CONNECTICUT

The "Something Different" you’ve been looking for is closer than you might think. Escape to the past with family & friends to experience a romantic age lost to time at the 14th annual Connecticut Renaissance Faire. Thrill to a full day of continuous entertainment on eight stages including jousting, armored combat, fire eaters, comedy, magic, chivalrous knights, and the best variety entertainment of any New England Festival – all included with your admission! New acts and old favorites return to chase they cares away with smiles and laughter.

Explore New England’s LARGEST Medieval Marketplace featuring handcrafted and unique items you won’t find anywhere else. Dine on turkey legs, bread bowl stews, apple crisp and a variety of other delectable foods and desserts in our food courtyard. Learn about this enchanted period in time and perhaps even a bit about your own heritage. You’ll have so much fun you’ll be looking for reasons to come back again and again! And as always, costumes are encouraged but not required.

Rose Weekend has been held annually for more than a century in Hartford, Connecticut's Elizabeth Park, the nation's oldest municipal rose garden. Information: http://www.elizabethpark.org/

Live music, food vendors, arts/crafts vendors, camping, summer tubing, skate park, creek side swimming, zorbing and much more. Bring your blankets and coolers and come on out to Woodbury Ski Area's 40th Annual Reggae Festival. Time: Gates open at 9 a.m. daily; live music starts at 11 a.m. Information: http://bit.ly/lBz6xh

Four days of great music with Cajun cuisine, music workshops, and dance workshops with instruction on the Cajun 2 Step, Cajun Jitterbug, and Basic Zydeco from expert dance instructors and plenty of room to dance to the authentic Louisiana bands. The 2012 line-up will feature a terrific mix of Cajun & Zydeco dance bands. Six bands will be making the migration north from the southern bayous, with additional regional performers from throughout the northeast. Campsites available. Cost: Adults, $30-$115, depending on day and whether or not camping is included. Information: http://bit.ly/115UtXs

Local restaurants from the Connecticut and Rhode Island shoreline will be offering all kinds of ethnic cuisine for tasting and purchase. Food from Beachside Catering, Bestemors, Chet's Italian Ice, Gourmet Galley Catering, Harp and Dragon, Johnny's Peking Tokyo, Meriano's Bake Shoppe, Munchie Food Truck, The Pita Spot, Pizza Grille, Portuguese Fisherman, Rice Box, A Taste Of India, and Homeport! The event will feature cooking demonstrations as well as exceptional live entertainment from around the world. Time: Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: Free. Information: http://bit.ly/KfQ8gT

The first annual Mystic Blues Festival will kick off with a fireworks display over the Mystic River on Friday night. The festival will showcase an array of blues legends. There will be performances by James Cotton, Jim Weider, Ricky “King” Russell, Jerry Portnoy, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, James Montgomery, Kal David, Jeff Pevar, Debbie Davies, Greg Piccolo, Johnny Nicholas, Fran Christina, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Jaimoe’s Jassssz Band, Roomful of Blues, Al Kooper, Christine Ohlman and Al Copley. Opening acts will consist of acclaimed blues musicians. Performances will be at a variety of venues in Mystic and Westerly, RI, including Mystic Shipyard, Olde Mistick Village Art Cinemas Stage, the Knickerbocker Café (Westerly, RI), The Octagon at the Mystic Marriott, Voodoo Grill, La Luna, The Steak Loft, and Go Fish. Information and schedule of performances: http://mysticbluesfestival.com/

Attractions at this celebration include Dragon Boat races, live entertainment, a variety of food, children’s games and more as part of Norwich’s 350th anniversary celebration. Time: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Cost: Free. Information: http://bit.ly/Yy0Scj

Sailfest is Southeastern Connecticut's premiere summertime event attracting over 300,000 people over the three-day festival. Complete with a major fireworks display, amusement rides, free entertainment, Tall Ship. Over 200 vendors line the downtown streets selling everything from fried dough to craft. Sailfest produces multiple stages of free entertainment with musical genres ranging in rock, Celtic, hip hop, and blues. This year Kids will enjoy free shows at our children’s stage. Sailfest also showcases one of the largest fireworks display in the Northeast. Cost: free. Information: www.sailfest.org.

