Screen Free Weekends in May

A healthy childhood depends on a surprising thing: play!

Through creative play, kids explore their physical world, build their curiosity, and expand their imaginations. But often, time spent on ad-supported screens displaces the kind of creative play kids need to thrive.

Not only does Screen-Free Weekends allow people to enjoy time away from news feeds, targeted ads, and auto play videos, but it gives families and communities an opportunity to come together and connect with each other.

Our Screen Free Weekends has activities in and around our town where you can do things for free or low cost in our community. There are a few movies listed, so there are a few screens, but they are added because they are resources that not everyone knows about in our town and we want you all to get to know how much we have to offer here in our community.

Compiled by the Middletown Department of Recreation.

2026 List of activities during Screen Free Weekends in May

5/1 (Fri) at 5 PM: Orchestra Spring Concert (Crowell Concert Hall - Wesleyan). Free.

5/1 (Fri) at 6:45 PM: Latin Dance Group Class (Fred Astaire Dance Studio). $10

5/1 (Fri) at 7 PM & 5/2 at 1 PM: The Crucible (Center for the Arts - Wesleyan). Tickets Required.

5/1 (Fri) at 6:45 PM: Social Dance Party - no partner needed! (Fred Astaire Dance Studio). $20

5/1 (Fri) at 7 PM: Central Asian Music Ensemble Spring Concert: Voices of Nature (Ring Family Performing Arts Hall - Wesleyan). Free.

5/1 (Fri) at 8 PM: Surf’s Up – Animated Movie Screening (Jeanine Basinger Center for Film Studies, Goldsmith Family Cinema Rm 100 - Wesleyan). Free.

5/2 (Sat) from 8-10:30 AM: Middletown Youth Fishing Derby (Butternut Pond). $2 Residents / $4 Non-Residents.

5/2 (Sat) at 9:30 AM: SyncoCize Dance Fitness (Vinnie’s Jump & Jive) No registration required. More Info. $20. Classes also 5/9; 5/16; 5/23 and 5/30

5/2 (Sat) from 10-11:30 AM: Nature Hike (Guida Farm Conservation Area). Free with nature pass. More info and register here.

5/2 (Sat) from 10-2 PM: Take a Moment - Mental Health Fair - Activities, Resources, Food. Sponsored by the Middletown Rotary Club. (Harbor Park) Free. More Information.

5/2 (Sat) at 10 AM: Family Swim (Middletown Rec) (pre-registration required). $6 Res/$10 Non-Res. Pre-Register Here.

5/2 (Sat) at 10 AM: Fantasy Story Time for Young Children (Russell Library). Free.

5/2 (Sat) at 12-10 PM: Intro to Board Game Café Day- mention Screen Free Calendar and get 10% off game day pass (Back Again Board Game Café). $10. About us.

5/2 (Sat) at 12-3 PM: Knit Wits: learn to knit, monthly beginner class. Teens-Adults (Revive Art & Craft Supply). Free.

5/2 (Sat) at 3 PM: Chess Club – Children, Young Adults, Adults (Russell Library). Each Saturday.

5/2 (Sat) at 5 PM: Viva La AV – live, improvised electronic music (Ring Family Performing Arts Hall – Wesleyan). Free.

5/2 (Sat) at 7 PM: Advanced Javanese Gamelan Ensemble (Belzberg World Music Hall – Wesleyan). Free.

5/2 (Sat) at 8 PM: The Green Ray in 35 mm – Film Screening (Jeanine Basinger Center for Film Studies, Goldsmith Family Cinema Rm 100 - Wesleyan). Free

5/3 (Sun) at 11 AM: Story Time – Kids & Young Adults (Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore). Free.

5/3 (Sun) at 11-2 PM: Plus Size Swap Party with Fat Babes CT (Reboot Eco). Free.

5/3 (Sun) at 2 PM: Games – Learn a new game! (Back Again Board Game Café).

5/3 (Sun) at 2 PM: Worlds of Dance Spring Showcase (Crowell Concert Hall – Wesleyan). Free.

5/3 (Sun) at 4 PM: Japanese Taiko Ensemble & Korean Drumming & Creative Music Ensemble Spring Concert (Belzberg World Music Hall – Wesleyan). Free.

5/3 (Sun) at 4 PM: Silent Book Club (Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore). Free.

5/3 (Sun) at 6 PM: Song of Songs, Old & New: Celebrating 25 Years of the Wesleyan Collegium Musicum (Memorial Chapel – Wesleyan). Free.

5/8 (Fri) at 3 PM: West African Drumming & Dance Spring Concert (Center for the Arts Green – Wesleyan). Free.

5/8 (Fri) at 5 PM: Zine Scene – bring zines to trade or learn to make your own. Teen-Adult (Revive Art & Craft Supply). Free.

