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Looking for something to do in Connecticut in October? Whether you want something active or relaxing, cultural or nature-oriented, historic or trendy, Connecticut's got you covered. Here are some highlights for October.
Jupiter Hammon was born into slavery today in 1711 on the Lloyd family estate on Long Island. While little is known about the finer details of Hammon’s life, as a boy, young Jupiter was educated alongside the Lloyd family’s children and was encouraged to read, write, and study the Bible — a highly unusual arrangement for the time. He became a devout Christian and when he wasn’t working as a farm hand and clerk, dabbled in writing poetry, sermons, and meditations. Hammon penned an 88-line poem titled “An Evening Thought: Salvation by Christ with Penetential Cries,” on Christmas Day, 1760, which was published as a single-page broadside in Hartford, Connecticut in early 1761. The exact circumstances surrounding the publication of Hammon’s poem are unknown, but Hammon’s poem made history by virtue of becoming the first published literary work by an African-American in what is now the United States.
The Lloyd family obviously had some connection with Hartford, as they moved there during the Revolutionary War when the British occupation of Long Island threatened the well-being of their family and property. While he was living in Hartford, several additional works by Hammon were published, including essays about New Testament parables and “An Address to Miss Phillis Wheatly” — a poetic dialogue in which the devout Hammon exhorted the famous Boston-area poetess to rededicate herself to Christ. Later in life, Hammon wrote a widely-circulated essay arguing for gradual emancipation of slavery which, along with his spiritual poems and essays, had a major, long-lasting influence on early American black theology and anti-slavery literature. Hammon died sometime around 1805 – 1806, having never experienced life outside of slavery. While his death was never recorded, his works live on in the annals of formative early American and African-American literature.
Tuesday October 29, 2024 hours will be extended from 8am to 8pm
Wednesday October 30, 2024 10am – 6pm
Thursday October 31, 2024 hours will be extended from 8am to 8pm
Friday November 1, 2024 10am – 6pm
Saturday November 2, 2024 10am – 6pm
Sunday November 3, 2024 10am – 6pm
The Presidential Election will take place November 5, 2024 6am – 8pm Clickhereto find out where to VOTE
Manchester Road Race
The world-famous race, one of America’s largest and most popular turkey trots, will be held on Thanksgiving Day (November 28, 2024) at 10 a.m. It is run on a 4.737-mile loop course through Manchester’s central streets that starts and finishes on Main Street, in front of St. James Church.
The Committee has also announced that the non-profit Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester will be the beneficiary this November of the road race’s annual “Honors Club” Program. For more information clickhere.
Learning Pickleball
Discover the beginner pickleball sessions offered by the Manchester Recreation Division, and secure your spot by registering now! Playing pickleball allows you to work on your balance, agility, reflexes, and hand-eye coordination without putting excessive strain on your body. We're looking forward to seeing you there!
Halloween Happenings Downtown 2024
Halloween Happenings is happening in Downtown Manchester on Saturday, 10/19!
Visit Downtown Manchester for our annual Halloween Happenings! Be sure to start by decorating your bag and then head out to collect candy throughout Downtown Manchester!
Bag Decorating & Crafts with Downtown Manchester
Downtown Manchester at WORK_SPACE | 903 Main Street
11 am to 12:30 pm
Downtown Trick or Treat
Downtown Businesses
11:30 am to 1 pm
Shop and Hike at Bush Hill
All welcome to shop at a fundraising indoor tag sale, from 10:00 to 3:00 and/or come for a guided fall foliage hike at 1:00 p.m., led by the Manchester Land Conservation Trust on its 177.5-acre property. Park at the cider barn, 330 Bush Hill Road, Manchester. Rain or shine. More on the Events page www.manchesterlandtrust.org.
Early Voting for General Election
October 21 - November 3
Early voting will be available for the General Election beginning October 21st at Town Hall (740 Main Street) second floor, Welling Conference Room.
Early voting hours will be: 10 am – 6 pm with the exception of October 29 and 31 where hours will be 8 am – 8 pm
The General Election will take place November 5, 2024 from 6am – 8pm. All polling locations will be open on Primary Day.
