2026 MAIN STAGE SCHEDULE
The Mansfield Downtown Partnership is pleased to present a full afternoon of music, dance, and puppetry at our 23rd Annual Celebrate Mansfield Festival!
This year’s main stage will be in the auditorium of E. O. Smith High School.
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“The Heartbeat of E.O.” kicks things off for us in the auditorium with a dynamic performance at 2:15 PM.
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Produced by the Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry in collaboration with UConn’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, with live music by Waldron’s Studio 88, From Microscopic to Mighty: A Connecticut Underwater Adventure will take audiences on an underwater journey to discover how some of the tiniest living things—phytoplankton—help support an incredible web of life, from schools of fish and playful seals to magnificent turtles and whales, reminding us that every living thing has an important role in keeping our waters healthy.
Learn more here.
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Sweet Sophia plays a variety of music from classic and contemporary bluegrass to gritty blues and sweet ballads. They perform “grass [with] grit and grace.”
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The UConn Jazz Quintet features students from the University of Connecticut’s vibrant jazz program. With the recent expansion to include a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies alongside the Bachelor of Arts with an Emphasis in Jazz, the program offers pathways for both aspiring performers and future music educators. Today, UConn Jazz supports five small combos and two full 20-piece big bands, providing students with rich performance opportunities. The program’s distinguished faculty—some of the finest jazz musicians in the region—offer instruction on voice, trumpet, saxophone, trombone, piano, guitar, bass, and drums, preparing students to thrive as the next generation of jazz artists and educators.
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Get ready to get your groove on with a free salsa lesson with Salsa Rico!
Whether you are new to salsa or simply would like a refresher, instructor Rachael Irizarry will have you ready to dance along to our headliner, Lulada Club!
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Experience the captivating rhythms of Lulada Club, an electrifying all-women salsa orchestra setting the New York City music scene ablaze!
Renowned for their masterful interpretations of vintage tropical rhythms encompassing salsa, bolero, and cha-cha-cha, this powerhouse band pays homage to the icons while offering a fresh perspective through their original compositions. Read more here
