Tours 2023
Building Projects, Affordable Housing, and New Haven
Yale School of Architecture, Neighborhood Housing Services, and Columbus House joined forces to match New Haven residents with affordable housing. Learn about the program and visit some of the exciting building projects.
Welcome to Newhallville
Come and be inspired by the possibilities of community vitality building! You will embark upon history and rebuilt beauty and splendor in one of New Haven’s top up and coming neighborhoods.
Back to School
New Haven has a diverse education program from public/private schools to magnet/charter/regional schools to home schooling, where every individual has a place to learn. On this ride you will learn about all the educational opportunities available in New Haven.
Scavenger Hunt
How well do you know New Haven? Test your knowledge of the Elm City and win fabulous prizes as we close out Festival 2023.
Architectural Scavenger Hunt
Presented by Docomomo US
Join Docomomo US, the national modern preservation organization, as we take to the sidewalks of New Haven to discover buildings from the city's past and present. Learn to read a building using the language of architecture and capture your favorite details, patterns and textures along the way.
Backyard Beekeeping 101
Learn about honey bee biology, the importance of pollinators, and taste our local honey. We’ll also suit you up and open a honey bee hive together! This includes checking to ensure the queen and colony is healthy, feeding, and treating for pests as needed. Make sure to wear socks and closed-toe shoes!
SOLD OUT: Please contact our Box Office at 203.498.3771 for additional support.
Bibliophilia & Taphophilia: The Living Archives of the Dead in New Haven
Two great archives are neighbors in New Haven: Grove Street Cemetery, the nation’s first chartered burial ground, established 225 years ago in 1797, and Beinecke Library, North America’s largest building dedicated exclusively to rare books and manuscripts.
CAES: The Nation's Oldest Agricultural Experiment Station
Get to know the CAES through this guided tour of the grounds and explore this renowned Bio Lab! The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), established in 1875, is the first agricultural experiment station in the United States.
SOLD OUT: Please contact our Box Office at 203.498.3771 for additional support.
Climb to Unimaginable Heights!
Explore the design and fabrication facility of the world renowned climbing sculpture company Luckey Climbers. Tour will include descriptions of ongoing projects in various stages of production and a slide lecture of selected projects from our portfolio.
SOLD OUT: Please contact our Box Office at 203.498.3771 for additional support.
East Coast Greenway South
Travel South on the East Coast Greenway to Silver Sands State Park in Milford. This section of the ECG incorporates the Vision Trail, the Harbor side trail, the Long Wharf Nature Preserve, and the Savin Rock Trail. A representative of ECG will lead the ride and provide information and background on the trails.
East Coast Greenway/Farmington Canal Trail North
Travel North from New Haven to Cheshire and learn about plans to connect the former rail trail to Northampton, MA. Visit historic Locks 12 and 14 before returning to New Haven. A representative of ECG will lead the ride and provide information and background on the trail.
Explore What's Queer About Downtown New Haven!
Take a guided tour of Downtown New Haven, but seen through a queer lens. Discover a hidden history—four centuries in the making—among the nine squares in the country’s first planned city.
SOLD OUT: Please contact our Box Office at 203.498.3771 for additional support.
Fair Haven: From Maritime Village to City Neighborhood
The Fair Haven neighborhood was once a small village whose residents depended upon the tidal river nearby – the Quinnipiac – for their livelihood as oystermen, coastal traders, sailors, and shipbuilders. Over time, Fair Haven became ever more closely integrated into the city of New Haven, but even today, many of the historic homes and other buildings along the river recall the area’s maritime heritage. This walking tour will be led by Bruce Clouette, longtime Connecticut historian and historic preservationist.
Family Day at Outer Island
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED AT A LATER TIME.
Capture small invasive crabs, observe herons and cormorants with binoculars, drag a net to collect small bait fish and algae, become a marine citizen scientist…measure the salt and oxygen in the water. Have fun discovering the island Refuge in Stony Creek CT: learn its history. Bring a picnic; choose a glacial rock for your spot.
SOLD OUT: Please contact our Box Office at 203.498.3771 for additional support.
