Parks and Recreation & Commission on Aging (COA)

2026 Town and PBA Events Listing

Fire and Ice 2025 & 2024 were BIG SMASHES!

Set your calendar for February 7, 2026 for the return of the best winter festival ever!

Visit the Discover Putnam website and facebook event pages for info as it is updated! 

https://www.hartfordmarathon.com/courthouse-oputnam-5k/

Get all the other details at Discover Putnam!

https://www.discoverputnam.com/events

Recommended for ages 10 & Under!

He'll hop back in for 2026!

What an Exciting community event! 

What happened in past years?

• Guided tram tours around town
• Cooking demos
• Passports to many countries you can visit all right in downtown Putnam - prize was awarded 
• Street performances
• Face painters
• Origami
• Plenty of downtown shops, galleries, restaurants
• PHOTO OPS galore!
• Visit Discover Putnam for ever updated details on other community events!

Help clean up our beautiful town each year to celebrate Earth Day! 

Stay tuned for 2026 April date!

Scenes from Beautification 2024

ABOUT THE MORNING: Beautification Day is a major volunteer effort. Partnering with the Putnam Business Association (PBA), the annual Clean-Up Day happens as Spring arrives. 

Youth groups are encouraged to participate. 

Meet in Rotary Park at 8:30am to get a map and an assigned area. Garbage bags and gloves are handed out to volunteers. 

Clean up your assigned area, and trucks will be positioned around town to haul the garbage away once the clean up is complete.

Meet back in Rotary Park when you are done, and by 11am or so.  

Snacks are available in the morning, and a light lunch of hot dogs & chips are available after the clean up. 

Youth needing community service hours shouldbring their form with them to be signed.

A WIN-WIN for all!

Awareness, acceptance, support! 

Thank you for an uplifting 2025 Pride Event! 

To keep up with all things QCP, please visit the Quiet Corner Pride website www.quietcornerpride.com

In 2024 This happened!

We had vendors, music, and tons of GREAT VOLUNTEERS like the Diversity Club from Tourtellotte Memorial High School!

Bring the kiddos to Rotary Park every May for fishing fun brought to you by the Putnam Rotary Club!

Thank you to all who came to enjoy the 2024 Fairy & Magic Fest, wonderful family-friendly community event in spite of the rain!

Remember to keep Discovering Putnam! 

 https://www.discoverputnam.com/events

Thank you to all who participated in and attended the 2025 Memorial Day Parade & Program. We'll be back Monday, May 25, 2026.

Click for the 2025 Program pdf 

Click for the 2024 Program pdf

Get all of your details at the Putnam Arts Council website! https://www.putnamctartscouncil.com/

Showcase of local music to raise awareness mental health issues - with proceeds benefiting suicide awareness.

Celebrate Juneteenth, June 19th.

Thanks to the Putnam High School Black History Class Students for their work to bring you this  annual event. 

click to view the 2025 program

click to view the 2024 program 

2025 Summer Camp ran July 1- August 8 

When available registrations will be on Putnam.Recdesk.com 

Thank you Staples Employees for the 2023 donation! 

Camper Rep Meyette & Acting Camp Director DiColella accept check from William Verrette for $250 at the end of July 2023 on behalf of Staples employees in support of camper opportunities. 

(L-R)William Verrette-Staples, Avery Meyette-Day Camper Representative, Colleen DiColella-Acting Day Camp Director.

Keep up with "Putnam Recreation for Kids" on Facebook!  

Shoot for the STARS!

2025 Hoopsters had a GREAT time! 

Hoopsters were shooting for the Stars again in the 2024 Putnam Summer Basketball Camp!

 2023 Putnam Summer Basketball Camp hosted 50 campers and staff who enjoyed a great experience of skills and play in Putnam High School gym.

 Join Team Illumi-NATION & make a donation on our RecDesk site!

These donations help us light up the skies!

2025 flyer:

You know the Putnam Fireworks are SPECTACULAR! Paired with a rocking concert. 

 In 2025, this happened!

In 2024, this happened!

