Garde Arts Center: Events, Tickets, and Getting There

The Garde Arts Center is a nonprofit performing arts center at 325 State Street in New London, Connecticut. Its historic Garde Theater seats 1,420, and the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra has made the theater its home since 1987.

Use the Garde’s official event calendar to see what’s on during your visit. The venue also offers listening assistance through an in-house listening device and the ListenWiFi app.

For wheelchair access, the theater has locations on the orchestra level where patrons can remain in their wheelchairs. The balcony and loge seating areas are not wheelchair accessible. Ramps, elevators, restrooms, and seating are available in the lobbies and Oasis Room; accessible restrooms are on the main and mezzanine lobby levels.

Use the Garde’s official website to browse events and buy tickets: the center identifies its website as the authorized online seller for its performances. You can also purchase by phone at (860) 444-7373, extension 1, or by email at boxoffice@gardearts.org.

The Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On weekdays with performances, it stays open from 10:00 a.m. through showtime; on weekends with performances, it opens at noon and stays open through showtime. It is closed on holidays.

Before choosing a purchase method, keep the ticket terms in mind: purchases are final and non-refundable, and per-item, per-order, or delivery fees may apply. Fees vary by purchase method and event requirements. Ticket delivery options include email, USPS First-Class Mail, Will Call, and pickup at the Box Office. Mailed tickets may take 7–10 business days to arrive.

For an in-person performance, the lobbies generally open 60 minutes before showtime. The Garde recommends arriving 45 minutes before the performance to find parking. Late seating is at the discretion of house staff or depends on what the artist permits, so plan to arrive with time to spare.

The theater’s State Street address gives you a clear destination to enter before leaving. From Hilltop Express Inn, the Garde Arts Center is about a 10-minute drive.

If you are already in New London, the city’s SmartRide on-demand service operates Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to midnight for trips within city limits. It does not accept trips that start or end outside those limits, so check that your pickup and drop-off points qualify before planning around the service.

You can pair a theater visit with other New London stops if your schedule allows. The Custom House Maritime Museum guide covers the city’s waterfront museum, while the Fort Trumbull State Park visitor guide is useful for planning time at the state park.

The Garde lists several free parking choices. Street parking is available on State, Huntington, Meridian, and Union Streets, with no time limit after 5:00 p.m. and on weekends. Other listed options include the lot behind the Courthouse, accessed via Cottage Street, and the Municipal Parking Lot on Eugene O’Neill Drive.

Free parking is also available at the New London Public Library when it is closed: after 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, after 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and after 4:00 p.m. on Sundays. Check the timing against your performance and arrival plans.

If you prefer a garage, the paid Cornish Parking Garage is on Governor Winthrop Boulevard, one block behind the Arts Center. It is automated and open 24 hours a day; rates vary.

Before you go: Parking terms, Box Office hours, and event details can affect your plans. Check the official site before you go.