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PARK RULES & REGULATIONS - Please note: Due to liability and legal restrictions, NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES of any kind may be brought into the Riverfront Parks by any party. Riverfront Recapture is the only licensed authority to sell and serve liquor for consumption in the Riverfront Parks.
Riverfront Summer Pops
SATURDAY, May 25, July 13, and August 10, 7pm
Part of the Olmsted Summer Concert Series. Spend a relaxing evening on the Riverfront with the Middletown Symphonic Band, a professional concert band featuring wind, brass, and percussion instruments. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
May 25th - Americana
The Middletown Symphonic Band will play selections that celebrate our wonderful nation during Memorial Day weekend. The repertoire ranges from traditional melodies such as “Shenandoah,” to military tributes like the “Caisson Song” for the US Army, and finally to totally new symphonic pieces like “American Barndance” inspired by the freedom and heart embodied in Americans.
Food and beverage available for purchase. Teddy’s on a Roll will be serving grilled hot dogs, pulled pork, lemonade, and fresh popcorn. Beer and wine also available for purchase.
Rain Date May 26th
July 13 - Around the World
Enjoy sounds and music styles from around the world. For their second performance this season, the Middletown Symphonic Band will be taking its audience on a journey across the globe. You will hear the sounds of New York City, German polkas, the harmonic minor scale of the Middle East, beautiful Italian melodies, and Irish jigs. At the end of the concert, the band will return back to the United States with a rousing conclusion of big band music!
Food and beverages are available for purchase.
Rain Date July 14
August 10 - Movies and Musicals
In this final concert, The Middletown Symphonic Band will play popular music that has become well-known through cinema or dramatic productions. The music from these shows and movies spans nearly a century. You will hear the love between a beast and his beauty, opening nights on Broadway, and the travels of hobbits - plus much more!
Sponsor:The C. Henry and Mary E. G. Olmsted Fund at the Hartford Foundation
PARK RULES & REGULATIONS - Please note: Due to liability and legal restrictions, NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES of any kind may be brought into the Riverfront Parks by any party. Riverfront Recapture is the only licensed authority to sell and serve liquor for consumption in the Riverfront Parks.
Ray Gonzalez Latin Jazz & Salsa Festival
Saturday, June 29, 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
This event is presented by Guakia, Inc. and hosted by Riverfront Recapture, Inc.
The Ray Gonzalez Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival is a stage for the most talented international artists in Latin Jazz and Salsa.
Rain Date 7/7/13
Riverfest features free kids’ activities, great food and more, followed by fireworks at 9:00 p.m.
Details:
2012 Montreal International Fireworks Competition Gold medal winner, Atlas Pyrovision, highlights the largest one-day fireworks celebration in Connecticut on Saturday, July 6, 2013. Admission to this event is FREE! Riverfest features free entertainment including a water ski show, lumber jack competition, live bands, amusements, kids’ activities, great food and more— followed by the fireworks at 9:00 p.m.
Beginning at 4:00 p.m., Riverfest festivities are offered in two locations: Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in Hartford and Great River Park in East Hartford.
NEW FOR 2013!
UCONN TIMBER SPORTS!
Riverfest will feature the UConn Timber Sports Team in East Hartford’s Great River Park with a head to head lumberjack competition where competitors test their accuracy, precision, and endurance in traditional logging techniques. There will be 2 teams comprised of 3 men and 3 women per team. Each timed event will be run head-to-head. There will be 6 singles events, 2 doubles events, 2 triples events and 2 team events. Click here for more info on Timbersports!
OXBOW WATER SKI SHOW!
Riverfest is proud to present the hottest water ski show on the river! The Oxbow Water Ski Show team will perform pyramids, jumps, ballet lines, swivel skiing and much more. Watch the exciting performance from Riverfront Plaza or get an aerial vantage point from the Founders Bridge. Show times: 4:00 and 6:00 pm.
Riverfest is brought to you by Riverfront Recapture and made possible through the generosity of corporate funding and private contributions. Riverfest would not be possible without support from the City of Hartford, the Town of East Hartford, the Metropolitan District Commission and dozens of other statewide agencies.
Event schedule
Info to come
Family activities
Info to come
Fireworks information
This year’s show, performed by Atlas Pyrovision, Gold Medal Winners of the 2012 Montreal International Fireworks Competition, will be choreographed to popular Americana themed music that will be broadcasted throughout the event sites. The computer-synchronized fireworks display will be fired from three barges on the Connecticut River beginning at 9:00 pm.