Hear sea chanteys from many cultures and learn how they helped coordinate work on ships during this one-of-a-kind sea song event that has been a Mystic Seaport tradition since 1979. The Sea Music Festival features performances at various locations throughout the grounds of this living history maritime museum. At the Sea Music Storytelling Stage offers performances from storytellers from throughout New England. The Sea Music Contra Dance happens on Saturday, 4-6 p.m. at Frohsinn Hall (the Mystic German Club), 54 Greenmanville Avenue. Admission to the Contra Dance is $8. Time: Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday concerts begin at 7 p.m. Information: http://bit.ly/IpKM3.

Kick off the warmer days of spring with the annual Spring Festival at Jonathan Edwards winery. Four bands, funky photo booths, barrel roll contests, airbrush tatoo artists, gourmet food vendors, artisans tent and of course, wine tasting. Tickets are good both days. Time: Noon-6 p.m. Admission: $20 pre-purchase and $25 at the door. Kids under age 12 admitted free with an adult

This annual festival promises a handful of first-rate bluegrass artists as well as musicians’ workshops, onsite camping, children’s activities and more. Bluegrass Festival, including the return of recent festival favorites such as The Gibson Brothers, The Steeldrivers, The Kruger Brothers, The Greencards and Dry Branch Fire Squad as well as presenting others either making their debut at Strawberry Park…or joining us after being away for a spell, such as The Seldom Scene, Sierra Hull, Grasstowne, The Hillbenders and Junior Sisk. Admission: $20-$60 by the day; full weekend pass, $130. Information: http://bit.ly/Zv4ZJk

Once again it is time to give thanks for Wuttatmineash, the first berry of the season. Native people continue to come together each year to honor the strawberry. Come enjoy a puppet show and sample the berry’s sweetness with a strawberry drink. Make a pendant to remember the celebration and enter the hubbub tournament, a traditional Native American dice game, where the winner receives a hubbub game. Time: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission: Adults (age 16 to 54), $15; seniors age 55 and older, $13; children age 6-15, $10, Information: www.pequotmuseum.org.

Visit Willimantic for guided tours of Victorian homes, featuring Elks Lodge, Windham Mills, Windham Town Hall, Historic South Windham, Lantern Tour, Garden on the Bridge, Wright’s Garden, Old Willimantic Cemetery, and the Railroad Museum. New to the tours this year is the homes Windham Center. The weekend includes a member art show of the Windham Regional Arts Council at Art Space, 480 Main Street. Victorian Tea is served Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m. Advance Tickets, information and brochures are available at Potpourri Quick Copy, 700 Main Street, or by calling 860-428-7573. See event website for more details. Information: www.victorianwillimantic.org/events/victorian-days-in-willimantic/

Food, live music, kids amusements and juried arts and crafts festival. Time: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Information: www.cheshirecongregational.org

Craft Expo 2013 brings 176 national-caliber craft artists to this outdoor show, one of the most respected craft shows in New England and the country. This is a juried show. Other activities of the day are craft activities for children, a silent auction, and a food court. Time: Thursday and Friday, noon-9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. -7 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Information: www.guilfordartcenter.org/expo.html

Join us for family hayrides, fun clowns, lots of food and entertainment, and of course, beautiful, delicious red juicy strawberries! Come visit this Century Farm in the hills of southwest Connecticut, just a short drive north of New Haven. Time: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: www.hindingersfarm.com

The International Festival of Arts & Ideas offers a wide range of events highlighting the many facets of the arts. More than 80 percent of the events offered during the festival are free of charge. See featured events of the festival at the Connecticut Events page. Information and schedules: www.artidea.org.

The Festival offers crafters and fine arts, great raffle prizes, live entertainment, children's games, face painting and hayrides, and tons of food. Pulled pork, hamburgers, hot dogs, and of course, strawberry sundaes, chocolate covered strawberries, and strawberry shortcake. Rain date is June 9. Time: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Information: www.orangecongregationalchurch.org/

The day's activities include Breakfast on the Deck, horsedrawn wagon rides with Foxglove Farm, pony rides, pie eating contests, food sampling, strawberry treats, live music, and more great family fun. Enjoy delicious hotdogs, hamburgers, ice cream, strawberry shortcake, and more! Emily Brooks, founder of Edible Advocate Alliance and author of a new cookbook, Connecticut Farmer & Feast, will be at the Apple Barrel for a book signing. Also, horsse-drawn wagon rides, pony rides, live music on the Apple Barrel deck by the country and bluegrass band The Monthei Brothers, and a Strawberry Pie Eating Contest for children and adults. Time: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Information: www.lymanorchards.com/events/summer.shtml