About this Event
Join us for a deliciously different DateNight Downtown at the Manchester History Center, where we’ll pair exceptional Connecticut cheese and locally crafted libations with good conversation and a taste of Manchester history.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Doors open at 5:30 PM | Tasting from 6:15–7:45 PM
Manchester History Center | 175 Pine Street, Manchester
Ages 21+
Cato Corner Farm, nationally acclaimed for its artisan raw-milk cheeses, will provide a selection of distinctive cheeses to taste and enjoy.
Fairy Feastery / Dragonfire Meadery will introduce us to their handcrafted libations—and share some of the flavors, inspiration, and stories behind them.
And because this is DateNight Downtown, the setting is part of the experience.
Our hosts from the Manchester Historical Society will welcome us to the Manchester History Center, located in the former Cheney Brothers Machine Shop, a historic building dating to 1895. Explore the building, discover some of the stories that shaped Manchester, and meet the people preserving the town’s rich collection of history, artifacts, and memories for generations to come.
Come with a date, bring a friend, or come on your own. DateNight Downtown is really about making a date with your community—trying something new, meeting new people, and experiencing Manchester in a different way.
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Choose Your Own Price
We want DateNight Downtown to remain accessible while also recognizing the true cost of creating a quality experience.
The value of this event is more than $50 per person, but you choose the ticket price that works for you: $50, $40, or $25.
Every ticket includes the same experience. If you’re able to pay the full $50, your ticket helps us continue offering accessible community experiences like this one. If $25 better fits your budget, that is absolutely fine.
We cover the ticket-processing fees, so there are no hidden costs. During checkout, you’ll also have the option to make an additional donation if you’d like to help support future community experiences.
Got Kids?
Make it a night out for the whole family—just in two different places!
The Firestone | art studio + café offers a companion program every second Thursday from 6–8 PM. While you enjoy DateNight Downtown, children ages 6+ can enjoy a fun, supervised creative activity—including dinner—between drop-off and pick-up.
Separate registration through The Firestone is required for the children’s program:
The Firestone Website
Space is limited at both venues, so reserve your spots early.
Cheese. Libations. History. Good company.
What more could you want from a Thursday night in Manchester’s Cultural District?
Event venue & nearby stays
Manchester Historical Society, 175 Pine Street, Manchester, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.