5/8 (Fri) at 6 PM: Cupcakes, Cookies & Canvases workshop - Mixed Media Collage – Teens & Adults (Middletown Rec). Pre-Register Here. $12

5/9 (Sat) at 10 AM: Animated Movie about the most decorated dog from WWII “Sgt. Stubby,” kid’s scavenger hunt and coloring at 9:30 AM (Greater Middletown Military Museum, in Vets Park). Free. Pre-Register Here.

5/9 (Sat) at 10 AM & 11 AM: Science Saturdays – Babies, Toddlers, and Children (Russell Library). Free.

5/9 (Sat) at 12-3 PM: Repair Café – repair small household appliances, clothing, & gear (Reboot Eco). Free.

5/9 (Sat) at 3 PM: Chess Club – Children, Young Adults, Adults (Russell Library). Each Saturday. 

5/9 (Sat) at 7 PM: American Musical Traditions 1865-1915: A Cultural Tapestry (Crowell Concert Hall – Wesleyan). $25 General Admission, $15 Seniors, $10 Students

5/9 (Sat) at 7:30-10:30 PM: Swing Dance with band Boogie Boys, admission price includes Swing dance lesson at 7 PM (Vinnie’s Jump & Jive). $15

5/10 (Sun) at 11 AM: Story Time – Kids & Young Adults (Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore). Free.

5/15 (Fri) at 5:30 PM: Bring on Summer Bingo (Middletown Rec) (pre-registration required). $5.

5/15 (Fri) at 6:45 PM: Latin Dance Group Class (Fred Astaire Dance Studio). $10

5/15 (Fri) at 7 PM: Teen Repertory Theater – Dic Wheeler’s “Mel Chomsky’s History of the World.” (Oddfellows Playhouse) Also on 5/16, 5/22 at 7 PM & 5/23 at 2 PM. For reservations, call 860-347-6143 or Register Here.

5/15 (Fri) at 6:45 PM: Social Dance Party - no partner needed! (Fred Astaire Dance Studio). $20

5/16 (Sat) at 10 AM: Family Swim (Middletown Rec) Pre-Register Here. $6 Res/$10 Non-Res.

5/16 (Sat) from 10 – 2 PM: Middletown Kids Health & Safety Day (Downtown Middletown). All Ages. Free.

5/16 (Sat) from 11 – 4 PM: Portland’s Hometown Festival celebrating “America 250” (Portland Riverfront Park).

5/16 (Sat) at 1 PM: Mending Circle (Reboot Eco). Free.

5/16 (Sat) at 2 PM: Jenny & Dave Concert for all ages (Russell Library). Free.

5/16 (Sat) at 3 PM: Chess Club – Children, Young Adults, Adults (Russell Library). Each Saturday.

5/17 (Sun) at 11 AM: Story Time – Kids & Young Adults (Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore). Free.

5/17 (Sun) at 11-2 PM: Puzzle & Plant Swap Party (Reboot Eco). Free.

5/22 (Fri) at 6:45 PM: Latin Dance Group Class (Fred Astaire Dance Studio). $10

5/22 (Fri) at 6:45 PM: Social Dance Party - no partner needed! (Fred Astaire Dance Studio). $20

5/23 (Sat) at 9 AM: Placement of flags at State Veteran’s Cemetery (Bow Lane).

5/24 (Sun) at 10-11:30 AM: Forest Bathing 101 (Guida Farm Conservation Area). Free with Middletown Recreation nature pass. More info and register here.

5/24 (Sun) at 11 AM: Story Time – Kids & Young Adults (Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore). Free.

5/24 (Sun) from 11-2 PM or 1-4 PM: Starfruit & Apricot’s Caroline the Cactus – beginner crochet ages 7+ (Revive Art & Craft Supply). Register on EventBrite in advance.

5/24 (Sun) at 12 PM: Westfield Veterans Parade to Miner Cemetery (Westfield Fire).

5/25 (Mon) at 10:30 AM: Memorial Day Parade (Main Street).

5/29 (Fri) at 6:45 PM: Latin Dance Group Class (Fred Astaire Dance Studio). $10

5/29 (Fri) at 6:45 PM: Social Dance Party - no partner needed! (Fred Astaire Dance Studio). $20

5/30 (Sat) at 2 PM & 4:30 PM: Camp Open House & Fishing Derby (Camp Ingersoll Portland, YMCA) Free. More Information here.

5/30 (Sat) at 3 PM: Chess Club – Children, Young Adults, Adults (Russell Library). Each Saturday.

5/30 (Sat) at 2 PM & 5/31(Sun) at 4 PM: The Wizard of Oz by Ekklesia School of Ballet (Fellowship Church) Buy tickets on Ekklesia’s website.

5/30 (Sat) at 5:30 PM: Philosophy Night (Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore). Free.

5/30 (Sat) at 6 PM: Social Deduction Game Night (Back Again Board Game).

5/31 (Sun) at 11 AM: Story Time – Kids & Young Adults (Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore). Free. 

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