Connecticut Democracy Center

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.

08/04/2026

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. Only voters registered with the party may vote in the primary election. 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!

08/03/2026

🧺🥕🥬Governor Lamont encourages resident to shop Connecticut grown during National Farmers' Market Week this week! Stop by Connecticut's Old State House Farmers Market for fresh produce, baked goods and artisan crafts.

Tuesday, August 4
Friday, August 7
800 Main Street, Hartford
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

SNAP, WIC & Senior Benefits are accepted and will be doubled. On Friday 8/7 you can also enjoy a live concert featuring Shaded Soul to hear your favorite R&B, Motown, Rock, Pop and Disco hits. Fore more info visit https://bit.ly/CTOSHFarmersMarket26

07/29/2026

🎵🎤We've checked...looks like the rain will stop just in time for CT's Old State House Farmers Market and Summer Concert Series on Friday 7/31. Stop by the west side patio to shop for fresh produce (10 am - 2 pm) and stay to jump and jive with live music with Cherry Pie at noon. If you like swing, rockabilly, Latin with a few sultry ballads, join us for a sweet-steppin' good time. To check out the concert schedule, visit https://bit.ly/Concerts26 for details.

The Farmers Market will happily accept and double SNAP, WIC and Senior Benefits.

Thanks 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.

07/29/2026

Check out what Joe Dorman, CEO of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy had to say to U.S. Governors about the importance of Connecticut Democracy Center's Kid Governor program.

Oklahoma’s 4-H Junior Governor Riley Braden (left) of Creek County and Kid Governor® Katelyn Talley of Valliant Elementary School as Batgirl were among the youth volunteers at OICA’s 10th Annual Heroes Ball, held Saturday, July 25 in Oklahoma City. The pair of young leaders helped guide guests