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Pumpkins, sweaters and coffee are typically regarded as fall staples \u2014 but for many, they’re also staples of “Gilmore Girls.”<\/p>\n
Thousands of fans flocked to Brighton for the second annual \u201cDestination Stars Hollow\u201d on Sept. 20-21, a themed event that imitates the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, where most of \u201cGilmore Girls\u201d takes place.<\/p>\n
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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n More: <\/strong>Officials estimate ‘Destination Stars Hollow’ drew 40K to Brighton<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 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 \u201cA Year in the Life”).<\/p>\n \u201cThe lovely Rose Abdoo and I are very happy to be here with you (in Brighton),\u201d Patterson posted on social media<\/a> Sept. 20. \u201cYou all are in for a fun ‘Gilmore Girls’ weekend at Destination Stars Hollow.\u201d<\/p>\n Events included a meet-and-greet, several townhall meetings and a look-a-like contest. The festival\u2019s main attractions, though, are the downtown businesses. Several dozen businesses participated, adopting personas from the beloved television series like \u201cLuke\u2019s Diner\u201d (Lynn\u2019s on First) and \u201cKim\u2019s Antiques\u201d (Urban Farm Decor).<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n