The 2026 Bridgeport Art Trail is a work in progress. Get a early peek at the November art weekend calendar for 11/5-11/6…

Thursday, Nov 5

6am - 5pm

Harborview Market #32 Open

View local art while treating yourself to a fresh and delicious homemade-style breakfast or lunch, gourmet coffee, freshly baked croissants, cookies and muffins. Owned by the Torres family since 1993, the neighborhood eatery is the family-friendly hub of Black Rock.

8:30am - 7pm

Housatonic Museum of Art #8

View the museum’s vast permanent collection and explore two remarkable exhibits:  “Making His Mark in Connecticut: The Creative Process of F. Luis Mora” and “Poli’s Palace & Majestic Theaters Memories Project.”

8:45am - 5pm

Framemakers Picture Framing & Art Gallery #33

In “American Landscape Series - Bucks County, Delaware Gap, Berkshire Corridor,” Herm Freeman’s works will remind you of Cezanne and Soutine in beautiful vibrant colors and soft pastels.

11am - 5pm

Kindred Thoughts Bookstore #21b Open

Proudly located downtown in the historic Arcade Mall in Bridgeport, CT, Kindred Thoughts Bookstore is an independent bookstore that is 100% Black-owned and 50% woman, and 50% veteran-owned, by Karin Smith and Derek Tompkins.

12pm - 7pm

dertbag atelier Open #21e
The atelier is a retail space and studio space for the brand dertbag by artist Philip Post. He has shown his work in Tokyo, Vienna, NYC and LA.

4pm - 9pm

Foolproof Brewing Co. #2d Open
Elevate your weekend plans at Foolproof Brewing Company, Bridgeport’s ultimate hub for craft beer, culture, and culinary exploration. Housed in the historic Moore Tool Company building at 785 Union Avenue, this expansive, industrial-chic taproom serves up much more than award-winning pints. Take in an authentic Banksy mural right on campus, marvel at exotic cars on display from Black Horse Garage, and indulge in a farm-to-fork taproom menu.

5pm - 7pm

Art Party & Curator-Led Tours at Housatonic Museum of Art #8
Burt Chernow Galleries and Lafayette Hall Atrium
As a kick-off to the Bridgeport Art Trail, visit the Housatonic Museum of Art for an inspiring evening full of art, food, and drinks! Enjoy curator-led tours highlighting F. Luis Mora’s artistic practice through never-before-seen preparatory drawings coupled with their finished compositions.


5pm - 9pm

Vinyl Selections by Bilal Lopez at Berlinetta #25
Producer Bilal Lopez selects hip hop, RnB, and electronic vinyl on the soundsystem.

5:30pm - 7:30pm

Opening Reception for Now Is the Time Art Exhibit at City Lights Gallery #22
View a variety of visual expressions, mediums, and materials, from metal and fiber to works on paper. Highlights include an illustration by artist/poet Shanna Melton, a contemplative photography series by Joan Fitzsimmons, and  “Renewal 1,000,000 A.D.” by Joseph Fekieta. This absurd installation depicts a time far into the future when decayed plastic has finally returned to carbon, renewing life itself. 


5:30pm - 9:30pm


GLOW Wild Lantern Festival at CT’s Beardsley Zoo #34
GLOW Wild invites guests to stroll through glowing pathways surrounded by brilliant displays of animals, nature, and vibrant colors. Journey through a breathtaking wonderland of illuminated larger-than-life lanterns! Whether it's a family tradition, date night, or an evening with friends or coworkers, GLOW Wild offers an experience that appeals to guests of all ages.


6pm - 8pm


Opening Reception for WTF Exhibit by Dan Makara at URSA Gallery #19
WTF is a shockingly unforgettable installation of paintings, constructions embellished with neon, lenticulars, found objects, drenched with social commentary. There will be something to upset everyone. The title of this show was inspired by a motif designed by Rita Valley, embroidered on T-shirts and incorporated in her fiber art. The text slang expletive “WTF” expresses the sentiment, “What is going on in America today?”

6pm - 10pm


Kick-Off Party - Artists Choose Artists Exhibition at Read’s Artspace #11
Join us as we celebrate the opening night of the Bridgeport Art Trail with an exhibit featuring resident artists at Read’s as well as guest artists of their choice. The spacious Ground Floor Gallery will provide the backdrop for artworks as varied and unique as the artists who created them.

Friday, Nov 6

6am - 5pm

Harborview Market #32 Open

View local art while treating yourself to a fresh and delicious homemade-style breakfast or lunch, gourmet coffee, freshly baked croissants, cookies and muffins. Owned by the Torres family since 1993, the neighborhood eatery is the family-friendly hub of Black Rock.

8:30am - 7pm

Housatonic Museum of Art #8
View the museum’s vast permanent collection and explore two remarkable exhibits:  “Making His Mark in Connecticut: The Creative Process of F. Luis Mora” and “Poli’s Palace & Majestic Theaters Memories Project.”

8:45am - 5pm


Framemakers Picture Framing & Art Gallery #33
In “American Landscape Series - Bucks County, Delaware Gap, Berkshire Corridor,” Herm Freeman’s works will remind you of Cezanne and Soutine in beautiful vibrant colors and soft pastels.

10am - 4pm

Maggie Daly Arts Cooperative  #12 Open

MDAC is a magical and unique space for artists with intellectual disabilities, adding to the cultural fabric of Bridgeport and celebrating the universal language of art. At MDAC, opportunities abound for artists to experience varied media and approaches to artmaking.

