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Gillette Castle Interior & Visitor Center open daily 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Memorial Day - Labor Day, and weekends through Columbus Day.
Advance purchase of tickets is highly recommended. Tickets are sold by the state, not the Friends.
Grounds are open daily, year-round, from 8 a.m. until sunset.

Please note that the East Haddam Swing Bridge is undergoing a major multi-year renovation (see the link for schedules and webcam links). The bridge closure schedule outlines days the bridge is scheduled to be completely closed. Alternatives are the bridges through Middletown or Old Saybrook, and the seasonal Chester-Hadlyme ferry.

Listing | Calendar

  • The Annual Meeting is for members only; members will be emailed with the meeting details.

  • The Board meeting is open to board members only.

  • If you would like to join any of our committees or would like to attend any noted activity, please contact us.

If you are adding these meetings to your own calendar, they are generally scheduled as follows. Please confirm with the full list below, as meetings are occasionally rescheduled. We do our best to keep this listing current:

  • Board meets the first Wednesday of the month (board members only)

  • Programming Team meets the second Tuesday of the month, 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

  • Communications Committee meets the third Tuesday of most months, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

2024 CALENDAR

January

1st: First Day Hikes at Gillette Castle State Park, 10 am - 1 pm

3rd: Board Meeting 

         6th:  Sherlock Holmes’s 168th birthday

         9th:  Programming Team

         16th: Communications Committee Meeting

February

7th: Board Meeting

12th: William Hooker Gillette was born in Hartford in 1853

13th:  Programming Team

March

6th: Board Meeting

        12th:  Programming Team

        19th:  Communications Committee Meeting

24th: Volunteer at the Castle! Informational Meeting

April

3rd: Board Meeting

          9th:  Programming Team

         16th:  Communications Committee Meeting

27th: Ferry Celebration - the Selden III is 75 years old! (Rain date April 28)

May

1st: Board Meeting

         14th:  Programming Team

TBD: Annual Meeting 2024

19th: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s birthday - Author book signing, guided hikes, the Castle is OPEN and more!

21st: Communications Committee Meeting

25th: Castle Tours Resume. Visit the Connecticut DEEP site for details and to purchase tickets.

June

1st & 2nd: Train Trail Hikes for Connecticut Trails Day weekend!

5th: Board Meeting

         11th:  Programming Team

15th: William Gillette's "The Astounding Crime on Torrington Road" returns to print!

18th: Communications Committee Meeting

July

3rd: Board Meeting

7th: The Society for Creative Anachronism: Medieval Calligraphy Demonstrations

         9th:  Programming Team

10th: Weeding Wednesdays

14th: Festive FOOD TRUCK Weekends! Serving from 11:30 a.m. until sunset or the food runs out!

16th:  Communications Committee Meeting

17th: Weeding Wednesdays

21st: Festive FOOD TRUCK Weekends! Serving from 11:30 a.m. until sunset or the food runs out!

24th: Weeding Wednesdays

31st: Weeding Wednesdays

August

4th: Festive FOOD TRUCK Weekends! Serving from 11:30 a.m. until sunset or the food runs out!

7th: Board Meeting

         13th:  Programming Team

17th: Train Trail Hike 11 a.m. Meet at Grand Central Station

17th: Festive FOOD TRUCK Weekends! Serving from 11:30 a.m. until sunset or the food runs out!

20th:  Communications Committee Meeting

September

4th: Board Meeting

8th: Festive FOOD TRUCK Weekends! Serving from 11:30 a.m. until sunset or the food runs out!

         10th:  Programming Team

15th: Festive FOOD TRUCK Weekends! Serving from 11:30 a.m. until sunset or the food runs out!

15th: Train Trail Hike 11 a.m. Meet at Grand Central Station

17th:  Communications Committee Meeting

29th: Train Trail Hike 11 a.m. Meet at Grand Central Station

October

2nd: Board Meeting

5th: 1920s Photography Event during the Golden Hour at the Castle!

       8th:  Programming Team

13th: Train Trail Hike 11 a.m. Meet at Grand Central Station

15th:  Communications Committee Meeting

18th: William and James – A Ghost Story 7 p.m. show - Tickets on sale for all shows now!!!

19th: William and James – A Ghost Story 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows

20th: William and James – A Ghost Story 2 p.m. show

25th: William and James – A Ghost Story 7 p.m. show

26th: William and James – A Ghost Story 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows

27th: William and James – A Ghost Story 2 p.m. show

27th: Train Trail Hike 11 a.m. Meet at Grand Central Station

November

Join the Gillette Castle holiday helpers! Details here

6th: Board Meeting

       12th:   Programming Team

19th:  Communications Committee Meeting

December

4th: Board Meeting

         10th:  Programming Team

17th:  Communications Committee Meeting