Name: Nehantic Heritage Day 2026
Start: 2026-10-03T10:30:00-04:00
Location: McCook Point Park

McCook Point Park

Experience the Nehantic homeland at this free community gathering presented by the Nehantic Native Nation and East Lyme Historical Society. This year’s featured story, presented in recognition of America’s 250th anniversary, explores Nehantic participation in the American Revolution. The day includes an opening ceremony at Wigwam Rock with the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps, Native flute, a reading honoring Nehantic Revolutionary War veterans, and a ceremonial fire; a 1:00 p.m. presentation by historian and educator Deborah Spears Moorehead on Native American contributions to the Revolutionary cause; traditional storytelling and music; Indigenous artists and cultural participants; local artists and artisans; historical and archaeological exhibits; family activities; and a Young Stewards Passport. Free and open to all.

Local Event: Nehantic Heritage Day 2026

New London County

New London

East Lyme

Connecticut

Nehantic Heritage Day 2026

Experience the Nehantic homeland at this free community gathering presented by the Nehantic Native Nation and East Lyme...

Long Island Sound

The 44th Annual WICC Surfside Hotel <a href="https://www.bluefishtournament.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Greatest Bluefish Tournament on Earth</a> returns to Long Island Sound on Saturday, August 29, with fishing officially beginning at 12:01 a.m. Anglers from Connecticut and New York will compete for bragging rights—and a $25,000 grand prize awarded to the tournament's largest bluefish.
The weekend-long tournament features more than $40,000 in total cash prizes, including:
<ul>
 <li>1st Place: $25,000</li>
 <li>2nd Place: $7,500</li>
 <li>3rd Place: $2,500</li>
 <li>Smaller cash prizes awarded through 20th Place</li>
 <li>Port Prizes awarded for the heaviest bluefish weighed at each official Connecticut and New York weigh station (see below for complete list of weigh stations)</li>
</ul>
Young anglers, 17 and under, will also have the chance to win big. The tournament will award a $1,000 cash prize to the largest bluefish caught by a youth angler. Second and third place youth winners will receive $100 gift cards.
Anglers may register online at <a href="https://www.bluefishtournament.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.bluefishtournament.com</a>&nbsp;or in person at any official tournament registration location throughout Connecticut and New York/Long Island.
Official Registration Locations:
Connecticut
<ul>
 <li>AW Marina – New London</li>
 <li>Black Hall Outfitters – Westbrook</li>
 <li>Black Rock Bait &amp; Tackle – Bridgeport</li>
 <li>Bobby J's Bait &amp; Tackle – Milford</li>
 <li>Branford Bait &amp; Tackle – Branford</li>
 <li>Dee's Bait &amp; Tackle – New Haven</li>
 <li>Fin's Bait &amp; Tackle – Clinton</li>
 <li>Fisherman's World – East Norwalk</li>
 <li>Fishin’ Factory – Milldale</li>
 <li>Hillyer's Tackle Shop – Waterford</li>
 <li>Sportsman's Den – Cos Cob</li>
 <li>Ted's Bait &amp; Tackle – Old Saybrook</li>
</ul>
New York
<ul>
 <li>Blue Water Ventures – Peconic</li>
 <li>Cow Harbor Bait &amp; Tackle – Northport</li>
 <li>Duffy's Bait &amp; Tackle – Glenwood Landing</li>
 <li>East Coast Fishing Supplies – Little Neck</li>
 <li>Jack's Bait &amp; Tackle – City Island</li>
 <li>Miller Place Bait &amp; Tackle – Mount Sinai</li>
 <li>Tyalure Tackle – Rye</li>
</ul>
The registration deadline is Friday, August 28, at 11:59 p.m. Registration is $36 per angler and is required to participate. Fishing begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, August 29, and concludes at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 30.
Throughout the tournament weekend, WICC, 99.1 PLR, STAR 99.9, and WEBE108 will provide hourly leaderboard updates and tournament results.
For registration, tournament rules, weigh station information, and live updates, visit <a href="https://www.bluefishtournament.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.bluefishtournament.com</a>, follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bluefishtournament" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/bluefishtournament</a>, or Instagram @bluefishtournament.
The 44th Annual Bluefish Tournament is proudly presented by WICC, The Surfside Hotel, Stevens Ford Lincoln of Milford, Bridgeport Harbor Marina, Water Dr., Little Pub, and The Fisherman Magazine

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Join the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for the Southeastern Connecticut Out of the Darkness Community Walk. Walk to raise awareness, honor loved ones, and support suicide prevention. Register or donate at https://afspwalks.donordrive.com/Niantic

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Looking forward to our second year with this "Ecology" minded event "Bees &amp; Birds &amp; Butterflies Oh My" on September 26th at Samuel Smith Farmstead in East Lyme from 10 am to 3 pm.&nbsp; Join us to learn about protecting bees and birds in our environment, and inviting them into our yards with pollinator plants and other welcoming ideas. Our six guests will be happy to talk and share knowledge with you during this event.&nbsp; At 1 pm, Dr. Jamie Vaudrey from the Niantic Watershed Committee will conduct a 20 minute "engaging talk" about Coastal Challenges in our regional communities.&nbsp; &nbsp;All day, we will have an "Enviroscape Coastal Model" to interact with which illustrates how runoff starts in our own backyards.&nbsp; Hope you can come - as always our events are FREE and geared for children and adults alike. For more info, see: <a href="https://www.samuelsmithfarmstead.org/?fbclid=IwcGRvZgFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFVQlJGQmhKUjFYdzJjMlhEc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnxNEdienOpyLzktXa0qX5Rs8e3RvBxrGAKLP9CWkJTqscaNb8u5Za9nA82c_aem_2RBPyRFBBMr272N5FGZTaw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">www.samuelsmithfarmstead.org</a> or contact Lu Huntington at: maryluleahy@gmail.com.

