3rd Annual Envisionfest Hartford Celebration to Take Place on September 20th

The iQuilt Partnership and the City of Hartford announced today the date for the Third Annual 2014 Envisionfest Hartford event. Connecticut’s Capital City Festival will take place Saturday September 20, 2014 with activities beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Envisionfest is made possible through a collaboration between the iQuilt Partnership, the city of Hartford and several cultural organizations from throughout the state. As a result of this unique collaboration, Envisionfest Hartford offers a unique opportunity for people of all ages to discover and celebrate the capital city’s transformation through a day-long, free festival of music, walking, biking, tours, innovation & discovery.
Every aspect of the event will showcase Hartford’s abundance of innovative history, arts and extraordinary cultural assets. Over one hundred live entertainment and hands-on activities will stimulate the senses. Just a few of the festivities include free live musical entertainment and dramatic performances on five stages, free admission to more than four museums, landmark building tours, and two open air marketplaces. In addition this year Envisionfest has several events that will be leading up to September 20th’s celebration. The evening will end with a rock concert in Bushnell Park produced by Hartford Rocks! For a complete listing see the envisionfesthartford.com web-site.
Activities that will be featured at this year’s Envisionfest include free carousel rides, trick stunt bicyclist Chris Clark, a magnet school music festival, historic bike displays at the Old State House and Hartford Public Library, tours of the Travelers Observation deck and interactive illumination art exhibits, as well as life size versions of games such as Scrabble, Tic-Tac-Toe and Banana Grams. Envisionfest 2014 will also feature two open-air markets: Hartford HodgePodge and State of Makers. State of Makers is a statewide marketing initiative to raise awareness of the top artisans and the maker’s talents that exist throughout Connecticut.
Each activity during this event will have visitors making new discoveries throughout Hartford and provide an opportunity to experience the ongoing transformation by the iQuilt Plan. All Envisionfest activities will take place along the GreenWalk and new routes connecting the State Capitol, historic Bushnell Park, downtown streets, and Constitution Plaza.
The Envisionfest Planning committee is comprised of representatives from the following organizations; City of Hartford, Connecticut Science Center, The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, The Bushnell, Connecticut Landmarks, The Old State House, Greater Hartford Arts Council, Hartford Business Improvement District, Hartford Public Library, the Capitol Region Education Council, Hartford Rocks! (Leadership Greater Hartford), the Connecticut Cycling Festival, and Hartford Stage.
“Over 15,000 people attended Envisionfest in 2013 and we are very excited to bring this incredible festival back for a third time.” said Mayor Pedro E. Segarra.

Jackie Mandyck, Managing Director of the iQuilt Partnership added, “Envisionfest is an excellent opportunity for residents and visitors to experience the cultural assets this city has to offer. At the iQuilt Plan we strive to create a culturally vibrant, environmentally sustainable and economically prosperous atmosphere throughout the city of Hartford. The weekend has so much to offer beginning with Envisionfest and ending on Sunday with the Connecticut Cycling Festval.”

Continue to follow the events and excitement of Envisionfest Hartford on Twitter (@theiquiltplan) and on the Envisionfest Hartford Facebook page.
About Envisionfest Hartford
Envisionfest Hartford is a citywide celebration on September 20, 2014 that will provide a preview of Hartford’s transformation into a destination of walking, culture and innovation. Every aspect of the event is an opportunity for the people of Connecticut to discover and explore what’s in store for this vibrant urban city.
Envisionfest Hartford is created by the iQuilt Partnership, a nonprofit organization that includes support from the city of Hartford and the state of Connecticut and several leading business and cultural organizations including The Bushnell, the Greater Hartford Arts Council, MetroHartford Alliance, Metropolitan District Commission, Hartford Business Improvement District, Riverfront Recapture, and Bushnell Park Foundation. The iQuilt Plan is a culture based urban design plan for downtown Hartford that aims to integrate its cultural sites and institutions. It also showcases Hartford’s commitment to connectivity, innovative encouragement, historical exhibitions, and cultural diversity. For a complete list of artists, happenings and latest Envisionfest Hartford updates, please visit www.envisionfesthartford.com/