Summer in the city: dragon boats, giant water slide, Opera-Palooza, and more

Summer will be a hot time in New Haven — both meteorologically and metaphorically speaking — when the city plays host to 28 events over 63 days, beginning in June.

The summer line-up includes the return of such popular annual events as the International Festival of Arts & Ideas (June 10–25), Music on the Green free concerts, this year featuring En Vogue and Debby Gibson (July 23 and 30), the Connecticut Open tennis tournament (Aug. 19-27), the New Haven Jazz Festival (Aug. 27), and the New Haven Grand Prix (Sept. 16), among many other programs and celebrations.

This year, there will also be three new events:

New Haven Dragon Boat Regatta, in which teams comprising 20 paddlers, a drummer (to keep the rowers synchronized), and a sweep or steers-person will compete on 40-foot canoes at Long Wharf pier. Race day is June 4.

Slide the City, offering the aquatically minded the chance to ride down a record-breaking water slide; the event, on June 25, will also feature live music and refreshments. Click here for more information and to sign up.

Opera-Palooza, a concert on the New Haven Green, which will showcase Connecticut’s rising opera stars accompanied by the Connecticut Festival Orchestra. A joint venture of the Connecticut Alliance for Music, Salt Marsh Opera, and the City of New Haven, the concert will take place Aug. 20.

“We’re very excited that the New Haven summer calendar this year features the most diverse series of events and attractions we’ve had in recent years,” said Mayor Toni Harp ’78 M.E.D.. “I enthusiastically invite city residents, those from throughout the region, and other visitors to ‘Celebrate Summer in New Haven’ at many of these great events and take in the city’s dining, shopping, and culture while they’re here.”

Click here for the full Calendar of summer events.