What To Expect At The 2025 Connecticut Witch Festival

Grab your broomsticks, Hartford—the Connecticut Witch Festival is back for round two, according to a press release on ctinsider.com. The festival swoops onto Pratt Street on August 8–9, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free.

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This second annual festival commemorates Connecticut’s early witch trials, which, fun fact, started in 1647. Eleven people were executed here, including Alice Young, the unlucky original, and it only took the state about 375 years to say, “Oops, our bad,” via House Joint Resolution 34 in 2023. Timing is everything. Whether you believe in witchcraft or not, the lineup of speakers is fascinating!

Connecticut Witch Festival 2025: Free Hartford Event Celebrates Witchy History

* Catherine Nadal - Catherine Nadal is a witch and Reverend at the Trinacrian Church in Salem, Mass.

* Thomas Patrick Gormley - “Archangel of the Paranormal” is a Shaman and 40-year veteran of the Paranormal with a background in law enforcement, criminology, and profiling. Criminology and profiling.

Co‑promoter Charles Rosenay summed up the festival’s vibe perfectly:

“Salem lives on its witch history, but Connecticut has a deeper and richer history of ‘witches’ and injustices that were done to them.”

Festival organizers—behind ParaConn and the Salem Paranormal & Horror Convention—aim to strike a balance between historical education and accessible entertainment. This family-friendly event features guest speakers, authors, panel discussions, thematic vendors, artisans, food and beverage stalls, and interactive experiences such as tarot readings, crafts, and live performances!

For schedules and speaker info, visit CTWitchFest.com. Bring your curiosity, your sense of humor, and maybe a fire extinguisher, just in case history decides to repeat itself.

The Beginnings of Witchcraft and Its Consequences in Connecticut and Salem, Massachusetts

Gallery Credit: Ethan Carey

5 Famous Connecticut Locations Many People Think Are Haunted

Connecticut is steeped in rich history from border to border. Real-world stories here are often stranger than fiction, leading many to believe that the Constitution State has a thin veil between the living and the dead. There is no shortage of ghost tales or ghost hunters in Connecticut, with numerous locations across the state thought to be haunted. Here are just five of the many places in Connecticut believed by some to be haunted.

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano