Connecticut Tango Festival was established by Dale Ellison and Gem Duras in 2008, with a mission to introduce Argentine Tango to new enthusiasts and increase its popularity in Connecticut. The main venue of the festival is the Milford Arts Council, which sponsors the annual Tango Passion Show, as well as the majority of the classes, workshops and Milongas which are Argentine Tango social dances. Each year various activities are scheduled throughout the state, including Milford, Norwalk, Danbury, Stamford, Hartford, Middletown and New Haven among others.

The festival which takes place each summer around July presents an Argentine Tango Boot Camp for beginners, intermediate and advanced workshops with invited Argentine guests focusing specific tango topics. Recent guests include such important names as 2014 Stage Tango World Champions Manuela Rossi and Juan Malizia, Los Totis, Carolina Leonardelli and Gabriel Salvi, Oscar Mandagaran and Georgina Vargas, Pablo Nievas and Valeria Zunino, Pablo Velez and Daniela Kizyma, Carolina Jaurena and Diego Blanco.

The annual Tango Passion Show in the past years has included Latin Grammy Winner bandoneonist Raul Jaurena, singer Marga Mitchell, pianist Emiliano Messiez, Grammy Nominee Emilio Solla and bandoneonist JP Jofre.

The CT Tango Weekend, which takes place each Spring, complements the festival by mostly focusing on the Boot Camp for beginners introducing new dancers to the Connecticut tango communities.