CONNECTICUT — There’s nothing quite like the smell of fried dough inside a greasy brown paper bag to trigger fond childhood memories — not to mention blood glucose meters. There’ll be plenty of Connecticut residents getting triggered one way or another this weekend as local fair season kicks into overdrive.

But first, there’s a Food Truck Festival in Bloomfield on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 4 to 8 p.m. A fleet of movable feasts will be rolling in to the Town Green at the Town Center, along with wine, beer, and live entertainment.

Look for more food trucks along with a selection of seasonal beers when the Town of Fairfield hosts its 2nd annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 2 to 6 p.m. in The Lot at Fairfield Theater Company and Sanford Street Lot.

Gov. Ned Lamont’s recent gubernatorial proclamation declaring New Haven as “The Pizza Capital of America,” and Connecticut as “The Home of America’s Best Pizza,” may have kindled some controversy, but you’ll hear no arguments at the 9th Annual Apizza Feast on Friday. From 4 to 10 p.m., Downtown New Haven will be overrun by True Believers, as well as pizza trucks, pizza chefs, merch tents and beer gardens, all preaching the thin-crust gospel.

The 75th annual Berlin Fair is looking to be huge. The four days of festivities begin at the Berlin Fairgrounds on Thursday, Sept. 12, and the schedule is packed. They’ve got racing pigs, sure, but also space adventures, sea lions, tractor pulls, goats, sheep, cattle, a Pink Floyd cover band and plenty more.

The 4th Annual Bridgeport Film Fest looks to be slightly more cerebral, with just a little less popcorn. The Klein Memorial Auditorium is the hub for three days of workshops, panels, food trucks, after parties, red carpet shenanigans and continuous unspoolings. Get your tickets online here. Lights dim Friday, Sept. 13, and don’t come back on until Sunday.

Local crafters and artisans — and the folks who buy their stuff — will be all over the Burlington Tavern Day Craft Fair, Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. across from the Post Office at 700 George Washington Turnpike. Also crammed onto the grounds will be a car show, a business expo, and plenty to keep the little folk occupied.

But will there be puppies you can bring home? Probably not, Bunky, which is why you need to leave time this weekend to take in BooZoo’s Adoption Expo at the Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk. On Saturday, Sept, 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., look for giveaways from local vendors, puppy-themed activities, a visit from SPCA Westchester’s “Puppy Truck” (1 – 4 p.m.) and plenty of opportunities to provide a forever home for your next best friend.

Easily the coolest venue on our list of weekend hotspots is the Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine in East Granby, the first chartered copper mine and the first state prison in early America. It’s Bat Appreciation Day there on Sept. 15 (cooler still), led by Department of Energy and Environmental Protection wildlife biologists. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the scientists will explain what the bats do to help humans, and what humans can do to annoy bats less. Activities are hands-on, and cover the whole bat-spectrum, including exhibits, presentations, bat story time, historical tales, a sneak peek at “the bat cave,” and bat crafts.

Coolest of all? Admission is free.

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT (WFSB) – Wednesday marked the 23rd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack in the United States.

On that day, many people lost their friends, family, and loved ones.

More than 3,000 people were killed, and more than 6,000 others were injured in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 in New York, Washington DC, and Shanksville, PA.

Thousands of first responders bravely rushed to help the innocent victims.

Over 161 people killed on 9/11 had ties to Connecticut. Memorials were scheduled across the state on Wednesday to honor them.

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection planned to host a memorial service at the Connecticut Fire Academy at 9 a.m. in Windsor Locks.

Gov. Ned Lamont released a statement earlier this week.

“That day 23 years ago was one of the darkest in our nation’s history, and we must use this anniversary to reflect,” Lamont said.

Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Ronnell A. Higgins and representatives from the Connecticut Fire Academy and the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control are expected to be in attendance.

Other memorials and ceremonies happening in Connecticut:

• Avon – Volunteer Fire Department Headquarters – 25 Darling Dr., Avon – 7:45 a.m.
• Bethel – Blood drive – Bethel Volunteer Fire Department from noon to 5 p.m.
• Cromwell – Frisbee Landing – 8:46 a.m.
• Derby – Derby Green at 6 p.m.
• East Hartford – Goodwin University – 10 .m.
• Groton – Flag Retirement Ceremony at the Historic Ship Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum at 8:30 a.m.
• Meriden – outside of City Hall – 8:30 a.m.
• Waterbury – Holy Cross High School – Reception at 6:30 p.m., tribute at 7 p.m.
• West Haven – Bradley Point Park flag raising at 6:30 p.m. Then, Candlelight vigil at the 9/11 Memorial at 6 Rock St. at 7 p.m.

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As both candidates continue to make their case to become president, watching the debate were the youngest voting group, Gen Z.

“The housing crisis. The levels of inflation, it’s extremely high and extremely unaffordable,” Lucina Kim, a senior at Southern Connecticut State University, said.

Those are just some of things Kim is thinking about with the presidential election just a couple months away. She’s one of a number of students at Southern Connecticut State University that watched the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

One topic she wanted to hear discussed is reproductive rights.

“I know that especially during the midterm elections and the passing of the Dobbs decision, it swayed a lot of voters,” she said.

At Connecticut College in New London, that’s a topic Sophia Williams and Tate Buchwald have seen drive voter registration among fellow students, along with climate change and the war in Gaza.

Both are part of a nonpartisan student voting initiative Camels Vote on campus.

“Our students that are coming from more red states or more kind of in the middle of states have had that issue voiced to us multiple times because it is important,” Buchwald said.

A NBC News poll of Gen Z voters aged 18 to 29 this month shows about half supporting Harris and about one-third supporting Trump.

Quinnipiac University Political Science Professor Scott McClean said these voters can sway the election in swing states and isn’t surprised to see this current trend.

“What really seems to be driving the democratic advantages with Gen Z voters, and particularly with women, is that reproductive freedom question,” he said.

Williams said at Connecticut College, many out-of-state students are asking for information on absentee ballots.

“Students who are looking to register to vote in this election, they want to vote where their vote matters most,” she said.

Kim said she’s hoping her peers will exercise their right at the ballot box to ensure their voice has an impact.

“We are no longer going to stay silent about the contemporary issues that we are experiencing,” she said.

That same NBC News poll also shows about one in 10 Gen Z voters saying they don’t plan on voting. 6% say they’ll vote for someone else.