STAFFORD SPRINGS

Stafford Springs started as a mineral-spring resort that drew visitors including John Adams in the 1760s, then became a mill town when the springs lost their novelty and the Willimantic River powered textile factories instead.

The Stafford Palace Theater has operated under various names since 1900 — originally a vaudeville house, then a silent-film theater, then a talkie cinema. Restored and reopened, it now books live music, comedy, and stage productions.

A Main Street with leftfield character — a restored vaudeville theater, a craft cider taproom, and a speedway that runs stock cars on Friday nights between May and September, all in a village that was once its own borough.

Tip: The Stafford Palace Theater hosts a horror-themed weekend market and film fest each December. If you are visiting for live music, check whether Stafford Speedway is also running — the two draw different crowds on the same nights.

Neighborhoods: Stafford Springs • Stafford Hollow • Staffordville