Downtown New London becomes the land of Sailfest this weekend, with rides and arts-and-crafts and food all part of the festivities.

Visitors can get turned upside-down and sideways on the amusement rides, which operate Friday through Sunday. They can shop at all the vendors and stores - and at the Hygienic Art Outdoor Fine Crafts Festival.

They can drop by Parade Plaza for the Hoop Shoot Basketball Challenge, which benefits "The Program" to help underprivileged children with college prep and recruitment.

Food, of course, is a festival requirement, and there will be plenty to choose from. Those who want some suds to go with their meals can head to the Sailfest Beer Tent on the Custom House Pier.

If you then feel the need to run off all you've eaten, there's always the Sailfest Charter Oak Federal Credit Union 5K Road Race on Sunday morning.

- KRISTINA DORSEY

Sailfest, noon-11 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat., and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., downtown New London; sailfest.org.

Hygienic Art Outdoor Fine Crafts Festival, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat. and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., Hygienic Art Park, Bank Street.

Sailfest Beer Tent, 4-11 p.m. Fri., noon-9 p.m. Sat., and noon-6 p.m. Sun.; Custom House Pier.

Sailfest Charter Oak Federal Credit Union 5K Road Race, 9:15 a.m. Sunday, downtown New London.