HARTFORD (WTIC News) -- The City of Hartford is doubling down on America 250, celebrating local arts and culture and Connecticut’s role in the American Revolution with the five-day Long Weekend Hartford, packed with events running through Sunday, July 5.
Scheduled events stretch well beyond music and fireworks, which are, of course, scheduled as part of Hartford Bonanza at Bushnell Park on July 4th. (Event director Jeff Devereaux says this year’s fireworks will be bigger and better than usual—and twice as expensive!) Film, theater, art, technology and history will be prominently featured.
“Make it a long weekend right here in the city,” says the Wadsworth’s Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture Erin Monroe, who spoke at the restored Samuel Colt Memorial on Wednesday. “We’ve got the Wadsworth on Main St., Bushnell Park and so many other activities, including live music, films, art exhibitions. We’re really happy that this was kicking off what’s bound to be an unforgettable weekend.”
Long Weekend marks the return of Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd of the Dallas Wings with a Connecticut Sun Fan Festival on Pratt St. starting at 4 pm. If the scorching heat is an obstacle, there are plenty of air- conditioning supported options, including a Watch Party for the game at Hartford House on Gold St. starting at 6. The game starts at 8 at PeoplesBank Arena.
Part of the plan is to embrace Connecticut-made films like the Julia Roberts breakthrough classic “Mystic Pizza,” which will be screened at the Wadsworth on Thursday night, complete with a question-and-answer session with actors Janet Zarish (Nicole) and Geraldine Leer (Lorna) and producer Scott Rosenfelt.
“(They’ll be) telling stories of their time in Mystic, of their time together… inside scoops that you may not know,” says Taneisha Duggan, Hartford’s Director of Arts and Culture.
“And then, a special shoutout to the Mystic Chamber of Commerce, who has been a partner in driving folks to come see this amazing Connecticut movie about their town. It’s really an indication of the best of us, the way in which we can break down our 169-town mentality and really work together.”
Events get started earlier on Friday, July 3, a federal holiday. There’s free admission to the CT Museum of Culture and History starting at 10 am for “Family Activities: Celebrating America 250 at the Museum” and the “Rebellious Exhibition Guided Tour” at 2 pm at the same site. There are deejay sets, coffee and a happy hour at Hartford House, a site Duggan says the city is considering for more events highlighting Hartford’s culture.
There’s also a Friday afternoon screening of 2010’s All Good Things, featuring Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst, also at the Wadsworth.
Back outdoors, there’s the Soul in the City Festival, with live music and a cookout, beginning Thursday.
July 4th’s Hartford Bonanza begins at noon with a long day of performances at the Main Stage at Bushnell Park and on nearby Trinity St., next to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra will perform for the first time at the Bonanza.
Duggan says the Long Weekend website has the complete schedule and ticket information:
“I’m really excited that there’s one place, longweekendhartford.com, that you can see every arts, culture and entertainment option there is in Hartford. And, hopefully, that sort of unlocks for people that this is their city, that their city is vibrant, that there are things to do.”
