. If you like 90’s pop infused indie rock bands like Weezer, The Cranberries, RadioHead and Dinosaur Jr, don't miss this show!

While jamming out, don't forget to pick up some fresh Connecticut-grown produce, baked goods, and handcrafted goods at our open-air market. SNAP and WIC benefits are accepted and will be doubled.

Thank you to our friends from the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Evelyn Preston Memorial Fund for their generous funding of the Summer Concert Series.

In case of inclement weather, the concert will move indoors. Visit https://www.ctoldstatehouse.org for details.

08/10/2026

🗓️✅Mark your calendar! The 2026 state primaries will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Connecticut's primary elections are semi-closed, so only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in their respective primaries. Early voting is now underway through Sunday, August 9, 2026. For detailed information about elections in Connecticut, visit MyVote.CT.gov or call 860-509-6200.

Save the Date: Connecticut Congressional, State and Gubernatorial General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026!

08/05/2026

🎵🎤Stop by the Farmers Market at Connecticut's Old State House at noon on Friday, 8/7, and stay for live music with Shaded Soul. This award-winning group from Connecticut regularly appears at venues and festivals across New England. Known for both their powerful vocal and rhythm sections, the group's repertoire includes the best of R&B, Motown, Funk Soul, Jazz, Reggae, Swing, Rock, Pop, Disco, and Top 40 across the decades.

Come shop at one of the state's original open-air markets, featuring Connecticut-grown produce, baked goods, and handcrafted goods. SNAP and WIC benefits are accepted and will be doubled. In case of inclement weather, the concert will move indoors. Visit https://www.ctoldstatehouse.org for details.

08/04/2026

The first day of school is fast approaching! Join Sharon Gillette of National History Day® at Connecticut’s Old State House for "History is More Than Words: Making Historical Arguments with Photographs"

🗓️Thursday, August 20
📍800 Main Street, Hartford
🕙9:00 am to 4:00 pm
📢Lunch and materials provided at NO COST!

Reserve your seat here https://bit.ly/LOCPhotos

This hands-on workshop will show you how historical images can be powerful research tools for critical thinking. Incorporating photographs in historical research provides an accessible, high-impact entry point for all students — including English Language Learners (ELL) and those with reading challenges. Learn more about utilizing photo collections from the Library of Congress and how to guide students to construct historical arguments using visual data.

BENEFITS:
💵Earn a stipend by completing a post-workshop lesson plan or activity.
🎖️Selected educator activities will be published and shared statewide as model curriculum pieces for teachers across Connecticut!

This workshop is sponsored in part by the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Eastern Region Program, coordinated by Waynesburg University.