LOCATION CHANGE

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LOCATION CHANGE !

The Mansfield Downtown Partnership will hold its 23rd annual Celebrate Mansfield Festival on

Saturday, September 26, 2026

from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM

indoors at E. O. Smith High School (1235 Storrs Road) in Downtown Storrs

FIND FESTIVAL FUN!

All visitors will enter at the school’s main entrance, where you will find the Mansfield Downtown Partnership’s table along with some of our wonderful sponsors. Be sure to pick up a map from the Partnership’s table - not only will it show when & where to go to find Festival fun, it will have special Downtown Deals listed!

In the main (GYM) and auxiliary (AUX) gymnasiums, you will find hands-on fun for all ages at tables (fka booths) hosted by Mansfield businesses and community organizations and UConn departments, programs, and student groups.

Hungry? Head over to the cafeteria (CAF) to find food vendors as well as cooking demos by UConn Dining Services chefs. Demos will take place at 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Then, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, students and staffs from Waldron’s Studio 88 will provide musical entertainment.

Our juried craft show will be in the atrium (ATR). These local crafters, makers, and artists will have a wide variety of hand-made, artisan goods and gifts available for purchase.

Last but not least, enjoy live entertainment in the auditorium! See the schedule below for more details.

As always, the Celebrate Mansfield Festival is free and open to everyone!

  • “The Heartbeat of E.O.” kicks things off for us in the auditorium with a dynamic performance at 2:15 PM.

  • Produced by the Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry in collaboration with UConn’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, with live music by Waldron’s Studio 88, From Microscopic to Mighty: A Connecticut Underwater Adventure will take audiences on an underwater journey to discover how some of the tiniest living things—phytoplankton—help support an incredible web of life, from schools of fish and playful seals to magnificent turtles and whales, reminding us that every living thing has an important role in keeping our waters healthy.

    Learn more here.

  • Sweet Sophia plays a variety of music from classic and contemporary bluegrass to gritty blues and sweet ballads. They perform “grass [with] grit and grace.”

  • The UConn Jazz Quintet features students from the University of Connecticut’s vibrant jazz program. With the recent expansion to include a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies alongside the Bachelor of Arts with an Emphasis in Jazz, the program offers pathways for both aspiring performers and future music educators. Today, UConn Jazz supports five small combos and two full 20-piece big bands, providing students with rich performance opportunities. The program’s distinguished faculty—some of the finest jazz musicians in the region—offer instruction on voice, trumpet, saxophone, trombone, piano, guitar, bass, and drums, preparing students to thrive as the next generation of jazz artists and educators.

  • Get ready to get your groove on with a free salsa lesson with Salsa Rico!

    Whether you are new to salsa or simply would like a refresher, instructor Rachael Irizarry will have you ready to dance along to our headliner, Lulada Club!

  • Experience the captivating rhythms of Lulada Club, an electrifying all-women salsa orchestra setting the New York City music scene ablaze!

    Renowned for their masterful interpretations of vintage tropical rhythms encompassing salsa, bolero, and cha-cha-cha, this powerhouse band pays homage to the icons while offering a fresh perspective through their original compositions. Read more here

ACTIVITY BOOTHS

One of the unique attractions of our Festival is our activity booths!

Enjoy free, hands-on fun for all ages at booths hosted by Mansfield, CT businesses and community organizations and UConn departments, programs, and student groups!.

Learn more here.

FOOD BOOTHS

Try some tempting treats from Mansfield, CT restaurants and non-profit organizations at our food booths!

Or, stop by your favorite Downtown Storrs restaurant - there’s nearly 30 to choose from!

Learn more here.

CRAFT BOOTHS

Support local crafters, makers, and artists during the Festival! Our juried craft show will feature a variety of hand-made and artisan goods from your friends and neighbors.

Learn more here.

SPONSORS

The Celebrate Mansfield Festival is made possible with the generous support of our sponsors!

Please let our sponsors know you appreciate their support of our community!

See our sponsors here.

VOLUNTEERS

The Mansfield Downtown Partnership relies on the help of hundreds of volunteers to make each Celebrate Mansfield Festival a success.

We greatly appreciate the individuals, families, businesses, sports teams, clubs, and student and community organizations that lend their time in support of this event!

Learn more and sign up today here!

The Celebrate Mansfield Festival is made possible with the generous support of our sponsors,

like our 2026 Platinum Sponsors:

Would you like to volunteer at the event or help plan next year’s? Let us know! Contact the us here.