Weekend According to Mike July 17-19

Music:

Bushnell Park is the place for the 35th Annual Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, offering dozens of different acts, from nationally touring artists to local ensembles, over three days. The festival kicks off at 6pm tonight with a set by jazz pianist Michael Carabello, who was a student at the Artists Collective and the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music and is now the music director of the Artists Collective. On Saturday and Sunday, the music lasts from 2:30 to 10 p.m. The final set of the day at 8:30 p.m. from the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz All Stars including Brian Simpson on keyboards, Kim Waters and Jazmin Ghent on saxophone and Ragan Whiteside on flute. www.hartfordjazz.org

It’s the Riverfront Heartbeats and Eats Festival today through Sunday at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza. Live music from two stages. Two levels of amazing Food Trucks! www.riverfront.org

The Talcott Mountain Music Festival continues tonight at Simsbury Meadows with Brass Transit – the musical legacy of Chicago with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra under the stars! Gates open at 6pm. Concert at 7:30pm. Pack a picnic or food available for purchase! Tables or Grass Passes await! www.hartfordsymphony.org

Adam Lambert plays Mohegan Sun Arena Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are $39-$123. www.MoheganSun.com

Events:

The 5th annual MOVE! 5K and Movement Festival is Saturday in historic Keney Park. The event kicks off at 9 a.m. with the 5K Road Race and a 1-Mile Run/Walk followed by the free HMF FitKids Fun Run. The awards ceremony begins at 10:30. Swimsuits and towels are highly encouraged for the free Movement Festival, taking place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. New this year, Hartford Parks and Recreation will open the Keney Park swimming pool for race and festival participants to experience one of the park's hidden gems. In addition to swimming, the public can enjoy fitness demonstrations, health information, fresh produce, arts and crafts, live entertainment, community resources, and music by DJ Sammie Soca. The Urban League Young Professionals will also host the YP Games, where registered teams will compete in a series of fun challenges. Registration fees for the 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk are $25 for adults, $15 for participants ages 13–21, and free for children ages 12 and under. Admission to the Movement Festival is free for all ages. Teams may register for $15 onsite. Event shirts will be distributed while supplies last. Learn more about MOVE! With the Urban League and upcoming events at www.HartfordMarathon.com

The 11th Annual LatinoFest is Saturday Noon to 7pm at Dunkin Park in Hartford. Admission is FREE. Enjoy music, dance, culture, vendors and food (available for purchase). www.hartfordlatinofest.com

If you love gymnastics, the US Classic comes to People’s Bank Arena beginning tonight at 6. See some of the best gymnasts in the country as they prepare to compete in the Olympics in LA in 2028. Saturday’s schedule includes Junior and Senior Championships at 2 and 7pm. www.peoplesbankarena.com

It's Family Fun Day at Dunkin Park Sunday at 1pm. Watch the Thunder Chickens battle the Bouncing Pickles. Kids run the bases, crafts, games and mascots too! Just $10 per person! www.yardgoatsbaseball.com

Grab your spoons, because National Ice Cream Day just got a whole lot sweeter. On Sunday, Friendly's is handing every guest a FREE cone or dish: no rewards membership required, no purchase required, no fine print. Dine in or carry out, swing by for a quick fix — this year, the treat's simply on the house. The one-day giveaway marks 91 years of Friendly's scooping up ice cream for families, teams, friends and communities across the country!

Comedy returns to Foxwoods Saturday night with comedy icon Jerry Seinfeld taking the stage at the Premier Theater, bringing the wit and storytelling that have made him one of the most celebrated entertainers of his generation. Tickets are $107-$234. www.foxwoods.com

You are invited to The Wild Party at Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road in West Hartford through August 16. Tickets are $45-$55, plus a $3.50 service charge. Senior and military discounts of $2.50 are available, and patrons under 40 may purchase $35 tickets for any performance. Not recommended for under 17 years old. For more information on THE WILD PARTY or to purchase tickets, call the Box Office at 860-523-5900 ext. 10 or visit www.playhouseonpark.org

Put on your dancing shoes because Crazy For You, the multiple Tony Award®-winning musical comedy is tapping its way onto the Goodspeed stage. When Broadway hopeful Bobby Child is sent to Nevada to foreclose on an abandoned theatre, he hatches a plan to save the town and get the girl—by putting on a show! Featuring glorious Gershwin melodies including “I Got Rhythm,” “Embraceable You,” and “Someone To Watch Over Me,” it’s a spectacular celebration of classic song-and-dance musicals. Performances now through August 16. www.goodspeed.org or 860-873-8668.

Capital Classics Theatre Company's 2026 Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival present the dark comedy Measure for Measure performed in repertory with the magical A Midsummer Night's Dream. The alternating productions, which will each be performed ten times, is set to run through Sunday, August 2, 2026, outdoors on the campus of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford. Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30pm with Sunday performances occurring at 5:30pm. Measure for Measure will be performed on Saturday, July 18; Wednesday, July 22; Friday, July 24; Sunday; July 26; Thursday, July 30; and Saturday, August 1. A Midsummer Night's Dream will be performed on Friday, July 17; Sunday, July 19; Thursday, July 23; Saturday, July 25; Wednesday, July 29; Friday, July 31; and Sunday, August 2. Tickets are on sale now for all performances by visiting www.CapitalClassics.org Advance ticket purchase pricing is $25 for general admission; free for youth ages 11 and under.

The Southington Drive-In season continues with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Saturday! Gates open at 6pm. Movie begins 30 minutes after dark. $20 per car load. Walk ins $5 (chairs welcome!) CASH ONLY! Listen to the film on 89.9FM

Lake Compounce and Crocodile Cove are open weekends in Bristol and celebrates its historic 180th year. This weekend kicks off an all-new All-American Summer Celebration. The event features nightly patriotic entertainment throughout the summer, including fireworks over the lake every Saturday through August 15, more than 300 drones lighting up the sky during two spectacular drone shows in August, live Americana entertainment, decade dance parties, pie-eating contests, and Military Appreciation offering free admission for active-duty, retired, and veteran military members. www.lakecompounce.com

The Town of Cromwell Farmers Market takes place Friday evenings from 4–7pm at Riverport Park, now through September 4. The beautiful Riverport Park is conveniently located on the Connecticut River at the junction of Route 9. In addition to farm-fresh vegetables, locally sourced products, and artisans, there are food trucks, vendors and live music. Look for special events and guest appearances throughout the summer. For more information, please contact the Cromwell Recreation Department at recreation@cromwellct.gov or call 860-632-3467.

The Wallingford Garden Market runs every Saturday from 10am to 1pm at Doolittle Park Wallingford. 3 Farmers - About 35 Vendors! Be sure to stop by for your produce, drinks, crafts and so much more!

Get ready to zip, climb and fly through the trees at The Adventure Park at Storrs, 2007 Storrs Road. Tickets are $47. Open Friday 3-8pm, Saturday 10am-8pm and Sunday 10am-6pm. www.myadventurepark.com

Take a ride on the Bushnell Park Carousel open for the season Fridays 1–8PM, Saturdays & Sundays Noon to 5PM.