Attractions & Social Events

The beauty of Chester is distinctive, no matter the time of year or day.

Downtown offers a medley of shops and eateries, providing delights for all the senses.

19th century shops huddle Main Street's curve like a collection of gingerbread houses, their muted earth tones reminiscent of an age when life was simpler.

Subdued creativity abounds, with the talents and energy of friendly artists, artisans and neighbors drawing everything together, making downtown Chester a place to remember.

Pattaconk and Cedar Lakes provide summer activities for boating and swimming, along with Camp Hazen, located at Cedar Lake.

The Chester/Hadlyme Ferry is one of the last remaining ferries in Connecticut. It leads from Chester to Hadlyme, and provides a wonderful approach to Gillette's Castle, which overlooks the river as you approach.

See Photos for a visual tour.

Attractions from the surrounding towns

While all of the Connecticut shoreline offers special attractions and ambiance, the lower Middlesex Valley offers an inviting cluster all its own, including Chester, Essex, Deep River, Old Saybrook and Westbrook. Across the bridge you find Haddam and Old Lyme. We urge you to explore them all. Just remember to complete your day by stopping by in Chester!

• River Museum
• Goodspeed Opera House
• Gillette's Castle
• Ivoryton Playhouse

See Area Attractions

Life in Chester

There's always a certain vibrancy in Chester, enjoyed by residents and visitors alike — out of the ordinary, yet down to earth. Like the 4th of July Road Race. And Chester Nights, when shops stay open and surprise us with new attractions. The Memorial Day Parade carries the intimate authenticity of a small New England village. When the Volunteer Fire Department holds their annual Chili Contest, you can be sure the firehouse will be packed with people. The Ice Carving Contest attracts sauntering passers-by with its spray of frost, leaving a wintry array of statuettes, sparkling wherever you find them. (see: Winter Carnivale)

But none of this describes what it's like to live here. Chester streets are neatly contoured to their natural landscape - reflecting yesteryear's economy, when mills thrived on the many streams and dams.

Almost everywhere you go you hear a mellow stream flowing by, even on Main Street, where the Pattaconk passes beneath the road, circling behind shops. The fresh air permeates everything with scents from herb gardens, wildflower landscapings, to our State Park, lakes and the Connecticut River. You may see children passing by with their fishing poles, trying their luck from roadside bridges.