July Fourth means picnics and outdoor fun, but entertaining family and friends can eat a hole in your budget. You can save money by shopping the deals at area food outlets. (Some outlets accept only cash, so be sure to check before you go.)
>>Get bread, rolls and pastries without spending a lot of dough at the Pepperidge Farm Bakery Outlet, 1414 Blue Hills Ave. in Bloomfield. The shop offers discounts on a changing mix of Pepperidge Farm products. Information: 860-286-6410.
>>The Bakery Outlet, 900 Marshall Phelps Road in Windsor, features Nature’s Own, TastyKake and other brands of desserts, breads and rolls starting at just 99 cents. Information: 860-563-7119.
>>Royal Ice Cream Co. factory store, at 27 Warren St. in Manchester, stocks ice cream cakes and other frozen desserts for about half the comparable retail cost. Information: royalicecream.com or 860-649-5358.
>>Freihofer’s Bakery Outlet, 207 Shunpike Road in Cromwell, has discounted bread, rolls, desserts and English muffins. Information: 860-563-7119.
>>The Outlet, a discount food market, has opened in the Canton Village Shopping Center, 220 Albany Turnpike/Route 44 in Canton. The store features a changing mix of marked-down dairy, produce, frozen and gourmet foods. Facebook.com/theoutletcanton.
WEEKEND SALES
>>The East Lyme Historical Society hosts its annual flea market Saturday, July 2, and Sunday, July 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Thomas Lee House grounds, Route 156. Information: EastLymeHistoricalSociety.org.
>>Blumen Laden, 41 Bridge St. in the Collinsville section of Canton, is holding a summer sale with deep discounts on spring and summer arrangements, handbags and more. Information: 860-693-8600.
>>My Secret Garden gift shop, 51 East Main St., in Avon, is holding a sale this weekend with $1, $5, and $10 tables and discounts of up to 50 percent on select merchandise. Information: Facebook.com/mysecretgardenavon/
