“If you’re out on the road” this weekend, head to downtown Brighton for the third annual Destination Starz Hollow, a two-day celebration of all things Gilmore Girls.
On Sept. 26 and 27, the viral festival will bring the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, to life — with the help of some of the show’s biggest stars.
Gilmore Girls, which premiered in 2000 and aired for seven seasons, trends every fall. Nothing beats curling up to watch mother-and-daughter duo Lorelai and Rory Gilmore and a quirky cast of characters live life in their cozy small town. Netflix introduced a new generation of fans to the show, with 534 million minutes watched in the first week after Labor Day alone last year.
That cross-generational appeal is evident at Destination Starz Hollow, where women of all ages dress in the Ivy League-bound Rory’s school uniform or recreate witty, independent Lorelai’s most iconic looks. Even babies in strollers come in costume.
On the show, Stars Hollow is a character in its own right: a quaint, charming town where seemingly endless events take over the central gazebo, a troubadour’s soft strumming drifts through the streets, and everyone knows everyone — for better or worse. The town feels real enough that more than a few viewers have romanticized a life there.
Destination Starz Hollow founder Kathleen London wants those viewers to know that Stars Hollow is real, and it’s in their backyard.
Michigan’s Real-Life Stars Hollow
London, owner of London Beauty — formerly on Brighton’s Main Street and now operating out of Ann Arbor — never understood street-festival culture. Why set up a mini store in a tent outside that would block her actual storefront?
Instead, she thought, why not tap into the nostalgic pull of a picturesque small town, where visitors know business owners by name and feel at home when they walk through the door?
In 2024, London coordinated with other Brighton businesses to form Destination Stars Hollow (now Destination Starz Hollow, to distinguish it from copycat events). The festival effectively turned downtown Brighton into a Gilmore Girls playground.
“Every small town technically is Stars Hollow,” she says. “We have those characters … the grumpy diner owner, the bossy town leader, the busybody, the gossip. … We thought, let’s highlight that. … If we were Stars Hollow, what would it look like?”
The streets burst with photo ops galore, from a Luke’s Diner signboard to the “world’s largest pizza.” Patrons threw tips into jars labeled “Dean,” “Jess,” and “Logan” to vote for Rory’s best boyfriend. People danced for hours in the town square, dressed in some of the characters’ most memorable outfits.
Participating businesses became Stars Hollow staples: Clothing stores masqueraded as the three leading ladies’ closets. Culture Beer and Cheese served as the local market. 2 Dandelions turned into Stars Hollow Books. And Lynn’s on First became Luke’s Diner, slinging burgers to hungry guests all day. (This year, Lu & Carl’s holds the Luke’s title.)
The event was meant to be small. When London posted it to Facebook, she was shocked by the level of interest — and even more shocked when that translated into more than 40,000 attendees.
“We knew instantly that we had tapped into something that was Gilmore Girls and beyond,” London says.
Meet the Stars
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The event went viral overnight — so much so that it caught the attention of the show’s stars. Detroit native Rose Abdoo, who played sassy auto mechanic Gypsy, mentioned the festival on I’m All In, actor Scott Patterson’s podcast. Patterson, who portrayed grumbling diner owner and romantic lead Luke Danes, and Abdoo reached out to London about participating the following year.
In 2025, the event expanded from a one-day shopping venture to a two-day experience. Not only did shuttle transportation, organization, security, and line control improve, but more businesses participated, a vendor market sold extra goodies, and Abdoo and Patterson met with fans. An estimated 60,000 people attended from more than 36 states, according to the Livingston Daily.
This year, Patterson returns alongside Sean Gunn, who played eccentric man-of-many-jobs Kirk, and Kelly Bishop, who played the often snobbish, yet good-hearted matriarch Emily Gilmore.
On Saturday, all three actors will participate in Q&A sessions, with Bishop fielding questions about her bestselling memoir, The Third Gilmore Girl. On Sunday morning, the cast members will host “coffee dates,” limited-seat gatherings where fans can chat with the actors in a more intimate setting. Patterson and Gunn will also offer meet and greets on both days.
As of this writing, tickets remain for Patterson and Gunn’s coffee dates, both Saturday Q&As, and Gunn’s meet and greets. Visit destinationstarshollow.com to reserve a spot.
Live the Fantasy for Free
The actor experiences require paid tickets, but stepping onto the festival grounds is free. London emphasizes that guests pay only to shop the stores.
And shop they do. London describes the effect on Brighton businesses as “game-changing, what I would call Hamptons in the high season in one weekend.” She notes that several businesses have gained regular clients, even some who shop from out of state.
Lines stretch out the door and into the overflowing streets — but people don’t complain. Instead, they make friends with those around them, capturing the inclusive communal spirit of Stars Hollow.
London fondly recalls the “Town Hall” meeting that opened the 2024 festival, when the show’s theme song (Carole King’s “Where You Lead”) happened to play over a loudspeaker. “It was like the Whos down in Whoville,” she says of the wall-to-wall crowd, who held hands, swayed, and sang at the top of their lungs. “It was absolute magic.”
Executive director Anne Adams calls the event “Comic Con put through a female gaze.” Waiting in line at a card table in a warehouse “feels very sanitized,” London says. “We made it super messy. It’s really twirly. … And it’s in your backyard, so enjoy it.”
What to Expect
Most main events take place at the AMP, located beside Mill Pond.
On Saturday, a Town Hall kicks off the event at 9:30 a.m. Stop by for a fashion show at noon and bid on a basket at 3 p.m. Stick around for the lookalike contest at 6 p.m. Categories cover nearly every character, from clumsy, bubbly chef Sookie St. James to town gossips Miss Patty and Babette.
Last year, one contestant didn’t stop at Luke’s signature flannel and backwards baseball cap. She constructed Luke’s Diner — complete with a tiled backdrop, a cardboard counter, and kitchenware glued to the countertop — and strapped it around her waist throughout the festival in the sweltering heat.
On Sunday, swing by the dance marathon from 9:30 a.m. to noon — thankfully not a full 24 hours like on the show — and listen to the soothing sounds of the Troubadour Showcase at 3 p.m.
On both days, guests can compete in a Bop-It contest, test their Gilmore Girls knowledge with trivia, and join in the street-wide Easter egg hunt. Thankfully, there are no rotting eggs here, but one golden egg comes with a special surprise.
Ultimately, London hopes the event encourages guests to recognize Stars Hollow in every small town, including their own.
“Get off your computer, get off your TV, and go out into your small town for one day,” she says. “You’ll feel like you’re in Stars Hollow.”
Visit destinationstarshollow.com or follow @destinationstarzhollow on Instagram for complete event details.
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