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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.

RIVERFEST INFO

Event Overview
Riverfest features free entertainment including live bands, musicians, clowns and other walk-a-bout entertainers, kids activities and more. A dazzling fireworks show over the river highlights this traditional Hartford festival. Riverfest celebrates its 29th year in 2009. The festivities and fireworks are brought to you by Riverfront Recapture, a private, non-profit organization which is leading the effort to reconnect metropolitan Hartford with the Connecticut River and provide community access to the waterfront through four beautiful parks in Hartford and East Hartford. Riverfest is made possible through the generosity of corporate funding and private contributions, and would not be possible without the municipal support of the City of Hartford and the Town of East Hartford. Riverfront Recapture is pleased to offer you this great event for the enjoyment of you and your family. To make a contribution to Riverfront Recapture, click here. Your support will ensure many years of Riverfest will be available for generations to come.

Event Schedule
Click here to view a PDF of our entertainment and activity schedule plus our site map. Print it out and bring it to with you so you don't miss a thing!

Locations & Activites
Riverfest 2009 will be held in three locations along the river. All three locations are in walking distance from each other, so park your car and enjoy what all three locations have to offer!

Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, Hartford
- Live musical entertainment
- Casting booth by the game show Deal or No Deal
- Kids Activities – Craft Tent by Teach Art 2 Me, moon bounce, and more!
- Narrated tours of the Lincoln Financial Sculpture Walk from 4:00pm – 8:00pm

Great River Park, East Hartford
- Live musical entertainment
- Great River Park is our main kids activites site!
- Joe the Airborne Juggler – juggling workshops 4:00pm – 7:00pm
- Craft Tent by Teach Art 2 Me – 4:00pm – 8:00pm
- Moon Bounces
- Old Fashioned Children’s Games Area 4:00pm – 7:00pm
- Dancin’ with Hoops 5:00pm – 7:00pm
- Civil War Encampment: 9th Mass Battery - cannon shots, small arms (musket fire) demonstrations, presentations on camp life (food living conditions etc), womens roles, surgery, and our unit history. - Ford – Drive One Tour featuring a $30,000 car give-away sweepstakes. Click here for more info!
- Narrated tours of the Lincoln Financial Sculpture Walk from 4:00pm – 8:00pm

Founders Plaza, East Hartford Activities located on the grounds of Founders Plaza on East River Drive, between Pitkin and Hartland Streets.
- Live musical entertainment including Asia featuring John Payne



PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO FOOD VENDORS, PLANNED ACTIVITY, OR MUSICAL PERFORMANCES IN HARTFORD’S CHARTER OAK LANDING LOCATION IN 2009. The park will be open extended hours for fireworks viewing.

Fireworks Info
Fireworks will be shot from two barges on the Connecticut River starting at 9:30pm. The fireworks can be viewed from Mortensen Riverfront Plaza and Charter Oak Landing in Hartford, Great River Park and Founders Plaza in East Hartford, and along the river in many areas in Hartford and East Hartford.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Riverfest not on the Fourth of July this year?
We’re getting that question a lot this year – but the reality is that Riverfest has not been held on the Fourth of July holiday in at least 20 years. The last time we held the festival on the holiday, by the way, we drew a much smaller crowd – maybe because people plan their own gatherings of families and friends for barbecues and picnics or go away for a three-day weekend. Equally important, though, the cost of producing the festival is significantly higher on the holiday. That’s an important consideration for the City of Hartford and the Town of East Hartford, which donate the services of their public safety personnel and other municipal employees – making it possible for us to produce such a big free event on both banks of the river. And we believe that we should celebrate America’s independence and freedom every day of the year, not just on July 4.

Why is there no activity planned for Charter Oak Landing this year?
When we planned Riverfest last winter, we thought that the City of Hartford might be well underway in July with extensive repairs to the flood walls – which would have limited access to the park and created potential safety problems. So we budgeted for the festival without planning for an entertainment stage or other activity at Charter Oak Landing. That repair work is still in the planning stage and may not get underway until winter or later. Since there is no planned activity in the park, however, the Hartford police department has agreed to designate Charter Oak Landing as a handicapped viewing area for the fireworks. People with handicapped stickers will be allowed to drive their cars into Charter Oak Landing for the fireworks. Others are invited to walk into the park to watch the fireworks.

