2025 Connecticut Sea Music Festival

The 2025 Connecticut Sea Music Festival will take place in Essex, CT on June 6-9. 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.

Weekend Schedule

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

Interested in presenting at the Symposium? Find our Call for Papers here:

Calling All Volunteers!

A successful festival depends on its volunteers! If interested in joining the crew, meeting lots of people, and having fun during Festival weekend, we would love to hear from you. Email our volunteer coordinators at volunteering at ctseamusicfest.org.

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.

No Car? No Problem!
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 Amtrak, Metro North, or Shoreline East), then an Estuary Transit Bus to downtown Essex and the Festival – without having to park!
More info: https://rivervalleytransit.com/
info@estuarytransit.org, 860-510-0429

Where to Stay

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

Campgrounds:
Wolf’s Den Campground – East Haddam, CT
Riverdale Farm Campsites – Clinton, CT
Rocky Neck State Park – Niantic, CT
KOA – Niantic, CT
Hammonassett State Park – Madison, CT
Selden Neck Campsites – Lyme, CT
* NOTE – Selden Neck and some other local state river campsites are only accessible by boat. There is no shuttle or boat available.

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
– Symposium

Volunteering

Directions

Lodging

Organizers