Today is Saturday, June 13, 2026 
CT Trails Day is celebrated annually on the first weekend of June throughout the entire state! Hosted by Connecticut Forest & Park Association, this weekend encourages folks to get outside and discover the beauty of their own backyards.
Take a look below at the multiple FREE opportunities hosted throughout Thames River Heritage Park this weekend!
New London Black Heritage Trail
Saturday, June 6 | 10AM
Hosted by: New London Black Heritage Trail, New London Landmarks, New London Cultural District
Guided walking tour of the New London Black Heritage Trail, visiting sites of historic interest which will include 18th Century stories of enslavement and the Governors of the Negroes, the 19th Century stories of the abolition and education movements, as well as The Amistad, and 20th Century stories of the Great Migration, 1919 Red Summer, The Green Book, the Civil Rights movement, and Urban Renewal.
Follow the link below for more information and to register in advance!
Walk In The Footsteps Of Our Ancestors! Morning & Afternoon Tour of Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park
Saturday, June 6 | 11AM & 1:30PM
Hosted by: Friends of Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park
Walk in the footsteps of the local militia who bravely defended Fort Griswold during the Revolutionary War. Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park is a partially flat, partially hilly, somewhat rocky trail. Wear sturdy shoes. Leashed dogs allowed.
Follow the link below for more information and to register in advance!
A Walk Through Time: Historic Groton Heights
Saturday, June 6 | 12PM
Hosted by: Thames River Heritage Park
Join other history enthusiasts for this walk through the hilly neighborhood along the banks of the Thames River to see the homes of patriots, whaling captains, town founders and civic leaders. Over 250 years of history will unfold through local lore, architecture, and the draw of the Thames River. This walking tour coordinates with a tour of Fort Griswold Battlefield hosted by the Friends of Fort Griswold. Participants may want to consider attending the Battlefield tour in conjunction with the neighborhood tour.
Follow the link below for more information and to register in advance!
Historic Starr Burying Ground Walking Tour
Sunday, June 7 | 2-3:30pm
Hosted by: Thames River Heritage Park, CT Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, Avery-Copp House Museum, Groton-Mystic CT America 250 Committee
Join us for a tour of the historic Starr Burying Ground and meet some of the Groton patriots whose lives were forever changed by the American Revolution.
Nine of the 85 men killed by the British at the Battle of Groton Heights in 1781 are buried here, as are some of their widows and children. You’ll also hear the stories of citizens who rallied to the cause as word of British offenses spread in the 1770s, and who lived through the devastating aftermath of Benedict Arnold’s 1781 raid.
Follow the link below for more information and to register in advance!
