Connecticut
Large crowds come out to bounce house park in East Hartford
A unique, pop-up theme park in East Hartford has kids and families jumping for joy.
The company, The Big Bounce America, tours around the country with their giant bounce houses, inflatable slides and obstacle courses.
This weekend was their first time back in Connecticut since the pandemic.
The event is being held in an open field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Despite the cloudy and humid weather Sunday morning, many parents came out to the park to explore the inflatables, and they say they were impressed.
“I think I’m more excited than he is,” said Sharon Hecht, who came in from New York.
“We decided to come because it’s really close. We’re always in the area, and I mean it looks pretty epic so why not,” said Jennifer Gadalinski of Bristol.
The largest bounce house on site is called The Castle. It’s 26,000 square feet, and it’s packed with activity. Inside are places to climb, shoot hoops, race one another, and dance to music.
“This is on another level. When I saw the tickets and that they were coming so close to Connecticut, I was like I got to get the tickets,” said Taryn Long of Bristol.
Event supervisor Giorgio Lord says there are more than six interactive bounce houses on site along with food vendors and places to cool down.
“At the end of the day, it allows everyone to get in touch with their inner child. Everybody just kind of gets to let loose and enjoy the inflatables,” Lord said.
Participants can purchase tickets on The Big Bounce America website. The day is also broken up into kid, teen, and adult sessions. Socks are required inside the bounce houses.
The park will be back open for the second and final weekend next Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 9 – 11.
A woman was arrested and charged with murdering a man whose body was found behind a condominium complex in Farmington in March, police said on Friday.
Cynthia Martinez, 27, was charged with murder, unlawful discharge of a firearm, tampering with evidence, and criminal use of a firearm in connection with the death of 29-year-old Derick William Mercado-Labonte of Bridgeport.
On March 19, officers responded to Talcott Forest Road around 10 a.m. for the report of an untimely death.
They found the body of Mercado-Labonte along the wood line behind a condominium complex. He appeared to have sustained multiple areas of trauma, according to police.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Mercado-Labonte’s death a homicide.
Martinez is being held on a $3,000,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Torrington Superior Court on Friday.
Police said no further information will be released at this time, as this remains an active and ongoing investigation.
New data is shedding light on the state of Connecticut’s economy and labor force.
On this episode of the CBIA BizCast, CBIA Foundation director Dustin Nord joins host Amanda Marlow to talk about new Connecticut Department of Labor data that highlights the mismatch between increased job openings and a shrinking labor force.
Connecticut job openings jumped 2.6% in May to 87,356—however, since May 2025, 37,700 people have left Connecticut’s labor force.
Nord breaks down some of the reasons for this mismatch and what needs to be done to address Connecticut’s economic challenges.
He also shares insights into a U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report showing Connecticut’s economy expanded 1.8% in the first quarter of 2026.
Episode Highlights:
- Job Openings vs. Workforce Shortage
- Unemployment Trends
- GDP Growth Amid Labor Challenges
- Affordability and Long-Term Competitiveness
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