EVENT LOGISTICS

Parking
East Hartford - Parking is available citywide in areas designated by the Town of East Hartford. Hartford- Mortensen Riverfront Plaza: CT Science Center/Riverfront Garage, Morgan Street Garage & Constitution Plaza Garage and other area parking garages. Handicap parking for the festival is available at CT Science Center/Riverfront Garage & Constitution Plaza Garage in Hartford, and in designated areas in East Hartford. Handicap parking for fireworks viewing only can be found at Charter Oak Landing in Hartford.

Event Shuttles
East Hartford & Hartford - There will be NO shuttle buses this year.

Handicap Access
All festival sites are handicapped accessible. Handicap parking for the festival is available at CT Science Center/Riverfront Garage & Constitution Plaza Garage in Hartford, and in designated areas in East Hartford. Handicap parking for fireworks viewing only can be found at Charter Oak Landing in Hartford.

Directions
For directions, click here. For Founders Plaza, follow the directions to Great River Park.

OTHER INFORMATION

Lend A Hand at Riverfest
We currently have enough volunteers for this event! Thanks for your interest.

KIDS ACTIVITIES
FREE kids activity tents can be found at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza on the Hartford side and at The Family Fun Zone in Great River Park on the East Hartford side.

Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, Hartford
- Kids Activities – Craft Tent by Teach Art 2 Me, moon bounce, and more!
Great River Park, East Hartford
- Great River Park is our main kids activites site!
- Joe the Airborne Juggler – juggling workshops 4:00pm – 7:00pm
- Craft Tent by Teach Art 2 Me – 4:00pm – 8:00pm
- Moon Bounces
- Old Fashioned Children’s Games Area 4:00pm – 7:00pm
- Dancin’ with Hoops 5:00pm – 7:00pm

BOATER INFO
Boaters are welcome to join us on the River. Riverside Park’s boat launch will be open, but launches at Charter Oak Landing and Great River Park will be closed. This year, the fireworks will launch from two barges on the River, so the Coast Guard and local Marine Patrols will be on the River to guide and direct you to designated areas.

ALCOHOL POLICY
Riverfest is a family friendly environment and is ALCOHOL FREE.

Make A Day Of It!
There's lots going on in the Hartford area on July 11Th! Check out this other activity:

The CT Convention Center is hosting the NATIONAL TRAIN SHOW - Over 140,000 square feet of exhibition space, featuring high quality operating layouts, national and regional manufacturers and vendors. Click here for info.

Market Your Product/Service at this event
Sell Food & Merchandise at this event
The vendor registration deadline has passed and we are no longer accepting applications for this year’s event. If you are interested in vending at Riverfest on July 10, 2010 or would like to inquire about vending at other Riverfront events, please send us your name, address, and product line.

Location: Mortensen Riverfront Plaza

This festival brings you an evening of music featuring some of the best international Latin Jazz and Salsa artists. More performance info to come.

Click here to see coverage of last year's event filmed by VIVA HARTFORD! -- a community based television show highlighting Hartford's entertainment offerings.

Location: Mortensen Riverfront Plaza

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.

Location: Mortensen Riverfront Plaza Hartford, CT

Event Details

• Up to $20,000 in cash prizes and awards!
• Six races over two days for International Dragon Boat Federation club teams
• Three races for local, non-club teams (on Saturday, Aug 15)
• Open, Mixed, Women’s, Breast Cancer Survivors, Youth, Corporate, and Municipal Divisions
• Eastern Region Dragon Boat Association (ERDBA) Circuit Point Qualifier for ERDBA Members
• Sponsorship Challenge Race
• Race Management and Timing by Great White North Dragon Boat
• Electronic Start & Finish with Video Replay

Event Highlights

• Tent City – Local and club team villages
• Two days of Asian entertainment, dancing, demonstrations, and activities
• Authentic Asian food as well as American favorites
• Special team Gourmet box lunch offerings
• Kid’s Asian activities
• Table tennis competition
• Asian specialty beer garden

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DRAGON BOAT RACING - Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 5pm

Why Dragon Boat Racing?

Put together a dragon boat team for a group activity like no other.  Your team of at least 8 women and 12 men will propel a 40 foot dragon boat in the water through teamwork and communication in a friendly competition against other teams!

No athleticism or experience required!  Get your team on the water and experience one of the most unique teambuilding activities offered in Connecticut.  See why those who’ve tried it are hooked!

Its easy to do: 
- Just pull together 20 co-workers, peers, friends or family as paddlers on your team.  No experience required, 16 years and older.
- Attend at least 2 practices before race day.
- All equipment and instruction provided. 

This is a sport anyone can compete in!

Share this information with your friends!  Click here to view and print our team recruitment flyer!

Click here to view the 2008 Dragon Boat race results!

