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  4. New Haven – Summer in the City 2023
    (The non-COVID version)

New Haven – Summer in the City 2023
(The non-COVID version)

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The summer is here (finally!) and New Haven is bustling with activity. From museums to special events, there is something for everyone. Get your calendar ready to pencil in some fun activities to keep you and your friends and family busy all summer long!

Visit a Park

New Haven has plenty of parks to visit during the summer and all year round. Lighthouse Point Park is a favorite with its beach access, historic lighthouse, splash pad, and working carousel. If you want to take a ride on the carousel, it’s only open on the weekend, so be sure to keep that in park.

Another popular park location is East Rock Park. This is a hot spot for hikers and anyone who just loves the great outdoors. The total distance around is just under 4 miles. New Haven is also home to Edgewood Park, Edgerton Park, and more!

The Marsh Botanical Garden is another option when you want to spend time outside during the summer. It ranks among the best New Haven summer activities because it’s laid back and provides an escape.

The garden sits on 8 acres and includes six greenhouses. Visitors see four different collections from carnivorous plants to tropical favorites, desert beauties, and blooming trees. Marsh Botanical Garden opens for tours Monday through Friday and serves as a research site for Yale University.

Lighthouse Point Park New Haven CT (1)

Fun Activities for Everyone

New Haven also hosts plenty of family activities over the summer. There are events for the entire family to enjoy!

Family Fun Days 2023

Beginning on July 12th and on most Wednesdays in the summer, the New Haven Youth and Recreation Department will host a family fun day with free food, water, and activities from 2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Movies in the Plaza

Enjoy a free movie in Pitkin Plaza on Temple Street every Wednesday through October. Bring your lawn chairs, pillows, and blankets. Movies in the Plaza are also pet-friendly events as long as your dogs are leashed. The movies start at 8:30 p.m. weekly.

Happy Hour in the Plaza

Pitkin Plaza is also home to Happy Hour in the Plaza. Enjoy food and drink from local downtown bars and restaurants as well as live music every Friday from 4:30-7:30 p.m. There are even fun lawn and board games. Bring the entire family for a few hours of relaxation right in the heart of downtown.

City Seed Farmers’ Market

Visit the City Seed Farmers’ Market Wooster Square Farmers’ Market every Saturday from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Check out veggies and all types of goodies from local growers and merchants. The farmer’s market is held on Chapel Street in the Wooster Square neighborhood at the Conte West Hills School parking lot and gym.

There is also a Farmers’ Market held on Sunday mornings at Edgewood Park from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. Either spot always has tasty fruits, veggies, and other treats!

Orange Street Promenade Events

The Orange Street Promenade is located in the vibrant 9th Square Neighborhood of downtown New Haven. There is street dining and events held throughout the summer. Check out the schedule here and get ready to mark your calendar!

city seed market in new haven

Museums & Galleries

New Haven is also home to several museums that make great places to visit. Here are some choices:

New Haven Museum

The New Haven Museum is a fun place to explore people, places, and events that help to define New Haven. There are always great exhibits to see as well as special events held throughout the summer and all year round.

Connecticut Children’s Museum

The Connecticut Children’s Museum is a fun place to visit if you have children. It’s geared towards kids ages 3-9 and those who are kids at heart. Here you’ll find a music room exhibit as well as a spatial room, a naturalist room, and more. There is something for everyone to explore!

Yale Art Gallery

The Yale Art Gallery has beautiful exhibits to see as well if you love art or just want to see what the gallery has to offer. The gallery features world-famous art as well as many international collections. The gallery is open Tuesday-Sunday so be sure to check it out one day during the summer.

From parks to farmers’ markets, movie nights, and more, New Haven has plenty to offer everyone during the summer!

childrens museum of New Haven CT

Frequently Asked Questions about Summer in New Haven

Lighthouse Point Park and East Rock Park are two of the most popular parks in New Haven. Lighthouse Point Park has a beach, a carousel, and a splash pad, while East Rock Park has hiking trails, scenic views, and a historic lighthouse. Other great parks in New Haven include Edgewood Park, Edgerton Park, and Marsh Botanical Garden.
In New Haven, you can visit parks, watch free movies in the Plaza, attend Happy Hour in the Plaza, shop at the City Seed Farmers' Market, visit the Connecticut Children's Museum, and explore the Yale University campus.
Some museums and galleries in New Haven that are worth visiting include the New Haven Museum, the Connecticut Children's Museum, the Yale Art Gallery, the White Space Gallery, the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, and the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library.These museums and galleries offer a variety of exhibits and experiences, from the history of New Haven to the natural world to the arts. They are sure to appeal to visitors of all ages and interests.
Some fun summer activities in New Haven include visiting parks like Lighthouse Point Park and East Rock Park, enjoying events like the City Seed Farmers' Market and Movies in the Plaza, and exploring museums such as the New Haven Museum and Yale Art Gallery.
Free movies can be enjoyed in Pitkin Plaza on Temple Street every Wednesday through October.
Yes, the Movies in the Plaza events are pet-friendly as long as dogs are leashed.
Happy Hour in the Plaza in Pitkin Plaza offers food and drinks from local downtown bars and restaurants, live music, and fun lawn and board games. It is held every Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.