2023 Festival

2023 Connecticut Sea Music Festival

The 2023 Connecticut Sea Music Festival will take place in Essex, CT on June 9-12th. We’re a traditional maritime folk festival, partnering with the town as well as with individual venues to bring you the music. The daytime events are free, with donations accepted. Evening Concerts are ticketed.

Advance ticket sales for the evening concerts are closed! Concert tickets will be available at the gate to our mainstage tent, directly before and during the concerts. Adult tickets – $30. Child (3-16) – $15. Children 2 and under enter free.

Weekend Schedule

The weekend starts with our famous Symposium on the Music of the Sea, on Friday at the Essex Town Hall. The festival continues with the Evening Concerts and music throughout the town!

FRIDAY
Evening Concert: 7 – 10 p.m., tickets required, featuring:
Ancient Mariners Chanteymen, Bob & Jeanne Zentz,
Dan Milner, Stout, David Iler, Rick & Donna Nestler,
Nick Apollonio, 40 Degrees South

SATURDAY
Parade: Main Street, 9:30 a.m.
The Sailing Masters of 1812 Fife & Drum Corps
Mini-concerts, workshops, and demonstrations: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Evening Concert: 7 – 10 p.m., tickets required, featuring:
David Jones, Bobaloo & Tracey Wright-Basey, Ken Sweeney, The Johnson Girls, Skylark, Jeff Davis, Pressgang Mutiny

SUNDAY
Hymn Sing: 10 – 11:30 a.m. Marquee Tent, Town Green
Mini-concerts, workshops, and demonstrations: 12 – 3 p.m.
Final Concert: 3 – 6 p.m., no ticket required Marquee Tent, Town Green

Our 2023 Festival Will Feature:

And in a special showcase appearance: Pressgang Mutiny from Canada

How to Get There

Essex, CT is most easily accessed off of Connecticut Route 9. Parking in town is very limited; satellite parking will be available for festival attendees, with some Accessible Parking reserved in town. Check back soon for more info.

From the East, South, or West:
From Interstate 95 (either direction), take Exit 69 onto CT Route 9 North. Take Exit 3.

From the Old Saybrook train station, take the Boston Post Road towards CT 154 North. Turn left off of CT 154 for the entrance to Route 9 North. From Route 9, take Exit 3.

Coming off Exit 3, turn left (you will be crossing a median) and then right at the light.

From the North:
From Interstate 91 South, take left Exit 22S to merge onto CT Route 9 South (Middletown / Old Saybrook). Off Route 9 South, take Exit 3. Turn left , then left again at the light.

For public transportation from NYC, take Metro North from Grand Central to New Haven, CT, transfer to the Shoreline East Train, then take a shuttle bus via the 9 Town Transit service to Essex, CT.
9 Town Transit is a public transportation service of the Estuary Transit District in CT that serves Essex. Take a train to the Old Saybrook Train Station (via Metro North, Shoreline East, or Amtrak), then an Estuary Transit bus to downtown Essex and the Festival – without having to park!
More info: shorelineeast.com
https://estuarytransit.org.
Contact: info@estuarytransit.org, 860-510-0429

Where to Stay

Below is a listing of local hotels and motels.

In Essex:
The Griswold Inn (one of our venues) is directly downtown and has lodging and excellent food.

In Ivoryton:
The Copper Beech Inn
The Ivoryton Inn

In Old Saybrook:
Liberty Inn
Quality Inn
Super 8 by Wyndham
Econo Lodge Inn & Suites
Saybrook Point Resort & Marina

In Old Lyme:
Old Lyme Inn

In Deep River:
Riverwind Inn B&B

In East Haddam:
Wolf’s Den Family Campground

Where to Eat

Support the town of Essex! Food is available at various restaurants throughout town.

Supporting the festival specifically are:
The Griswold Inn
Olive Oyl’s
Privateer’s Pizza
Sweet P’s Essex Ice Cream
Joy Chocolate
Essex Coffee & Tea Company

Quick Navigation

Weekend Schedule

Performers

Directions

Lodging

Organizers