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For nearly three decades, the International Festival of Arts & Ideas has provided a smooth transition from the end of the school year and theater season into the summer concert and outdoor festival season. The multi-faceted festival brings famous performers, writers, scholars, artists, chefs and more to New Haven. Dozens of events take place from prestigious theater and dance events at some of the city’s best venues to big outdoor concerts by major international music acts for free on the New Haven Green to food events, neighborhood tours, lectures, panel discussions on contemporary news topics and more.

Since Juneteenth falls during the festival, there is a whole “village” of events around that as well on the New Haven Green. Some events require buying tickets or registering for a seat, but many are free and easily accessed. Here are 10 of the can’t-miss events.



In 2018, renowned experimental theater artist Karin Coonrod and her Compagnia de’ Colombari brought their extraordinary production of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venie” to the festival. During the COVID shutdown, they created an original virtual theater piece for the festival based on the poetry of Walt Whitman. Now the company returns with “King Lear.

” The role of Lear is divided among several performers. Race, gender, age and social power dynamics are among the elements explored in any Coonrod show. Performances are June 14 at 8 p.

m., June 15 at 3 and 8 p.m.

and June 16 at 2 and 7 p.m. at the.

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