Music for River Fire is produced by WINY 1350 am & 97.1 fm while the fires were powered by Spicer Propane and the Town of Putnam Public Works & Parks & Recreation Departments.

Stay tuned for August 2026!

2025 offered this show!

2024 gave us the BEST Event EVER!

Returning in August 2026

FREE TO THE PUBLIC! 

Sunday, August 10, 2025 

Over 2800 cars this year! Congrats to 2025 Trophy Winners

• Alan Joslin Award: David & MJ White,  ' 56 Pontiac Safari ~ Red/White, Pomfret Center CT
• Corvette: Jill Exley & Steven Gilman, '66 Chevy Corvette ~ Red, Brooklyn CT
• D. L. Holke Award: Steven Gilman, '66 Chevy Corvette 427 ~ Maroon, Brooklyn CT
• Engine: Hans Deamer,  '29 Reo Rod ~ Light Green, Cranston RI
• FOMOCO: Dean Hazard,  '66 Ford F100 ~ Blue/White, Webster MA
• GM: Ben Bennett,  '61 Pontiac Bonneville ~ Red, Medway MA
• Hot Rod: Dean Hazard,  '34 Ford Sedan ~ Green/Gray, Webster MA
• Jeep: Morgan Duffy,  '83 Jeep CJ5 ~ Green, Shrewsbury MA
• Mayor's Award: Daniel Ross,  '67 Pontiac GTO ~ Gray, Johnston RI
• MOPAR: Shawn Matellian,  '67 Plymouth RO23 Belvedere ~ White, Upton MA
• Non-Domestic: Christian Rowell,  '63 Holden Premier ~ color not listed, town unknown
• Off Road: Matt Dumas,  '55 Dodge Power Wagon ~ Blue, town unknown
• Paint: Steve Zigmont,  '55 Chevy Bel-Air ~ Red/White, town unknown
• Pre-War: Mack Fairbanks,  '39 Plymouth P8 ~ Black, Worcester MA
• Pro Street: Chad Chmura,  '78 Chevy Malibu ~ Blue, Ashland MA
• Rat Rod: Vincent Saline,  '70 VW Beetle ~ Green, Woodstock CT
• Survivor: Steven Gilman,  '25 Dodge Cantrell ~ Black, Brooklyn CT
• Tow Mater: Nick Walsh,  '80 Chevy C-10 ~ Red, Killingly CT
• Truck: Mark Condon,  '73 Chevy Silverado ~ Copper, Bellingham MA
• Truck over 10K GVW: Jon Walsh,  '80 Dodge D-300 ~ Whie/Red, Chepachet RI
• Under Construction: Chris Bernier,  '95 Jeep Wrangler ~ Red, Dayville CT

Cars rolled into Putnam August 11, 2024 with show cars and to view the GAZILLIONS (no exaggeration!) of Custom & Classic Cars, Trucks and all around family fun at the FREE Main Street Car Cruise.

MAIN STREET CAR CRUISE TROPHY WINNERS: Thank you to everyone who attended the MAIN STREET CAR CRUISE in Putnam, CT, USA! It was an epic day with great weather, over 2,500 cars and over 15,000 people in attendance.

• CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MAIN STREET CAR CRUISE TROPHY WINNERS:
• BEST TRUCK - BEN MAIO - NEW BRAINTREE, MA
• BEST ENGINE - CHAD CHMURA - ASHLAND, MA
• RAT ROD - DAVID WILLIAMS - CHEPACHET, RI
• BEST MOPAR - PETER REYNOLDS - OXFORD, MA
• BEST JEEP - BRENT St. LOUIS - ENFIELD, CT
• PRO STREET - BRETT CHMURA - NORTH GROSVENORDALE
• ALAN JOSLIN TROPHY - JOHN CICERCHIA - COVENTRY, CT
• BEST OFF ROAD - RICHIE TAYLOR
• BEST FORD MOTOR CO - BERT BERUBE - NORTH GROSVENORDALE
• HOT R0D - SHAWN DENSMORE - POMFRET CENTER, CT
• PRE WAR - STEVEN GILMAN - BROOKLYN, CT
• NON-DOMESTIC - GEOFF DUPONT - DERRY, NH
• BEST GM - RICHY BERARDINO - EAST GRANBY, CT
• BEST PAINT - RAYMOND MESSOK - CHEPACHET, RI
• UNDER CONSTRUCTION - ERIC LEBEAU - DANIELSON, CT
• TOW MATER - NELSON STALKER - STERLING, CT
• BEST SURVIVOR - CHAD LAMOTHE - PUTNAM, CT
• BEST CORVETTE - BOB BEAUDRY - PUTNAM, CT
• MAYOR’S AWARD - BOB FOURNIER - PUTNAM, CT
• BEST TRUCK - COUNTRYSIDE CUSTOMS - NEW BRAINTREE, MA
• BEST TRUCK OVER 10K LBS - HARSHAW PAVING & RECLAMATION - UXBRIDGE, MA

Auto the Goodwill Gorilla made his debut!

A community event with a chance to win prizes. The Pluck-A-Duck season ends in the Kids Zone in Rotary Park on the day of the Annual Main Street Car Cruise, adding to family fun! 

Details at Discover Putnam ~ https://www.discoverputnam.com/events

All proceeds from the event go to IHSP / Daily Bread. 

Online tickets sales WILL SELL OUT, so get yours as soon as they are available. 

 Check out the details & get tickets at Discover Putnam! 

https://www.discoverputnam.com/events

• In 2025 we Savored dishes, desserts & beverages featuring Peaches!
• In 2024 we Savored dishes, desserts & beverages featuring Honey!
• In 2023 we Savored many delightful Flavors of Pepper dishes!

Learn all about the event at Discover Putnam!

https://www.discoverputnam.com/events

Stay tuned for 2026!

Create your account on putnam.recdesk.com and then register to be a vendor for this event when applications go live. 

For all the rules & entry deadline, head to Discover Putnam, and join in the community fun! 

https://www.discoverputnam.com/events

More Details to Come!

Santa & treats delivered by: Putnam Recreation Department, WINY Radio, Jewett City Savings Bank & Putnam Fire Department

Saturday, November 29, 2025

Take advantage ~ EVERY DAY ~ of the unique shopping, dining, and family memory opportunities when you Discover Putnam!

Enjoy Putnam's Small Business Saturday Celebration, always the Saturday after Thanksgiving. 

What will Santa be doing in 2025? Stay tuned for the different themes for each Santa Saturday next year on the Discover Putnam Facebook page! In the meantime, he & the elves have A LOT of work to do! 

WOWZA!

We thought 2023 was big, but 2024 WAS THE Biggest Holiday Dazzle Light Parade EVER!

Get the scoop on Discover Putnam: https://www.discoverputnam.com/events

Create & Share Your Festive Spirit! Join our gingerbread house contest for a chance to win cash prizes. Have fun with your co-workers, students, kids, family & Friends. Let's spread holiday cheer together in Downtown Putnam!

When available: 

All program information, schedule, registration, and payments done on www.putnam.recdesk.com

• All Ages 5-7 (Primary) @ 8:30am. 
• All Girls Ages 8-14 @ 9:30am. 
• Boys Junior Ages 8-9 @ 10:30am.
• Boys Senior Ages 10-11 @ 11:30am. 
• Boys NBA Ages 12-14 @ 12:30pm. 

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM (P.A.S.S.)

When available: 

All program information, registration and payments for P.A.S.S. can be found on https://putnam.recdesk.com/Community/Home  

• Click here to learn about our Putnam After School Services Program on Facebook (P.A.S.S.)

Keep up to date on Discover Putnam  

FACILITIES use and rental FORM

• Applications for Rec Facilities are available upon request for appropriate situations. Call Rec Office 860-963-6811, leave message if needed.
• NOTE - Vendor Forms  and Special Event Permits are handled through the Town Clerk's office. 
• NOTE - The Public School Facilities have their own separate application forms. 
• NOTE - The town complex has their own separate application form available in the Administration Office.