Thousands flock once more to Destination Stars Hollow in Brighton

Pumpkins, sweaters and coffee are typically regarded as fall staples — but for many, they’re also staples of “Gilmore Girls.”

Thousands of fans flocked to Brighton for the second annual “Destination Stars Hollow” on Sept. 20-21, a themed event that imitates the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, where most of “Gilmore Girls” takes place.

The event was created by locals Kathleen London and Laura Boote, who wanted to host a small-scale celebration for fans of the show with the goal of boosting business downtown. But when an estimated 40,000 visitors shocked the community during an inaugural event in 2024, London and Boote decided to scale up their efforts in 2025, extending the one-day celebration to a three-day experience.

More: Officials estimate ‘Destination Stars Hollow’ drew 40K to Brighton

VIP ticketholders were invited to special events Sept. 19, but the remainder of the weekend was free to all guests, including two particularly special ones: Scott Patterson, who plays the infamous diner owner Luke Danes in the series, and Rose Abdoo, a Michigan native adored for her roles as Gypsy (a feisty mechanic in the original series) and Berta (a featured character in the 2016 revival “A Year in the Life”).

“The lovely Rose Abdoo and I are very happy to be here with you (in Brighton),” Patterson posted on social media Sept. 20. “You all are in for a fun ‘Gilmore Girls’ weekend at Destination Stars Hollow.”

Events included a meet-and-greet, several townhall meetings and a look-a-like contest. The festival’s main attractions, though, are the downtown businesses. Several dozen businesses participated, adopting personas from the beloved television series like “Luke’s Diner” (Lynn’s on First) and “Kim’s Antiques” (Urban Farm Decor).

Thousands of fans traveled from across the country to Brighton, with over 30 states represented, according to reports from the organizers. Michelle Floyd is one of those fans, traveling from Chicago, Illinois, to attend the festivities after hearing about them online.

“It was just a news article that was recommended to me on my phone,” said Floyd, a longtime fan who decided to spend the weekend in the area with friends.

Christine Walmsley also heard about the event online, though her roots are a little more personal. While she currently resides in Kalamazoo, she’s a Brighton native, and she traveled with her sister to make the trip to her hometown.

“I love all the themed stores,” said Walmsey, who described “Gilmore Girls” as her comfort show. “It’s nice to see people come together.”

“Gilmore Girls” aired in 2000 and concluded a seventh and final season in 2007, but much of the show’s cult-like following comes from newer fans who’ve since accessed the series via streaming networks.

Jesica Kalmbach, who lives in Plymouth, Michigan, visited the event for her second consecutive year, and said she only got into the series as an adult. She was especially impressed by the way that Brighton managed to embrace and mimic many aspects of the series through decor, merchandise and spirit.

“I love the detail that’s in everything,” said Kalmbach, who showed up to the event dressed as Luke Danes (diner counter included). “There’s just the detail, from all the shops having their own little knickknacks to the commitment to the organization.”

Learn more at destinationstarshollow.com.

Destination Stars Hollow continues through Sept. 21.

— Ari Hickman is a senior at Brighton High School and a freelancer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Destination Stars Hollow draws thousands to Brighton — again