Hartford's Huge LONG WEEKEND Festival Opens Wednesday With Free America 250 Concert

HARTFORD, CT — A five-day celebration of history, arts and innovation will take over downtown Hartford beginning Wednesday, July 1, as the LONG WEEKEND festival returns with performances, exhibitions and community events tied to the nation's upcoming 250th anniversary.

The citywide festival will transform Hartford into a network of venues highlighting film, art, music, culture, and technology.

Organizers say the event celebrates the city's role in American history while inviting residents and visitors to explore ideas about the nation's future.

Programming will span several of Hartford's best-known landmarks, including the Connecticut Old State House, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Bushnell Park, riverfront parks, downtown rooftops and converted warehouse spaces.

Artists, filmmakers, musicians, technologists, chefs, and community members will participate in performances, exhibitions, and interactive experiences designed to showcase Hartford's cultural heritage throughout the five-day festival.

The celebration officially begins Wednesday evening with a free kickoff concert hosted by Riverfront Recapture at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, 300 Columbus Blvd.

The event starts at 5 p.m. on the Hartford HealthCare Community Stage and will feature a patriotic and multicultural lineup celebrating America's upcoming semiquincentennial.

Performers include:

• Ysanne, performing the National Anthem
• Windsor Fife & Drum Corps
• Mixashawn
• Culture 4 A Cause
• BAP Pack
• 102nd Army Band

Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy food vendors, desserts, and beverages from the Riverfront Bar before the performances begin.

Admission is free, and organizers recommend the Hartford Marriott parking garage as the closest parking option.

Organizers say the festival is designed to turn downtown Hartford into a walkable campus of ideas and entertainment, connecting historic sites and public spaces through performances and experiences that celebrate both the city's past and its future.

Passes are being sold by organizers for the festival's other events.

For more information on Hartford's LONG WEEKEND, including pass purchase options, click on this link.'