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If you’re a Team Captain who has already registered your boat, and/or a Team Paddler who has already signed your waiver, AND NOW YOU NEED TO BOOK YOUR GROUP HOTEL BLOCK OR INDIVIDUAL HOTEL ROOM RESERVATION, click here.

Team Captain Info & Race Details

This section will be used to provide Team Captains with useful information… including Race Rules & Regs.  Check back soon for more info!

Click here to see the 2009 Race Rules and Regulations!

Pre-Order Your Lunch-Info to come.

Paddler Info

This section will be used to provide Paddlers with useful information… check back soon!

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ASIAN FESTIVAL - Saturday, 10am to 3pm

Asian Festival Overview

The day-long Asian Cultural Festival Offers FREE
- Martial Arts Demonstrations
- Table Tennis
- Asian Music & Dance Performances
- And More…

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.

Entertainment Schedule

Saturday entertainment is 10am – 4pm and Sunday 10am – 2pm - Details to follow!

Photo Gallery & Videos

Click here to see a photo gallery of past dragon boat events and Asian festivals.

To see a You Tube video of a Dragon Boat practice race, click the arrow below. 

Event History

In 2000, Riverfront Recapture held its 1st Dragon Boat Festival and attracted over 30 local teams to compete in a 1-day community-based competition.  Over the years the competition has grown and the festival has developed into a culturally rich and vibrant event that showcases the Asian community that thrives in the Hartford region. 
Now after 8 years, the downtown Hartford riverfront is widely recognized as one of the premier dragon boat venues in the country. We produce a very well-run competition accompanied by a high quality, action packed festival. If you haven’t been to Hartford lately, you would be pleasantly surprised. Hartford has become a desirable vacation destination with great restaurants, clubs, accommodations, entertainment, history, and natural beauty. We would like to invite your team to what will surely be the best dragon boat event of your season – The Riverfront Dragon Boat & Asian Festival on August 15th & 16th.

For those teams that have competed in our festival before, we intend to keep the general format the same as it was for the past 8 years - why change a good thing?  This means that you will be competing for trophies and medals in a 3-race competition on Saturday August 15.  There will of course be an energy-filled awards ceremony with plenty of trophies and medals.

For more information about the Chinese history of Dragon Boat Racing, CLICK HERE. 

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OTHER INFO

Registration Fees & Prize Money

Click here to see our Dragon Boat Race Fees.

This year’s race will feature up to $20,000 in 5 Competitive categories will be up for grabs over the course of the two day event, slated for August 15 & 16, 2009.  Prizes will be awarded in the 500M and 200M Races for 5 Divisions, Premium Mixed, Premium Open, Premium Women, Premium Youth and Breast Cancer Survivor.  Click here for prize money details!

Also, for the first time in the event’s history, the Hartford event will also serve as an ERDBA Qualifier.  Timing, conducted by Great White North Dragon Boat of Canada, will earn ERDBA members Race Circuit Points.

Volunteer to Help at this Event

Volunteer info to come…

Where to Stay and Play while your in Hartford

HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS -
The Greater Hartford Convention and Visitors Bureau has negotiated great rates with three event host hotels, the Sheraton Hartford Hotel, the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Hartford, and the Hartford Marriott Downtown.  Click here for more information on these three great hotels.

For more information about the activities, restaurants, parks, and other services in the city of Hartford, visit these websites -
Greater Hartford Convention and Visitors Bureau
Hartford.com
Greater Hartford Arts Council

Getting around town -
Free Downtown Shuttle - The Hartford Star Shuttle is a free, downtown shuttle bus that leaves the CT Convention Center approximately every 12 minutes, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. On Saturdays, the shuttle runs from 3:00 to 11:00 PM. Fifteen Star Shuttle stops bring you directly to dozens of Hartford hotels, historic sights, restaurants and entertainment venues! To see the Star Shuttle route, click here. For more information, or extended shuttle hours for special events, click here.

Getting to and from Hartford -
Amtrack Train Service
Greyhound Bus Line
Peter Pan Bus Line

Cancellation Policy

REFUNDS/CANCELLATIONS – Please remember that team cancellations will only be available if approved by the Event Director. Also note that there may be cancellation fees associated with any cancellation. All processing and service fees are non-refundable. This event is rain or shine. There are no refunds for inclement weather.

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For the complete event information visit: pipesinthevalley.com

Location: Mortensen Riverfront Plaza

Event Schedule: Coming Soon.

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. Back to top

Location: Mortensen Riverfront Plaza

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.