This week in Stamford: an art night on the Riverwalk, a circus on the lawn, and speed cameras coming to seven school zones

Summer in the Park wrapped last weekend, and the downtown calendar has downshifted accordingly. What is left is quieter and, honestly, better suited to August: an arts night on the Riverwalk Thursday, a movie under the trees Friday, and a 45 minute circus show on Sunday afternoon. Kindergarten registration also opens its doors on Saturday, which is the first real sign that August 25 is coming.

Best for families this week: Bubble Fest at Mill River Park on Saturday morning, and Circus Splendiferous on Sunday afternoon.

The Off-Main Experience on the Richmond Hill Riverwalk at Mill River Park, 5 to 8 PM. RiseUP for Arts puts live music, live art, and food from neighborhood spots on the riverwalk for one evening, and this year it is built around The SEED, Stamford's 24 hour walk up gallery housed in a retrofitted shipping container. New work goes up inside and outside the container for the night. There are also artisan vendors, crafts, and games. Free admission and family friendly, though reserving a free ticket gets you the performer announcements. Free, all ages, outdoors. Details.

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Sunrise Yoga Flow and Soundbath at Cove Island Park, 1281 Cove Road. Ticketed, adults, outdoors. Details.

Movies in the Park at Mill River Park, 8 PM. The film is announced on the park calendar rather than in advance, so check before you pack the blanket. Outdoors, all ages. Details.

Leah Marlene, Small Spaces Tour at Sala Tree Yoga House, 135 Atlantic Street, second floor, 7 PM. A yoga studio is a strange room for a touring singer songwriter, which is more or less the point of a tour called Small Spaces. Ticketed, all ages, indoors. Details.

Speed cameras are coming to seven school zones in September, and the fines are small on purpose. Mayor Caroline Simmons announced Stamford's Automated Speed Enforcement Program, which puts 14 cameras across school zones at Cloonan, Springdale, Dolan, Toquam, Stamford High, Julia A. Stark, K.T. Murphy, and Strawberry Hill. They only trigger at 11 mph or more over the posted limit. There is a 45 day warning period first, then a $50 fine for a first offense and $75 after that, plus a $15 processing fee. These are civil penalties, so nothing touches your license or your insurance. The state Department of Transportation signed off on the plans in January. Source: Patch.

Guitar Center is taking the old Lord and Taylor space on High Ridge. The chain signed for 14,114 square feet on the ground level of 110 High Ridge Road, the building that sold for $62 million last October and already anchors with Whole Foods. Dan Zelson, founding principal of Charter Realty, says the store should open in early 2027. Source: Patch.

Four schools are getting new administrators before the first bell. Stamford Public Schools announced leadership changes at four schools on August 3, following the appointment of Keriann Maxelix as principal of Westover K-8 Magnet School in late July. The first day of the 2026-2027 school year is Tuesday, August 25. Source: Stamford Public Schools.

Kindergarten registration event at the Stamford Public Schools Welcome Center, 888 Washington Boulevard, 10 AM to 1 PM. Staff walk you through the paperwork in person, which beats doing it alone at a kitchen table in the last week of August. Bring a photo ID, your child's birth certificate, and two proofs of address. No appointment needed. Free, families. Details.

Fun Saturday Morning: Bubble Fest at Mill River Park, 10 AM to noon. Kids welcome, outdoors. Pilates Fusion runs at 9 AM and Zumba with Tristan at 11:30 on the same lawn, and the Nissen Carousel turns from 9 to 5 both weekend days. Details.

Bite Club: Sourdough Pop Up at Scalzi Park, 115 Bridge Street. Ticketed, all ages, outdoors. Details.

Reggaeton Flow Mat Pilates and Sound Bath at Sala Tree Yoga House, 135 Atlantic Street, second floor. Ticketed, adults, indoors. Details.

Circus Splendiferous at Mill River Park, 2 PM. The Stamford based company brings its 45 minute show to the park lawn: acrobatics, aerial work, and clowning, built to hold a mixed age crowd for exactly as long as a mixed age crowd can be held. All ages, outdoors. Sunday Funday starts at 10 AM and a sound bath with Lisa Cooper runs at noon if you want to make a day of it. Details.

Harbor Point Farmers Market at Harbor Point Square. Free to browse, all ages, outdoors. Details.

Filling in the Blanks holds its eighth annual Unite to Fight 5K at Mill River Park Sunday, August 23. Check in is 7:30 AM, the Kids Fun Run goes at 8, and the 5K run and walk starts at 8:15. The nonprofit's programs reach more than 10,000 children a week across Fairfield, Westchester, and Putnam counties, and its Fresh Food on the Move mobile pantry has moved more than 2 million pounds of food since launching in October 2023. Silver Golub and Teitell LLP is the title sponsor for a fourth year. Details.

The first day of school is Tuesday, August 25. Details.

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