Beer garden
A beer garden will be open to the public in East Hartford’s Great River Park from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Directions & parking
This event is held at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza and Great River Park. Please visit the Mortensen Riverfront Plaza page [hyperlink to Visit the Parks>Mortensen Riverfront Plaza] or the Great River Park page [hyperlink to Visit the Parks>Great River Park] for directions and parking information. Parking is also available throughout the Town of East Hartford.
Handicapped parking in Hartford is available at CT Science Center/Riverfront Garage & Constitution Plaza Garage in Hartford. Vehicle accessible handicapped viewing is only available at Charter Oak Landing [hyperlink to Vist the Parks>Charter Oak Landing] and access is restricted to vehicles with state-issued handicap permits.
Handicapped parking in East Hartford is available at Commerce Center One (333 E River Drive, East Hartford) to vehicles with a state-issued permit.
Transportation
Hartford—The free Star Shuttle will run approximately every 12 minutes along a circulatory route connecting the CT Convention Center, the Riverfront, the CT Science Center, the Arts and Entertainment District, various restaurants and downtown hotels. Star Shuttle hours: 3:00 p.m. - 11:00p.m.
East Hartford— The Roaming Railroad will offer free rides in East Hartford between the Founders Bridge (corner of East River Drive & Pitkin Street) and Great River Park.
Road closures
Info to come
Boater info
Boaters are welcome to join us on the River. Riverfront Recapture’s Riverside Park boat launch in Hartford will be open, but the Charter Oak Landing and Great River Park launches will be closed. Kayaking and canoeing are permitted, but all vessels must have proper running lights and safety equipment. No docking facilities are available to access the event sites. Boaters will not be permitted to traverse through the established fireworks shooting safety zone marked with white buoys - 600’ north and south of the fireworks barges from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Share your patriotism and support Riverfest 2013! To sponsor this event, please call Debbie Baker at 860-713-3131 x 326 or send her an .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Through a sponsorship, your organization will reach 250,000 or more people during Riverfest as they enjoy the activities, the fireworks, and the atmosphere of goodwill and enjoyment.
For vendor information and registration, please click here.
Volunteer Opportunities Learn more about volunteer opportunities for this event.
Connecticut Ballet’s Dance Caravan
Saturday July 27th, 7:30pm
Connecticut Ballet’s Summer Dance Caravan culminates in Hartford with another exciting evening of classical and contemporary ballets. Artistic Director Brett Raphael narrates as the company’s professional dancers dazzle and delight. Opening act to be announced.
Sponsored in part by the Roberts Foundation and Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.
Connecticut Ballet’s Summer Dance Caravan is presented by Connecticut Ballet and hosted by Riverfront Recapture.
Rain Date: Sunday, July 28
Food and beverages including beer and wine will be available for purchase.
Get more bang for your parking buck! Why not park your car at the Connecticut Science Center and visit Hartford’s newest attraction before the performance begins at 7:30! Visit the Connecticut Science Center website click here.
PARK RULES & REGULATIONS - Please note: Due to liability and legal restrictions, NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES of any kind may be brought into the Riverfront Parks by any party. Riverfront Recapture is the only licensed authority to sell and serve liquor for consumption in the Riverfront Parks.
Taste of the Caribbean & Jerk Festival
Saturday, August 3, 1pm-11pm
This year marks the 8th Annual Taste of the Caribbean and Jerk Festival and it will be bigger and better than ever! Don’t miss one of Hartford’s premier cultural events as both the upper and lower areas of Mortensen Riverfront Plaza are transformed into a Caribbean village. Bring the whole family to enjoy a variety of musical and dance performances while sampling authentic Caribbean fare. Taste of the Caribbean is produced in collaboration with CAYASCO.
Click here to see a YouTube video of the 2009 Taste of the Caribbean Festival.
PARK RULES & REGULATIONS - Please note: Due to liability and legal restrictions, NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES of any kind may be brought into the Riverfront Parks by any party. Riverfront Recapture is the only licensed authority to sell and serve liquor for consumption in the Riverfront Parks.
To sponsor this event, please call Debbie Baker at
860-713-3131 x 326 or send her an .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
For vendor information and registration, please click here.
