2027 Connecticut Sea Music Festival

The 2027 Connecticut Sea Music Festival will take place in Essex, CT on June 11-14. 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.

Can’t wait? Mark your calendar for our other events:

The Chantey Blast
January 9, 2027 • 1-5 p.m.
Frohnsinn Hall
54 Greenmanville Ave, Mystic CT

The Benefit Concert & Fundraiser
April 10, 2027 • 1-5 p.m.
Powder Mill Barn
32 South Maple St., Enfield CT

Weekend Schedule

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

Evening concert Tickets will be available for discounted advance purchase in Spring of 2027. A limited number of walk-in tickets will be available on the grounds immediately preceding each concert and valid only for that night’s show. Attendees are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance.

As with any outdoor concert, make sure you have weather-appropriate layers, hydration, etc., as it may get chilly by the water at night. No animals, except service animals, are allowed under the tent. Smoking is not permitted on the museum grounds.

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. The walk from the Town Hall lot to the Marquee Tent is roughly 16 minutes, and there are some hills.

The free Festival shuttle bus moves in a continuous loop between the Town Hall and Pratt House lots and downtown Essex, with two downtown shuttle stops – at the Town Green (14 Main St.) and Ferry Street (at the corner of Main Street, across from the Griswold Inn). Please note: The Ferry Street stop is the closest stop to the Marquee Tent.
The downtown-bound shuttle that starts at the Pratt House it will stop at Town Hall then go downtown.

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 or Metro North to CTRail 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
Drift Restaurant
Olive Oyl’s
Privateer’s Pizza
Sweet P’s Essex Ice Cream
Joy Chocolate
Essex Coffee & Tea Company

Quick Navigation

Weekend Schedule
– Symposium

Directions

Lodging

Organizers