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The Nehantic Native Nation and the East Lyme Historical Society invite the community to Nehantic Heritage Day 2026 on Saturday, October 3, at McCook Park in Niantic. The free community gathering will offer visitors an opportunity to experience the Nehantic homeland through ceremony, history, Indigenous culture, music, storytelling, art, archaeology, and community connection.
This year's event will take place during the nationwide commemoration of America's 250th anniversary and will highlight an important chapter in Nehantic history: the participation of Nehantic men in the American Revolution. More than 25 known Nehantic men served during the Revolutionary War, and their contributions will be remembered throughout the day's opening ceremony and historical programming.
<h3>A Morning of Ceremony and Remembrance</h3>
The day's activities will begin at 10:30 a.m., as the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps gathers and begins playing music to welcome visitors toward the point at McCook Park.
At 10:45 a.m., the opening ceremony will begin at Wigwam Rock. The ceremony will include a welcome from the Nehantic Native Nation, prayer, historical reflections on Nehantic participation in the Revolutionary War, and a reading of the names of Nehantic Revolutionary War veterans. A military salute will honor those who served, followed by the lighting of the ceremonial fire at Wigwam Rock, a moment of remembrance, and Native flute music by Strong Eagle Daly. The Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps will accompany the conclusion of the ceremony.
Dr. John Pfeiffer, Nehantic Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and historian, will provide historical context for the stories of the Nehantic Revolutionary War veterans.

<h3>A Cultural Program and Storytelling</h3>
At 1:00 p.m., the day's featured cultural program will begin with historian, educator, artist, and cultural bearer Deborah Spears Moorehead, who will explore the contributions of Native American sailors and soldiers to the cause of American independence, with particular attention to the Battle of Bunker Hill. The National Park Service has documented the participation of Native American soldiers at Bunker Hill, including members of several Indigenous communities from New England.
Following the presentation, Strong Eagle Daly will share traditional storytelling and cultural insights, with additional music and storytelling continuing into the afternoon.
“We hope people will come to Nehantic Heritage Day not simply to hear about history, but to experience the homeland itself—to listen, to learn, and to understand that this is a place with a deep and continuing Indigenous history,” said Dr. Pfeiffer. “The ceremonies, the stories, the music, the artists, and the opportunity to talk with people who care about this history all contribute to that experience.”
<h3>Explore the Nehantic Homeland</h3>
From 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., visitors will be able to explore a small gathering of Indigenous cultural participants, historians, archaeologists, artists, artisans, and community organizations.
The Indigenous Heritage area will include Native artists and cultural participants, historical and archaeological exhibits, an artifact identification table, and an opportunity to learn more about the newly published history of the Nehantic people by Dr. John Pfeiffer.
The Stewards of the Land theme will highlight community organizations whose work reflects a commitment to preserving the natural and cultural resources of the Nehantic homeland.
A small Marketplace will feature local artists and artisans, along with food offerings for visitors.
Families will also be invited to participate in the Young Stewards Passport, a new activity encouraging children to explore the event and discover connections among history, nature, culture, and community.
<h3>Closing the Day</h3>
Following the afternoon's music, storytelling, exhibits, and activities, the public is invited to join the closing ceremony and Honor Song at approximately 3:30 p.m., bringing the day's observances to a close.
Nehantic Heritage Day is intentionally designed as a welcoming community gathering rather than a large festival. The organizers hope to create a setting where visitors can spend time listening, learning, asking questions, meeting participants, and developing a deeper appreciation for the Nehantic homeland.
“Nehantic Heritage Day is still growing,” said Dr. Pfeiffer. “Our hope is that each year we can create more opportunities for people to learn about the Nehantic homeland and the people who have been its stewards. For now, we are pleased to offer a meaningful day of ceremony, history, culture, and community.”
The opening ceremony at Wigwam Rock will take place outdoors regardless of weather. If weather conditions require it, the remainder of the day's activities will move to an indoor location to be announced.
Nehantic Heritage Day 2026 Saturday, October 3, 2026 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. McCook Park, Niantic, Connecticut
Free and open to all.

The Nehantic Native Nation and the East Lyme Historical Society invite the community to Nehantic Heritage Day 2026 on Saturday,...

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The Werrlein Companies is your go-to provider for premium Home Services and Construction in the Southeastern CT and Rhode Island area. Our comprehensive range of services includes routine maintenance, repairs, new installations, remodeling, and full-service design &amp; build. Our goal is to provide our customers with the best possible service at a fair price, and we stand behind our work with a satisfaction guarantee. If you’re looking for a reliable and trustworthy home service, look no further than The Werrlein Companies. Serving Mystic-Stonington and the Southern Rhode Island areas.

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