Bright yellow background with red text that reads "Bonanza!" and smaller text below that says "IDEAS, CONNECTIONS & FUN 2026".

Imagine what happens when artists, third-space operators, social and civic entrepreneurs, faith leaders, weavers and organizers gather.

Bonanza! is a series of unconferences to generate ideas, connections, and collaborations. We convene people who build things and create the spaces, events, and organizations through which community life happens across Connecticut.

Bonanza! Unconferences

No keynotes, no pre-set agenda. The people in the room build the day together.

Bonanza! I

Sept 25, 2026 @ Lost in New Haven

Bonanza! II

Sept 25, 2027 @ Connecticut

Get Involved

Reach out to Andrew Ferguson to learn how to get involved with Bonanza!

Get In Touch

Bonanza! Organizers

A smiling man with long dark hair, beard, and mustache standing outdoors near water and buildings.

Tony Bacigalupo

Close-up of a smiling man with short dark hair, wearing a denim shirt, standing outdoors with green plants in the background.

Rick Brush

A headshot of a man with short dark hair, wearing a dark blue button-up shirt, against a plain gray background.

Andrew Ferguson

A woman with gray hair outdoors in a green field with mountains and trees in the background, wearing a plaid shirt and turquoise earrings.

Aly Fox

A woman with curly brown hair wearing a bright green shirt, smiling, in a colorful arts and crafts room with various artworks, plants, and decorations in the background.

Elise Granata

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’d like to join us or want to learn more, connect!

  • We have two goals.  First, we’re organizing gatherings to build community among people, so they can share ideas, make connections, and have fun with peers who lead similar work throughout Connecticut.  Second, we hope that the ideas sparked and the relationships formed lead to collaborations that advance each participant’s passions.  Great things happen when incredible people gather.   

  • People from across Connecticut, including community builders of all forms: artists, coffee shop baristas, bookstore owners, third-space operators, social and civic entrepreneurs, faith leaders, weavers and organizers. The first Bonanza! convened people representing 22 towns and cities.

  • An unconference is a participant-driven gathering where the agenda is created by attendees on the day of the event, rather than pre-planned by organizers.  At the start, participants propose and self-organize sessions around shared interests.  Peer exchange replaces formal presentations.  People attend sessions they actually care about, which surfaces real expertise and produces ideas, connections, and fun aligned to what participants actually need. To learn more, check out Tony’s blog post about unconferences.

  • As part of the curated community experience, we’ve created an app that enables participants to learn about each other before the gathering, and to easily connect afterwards.  

  • The first Bonanza! happened on Friday, September 25, 2026.  Bonanza! II will take place on September 25, 2027. Can’t wait that long? Reach out to co-host a Bonanza! in your community!

  • Reach out to Andrew Ferguson to get involved in Bonanza!

  • Reach out to Andrew Ferguson to explore opportunities!

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