Riverfront Dragon Boat and Asian Festival 2013
Saturday, August 17 & Sunday, August 18
Welcome to the exhilarating sport of dragon boat racing!
2013 marks the 13th Anniversary of the Riverfront Dragon Boat and Asian Festival. Building on the tremendous success of our previous festivals, we continue to grow this event and add new and exciting elements. We expect over 70 teams and 1,750 paddlers at this year’s event.
Our event also features Asian entertainment, martial arts demonstrations, educational cultural booths, delicious Asian cuisine, Asian games for kids and much more.
Conveniently located in the center of Downtown Hartford, our venue offers a one-of-a-kind festival and competition.
Click here for more event information and to register your team for dragon boating.
To sponsor this event, please call Debbie Baker at
860-713-3131 x 326 or send her an .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
For vendor information and registration, please click here.
Volunteer Opportunities Learn more about volunteer opportunities for this event.
Riverfront Latin World Rhythms Festival
Saturday, September 7th
Celebrate Metro Hartford’s Latin culture with a variety of live performances from 2 stages, dance instruction, art exhibits, cultural food & beverage, and children’s activities at this day-long festival headlined by Daniel Salazar’s 20th Anniversary performance of Guitar under the Stars. This is a FREE event! Entertainment schedule to be announced. Event hours 1pm to 10pm.
You may not bring alcoholic beverages into the Riverfront parks or events.
For vendor information and registration, please click here.
Volunteer opportunities -Learn more about volunteer opportunities for this event.
Sponsorship opportunities - No need to travel far to experience and enjoy the many Latin cultures in the MetroHartford region. Your sponsorship support helps to share the diversity that makes our region so vibrant – please call Debbie Baker at 860-713-3131 x 326 or send her an .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Pipes In The Valley Celtic Festival
Happy Hour, Friday, September 27th and Festival, Saturday, September 28, 11am-10pm
Come raise a pint with 10,000 of your friends on the banks of the scenic Connecticut River where the fun is free for the whole family!
Start the weekend on a Celtic note on Friday with festive music and a cold Ten Penny Ale at the Pipes in the Valley Happy Hour.
On Saturday, the pipes will be summoning the Highlands to Hartford for the main event! Follow the skirl of the pied pipers to the 12th Annual Pipes in the Valley Celtic Music Festival. Headlined by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, the spirit of the Highlands awaits you, along with top traditional and Celtic rock bands on two stages. And there’s so much more—Highland athletic games, step dancing, bag pipers, birds of prey, Highland cows, kids’ activities, puppetry and storytelling, sword demonstrations, Celtic food and plenty of Ten Penny Ale!*
Admission to both events are FREE! Pipes in the Valley is produced by The Olde Burnside Brewing Co., in partnership with Riverfront Recapture.
The band line up for 2013 includes the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Screaming Orphans, The Pubcrawlers, Jolly Beggers, Mighty Ploughboys , Stone of Destiny, Manchester Pipe Band, Manchester Police & Fire Pipe Band, The Breezy Point, Catholic Club Pipe & Drum Band. Learn more about this year’s bands!
Join us on the banks of the scenic CT River where the fun is free for the whole family! This event is produced by The Olde Burnside Brewing Co., in partnership with Riverfront Recapture, Inc. Thanks to our gracious sponsors, festival admission is FREE!
Note: Seating is on a grassy hillside. Please, no coolers or alcohol. Well-behaved dogs are welcome!
Produced in collaboration with Olde Burnside Brewing Company this festival promises a day filled with fun, flavor and world-class entertainment! CHEERS!
For more information on this event, please visit the Pipes in the Valley website.
LOCATION & DIRECTIONS: Mortensen Riverfront Plaza IMPORTANT PARKING NOTICE: The Science Center garage will be closed to the public during Pipes In the Valley. Pipes customers seeking close garage parking could park in the Convention Center garage for a flat rate of $7.00.
To sponsor this event, please call Debbie Baker at
860-713-3131 x 326 or send her an .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
For vendor information and registration, please click here.
PARK RULES & REGULATIONS - Please note: Due to liability and legal restrictions, NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES of any kind may be brought into the Riverfront Parks by any party. Riverfront Recapture is the only licensed authority to sell and serve liquor for consumption in the Riverfront Parks.