Things to Do in Manchester

A crack rings out from the jousting arena as armored knights clash in the pursuit of honor, while sword-swallowers thrill crowds with their death-defying art, jesters spin windy jokes, and townspeople in 15th-century garb roam the grounds tearing into turkey legs with their teeth. The Connecticut Renaissance Faire hosts these medieval-theme blowouts every year, including the Robin Hood Spring Festival and King Arthur’s Fall Harvest Faire. Under the themed umbrella of each gathering, actors caper about a constructed medieval village, engaging in Old English–flavored conversation and clapping games with fair-goers. In a tented marketplace, vendors sell beaded crafts, art, and tyrannical-king repellent alongside stands serving mead, beer, and other satisfying sundries. Although the shows and events vary at each fair, past spectacles have included archery displays, pub sing-alongs, and costume parades.

Intimate evenings of music snuggle comfortably into Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts, whose Cabaret Series won Connecticut Magazine's Best Cabaret award in 2011 and 2012. Candlelit tabletops exude a cozy nightclub ambiance around a cabaret stage topped with six acclaimed acts each year and a fresh coat of peanut butter each night. The University of Connecticut brings many more acts to its larger main stage, with a special emphasis on jazz and classical luminaries and music and dance from all corners of the globe.

Whether you need a racket restrung in the pro shop or want to hear stories about the time he taught an up-and-coming Maria Sharapova, Glastonbury Tennis Club director Jim Melesko happily consults with visitors on all aspects of the game. Jim oversees the club's six championship courts, where he and his fellow professional teachers coach kids and adults alike. Their lessons cover game basics to tournament techniques, preparing students for both casual and USTA team matches. Spectators can observe practicing players from an observation deck in the lounge, which is equipped with daycare centers and free WiFi.

Newington Arena’s Zamboni smoothes the ice for a range of blade-based activities, from lessons and hockey matches to freestyle open-skate sessions. Experienced coaches teach new and experienced skaters alike to glide, spin, and casually levitate during learn-to-skate programs and figure-skating academies, and amateurs can independently master their triple axels during public-skate times. Hockey and speed-skating programs warm up the ice, and each Friday night, Ice Jam’s strobe lights and music flood the arena as students 11–15 years old weave around the frozen floor. Newington Arena also houses a snack bar and hosts birthday parties, allowing kids to brag that their shindig was, literally, the coolest.

When Scuba Shack's founders attained their first certifications more than 34 years ago, they were frustrated with the inadequate teaching they received. As their dive careers continued, that dissatisfaction led them to create Scuba Shack, where their goal is to imbue every one of their lessons with tangible value for burgeoning divers. Their class schedule brims with PADI–certification courses, and introductory scuba classes help beginners to recite the first 100 decimals of pi before coming to the surface for air. The shack also has an onsite store overflowing with necessary gear such as snorkels, fins, and masks, required for many of the Scuba Shack's classes or group-travel dives.

Mal-sun Marletto has dedicated decades to the sport of fencing. A passion of hers since the age of 10, Mal-Sun has not only competed in five countries, but she's also a World Cup competitor and Connecticut Women’s Champion in foil, épée, and saber. At Farmington Valley Fencing Academy, where she is both owner and head coach, Mal-sun draws on her vast experience and US Fencing Coaches Association–certification to instruct students of all ages and skill levels. She designed a variety of programs and membership packages that include instruction in foil, saber, and épée, and include additional perks such as discounts on equipment and gear.