New Britain Full Activities During Summer
By Matthew Cannata | Sports Correspondent at June 19, 2024 | 8:45 am | Print
School is out and summer is here! There are many different sporting events here in New Britain for those of all ages that will take place over the next few months. There are way too many to list but we’ve narrowed it down to five major activities that you may want to check out.
1. Nutmeg State Games
The Nutmeg State Games will be celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2015 and will once again call New Britain their home. Summer competition will begin at the end of June and will continue through the middle of August. Team sports include baseball, basketball, softball, field hockey, ice hockey, soccer and more. Individual sports include Archery, golf, swimming, track and field, wrestling and other various events. Events will take place primarily in the parks around New Britain with other events taking place in surrounding towns such as Newington and Berlin. For more information, you can visit their website at www.nutmegstategames.org.
2. Stanley Golf Course
Parts of Stanley Golf Course were closed this past spring due to the construction of Costco and the Red nine is currently being re-built. The anticipated completion date is sometime in August but golfers can still enjoy the other two 9-hole courses – Blue and White. It also boasts a driving range, golf shop, restaurant and more. The course is open starting at 7 AM Monday through Friday and 6 AM on the weekends. They are offering a Father’s Day special on Sunday where if you are a father, you’ll be able to hit a large bucket of balls for free. The time of this special is between 12 Noon and 3 PM. The course also holds other specials throughout the year so be sure to check out www.stanleygolf.com for the latest information.
3. Osgood Shootout
The Osgood Shootout has been a staple in the New Britain community for the past 22 years and it will continue in its 23rd year when it takes place August 15-16 at New Britain High School. It started back in 1992 with several individuals but has since been under the leadership of Darwin Shaw for the vast majority of the time. The Osgood Shootout brings in teams from all over the state of Connecticut and beyond. Former and current NBA and WNBA stars also make appearances and sometimes play on teams in the tournament. Last year, there were 38 teams in all divisions and Shaw is hopeful that number rises this coming summer.
4. Swimming
There are plenty of outdoor swimming pools here in New Britain. Whether you go to AW Stanley Park, Chesley Park or Willow Brook Park, there’s plenty of room and a great fun to be had. Pools will open this coming weekend and will close on August 15. Recreation Swim is held from 1 PM to 4:45 PM with Family Swim taking place from 6:15 – 7:45 PM. If you wish to enroll your child in swim lessons, it is $16 per person for a two-week session. The first session begins on June 22 and the last session begins on July 20. AW Stanley Park will be featuring Aqua Zumba, which takes place on Tuesdays from June 30 to August 11 from 5 – 6 PM. Instructors will integrate the Zumba formula and philosophy with traditional aqua fitness disciplines. For more information and/or to register for classes, please contact the New Britain Parks and Recreation Department at 860-826-3360.
5. Summer Baseball
There is no shortage of summer baseball here in New Britain. From the Minor League level with the Rock Cats all the way down to the youth of this city, there’s plenty to go around. The Rock Cats provide an affordable and fun environment with future MLB stars playing to prove themselves every night at New Britain Stadium. Moving down, you can watch American Legion, Farmington Bank/Vantis Life and the Mangan League. Those games take place at Beehive Stadium, Walnut Hill Park and Stanley Quarter Park. From there, you can move down another level and watch the New Britain Little League 12U All-Star team face off against area teams in the early part of July. NBLL will be traveling to Receration Park in Plantsville for their tournament.
