Things to Do in Naugatuck

Once the site of an alfalfa field, the original Oakdale sprang up during the theater-in-the-round craze of the 1950s. Its spinning stage drew stars such as Harry Belafonte, The Who, and Led Zeppelin, who all serenaded the open-air crowds of the ‘60s while simultaneously completing their gyroscope training for Apollo shuttle missions. In 1997, the Oakdale Theatre was made over into its current, 4,600-seat arrangement, which has ushered in a new generation of entertainment stars ranging from Barney to Britney.

For those who prefer standing up and shaking it during live concerts, the adjoining concert space known as The Dome mixes the comfort of a suburban theater with the energy of a downtown club as revelers revel beneath its wooden steeple.

Joker's Wild Comedy Club's stage showcases comics drawn from both the national touring circuit and the local scene. The intimate venue, which recently replaced its space-hogging booths with brand-new seats, features headlining comedians who fill Thursday–Saturday evenings with laughter during 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. shows. On Wednesday night, fledgling funny folk strive for their five minutes of fame at open mic night. Joker’s Wild also runs its own School of Comedy, where budding comedians can chase their dreams of cracking up audiences and keeping glasses of water on a stool. The club’s full menu of pub food mutes growling stomachs with appetizers and entrees for patrons hoping to perfect an onion-ring spit take.

Laser Planet's sprawling facility hosts a trio of attractions: laser tag, black-light mini golf, and an arcade. Competitors don vests and equip their laser-emitting weapons before heading into the multi-level laser-tag arena, where they'll be met with techno music, fog, and strobe lights, as they navigate corridors and attempt to tag the other team in a game of PowerPoint de la muerte. Or, they can head to the mini-golf arena, where black lights illuminate bright colors, aliens, and astronauts positioned around the 10-hole course. Elsewhere, a video arcade presents digital challenges, as players grab joysticks and mash buttons gleefully. Additionally, Laser Planet also offers a host of parties and events, ranging from all-night lock-ins, to corporate team building, to birthdays.

Twin Lakes Golf Course is set on grounds that have been walked by golfers for more than 50 years, but enjoy the modern touches of a recent revamping. New tee boxes reside atop the professionally manicured greens that carpet the 10-acre course. Its renovated clubhouse offers guests the supplies they need for gameplay, including clubs and pull carts. After a round, players can return to the clubhouse where pizza bubbles in a wood-burning oven and cool beverages flow freely from taps.

Sprawled throughout 8,000 square feet, Fun Factor of Middlebury's indoor inflatable playground, free WiFi, and fleet of arcade games regale children and adults alike. As youngsters bounce atop the facility's soft recreational equipment, grownups can supervise, join in the merrymaking, or talk reason to the screens of arcade games in an attempt to score their kin prizes. A cache of preschool-appropriate toys keeps littler ones entertained, and staff members can shepherd toddlers into a special play area suited to their size.

Fun Factor of Middlebury also bolsters rambunctious revelry with classes and day camps and frequently hosts staffed birthday parties, local fundraisers, and regional Duck, Duck, Goose championships in two party rooms. Though the facility welcomes guests of all ages, most activities are geared to children aged 1–12 years old.

Film buffs across six states stare wide-eyed at large cinema screens, losing themselves in first-run Hollywood movies and the smell of fresh, buttery kernels within Your Neighborhood Theatre's 17 locations. Though all theaters prioritize comfortable seating, old-fashioned friendly service, and high-stakes preshow trivia slideshows, each location encompasses its own distinct charm, be it through arthouse décor, 3-D screens, or Rhode Island's vintage 1950's drive-in setting.