Historic Districts of New Haven
What are local historic districts? How do they help preserve New Haven's unique character? Discover the rich history and architecture of Wooster Square, City Point, and the Quinnipiac River section of Fair Haven.
How Sound is the Sound
Tour the Outer Island and join us in engaging in activities focused on understanding Clean Water!
Industrial Heritage of New Haven
History, technology and industry collide on this overview of New Haven's industrial heritage. How will this legacy impact tomorrow's New Haven?
Instants: Linda Lindroth's Polaroid Portraits
Explore the stories in the exhibit Instants: Linda Lindroth's Polaroid Portraits with the artist and Museum staff.
Introductory Tour of Beinecke Library
During this 30+ minute introductory tour, participants will learn about the exhibitions and collections that are fully accessible to all.
SOLD OUT: Please contact our Box Office at 203.498.3771 for additional support.
Lost in New Haven
Come get "Lost in New Haven" history with local artist and collector Robert S. Greenberg. View an ever expanding collection of New Haven's illustrious past with authentic artifacts and stories from the individuals and families who built New Haven from the ground up.
SOLD OUT: Please contact our Box Office at 203.498.3771 for additional support.
Makers Underground Workshop
Discover a downtown workshop hidden away in a subterranean location with wood, metal, textile 3d printing and more. We will show you how wood can be cut with lasers and metal cut with water, as well as show you examples of what artists and entrepreneurs have made.
SOLD OUT: Please contact our Box Office at 203.498.3771 for additional support.
New York Times Ride
Find out what makes New Haven so special that the New York Times would include it on the list of 52 Destinations to Go In 2023.
Pride Ride
New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation (NCAT) Will take you on a journey to visit local LGBTQIA businesses such as Barracuda, The Pride Center and others. Riders are welcome, encouraged, but not required to ride in their most authentic, pride selves.
Radical Adventure Riders and the Bradley Street Coop will host a bike maintenance check from 12:00PM–1:45PM at the Bradley Street Coop.
Public Art in New Haven
Public art abounds in New Haven from commissioned works, donated pieces, to bold graffiti art. Explore the melange of art offerings from international and local artists that are free and open to the public.
Riding on Mixed Surfaces
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER
New Haven has it's share of mixed surfaces often creating a challenge for even the most seasoned rider. Learn techniques from one of New Haven's most prolific riders and skilled educators on the subject.
Shared Experiences: New Haven and International Sister Cities
New Haven has a long and rich tradition of cultural exchange with its Sister Cities around the world-Leon, Amalfi, Tetlanohcan, Hue, Afula, Freetown, Avignon, and Changsha. This tour will highlight the relationships between New Haven and its partners in other countries with guest speakers, presentations, music, art and food.
Social Justice New Haven Style
Join SCSU professors Amy Smoyer and Joe Milone on a tour that travels through New Haven's Beaver Hills, The Hill, Dwight, Downtown, and Dixwell neighborhoods. We will visit, discuss, and learn some of New Haven's social justice sites, past and present.
Tapping the Possibilities
Learn how an element as seemingly simple as water can have a major impact on the community by touring an innovative water treatment plant. Learn how water from Lake Whitney is treated and delivered to New Haven and how the Regional Water Authority ensures that they’re providing clean and reliable water to its customers.
The Humanities Quadrangle at Yale
Take a guided tour of the Humanities Quadrangle at Yale. The newly renovated 14-story building, formerly known as the Hall of Graduate Studies, recently began a new era for the Humanities at Yale.
SOLD OUT: Please contact our Box Office at 203.498.3771 for additional support.
Visit the Ely Center at the Historic John Slade Ely House
Learn about the history of the Ely Center of Contemporary Art (formally known as the John Slade Ely Center of Contemporary Art) at 51 Trumbull Street in New Haven.
What's Happening in Westville
Come learn about the artists, shops, restaurants and public spaces that make Westville Village special, led by Lizzy Donius, Executive Director of Westville Village Renaissance Alliance (WVRA).
SOLD OUT: Please contact our Box Office at 203.498.3771 for additional support.
Your Passport to City Parks
Granite rubbing stones are scattered throughout New Haven Parks. Get your passport and start collecting your stone rubbings on this tour and learn some park history along the way.