If you are not registered, but want to vote during the Early Voting period, you may register in person every day of Early Voting at the Early Voting location.
If you are not registered, but want to vote on Election Day, you may register in person on Election Day at your Election Day Registration site.
To receive important election updates text VOTE to 860.321.4221
East Hartford Parks and Recreation Department presents a Trick or Treat Trail!
DATE: Saturday, October 26th
TIME: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
LOCATION: East Hartford Town Green, 1047 Main Street
East Hartford children ages 10 and younger (and their accompanying parent/guardian) are invited to head down the trail in our festively decorated park to various stations for candy, treats, and giveaways. Each child should bring their own bag or basket to collect treats. Please dress appropriately for the weather. This event will be held rain or shine.
The event is FREE for East Hartford residents. For more information, please call East Hartford Parks and Recreation Department at 860-291-7160.
UConn Football Tickets
East Hartford is the home of Husky Football!
We are excited to support East Hartford’s hometown college team: University of Connecticut Football! Through the generosity of University of Connecticut Athletics Department, East Hartford residents can use the following link to access discounted tickets for October 19th football game against Wake Forest at 12pm at Rentschler Field.
The Town of East Hartford will begin the annual curbside leaf collection program on Monday, November 4, 2024.Leaves will be vacuumed Monday through Saturday starting November 4th continuously through December 14th, 2024.
The program consists of the vacuuming of leaves placed in piles on a tree belt. Leaves will be vacuumed along each street, weather permitting. The leaf collection program will commence on roads in the northwest corner of town in the area of Pitkin Street and then proceed north and east through the Burnham and Goodwin Street areas. Collection will proceed in a clockwise direction around town.
There will be no leaf collection on two (2) Town-observed holidays—Veterans Day, November 11, 2024 and Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024.
The schedule for leaf pickup can be found on the Department of Public WorksWeekly Advisory Mapand on the Town Facebook page.
The map will show completed areas as well as the areas where leaf collection is anticipated the following week. Residents should note that the map is tentative and dependent on the weather and the speed of collection and should not be considered a set collection schedule. Progress of the collection is weather-dependent and will be affected by rain or snow. Snowfall before mid-December may cause a suspension or cancelation of leaf collection. The map will be updated with address-specific collection information, such as whether collection has been completed or is anticipated by close of business on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Residents, please look for leaf program lawn signs! Leaf collection lawn signs will be posted in neighborhoods to notify residents that curbside leaf pickup is coming, and to encourage raking to the tree belt and paper leaf bag collection. Please do not block storm drains and catch basins with leaves to prevent flooding issues.
The Map will show your property- click on it to pull up the anticipated collection week.
To find out if the leaf collection has already been completed in your area, please click on the road centerline, which will indicate if the street has been completed.
Residents also have two (2) additional options for leaf disposal: OPTION 1: Curbside Brown Bag Collection for six (6) weeks
Town crews will pick up leaves placed in biodegradable brown paper bags beginning November 4, 2024 through December 14, 2024 on your regular waste collection day, weather permitting. Leaves, in biodegradable brown paper bags only. No grass clippings, branches or other waste items can be placed in the paper bags nor will the Town collect leaves in plastic bags. In the case of any delays, please leave your bagged leaves out on the curb, and they will be picked up as soon as possible. If you bring them back inside, you may be at risk of missing the collection.
OPTION 2: Resident Transport to The Transfer Station for FREE Disposal
Residents may also bring their leaves to the Transfer Station on Ecology Drive between 7:30 AM to 1:45 PM on the following days:
Every Saturday in November
First three Saturdays in December
Please note: The Transfer Station will be open on November 9th, 23rd, and 30th for leaves only.
Leaves in plastic bags will not be accepted. For any additional information, please call Public Works Administration, 860-291-7374.
Town of East Hartford Recreation Programs Survey
We Want to Hear From You!
We encourage residents to share their feedback with us, which will help shape the future of East Hartford's recreation programs and services.
My office is always open if you or your family are in need of assistance. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email atJason.Rojas@cga.ct.govor by phone at 860-240-8541.