11am - 6pm

Kindred Thoughts Bookstore #21b Open

Proudly located downtown in the historic Arcade Mall in Bridgeport, CT, Kindred Thoughts Bookstore is an independent bookstore that is 100% Black-owned and 50% woman, and 50% veteran-owned, by Karin Smith and Derek Tompkins.

12pm - 5pm

On view: “Now Is the Time” Art Exhibit at City Lights Gallery #22

20 artists interpret this provocative theme, presenting art that reacts to the times and issues of their choosing or the actual condition and our contemporary relationship with time. Among the inspirations is the quote, “There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear… This is precisely the time when artists go to work. That is how civilizations heal.” (Paraphrased from Toni Morrison.)

12pm - 6pm

WTF Exhibit by Dan Makara at URSA Gallery #19
WTF is a shockingly unforgettable installation of paintings and constructions embellished with neon, lenticulars, found objects, drenched with social commentary. There will be something to upset everyone. The title of this show was inspired by a motif designed by Rita Valley, embroidered on T-shirts and incorporated in her fiber art. The text slang expletive “WTF” expresses the sentiment .... What is going on in America today? 

12pm - 7pm


dertbag atelier Open #21e
The atelier is a retail space and studio space for the brand dertbag by artist Philip Post. He has shown his work in Tokyo, Vienna, NYC and LA. 


4pm - 7pm


Opening Reception for PREview: William Kent / Afterlife at MNTD Studios #2
In response to the sculpture and print work of William Kent (1919-2012), living artists are inspired to create artwork in response, presenting the work of a notoriously reclusive artist with fellow creatives. States + Prints, a traveling show from Ball and Socket ArtSpace curated by Avery Jennings for the William Kent Art Foundation, will also be on view. A percentage of proceeds goes towards the Elder Art Fund, a William Kent initiative.


5pm


Will Diaz of Pangea Selects in the Taproom at Berlinetta #25
DJ and musician Will Diaz aka DJ RareBear selects upbeat global vinyl, soul, and hip hop vinyl.

5pm - 7pm


Happy Hour at the Bridgeport Pride Center #24

Enjoy complimentary bites and refreshments in a lively, welcoming atmosphere during this happy hour gathering. All are welcome to attend and be part of this vibrant celebration of art and community. We look forward to seeing you there!

5:30pm - 9:30pm


GLOW Wild Lantern Festival at CT’s Beardsley Zoo #34
GLOW Wild invites guests to stroll through glowing pathways surrounded by brilliant displays of animals, nature, and vibrant colors. Journey through a breathtaking wonderland of illuminated larger-than-life lanterns! Whether it's a family tradition, date night, or an evening with friends or coworkers, GLOW Wild offers an experience that appeals to guests of all ages.

6pm

Opening Reception for Art-Senal of Democracy - Reflection of the Times at BACC #21c
A pop-up exhibit inspired by Nina Simone’s call for artists to reflect the times. The show brings together creative voices responding to the world as it is: complex, shifting, and deeply human. Through art as witness, resistance, reflection and testimonial, this exhibition asks: What does democracy look and feel like right now?

Opening Reception for Adger Cowans Solo Exhibit / Hi-fi at the Arcade #21c

Bridgeport Arts and Cultural Council presents a celebration of the vision and legacy of legendary Bridgeport artist, Adger Cowans. This solo exhibition honors new directions of a remarkable body of work shaped by decades of creativity. Vinyl music listening room next door.

Candlelight Concerts: Best of Joe Hisaishi at the Bijou Theatre #18
Rediscover the moving soundscapes of Joe Hisaishi, whose unforgettable compositions have brought some of cinema's most beloved stories to life. Hear melodies from Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and more by the warm glow of Candlelight.

Fundraiser Preview Reception for Introducing The Little Liberians: Portraits In Black & Native Placemaking at the Mary and Eliza Freeman Center #26
Get an exclusive sneak peek of the Mary and Eliza Freeman Center’s latest exhibit while showing your support for their mission. May these portraits and fascinating biographies transform memory into positive momentum toward equality and justice.

7pm

Standup Comedy - Earthquake at the Stress Factory #16
Get ready for an unforgettable night of raw, unfiltered comedy as the legendary Earthquake takes the stage. Known for his sharp wit and hilarious, tell-it-like-it-is perspective, the comedy heavyweight is set to deliver non-stop laughs. Second show at 9:30pm.

7:30pm - 9:30pm

“Songbirds” Singer-Songwriter Performances at Read’s Artspace #11

Enjoy an evening of live music featuring talented local singer-songwriters, all while exploring the artwork at Read’s Gallery. Bring your own refreshments, settle in, and let our Art Trail “Songbirds” serenade you! 

8pm

An Evening of Yacht Rock ft. AM Gold at Park City Music Hall #31
AM GOLD is a New York City based tribute band, performing contemporary hit songs from the late 1970’s through the mid 1980’s. This smooth style of music has stood the test of time…Baby come back!

8:30pm


Candlelight Concerts: 90s Unplugged at the Bijou Theatre #18
Experience 90s Unplugged's most iconic music in a new light at The Bijou Theatre. Surrounded by the warm glow of thousands of candles, a string quartet brings unforgettable music from Foo Fighters, No Doubt, The Cranberries, and more to life in a 60-minute concert.

9:30pm

Standup Comedy - Earthquake at the Stress Factory #16
Get ready for an unforgettable night of raw, unfiltered comedy as the legendary Earthquake takes the stage. Known for his sharp wit and hilarious, tell-it-like-it-is perspective, the comedy heavyweight is set to deliver non-stop laughs. Earlier show at 7pm.

Saturday, Nov 7