It’s Labor Day Weekend, Play Hard!

Celebrate Labor Day and the unofficial end of summer in style with a variety of events meant to offer fun for the entire family and in some cases, help others as well.

The Connecticut Children’s Medical Center will be on the receiving end of some altruistic efforts this weekend including a weekend-long radio-thon and  the annual “Gabriella’s Scoop Night” at Ben & Jerry’s on South Main Street in West Hartford Thursday.

Let celebrity scoopers serve you ice cream from 6 to 9 p.m. with proceeds benefiting the hospital.  The annual event is organized by the Giordano family, whose 9-year-daughter Gabriella was successfully treated there. Proceeds from the evening benefit the hospital’s new Cardiovascular Care Center. (I am scooping from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and really do a good job! Come visit!)

Ghosts your thing? On Friday head over to the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford for “Spirits of Stowe” at 7:30 p.m. Since it was first constructed, five people have died at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House and this tour will allow guests the opportunity to sense their presence. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about Stowe’s interest in Spiritualism and the paranormal as you walk around the house with a K2 meter and Digital Voice Recorder. Admission: $15. Reserve your spot by calling (860) 522-9258, ext. 317

On Saturday and Sunday, enjoy the Riverfront U.S. Title Series Powerboat Race at the Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in Hartford. The event will be the conclusion of a six-month season in the U.S. Title Series as world record racers from around the country will race their custom two-stroke engine boats through Hartford and East Hartford.

Country fair time continues with the Woodstock Fair, in South Woodstock, the state’s second oldest agricultural fair at 152 years old. From Friday through Monday activities include crafts, food, livestock shows, petting zoo, free stage shows, go-kart races, strolling entertainers and much more.

The Goshen Fairgrounds in Goshen will be home to the 100th Goshen Fair. The weekend-long event will feature a special Saturday evening concert followed by fireworks, and a Monster Truck show on Sunday.

Lime Rock Park in Lakeville will host Historic Festival 30 with three days of  on-track racing featuring more than 300 vintage race cars.

The  Haddam Neck Fair at the Haddam Neck Fairgrounds, 26 Quarry Hill Road, East Hampton opens Friday and continues through Monday. The agriculture fair features a baking contest, tractor pulling, horse show, road race, exhibits, family entertainment, midway, truck and tractor pulls and much more.

It’s an end of the summer tradition east of the river,  Farm Day Saturday  at the Fish Family Farm at 20 Dimock Lane Bolton, from  10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Enjoy live bluegrass music, farm animals, hay rides, bounce houses, face painting, games, a Farmer’s Market, and of course…lots of farm fresh ice cream. It is co-hosted by Lutz Children’s Museum. Admission is $6 per person ($5 for Lutz Children’s Museum members). (860) 643-0949

For more information go to: http://cour.at/OxSgNR